My Prime TNT Progress Updates
Topic 31625 | Page 22
Another favorite song lyric by Kris Kristofferson, “One Day At A Time”.
“I'm only human I'm just a man Help me believe in what I could be
And all that I am
Show me the stairway I have to climb
Lord for my sake help me to take
One day at a time
Chorus One day at a time sweet Jesus
That's all I'm asking from You
Just give me the strength to do ev'ryday
What I have to do
Yesterday's gone sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine
Lord help me today show me the way
One day at a time
Do you remember when you walked among men
Well Jesus you know it's worse now than then
Pushin' and shovin' crowding my mind
So for my sake, teach me to take
One day at a time
Repeat Chorus”
04/26/22
Robert driving to customer since 23:04 CDT on 04/25/22.
Arrived at 04:20 EDT (03:20 CDT) ahead of 05:00 EDT appointment.
Out of truck at 04:28 EDT to check in. Back in truck at 04:36 EDT.
Wait to dock or D&H?
I’m not sure what happened after this because I don’t recall the truck moving again. Will ask Robert later.
Robert Depart at 10:06 EDT for next Loc 01 customer in Stratham, NH (108 miles empty) for D&H on 04/26/22 from 13:00-20:00 EDT.
Will haul chocolate to Loc 90 customer in Carlisle, PA (448 miles loaded) for a D&H by 11:00 EDT on 04/27/22.
Total dispatch miles = 556
Total TNT miles = 30,289
Our Next committed Pre-plan load assignment:
Loc 01 in Harrisburg, PA (19 miles empty) to Live load by 15:00 EDT. on 04/27/22.
Loc 90 in Olive Branch, MS (929 miles loaded) for live unload from 06:00-12:00 CDT on 04/28/22. This is near Memphis.
Total dispatch miles = 948
TNT miles = 31,237
Routing us back towards Springfield terminal. It could be that the next load could route through Pine Bluff, AR so Robert can drop me off at Love’s for my wife to pick me up for home time prior to upgrade process. Will need to discuss with FM.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
Fm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.TNT:
Trainer-N-Trainee
Prime Inc has their own CDL training program and it's divided into two phases - PSD and TNT.
The PSD (Prime Student Driver) phase is where you'll get your permit and then go on the road for 10,000 miles with a trainer. When you come back you'll get your CDL license and enter the TNT phase.
The TNT phase is the second phase of training where you'll go on the road with an experienced driver for 30,000 miles of team driving. You'll receive 14¢ per mile ($700 per week guaranteed) during this phase. Once you're finished with TNT training you will be assigned a truck to run solo.
Congrats on finishing your miles. Still at Campus Inn, waiting to get my badge and have Sim training this afternoon.
Thanks Robert T. Good luck with getting badged and moving on into PSD.
PSD:
Prime Student Driver
Prime Inc has a CDL training program and the first phase is referred to as PSD. You'll get your permit and then 10,000 miles of on the road instruction.
The following is from Prime's website:
Prime’s PSD begins with you obtaining your CDL permit. Then you’ll go on the road with a certified CDL instructor for no less than 75 hours of one-on-one behind the wheel training. After training, you’ll return to Prime’s corporate headquarters in Springfield, Missouri, for final CDL state testing and your CDL license.
Obtain CDL Permit / 4 Days
- Enter program, study and test for Missouri CDL permit.
- Start driving/training at Prime Training Center in Springfield, Missouri.
- Work toward 40,000 training dispatched miles (minimum) with food allowance while without CDL (Food allowance is paid back with future earnings).
On-the-Road Instruction / 10,000 Miles
- Train with experienced certified CDL instructor for 3-4 weeks in a real world environment.
- Get 75 hours of behind-the-wheel time with one-on-one student/instructor ratio.
- Earn 10,000 miles toward total 40,000 miles needed.
04/26/22
I talked with my FM today about the upgrade process. Since our current dispatched load puts me over the minimum 30k miles, he initiated an “eligibility for upgrade review”. This should be approved in 1-2 days.
The review confirms my miles, checks for any serious incidents or accidents, and I assume some feedback from Robert on my readiness to run solo. I told my FM that I feel ready to run solo and my intention to be a company driver.
Once approved for upgrade, he puts my name on list for a company truck assignment. We will talk again at that point.
Not known how long for a truck to be available (maybe there is a lightweight out there just waiting for me).
Will schedule me home time up to 7 days maximum before I upgrade.
If a truck hasn’t turned up yet, then will assign me to another team truck to keep my skills fresh until I get a truck assignment.
Once I get called to Springfield for upgrade, the process takes about one week. I will document that process and my first month solo in a future diary.
Fm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.
Robert arrived at our Loc 01 shipping customer. It worked out that our pickup trailer just finished loading and was being pulled out of the dock by the yard dog.
We dropped our empty and grabbed our loaded trailer.
Robert driving at 14:20 EDT towards our Loc 90 customer in Carlisle, PA that is about 460 miles (8+ hrs driving time). We have a fuel stop in Willington, CT. We will switch drivers there. I can decide whether to drive on or wait there awhile. Our appointment time is 11:00 EDT 04/27/22.
I need to conserve my available 70 clock hours for our next load that is “high value”. I will only use about 4.5 hours today of the 9 that I have available. I get back 8h 50m at midnight tonight and 9h 33m the next night.
Our shipper is Lindt chocolates. They give the driver some free samples. Very tasty, but not good for our weight loss plans.
I’m down to 222 lbs from 252 lbs on Jan 30 when I went to Springfield for Orientation (feels like a long time ago in a dream). I definitely need to buy some smaller size clothes when home.
Robert says that he has lost some inches, but I don’t know how much weight.
Shipper:
The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.
The weekly fuel mileage report came out today for our fleet.
Last week we were 8.39 mpg vs 8.42 mpg for the fleet. This week we were 8.86 mpg vs 8.55 mpg fleet.
We have been cruising at 60 mph this last week rather than 62-65 in an effort to increase our fuel mileage to save Robert on fuel costs. We had a lot of mountain driving, too.
The trade off is that on some days may have to drive longer hours to get in the required miles. This in turn impacts the 70 clock hours.
Arrived at our fuel stop in Willington, CT about 16:00 CDT (17:00 EDT).
Will park here until midnight CDT, then I will drive to our Loc 90 customer to park there until our appointment time.
We are flipping our work shifts again to put me midnight to noon. This will conserve my available 70 hours and keep us moving forward.
I have time now at this TA to do laundry, eat a real meal and shower. We parked at back of the lot where the open spaces are located at 17:00 local time. Felt like a 1/4 to 1/3 mile walk to the store in light drizzle.
I put a load of laundry in to wash, then came to eat in the Country Pride restaurant. Will sit here while laundry finishes. Then go take a shower with clean clothes to put on.
I’m walking around in dirty, baggy pants and shirt feeling like a hip hop teen with pants hanging halfway down my butt.
Time to clean up and feel normal again (after I buy some pants that fit).
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Prime Inc Advice For New Truck Drivers Becoming A Truck Driver Company Sponsored CDL Training Company Trainers Driver Responsibilities Team Driving
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I stopped at 22:41 CDT to switch drivers in Knowlton, NJ on I-80E.
I drove 567 miles in 10h 4m (56.7 mph avg speed).
Robert has 240 miles to customer. It is going to be tight, but he could get there by 03:30 CDT (04:30 EDT). The appointment is at 04:00 CDT (05:00 EDT) on 04/26/22.
He is driving now at 23:04 CDT.
Overall I had a good drive today.
At about 7:30 PM local time a hen turkey strutted across the highway in front of me in PA.
A lot of deer by the highway later, too.