Prime Inc Paid CDL Training

Hello everyone! My name is Kodi, I'm currently in Prime's Student Driver orientation, it's currently day 3 and I'm very happy with this school. For those that have attended this program or those that currently work here I would like to ask a couple questions. First, as a company flatbed driver do I get to pick my truck? Second, are there any stick flatbed trainers on here?

Kodi

If you want quicker responses ask your questions in then general discussion tab. We have many PRIME drivers, and at least 1 PRIME trainer very active on here.

Safe Travels Chris

No as a company driver you do not pick your truck. you can choose lightweight or condo...they say you need approval, but all you need to do is ask for the condo.

most company drivers are in either international lightweights or cascadia. that doesnt mean you wont get a Pete turned in by a lease op. but it is highly unlikely.

Also the fleet is now 65% automatic. what is left of the manuals will be exchanged by the end of the year for company drivers but lease ops could have theirs another year or two....unless they purchased them.

I dont know of any FB trainers here. Turtle might know?

No as a company driver you do not pick your truck. you can choose lightweight or condo...they say you need approval, but all you need to do is ask for the condo.

most company drivers are in either international lightweights or cascadia. that doesnt mean you wont get a Pete turned in by a lease op. but it is highly unlikely.

Also the fleet is now 65% automatic. what is left of the manuals will be exchanged by the end of the year for company drivers but lease ops could have theirs another year or two....unless they purchased them.

I dont know of any FB trainers here. Turtle might know?

Thanks for all the info!

I know you dont want the restrictions on your CDL , but...something to consider...when you upgrade to solo, if you trained in a stick then get an automatic you will have to learn by yourself how to drive that thing. sounds eady, but after 3 months of a manual, and being nervous about being solo u will be overwhelmed.

Poor Splitter just did TnT with me and trained completelt on the stick. now hes in an auto. they have a quick class but id rather train on what i was going to drive.

Yeah, never thought I’d say this but I miss your manual. I’ve watched the video 2X already & will probably watch it a few more times to really ingrain the different features & functions of the auto. The only plus in my auto, no grinding gears!! Ha!

Yeah, never thought I’d say this but I miss your manual. I’ve watched the video 2X already & will probably watch it a few more times to really ingrain the different features & functions of the auto. The only plus in my auto, no grinding gears!! Ha!

Yes because Do Real Truckers Drive Automatics? Good Blog article by Old School.

Initially when I began to drive Auto-Shift trucks, I thought the same thing. Three years later? Not so much anymore. Once you master it, and you will, chances are you may eventually feel the same way.

For me is not about the real driver thing...its about change and control. i know what this truck can do. im still scared of the auto....but it is coming quickly....september at the lastest

Yeah, never thought I’d say this but I miss your manual. I’ve watched the video 2X already & will probably watch it a few more times to really ingrain the different features & functions of the auto. The only plus in my auto, no grinding gears!! Ha!

Yes because Do Real Truckers Drive Automatics? Good Blog article by Old School.

Initially when I began to drive Auto-Shift trucks, I thought the same thing. Three years later? Not so much anymore. Once you master it, and you will, chances are you may eventually feel the same way.

Thanks GTown. When this sucker revs the jakes to between 1700 & 2200 rpms, it freaks me out. I’m in a lightweight that’s only getting 8.7 mpg. I’m guessing it’s from all the over revving. I’m trying to catch it sooner to where it keeps the speed without high rpms. I’m still at the one day at a time mode.

For me is not about the real driver thing...its about change and control. i know what this truck can do. im still scared of the auto....but it is coming quickly....september at the lastest

Hey Rainy.

There is no doubt in my mind that you will tame this beast too! 👍😜

For what it's worth, let me add my $0.02 to the wise words from Old School and the debate in general....

Personally, I believe that whether you drive a manual or autoshift truck is as relevant to whether you can be considered a 'proper driver' as is the color of the paint on the wagon!!

Surely, being a 'professional' or 'real driver' is far more related to safety and efficiency of operation, on time delivery and overall attitude than the mechanics of the vehicle that you happen to be using?

The dinosaur 'super truckers' that blow by you at 80mph with clouds of black smoke billowing from the straight stacks, getting 4 mpg are just that; dinosaurs. They're a dying breed.... and even if they secretly know it; they just won't accept it!

The future belongs to the kids learning today...they will, as they gain experience, deliver the same loads for less fuel, less pollution and less noise than previous generations.

My experience with manual and autoshift trucks (approximately 5 years in each) has taught me that, driven properly, the autoshift vehicle is equally as controllable as the manual. The only difference is that the clutch/gear selector is electronically controlled rather than wiggling about a big old stick! lol

To my way of thinking, there are two modes of operation in the auto..... PHD mode and Driver controlled mode.

My current teammate drives in the former and I tend to drive in the latter....unless I know that I am getting tired and need to totally concentrate on being safe. The results, at least in relation to mpg, speak for themselves. My daily, weekly and monthly mpg figures are always between .8 and 1.2 mpg better than Chris's. Partly this is due to his inexperience and, to my way of thinking, overly aggressive throttle and brake usage. But a large part of it is simply because he does nothing but 'put it in drive and let it go!'. lol

Now; I know that I am obsessive about data collection and fuel usage etc.; but, to me that's part of being a professional....efficiency counts. 😜

So; I use the gear selector constantly to shift up and down as I'm looking at the road ahead. The electronic programming of these units is generally pretty good. But they cannot see the road ahead and have the vehicle at the optimum gear/speed/rpm range until the sensors detect the change of speed/momentum of the vehicle. This means that there is an inevitable lag in shifting gears and keeping the truck at the correct rpm/speed range. I'm sure that in your manual truck you have the gear and speed where you want them when approaching a long gentle climb? Well, my argument is that is no different in the auto shift. I don't wait for it to start slowing down...sense that slow down...shift gears (more slowing down while it does so) and then accelerate to try to hold the desired speed. I will pre-emptively select the desired gear at the appropriate speed to hold it where it needs to be. I have shown Chris numerous times that this can actually result In a small increase in mpg, even climbing a hill!!

This is just one example... I could go on and on and on.....as Chris says i do... lol But i won't.

Basically, even in an auto shift, you are still in complete control....if you choose to be.

For Chris....it's a bit too much to learn and concentrate on....fair enough. PHD mode also works pretty darn well. But he will never achieve his stated goal of beating my mpg!! Lol

As ever Miss D, I'm sure you will be the master of the beast.....just give it a little while 👍😜