Started Upgrade To Solo
Topic 4633 | Page 1
Ken, I'm a newby here. 56 years old, and haven't driven trucks in over 30 years. I'm looking at Prime for training, and I see you've been successful. What kind of pay have you received during your training up until now?
Congrats! and thanks for any info.
Barry
Ken, I'm a newby here. 56 years old, and haven't driven trucks in over 30 years. I'm looking at Prime for training, and I see you've been successful. What kind of pay have you received during your training up until now?
Congrats! and thanks for any info.
Barry
Actually, they didn't pay Ken at all . . . he had to rent the truck, pay the trainer and mortgage his house to finance his training . . . they are renting him a rig but he has to make a HUGE deposit against damage as they saw him TRY to back a trailer once . . . he's a bit unusual in this whole situation . . . ask him why he had to get 50,000 TNT miles while everyone else only has to do 30,000 . . .
You realize, of course I am only teasing Ken since he's such a good sport . . .
Jopa
. . . and NO I'm not done with the TNT training yet (I'm jealous of Ken) as I have 7,000 more miles to accumulate . . . I'm stuck in Salt Lake City with a bad radiator and am sending this note of appreciation along to Ken via a public access computer at the SLC library . . .
Unlike Arnold, I'm not "Bach" yet . . .
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.
What is involved in this stage of training?
What is involved in this stage of training?
All that witty sarcasm and all you can do is ask an intelligent question? Geez . . .
The PSD (Prime Student Driver) phase gets you enough skill to pass the state DOT test for a CDL-A - in other words just enough knowledge to make you a danger to everyone else on the road . . . (75 hours of drive time with an instructor in the passenger seat the WHOLE time) . . . the TNT phase (not quite sure what that means, maybe Trainer 'n Trainee?) is 30,000 truck miles in a team situation . . . once the trainer gets you as a driver to the point where he can marginally sleep while you drive, you both share driving responsibilities - one driving while the other (hopefully ) sleeps . . . all of the miles driven by the truck count towards the 30,000 miles required for you to demonstrate the skill set necessary to be trusted with your own rig . . . the idea is that you also get enough training in the BUSINESS side of things to survive by your wits once you DO get your own rig . . . you go back to the main terminal and do more computer and simulator training and testing . . . then you get to go out and make your OWN mistakes . . .
This is of course how it works for Prime, Inc. No idea what other companies do . . .
Jopa
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
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.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
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.
Ken, I'm a newby here. 56 years old, and haven't driven trucks in over 30 years. I'm looking at Prime for training, and I see you've been successful. What kind of pay have you received during your training up until now?
Congrats! and thanks for any info.
Barry
Hi Barry...Jopa pretty much summed it up exactly like it is....In the TNT training phase you are getting $600 a week and if you have a Good TNT Trainer like mine was they will usually add in some extra mileage pay and a few meals along the way. My Trainer would always stop at the Taco Trucks and buy us some Killer Mexican Food which I really enjoyed....Only thing California is good for...:)
I like Prime and am sure you will too even though things can get a little unorganized around here it's a solid company with lots of freight so you can stay busy and make some money once you get finished training.
The Training takes anywhere from 2 to 4 months with some folks needing a little more
Ken C
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.
What do you earn before the TNT phase? The $600 sounds great though!
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.
What do you earn before the TNT phase? The $600 sounds great though!
You dont get paid during the PSD phase but you can get $200 advances each week until you get your CDL A that Prime Inc. will take out of your check @ $25 a week once you in TNT
Ken C.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
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.
Thanks Ken. That was the part I was unclear about. Sounds like a great program!
Ken, congrats man. Good luck on the road.
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Started my upgrade classes on Monday and finished the last of the CBT's tonight...I'm just waiting on a truck and a DM...:) It took me 3 months to complete PSD and TNT training here at Prime Inc and it's been fun plus I learned how to run hard, the right way. I'm starting as a Company Driver and will see how it goes for a while and then might want to try my hand at training here at Prime Inc..
Ken C
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
Dm:
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.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
On-the-Road Instruction / 10,000 Miles
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.