Prime PSD Training, From A Trainer's Perspective.
Topic 25397 | Page 32
40 Days, how is your training going?
40Days and I were literally just a few days and one toothache away from him getting on my truck to complete PSD training. Timing is everything, and it just wasn't there this time.
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.
40Days and I were literally just a few days and one toothache away from him getting on my truck to complete PSD training. Timing is everything, and it just wasn't there this time.
That's why I am starting way early to prepare for making the leap. Losing weight, working out, doing the High Road Training Program, learning from experienced drivers, and watching my blood pressure to avoid a situation where my blood pressure is 160/100 in orientation.
And hoping to get a good trainer. I am less concerned about PSD and more hopeful to get a good trainer for TNT. It seems like the quality of the trainer makes the most difference in the TNT phase. My PSD trainer will just teach me how to pass the test, maybe a little about securement.
If I can get a good TNT trainer, I think that will make a huge difference when I go solo. In fact, after rereading your training diary, I was thinking about working with my TNT trainer on a schedule so that after I drive through the night, I can stay awake long enough to drive into the receiver and deliver the load before I'm so exhausted I can't keep my eyes open.
I don't want to just drive and sleep. My preference would be that I would do essentially everything, under the guidance of an experienced flatbedder and that my TNT trainer would the "steering wheel holder" during the day.
I think that you mentioned you would probably prefer TNT because that's where you can really teach the job skills.
As far as time frame, right now I am planning on starting at Prime on April 1. Lots of time between now and then.
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.
My training is going great after a law change and going home to retake permit. Got a new trainer to redo PSD should be able to test next week. He said he will take me through TNT training. Like my new trainer he is clean we shower daily gave me half the space in his refrigerator and a cubby for my food and personal effects. Eating clean yeah!! We get along well from close to same home area same values and views. Would have been great to train with Turtle the geo caching sounds fun. Everything happens for a reason and the good lord will see me where I need to be. As always safe travels and may the miles come easy.
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.
My training is going great after a law change and going home to retake permit. Got a new trainer to redo PSD should be able to test next week. He said he will take me through TNT training. Like my new trainer he is clean we shower daily gave me half the space in his refrigerator and a cubby for my food and personal effects. Eating clean yeah!! We get along well from close to same home area same values and views. Would have been great to train with Turtle the geo caching sounds fun. Everything happens for a reason and the good lord will see me where I need to be. As always safe travels and may the miles come easy.
40 Days, sounds great.
Do you plan to keep a training diary on here? It would be great to follow your training at Prime.
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.
Kinda late in the game to start one up. Plus training is long, exhausting, and stressful. I really don't know how the people who made one kept up with themselves and this amazing and trying journey and found leftover energy to do it. I truly salute and admire those who did. As a hopeful that was inspiring at the very least Thank you Turtle for taking that time and energy. And thank you Brett for giving us as much honesty and fact based expectations as possible. Nothing can fully prepare you for this journey but this site gives us a leg up on competition. Out of 100 in my orientation class I think 10 are left now.
Dm:
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.HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
It seems like the quality of the trainer makes the most difference in the TNT phase. My PSD trainer will just teach me how to pass the test, maybe a little about securement.
I get the gist of what you're saying. However, don't underestimate the importance of the PSD phase. You have to crawl before you can walk.
In addition to learning how to pass the test, you're thrust into a crash course of how to handle an 80,000 pound rig in a real-world environment. You absolutely have to be in the right frame of mind to keep your cool in any situation. A good trainer, although appearing relaxed, is hyper vigilant in watching and assessing your traits as a driver, and modifying teaching points on the fly.
PSD is vital to your long term success. Good habits learned there will carry into your every day routine going forward. Bad habits can end a career prematurely. Without the basic fundamentals taught by a quality trainer, you'll enter the field without the skills you need.
TNT is definitely geared towards honing your driving skills, while also paying special attention to the business end of how to be a safe, efficient, productive truck driver. Lots of opportunity there to really learn the tips and tricks. Yes, I could really dig in and teach some good stuff there. Stuff that just can't be explained here in print.
As is always the case, the majority of your real learning will come after you go solo. It's on you then, and you have to come up with ways that work for you and your style. What works in TNT team driving doesn't always work when solo.
You'll get plenty of opportunities to load and unload at customers. Sometimes it'll be during your shift. Other times your trainer will wake you up to see a certain securement technique. Yet other times you'll wake up to find you've already unloaded/reloaded and are now 500 miles away from where you went to sleep. The appointment times will fluctuate from mornings to evenings. I won't lie, it'll be a crazy time full of ups and downs. Part of your trainer's job will be to keep you rested and focused.
I have no doubt you'll do well. All of the research you're doing now will be a great help when the time comes. It'll get very real, very soon.
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.
However, don't underestimate the importance of the PSD phase. You have to crawl before you can walk.
I need to get better at phrasing my posts.
I don't intend to underestimate the PSD phase. I plan to take each phase seriously and develop the best skills I can in each phase. It's just that if I have the choice between a better trainer in PSD or TNT phase, I'd rather have the better trainer in TNT phase.
Thanks for the feedback.
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.
Rob, don't make the mistake of placing too much importance on the quality of the trainer. I had a lousy trainer. I just needed a chance to get my foot in the door. Even a bad trainer can do that for you.
Sure, having a great trainer would be nice, but don't let it be a line in the sand.
Check out the advice and information contained in this article...
What Should I Expect To Learn From My Trainer?
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.
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Hahaha. I think a few of us tried that myself included. Turtle you are just popular. Love it. Keep trucking I will probably run into you again. Sitting in Takoma WA now.