Profile For UpShift

Haha. I'm glad ya'll think SPRIMOlogy is funny 🤣 It makes us feel like a VIP. Lol

Just found out the first class is everyday and starts at 7am in the sim lab. So, get ur FM to route you in and get signed up for classes. Check into Campus Inn and get to class early.

Been awhile since I've posted. I've been TNT since 11/01/16. Just over 3-months with the same trainer as a PSD. The road during TNT has been long and ready to move on. Probably logged more than 50k miles since starting PSD. Winter driving included. No accidents or speeding tickets. I'll post more about TNT soon.

Headed back to Sprimo now. FM is aware of upgrade and routed us back. Thursday will be the first full day I'll be there. Hate to waste these next few days if classes start on Monday.

Anyone know the process to check-in when I get there for upgrading and get scheduled for classes? Go to campus inn 1st talk to staff? Check-in at sim lab and let them know I'm ready for upgrade?

I know this is crazy. But, I want to request another FM. Trying to find out if the school staff can assist.

My 1st 3-loads as TNT were 6,024 loaded miles. 390 empty miles. I'll up date as we go.

I do have some questions regarding Prime in general.

+Bring all your personal shower and hygiene items. There's a Walmart nearby within walking distance of the Campus Inn if you forget something. You'll get $200 spending money after orientation. You'll end up paying this back when you're hired at 0% Zero interest.

1. What items do I need to bring with me for training?

+Your Recruiter will e-mail you a list of what to bring. 7-days worth of clothes. This time of year can range from warm to freezing temps depending where you go. So, bring 7-days worth. There's laundry facilities at campus inn and at the truck stops. I fit everything in a back pack and a large duffle bag including a sleeping bag. There's room for duffle bag in the top bunk where you'll sleep. You'll be living out of it while you're training..

2. If you are a company driver, do you get to drive the tractor home or leave at the terminal?

+Yes, take it home.

3. I need to call the recruiter on Monday, I was wondering if I can drive my personal vehicle to Springfield and have someone else drive it back as I live only 3 hours away from Springfield.

+Ask your recruiter. Why leave it there when you can drive the tractor home? Or leave tractor at the yard and drive your PV home. Most cars left at the yard just sit there and know one ever moves them. A waste IMO.

Good luck in orientation.

All great responses. I wanted to know if there was a catch to TNT that didn't present itself. I'm here for the excellent training provided by my instructor. And get some real winter driving in before I get my own truck. So, this may go on for more than 30k miles or X amount of months.

On the home page of the Prime app. Click the "View Loads" button. Shows each load with loaded and empty miles.

Please explain why and how a TNT trainer is making money on you During the TNT phase. I know they're making a lot more money because the truck never stops. And Prime is paying the students wages $700/wk gross + .14 cents/mile over 5,000 miles while available for dispatch. I've heard trainers may lie about the miles completed and keep you on the truck longer (download the Prime app. and count them yourself) We've only completed about 5k miles in PSD. So, I figure I need 25k more miles to complete my training and upgrade. Winter is coming and I'd like to get winter driving in before I upgrade.

Am I missing something?

It's only been 15-days while training as PSD. My trainer is awesome and only 24-yrs old. He's been with Prime since legal to drive intrastate. He's owned his own truck while pulling tanker and now is a lease operator in a brand new 2017 FL automatic pulling refer because he wanted to train again. I might be his last PSD as he may only do TNT in the future. PSD's can be difficult to handle. Plus, his parents are team with Prime. Goes to show you Prime really is a family based business with the drivers treated as family. I know, I'm new to Prime. But I'm enjoying it so far. He lives in North Carolina and I'm in Texas. So, don't know how my home-time will be taken. Hope to have something figured out by T-givng holiday.

My PSD adventure was eyeopening. We left out of Springfield, Mo with about 42k pds in the box to Orlando, FL. Refer set to 28 degrees roughly. The first night was just trying to get used to the refer kicking on and off. And the APU running all night. Best to get some good ear plugs that are comfortable for you. I'll sleep like a baby with them in my ears. It really feels like your sleeping next to a jet engine starting up.

Driver's comfort is why I choose Prime was for the available tier 1-facilities, APU, bunk heater, and allows pets for extra cost. This truck better feel like home but it feels more like camping in an RV.

Driving cross-country is like an adventure. You never know what will happen. But, you better be prepared. We got stuck in North Carolina while my trainer took 2-days home-time while Hurricane Matthew was headed our way. Our shipper delayed us because they had to shutdown to get there employees home and take care of their families during the flooding. All in all we were stuck there for 5-days and we didn't know when we'd get loaded. Good thing my trainer lived nearby. My trainer put me in a hotel for the 1st 2-days ($102/night), then I slept in the truck at Wally World for a night, I paid for 1-night nearby Wally World in a Extended Stay-Studio with kitchen ($68/night). Once we loaded we made a few more pick-up/deliveries then headed back to Springfield to test out for CDL.

