My Prime PSD Experience
Topic 10524 | Page 14
Hi Jason,
Prime recruiters usually tell drivers to expect to be out for at least 6 weeks before going home. it takes one week orientation, and 2 weeks PSD and testing. Then TnT. So a few weeks into TnT expect to go home.
Home time can depend on your trainer or what you work out with your Fleet Manager.
For example, i decided to take my vacation from 12/24 to 12/31. i dropped my TnT off in MS on 12/21. by the time i am able to get to MS to get him it will probably be 1/3 or so.
Training if you do PSD is 30,000 team miles which is usually about 7 to 8 weeks total. If you come with your CDL then you do the 40k.
You will not be able to go home until after you get the CDL and are in TnT for at least a couple weeks.
Trainers will drop the trainee off at a location near the students home and go back and pick them up later.
There are a few truck stops and walmart on I75 near jackson if that is close to you.
Once you get your truck and go solo, it is usually a week or two before you get home.
explain to your TnT trainer when you need to get home and why. they can work.it out.
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.
Fleet Manager:
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
- 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 for the quick response. Hopefully all my W2's will show up by the first 'break' and I can get my taxes done too!
Trying to get all the distractions covered before I start the big adventure; but there's always something.
Update to anyone reading:
I am still with Prime. I have successfully completed 3 years of safe solo driving and 3 years of On Time Delivery. In the last 18 months, three TNT trainees have completed a total of 104,000 miles and upgraded from my truck to become awesome drivers. There were a couple who did not finish training due to not being ready for the OTR lifestyle.
The following link gives figures for my pay for rhe first two years so you can see how my pay increased over time.
The following link goes to my various blog articles here on Trucking Truth. I have tried to write articles that would be both inspire and prepare you for the training experience and lifestyle. Various topics include what you need to know or need before you go to school, dealing with teaming and training, sexism and gender issues, as well as examples of what makes trucking unique.
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.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
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.
New Reply:
New! Check out our help videos for a better understanding of our forum features
Preview:
This topic has the following tags:
Henderson Prime Inc Advice For New Truck Drivers Becoming A Truck Driver CDL Training Company Sponsored CDL Training Dispatcher Issues Free CDL Training Leasing A Truck On The Road In Training Reports From CDL Training Safe Driving Tips Truck Driver Training Truck Driving Lifestyle
Why Join Trucking Truth?
- The High Road Training Program
- The High Road Article Series
- The Friendliest Trucker's Forum Ever!
- Email Updates When New Articles Are Posted
Apply For Paid CDL Training Through TruckingTruth
Did you know you can fill out one quick form here on TruckingTruth and apply to several companies at once for paid CDL training? Seriously! The application only takes one minute. You will speak with recruiters today. There is no obligation whatsoever. Learn more and apply here:
TT On Facebook
Have a question for any Prime Driver/Trainer about home-time during training.
My Dentist screwed up an extraction last week, etc... In short doesn't look like they'll be getting my permanent 'bridge' back from the lab until after I've left for training. I've already paid my $100 and locked in a start date for January 21st. Bus leaves on the 19th. I don't want to push that back, but I also have to return to get the bridge installed. I live outside Atlanta, GA.
There's nothing in the documentation/orientation about home time from the first day of Orientation until you Upgrade and get your own truck. That said I'm pretty sure it's going to take 3? months (PSD/TNT) to drive 40K miles? Assume I would get time off when my trainer does...or do trainees go non-stop until the mileage quota is fulfilled?
How does home time work if you don't have your own truck yet...and don't live next to the terminal? Curious.
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.
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.