My Prime TNT Progress Updates
Topic 31625 | Page 26
04/28/22 continues
I Drove from the fuel stop from 05:26 CDT to 08:12 CDT when I arrived at Loc 90 customer.
Completed the live unload of one pallet in about 5 minutes.
Departed the customer location at 09:05 CDT.
Switched drivers at 09:26 CDT at a nearby Flying J. Robert taking over.
Our next load that will take us through Pine Bluff, AR is another load of chicken bones going to Joplin from Collins, MS.
I told Robert that I suspected that is what we would get.
Robert is driving now to our Loc 01 shipper for a D&H in Collins, MS (257 miles empty).
Collins to Joplin, MO is 578 loaded miles. The miles from the Love’s in Pine Bluff, AR to the Joplin customer is 306 (I know because I drove it on 03/11/22 in 6 hours). So about 272 miles from Collins to Pine Bluff in 5-6 hours.
Will figure out the timing and whether or not I need to drive tonight after we have our loaded trailer ready to go.
It is possible that I get to Pine Bluff late tonight. There is a casino 5 mins away from the Love’s that my wife likes to play at. She probably hasn’t been in last 7 weeks because she doesn’t like to drive the 50 minutes from home by herself.
My deal with her has been that I’ll take her to the casino whenever I’m home. I told her if she picks me up tonight at Love’s, we’ll go to the casino. She likes to play all night anyway.
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.
My TNT summary to date:
TNT miles completed = 31,237 Current load estimate = 257 + 272 = 529 Total TNT estimate = 31,766
My personal miles driven = 17,770
% of TNT miles driven = 55.9%
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.
Once again congrats on the 30k! Glad you get to enjoy some home time before you upgrade. Safe travels back to Arkansas.
Best Regards, -Ryan
04/28/22 continues
I Drove from the fuel stop from 05:26 CDT to 08:12 CDT when I arrived at Loc 90 customer.
Completed the live unload of one pallet in about 5 minutes.
Departed the customer location at 09:05 CDT.
Switched drivers at 09:26 CDT at a nearby Flying J. Robert taking over.
Our next load that will take us through Pine Bluff, AR is another load of chicken bones going to Joplin from Collins, MS.
I told Robert that I suspected that is what we would get.
Robert is driving now to our Loc 01 shipper for a D&H in Collins, MS (257 miles empty).
Collins to Joplin, MO is 578 loaded miles. The miles from the Love’s in Pine Bluff, AR to the Joplin customer is 306 (I know because I drove it on 03/11/22 in 6 hours). So about 272 miles from Collins to Pine Bluff in 5-6 hours.
Will figure out the timing and whether or not I need to drive tonight after we have our loaded trailer ready to go.
It is possible that I get to Pine Bluff late tonight. There is a casino 5 mins away from the Love’s that my wife likes to play at. She probably hasn’t been in last 7 weeks because she doesn’t like to drive the 50 minutes from home by herself.
My deal with her has been that I’ll take her to the casino whenever I’m home. I told her if she picks me up tonight at Love’s, we’ll go to the casino. She likes to play all night anyway.
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.
Dennis L.’s Tips for Prime PSD/TNT Survival:
1. NEVER let a restroom opportunity go to waste. 2. Guys - practice peeing in a bottle on a moving bouncing vehicle without getting wet. You’ll be glad you did. Ladies- see number 1! Hopefully your trainer will have a Hunter’s Loo bucket or a porta-pottie on board. 3. Bring a good pair of ear plugs to help with sleep if noise bothers you. 4. Bring plenty of quarters for laundry ($5-$6 a load wash & dry). Many places have a coin shortage, so no quarters available. Tide Pods work well for detergent. 5. Showers cost $15.00 unless you have truck stop fuel rewards points during TNT or your trainer springs for a free shower. Don’t always count on it. 6. Take ownership of your own need for a shower or laundry based upon the truck schedule to be stopped. Your trainer will not tell you what to do. 7. Try to eat healthy food and drink choices while still getting enough calories each day. 8. Try to have an unlimited data plan for streaming available so you can have some entertainment to unwind after a long shift driving. Most of the time I was too tired to watch much. I mostly listened to music. 9. Bring your own supplies of pens, markers, note books, post-it notes, etc 10. Keep a daily journal. The notes will be useful later. There is a lot of information and tips from your trainer to remember. 11. Make a list of items that you will want on your own truck as you go along. 12. Pack clothes for all seasons. 13. A good pair of work boots. Mine have a carbon composite safety toe. Very lightweight and comfortable. 14. Have a sense of humor. 15. Be respectful of your trainers truck (home), personal belongings. Help out with housekeeping. 16. Be humble and coachable. 17. Read the TruckingTruth.com blogs. There is a ton of information and tips there that will prepare you with realistic expectations.
These are just some ideas. I’m sure there’s more if I dig through my journal notes.
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.
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.
My deal with her has been that I’ll take her to the casino whenever I’m home. I told her if she picks me up tonight at Love’s, we’ll go to the casino. She likes to play all night anyway.
^^^^ This, right here! ^^^^ Even though we didn't go 'casinoing,' just meeting Tom at the Truck Plaza in Belleville on 97 off 13 and 71, even if just for a 30, or better yet, a 10 ... made so much difference when he was OTR! Say hey to the missus from our gang!
Your diary has been an amazing read, good sir. ( I'm dang proud of ya, this lil'ole'momma'anne is!! :)~) Kearsey too! Summary page, spot on!!!
Enjoy your time, win some coin, and .. until next time! (Pix of Rig, please!)
~ Anne ( & Tom too!) ~
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Our drop & hook in Collins, MS turned into a live load because the plant ran out of empty Prime trailers last night.
Just now leaving the Loc 01 shipper at 18:08 CDT.
That should put me in Pine Bluff by midnight.
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.
Thanks Anne & Tom. Kearsey too for the behind the scenes support.
PackRat, G-Town, Chief Brody, et al for your input and comments along the way.
If I end up back on Robert’s truck for awhile waiting on my truck assignment I’ll make some updates to this diary.
The upgrade process and my first solo month will be a new diary.
Cheers all
04/30/22
I did end up driving 180 miles to Pine Bluff. We arrived to Love’s at 00:13 CDT.
I logged out of the QC at 00:17 CDT on 04/29/22.
My overall TNT stats:
TNT weeks = 7.0
Total TNT miles = 31,729 TNT miles/week avg = 4,533
Personal miles driven = 17,950 Personal miles/week avg = 2,564
% of TNT miles driven = 56.6%
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.
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Made it to my fuel stop about 4:45 CDT.
Now the last push.