Profile For Santoy W.

If u email.me.i will give u my phone number and give you an easy understanding of how to back. I used it on over 100 students. Both PSD and TNT.

I even have a Prime packet that discusses the macros, prime procedures, weights, tandems, policies. I have a discord group for Prime newbies so they can all help.each other 24/7. I have google maps of truck parking and hotels with truck parking.

Do you want help or do you just want to vent and complain? I can "train" you over the phone.

But YOU have to make a first step.

Yes I would love your help. I really wanna be the best driver I can be. What’s your email?

Santoy,

Think about what you are saying. You are going to ask for a new trainer because, in your opinion, 6 months isn’t enough experience to train people. Who do you think decided that your trainer was qualified to train people? Prime! Do you think they didn’t realize he completed his own TNT 6 months ago?

My flatbed TNT trainer had a little more experience than yours: a whopping year before he started training. And I was his first student.

Also, as I mentioned in my prior post, I didn’t go out with anyone to train for tanker.

You didn’t answer my question about your tanker division. If you are in the inedible division, I offered to help you. That offer still stands. Of course, you can refuse my offer and make your own decisions.

However, I can tell you something very definite about Prime. You’re not going to convince them that their policies and procedures are wrong. You’ll only become frustrated and most likely alienate many people in the process. Your move.

I’m in the refer division out of Salt Lake City Utah. If I saw that he had skills like your trainer probably had, then it would be no problem. If other drivers have to get in his truck and back for him. (On two occasions in 2 weeks) how can he teach me backing? Did you trainer make you drive only at night? Because he said he doesn’t drive at night. If you show me you have skills, no problem, but if you ALWAYS have issues when it comes to backing up. Then I would like someone who can show me properly. When I’m solo, I won’t have people to back my truck up for me. And I hate being rushed with everything even using the bathroom.

First, while you suggest that you are in TNT in the Primer tanker division, is that the case? If so, are you in edible or inedible?

I’m a Prime tanker driver in the inedible division. After two years in the flatbed division, I switched to tanker in July 2022.

I think you need to lower your expectations are far as training.

I just want someone who can take their time and show me how to do things the right way.

Yeah, and people in hell want ice water.

You need to be realistic about your training. While you complain about your trainer, is he competent, meaning does he pick up loads, drive to the shipper, without hitting more than a few things along the way, and deliver the load to the shipper? If so, you can learn something by observing him accomplish those tasks. You say he doesn’t back, but I don’t know how he accomplishes the necessary tasks of the job without backing. And if he had another driver back up his truck, I think his days with Prime are numbered.

As far as learning tanker, the only training I had before I started pulling tankers was Prime’s tanker boot camp. And right out of the gate they sent me to places where even experienced tanker drivers didn’t know what to do, like pumping on from a rail car. I’ve done just fine.

If your trainer is a “cool guy” meaning, that you can get along with him, I would stick with him. If you switch trainers, you could get somebody who is very knowledgeable but an *******. Moreover, if you’re in the tanker division, it’s unlikely there is another trainer available. If he’s in the inedible division, I wouldn’t call his fleet manager. If in anyway, you want to move this up the chain of command, I know all the people in the inedible division and I can help you.

As far as being rushed, push back. While you are behind the wheel, take the time you need. Prime will support you with the “I’m the captain of my ship” mentality. My PSD and TNT trainer would rush me and it took me a long time to deprogram myself from that bad habit. If you have any sort of expectation of a long career in trucking, rushing will only result in blemishes on your record that will limit your options. Don’t do it.

As far as pre-trip, you must somehow transition from him driving to you driving. I’m assuming you don’t switch seats while the truck is moving. Simply say you need to use the restroom, get coffee, or whatever. Then turn on the “light check” switch when you get out of the truck, walk around the truck and at least look at the tires. Later, during your drive shift, such as your 30-minute break, do a more thorough inspection of the truck and trailer.

So I should just stick it out with a trainer who I found out, just finished his TNT training 6 months ago. So 6 months is long enough to be a trainer. Would you want me on the road with you after being trained by a guy with only 6 months experience? Let’s be honest here!

Personally, I do not like lease operators training future company drivers. Most lease operators run on thin margins and becoming a trainer is a easy way to put extra money in their pocket. Unfortunately it leads to many people who shouldn't be trainers teaching new drivers and since their hearts aren't in it they just don't seem to care.

Just try to stick it out to the end, it sounds like you are learning something which is what's important. Plus you never know your next trainer might be worse.

Can’t be worse than my trainer. He’s always in a rush. Doesn’t teach me things the proper way. He’s only been a driver for 6 months. I’m requesting a new trainer. Someone with more knowledge. And doesn’t treat me like I’m just some extra money because he say he’s a “hustler” I thought trainers were passionate about teaching. But I guess I was wrong. Because he just wants to keep his truck moving. People say “stick with it”! But would you wanna be on the road with someone who was trained by a driver with only 6 months experience. And he can’t back up if his life depended on it. On two occasions, another driver had to get in his truck and back it for him. But I’m supposed to not ask for a new trainer? What am I learning from a novice?

He told me that I would not be backing up while I’m training. He got upset when I did a straight line back when he was asleep. Thank you. I’m gonna try to stick it out with him. But I don’t feel like he’s teaching me, rather than keeping his truck moving.

Hello Santoy. I have been a company (not lease) driver, TNT trainer and PSD Instructor here at Prime for over 8 years. You will absolutely make money at prime as a company driver.

You could say something like, "I want to follow your advice and become a lease op. Since Prime can revoke the contract due to failure comply to DOT regulations, i want to make sure I do a thorough PTI. I wouldnt want you to lose the money you invested in the truck." Or.. "i just want to make sure I catch issues before they get bad. I wouldnt want you to have to pay for our hotel rooms if the truck needed to be shopped for a week or so. I am trying to save you money".

Never feel bad about a trainer. This is your life and livelihood. He needs money because he is lease and rates are down, costs are up. His choice. After you upgrade, you may never talk to him again. He was a stranger before he met you.

As for backing... why is he backing? Ask to do all of the backing yourself. That is the only way you will learn.

There are a few of us Primates here for you.

Have to reply to a couple of your statements. TNT is 30k miles, unless you're going tanker, where the miles are much needed I think. Running as a team, which is how TNT is supposed to be run, you should be able to do it in about 8 weeks, give or take. If you're not running team miles, your trainer isn't "making money" off you. Your pay comes our of the trucks settlement. So if you're only running 3-4k a week, then your trainer is losing money.

As for learning this job in 5k miles, that's a scary statement! Especially in tankers. There's no way to even scratch the surface in that amount of miles, or even 40k miles.

I do wish you good luck in wherever you end up.

I’m in my TNT phase with prime. My trainer is a cool person, just not really an experienced driver. I’ve had to get out and spot him every time he had to back into a spot, no matter how many open spaces were beside him. At one point, another driver from a different company had to get in his truck and back it in for him. He only wants me to drive at night, because he said he doesn’t do night driving. He’s a cool person, but he’s leasing and it seems like he wants the extra money. His last trainee quit on him. I would feel bad requesting a new trainer, because I feel like I’m always being rushed. And he’s telling me I won’t make any money unless I lease. I just want someone who can take their time and show me how to do things the right way. He gets upset because I wanna do a pretrip inspection. He says it’s a waste of time. Any advice?