Why I Quit Prime's TNT Program

I apologize for leaving that NSFW link above. I was trying to make the point that for being such a tough guy, OP is kind of sensitive, but that wasn't the best way to do it. I should have simply suggested that he re-read Marcus Aurelius to help him gain mastery over his hurt feelings.

As G-Town and Old School said, trucking clearly wasn't for him. For OP, it's boring, and we're a bunch of losers.

But for those who are considering a career in trucking, there is another point to be made that hasn't really come to the fore. Is it possible that you will get stuck in a tin can with a smelly person who eats strange food and is exploiting you for evil capitalist gain while you are apprenticed to learning a new trade? Will you really be trapped?

First of all, at Prime anyway, you are not "stuck" with a trainer. When you are in orientation, trainers will interview you, and you will interview them. You can decide not to get on the truck with a trainer you're not comfortable with.

Second, if you have been out on the road for a few weeks and old smelly breath is really getting to you and you're not learning anything, you can talk to your dispatcher and the folks in training to let them know your concerns and to request a new trainer. Sure, we encourage you to stick it out if you can, but if it's really that bad (and sometimes it is), you have options.

OP said as much in his update. He got a new trainer at Prime, and learned more in a week than he had in two months with the first guy. But his lack of initiative and communication up the chain of command made him feel trapped, until he came here to whine and then was apparently prodded into action by our lack of sympathy.

There was a certain passivity there that will not serve a person well in the trucking business. Note that OP accused us of being too accepting and passive. But he had not even talked to anyone at Prime about changing his situation and came in guns blazing saying basically that Prime's training program is broken and that he didn't need all that training to be successful.

Apparently he was right in the limited sense that he was able to get his CDL and go solo sooner with another company. But he also washed out in well under a year, and feels so insecure about it that he has to tell us all kinds of irrelevant stuff about his background and education and then insult those who like trucking and are truly successful at it, making a living year after year instead of retiring at 47.

I appreciate his service (if he really did serve, which I somewhat doubt, since I haven't come across any retired officers who served in an elite unit like the Airborne Rangers who are as whiny as OP), but that is irrelevant here.

The bottom line is he couldn't hack trucking. though.) Even if it was too boring, that doesn't amount to anything more than he couldn't hack the job. Fine. No shame. Lots of people can't.

But don't come here and poison the attitudes of people for whom trucking might be the solution to a lot of practical problems, since it has a relatively low barrier to entry and yet pays well.

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.

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.

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.

You can talk to your fleet manager or Chris Martin who is in charge of TNT training.

Hit me up at truckingalongfun@gmail.com.

Santoy, I’m not with Prime so this is really none of my business. BUT…… why would you try to stick it out with your sorry excuse of a trainer? Your training is too important to be compromised in this way. Cut your losses and insist on a new trainer. If what you say is true, that guy wouldn’t last a day on Kearsey’s truck.

Sorry if my comment is out of line. It’s your decision to make.

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.

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

This is a common feeling amongst new drivers, and it's quite understandable. It would be nice to learn how to do anything that's complex and dangerous in a safe and relaxed environment where you have all the time and help you need.

Unfortunately, employees in the trucking industry mostly receive on-the-job training, which means you're in a competitive environment where the work must get done, so time is not always available to take things slowly.

This is such a common sentiment that I recorded a podcast about it:

Episode 5: Why Is Truck Driver Training Done In Such A Rush?

If you can't listen to it, the transcript is on the page for you to read as well.

Santoy, you are not riding with a trainer. You have been driving for a lazy driver who likes the training money and wants you to do the part he doesn't want to do (drive at night).

The training system allows your trainer to team drive but he gets all the mileage pay while the company pays you for getting trained. (I don't with for Prime. I may be wearing about the training system.)

A trainer is there to train you, not for you to be his assistant. If he won't let you back the truck you are getting the short end of the stick. How can you do the hardest part of driving without learning how to back from an experienced driver?

Please let the training office know that your trainer is not training you.

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!