Question About Prime Inc One Year Contract
Topic 21188 | Page 1
Hi and welcome! prime like any company will give you the physicals during orientaton. usually the second day is filled with drug tests and physicals. You will.not even be able to get your permit if you cannot pass the physical and you will be sent home. ill be honest the contracts can change from.year to year. what mine said two years ago is different than newer drivers.
the best thing to.do is ask a recruiter. they can email.you a copy. mine said that i was responsible.for the schooling from the time i got my permit (PSD). If you can't pass the written test you will be sent home in orientation. If i quit, failed the driving test, or was sent home for safety issues etc, i was on the hook....which is the same as if you sign up for a local school. (at least in my area).
My PSD entailed me driving 10k miles with a trainer sitting next to me. after i tested...and i failed backing once and driving twice...i became an employee that day. i was told if i failed a third time, MO law would.not allow.me.to.test again, but i could go home and test, then return to work off the contract. I never paid a payment for schooling, Ive been here 2 years last month. The start of my 1 yr employment was the day i got the CDL--- meaning my two months of team training (TnT) was included.
my contract was prorated, if i stayed from the first day with my CDL the whole.year, i paid nothing. if i stayed 6 months, i owed half. stayed 9 momths i owed 1/4. my friends contract said she was responsible for the full balance even if she quit at 9.months.
READ what you are signing because most people didnt. i did.
good luck!
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.
TWIC:
Transportation Worker Identification Credential
Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.
Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
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.
Hi Alycia, welcome to the forum.
I signed on with Prime in December of last year, and my contract is worded as follows:
A- if prior to the start of any instruction an applicant is rejected by Prime, this agreement will be considered null and void and no program fees shall be assessed in his slash her behalf.
B- the Trainee may cancel this agreement within 7 calendar days of entering the program following orientation.
C- should the trainee withdraw or be discontinued at any time after midnight on the 7th day, and prior to one year after completing the training program, the training shell exercise full value of the full program fee amount of $4375 any finance charges.
So the way I see it you have the week of orientation, plus an additional seven days to make-or-break, so to speak, before the contract is binding.
And like Rainy said, you become an employee the day you test out for your CDL following PSD.
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.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
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.
There was someone on here and for the life of me cannot remember who, that was doing CDL school as a couple in order to team. It wasn't Prime that they went to. One passed, the other one didn't and was let go while the one who passed was held to the contract.
Again, this WAS NOT Prime. You need to ask Prime directly to determine how something like this might affect you. Company Sponsored schools are awesome, but in your case, I almost think I'd get prehires from multiple teaming companies and either pay out right or finance tuition at a private school that won't let either of you go until you pass everything.
I believe I've heard that Swift will do some type of thing allowing a 2 for one deal on training and allow a spouse to go through then train their partner, so you might inquire with them also.
I really wish we could be more help but it's a unique situation that many of us did not encounter in our own journey into trucking.
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.
Prehire:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
Prehires:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Thank you everyone. Your input is really helpful to our decision making process. We appreciate it greatly.
Hi Alycia M. I asked the head of Prime’s Security Dept. He said he’d look up your hubby’s record & let you know if this would be an issue. Instead of me being an intermediary, I’ll tell you what he needs & get you his contact info.
Hi Alycia M. I asked the head of Prime’s Security Dept. He said he’d look up your hubby’s record & let you know if this would be an issue. Please contact me at reynrod@hotmail.com. Instead of me being an intermediary, I’ll tell you what he needs & get you his contact info.
Thank you so much. We just basically need to know if we are barking up the wrong tree. I will send you my email.
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Hey all, My husband and I are looking to go to prime cdl school next year to become team drivers . We have read many posts on the forum and have learned quite a bit on what to expect from prime. Our question is this: At what point does the one year contract kick in? During PSD ? After PSD when you pass your driving test? Our only concern is that if one of us can't pass medical or other tests early on, the other will owe the schooling fee. We have no interest in running solo, only teaming, together. We just don't want to add to the scary risk of quitting our management jobs to do this, and then have to owe for schooling in addition if one of us can't pass. We are both commited responsible mature people, hence wanting to make sure we understand how the contract works. Haven't seen this question so far, so any help would be appreciated. Thanks guys and gals!
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
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