I studied the pre-trip every chance and felt like it I got. My trainer helped me along the way. My trainer drives an automatic so, we had to get into a training pad truck to get the shifting down. You don't want to be tested in an automatic. Because, that will be the only thing you'll be legally able to drive with your CDL. We got back Thursday night. Practiced shifting, backing maneuvers on the exam pad, and studied pre-trip for 2-days. I tested on Sunday morning at 6am and passed all exams the first try. Prime calls it a TRIFECTA. I'll get a $250 bonus and our picture on Prime's facebook page as well as my trainer gets a fat bonus as well. Help pay for that expensive hotel, some dinners, and necessities he paid for :) Great way to thank your trainer for his hard work and dedication to his job.

My backing (straight back, offset passenger side and driver side parallel) was flawless. My in-cab, air-brakes, light check, driver door, and fuel area were flawless. But, my coupling wasn't pretty. If I missed 1-more thing on the coupling I would have failed. I lost focus and forgot what I was inspecting. Best to repeat what your inspecting (coupling) to yourself and take your time and possibly tell the examiner you want to start the coupling over from the beginning.

Onto TNT phase with the same trainer. I plan on staying on trainers truck through winter to get snow and icy conditions training. Stay tuned!!

I passed the required CDL permit multiple choice exams. I used the computer so I could skip questions and come back to them later. Less chance of making a mistake. Or you can take the paper exam for ya'll old school traditionalists out there.

You'll need to take the general knowledge, combination, air brakes, and tanker. Tanker is the easiest then general knowledge is 2nd easiest. Combination and air brakes tend to be the hardest ones. Because, a lot of the same questions are in both tests. Understand the terms and components they're relating to. Reason the brake chamber and brake valves all have different terms related to the same thing. More trick questions then anything. Dirty! Dirty! Dirty! 😡

I got through orientation week with Prime in Springfield. I can't believe how well this process has been for me. Got matched up with a great trainer Friday afternoon. Already dispatched with a load to Florida with a pre-plan to Ohio.

I have been pulling utility trailers, boats, and 30' travel trailers since my teenage years. It's easier to drive these trucks and trailers when you know the concept. As well as driving a stick shift. You'll need to be coordinated with double clutching, upshifting, and down shifting/skip shifting all while driving.

We've been practicing on the pad bobtail then with the trailer. Then my trainer felt confident of me driving on the road then on the nearby interstate. Nerve racking (you need to have thick skin for this job) but, it was so fun to drive these trucks.

You have so much time out here while delivering and receiving loads. There's always an opportunity to practice your pretrip inspection, driving safe, shifting, and backing. The goal is to pass the CDL driving exam so you can get PAID!!

Can't wait to get through PSD in 2-weeks then on to TNT phase.

I'm in the same situation as Brett. Not married and no kids. I've been in a professional trade for 20-years and deceided enough is enough. I took 2-months to decide if trucking is for me. I watched a lot of YouTube videos, read about trucking, and used all the resources Trucking Truth offers. If it weren't for this website. I'd probably be wasting away trying to figure out what to do with my life and another year added to lease my apartment again.

All in all my lease on my apartment was up and one thing lead to another another. Put my personal effects in a 5'x10' temperature controlled storage unit. Within a weeks time. Then parked my car at my parents house and got on that bus to Springfield, Mo.

From the moment I spoke to a recruiter, got on that bus, getting through orientation, on to delivering my first load as PSD. It was my best decision yet. Sometimes, you just have take the bull by the horns and just do it! Being homeless is just a formality.

"The world is your oyster" GO EXPLORE!!

That's what I did most of my career. I've never been married and don't have any kids so I just travelled for a lot of years. I didn't have a home, nor did I have a vehicle most of the time. I just lived in the truck and spent time off visiting family and friends. It's an excellent way to live and a great way to save up some money.

I agree with the statements above after going through orientation week.

The trinity healthcare nurse from Prime called me and cleared my medications so there isn't any issue with them when I got there. I did receive a 1-yr medical card. My first BP reading was perfect. They will take multiple readings and even lay you down so you can relax.

I suggest a doctor or minute clinic (CVS or Walgreens) to read your BP. They can suggest what needs to happen next. This should be taken very seriously. The BP reading should only be done on your upper left arm as the wrist readers are very inaccurate.

Plus, no issue with the 1.5 yr gap in employment. I gave excellent references and they verified the unemployment.

I took the greyhound bus and arrived Saturday night. Gave me time to rest and to get prepared for orientation to come on Monday 7am. Every step of the way has been great.

Some students don't understand orientation is a week long interview and that you're a guest at Prime. Bring your "A" game and be ready to work for what you want. They will be testing you every step of the way and you won't even realize it.