5 Weeks Into Prime PSD Training. Frustrated, Unsure, Going Broke.
Topic 26587 | Page 1
Dont give up! Sure its unexpected and anytime your family struggles financially or other ways as a husband or father we feel the need to fix it. You've already come so far, you're almost done with this phase. Soon you will be making atleast the $700 a week minimum, and even more after your TNT training. If you leave now you'll owe Prime for your training and in the future you will have a harder time finding someone to accept you into their program as you already threw the towel in once. This Is a perfect example of how much we stress being 100% committed. I completely understand being worried about money. When I got into the industry I was the only one working in my household with 2 kids at the time (1.5 years and 4 months), and left a job where I was making atleast 1200 a week. The time I was in school the company that sponsored me paid me 600 a week. Thankfully my hotel was paid for but meals came out of pocket. I ate quite a bit of mcdonalds for the dollar menu as my hotel room didnt have even a microwave. I also had to drive home on weekends (170 miles each way)as they wouldn't cover the cost for weekends. I ultimately called the bank and got a deferment (payment pushed to back of loan) on my car and took some money out of my 401k. I was under a tremendous amount of stress but I used that to push me to pass on my first try and start making "real" money.
We get it, almost all of us have gotten into the industry with financial problems. Hang in there, it will get better. Have you taken advantage of the $200 a week advance you pay back later to help out a little?
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.
If you can pass all three the first day you get a $250 bonus. Then the $700 per week kicks in.
Read this link and have your wife read it too. Negotiate with any bill collectors, giving SOME money is better than not paying or being late and if you officially change your payment amounts or get deferments, it doesnt affect your credit.
Budgeting Tips for CDL & Training
Hang in there, keep calm and test your butt off. As stated, it is better to push forward than try somewhere else. You will look like a quitter, and honestly, Prime has rhe top training pay and starting pay for drivers. You will have an easier time getting out from under it than starting at lower pay.
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.
When I left for CFI's paid training I was on unemployment. Thankfully my wife was working at the time and we had some money saved. Why is it taking you so long in PSD? It is in your best interest to stick to this. Good luck.
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.
I have not given up just frustrated. I have wanted to be a trucker since I was 8 years old. Had no debt when I arrived I do use the $200 allowance sparingly as that is debt. Was ready to test 3 weeks ago. Had saved and had a plan for a month. That is what I was informed would be max out with no pay. Just ready to have that a shiny new CDL A not the plain old class B I have had for years. I feel you, I guess if it wasn't one of the biggest struggles in life you guys wouldn't be so proud of what you do. Just having doubts. Wouldn't leave unless wife started selling my guns and guitars then I have real issues.
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.
Sounds like others have struggled way more than me now I feel bad worrying so much. Should rephrase no bill collectors on my back going broke means savings depleting don't worry she took care of that when she sold my car. She was tired of starting it every few days anyway. I know Prime is a good company I just started at wrong time. Talked to someone who started orientation a week after me and has their CDL and in TNT. Thats what bugs me. Wont give in promise.
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.
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.
Everyone's training is completely different, so do not compare it. I did 1 week orientation, 3 weeks PSD 1 week of testing cause i kept failing. And I was so broke i couldn't afford the lawyer to go bankrupt with $70,000 in debt. 2 years later that was GONE!!!!
It gets better. and if you are nervous about the test, i wrote an article here and did a YouTube video on my testing... YIKES! concentrate on learning, atleast until she tries to sell the guitars. lol
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.
He probably got caught in the law changing with the permits. He had started psd then had to get a permit from his state and redo psd. Just remember everything u are learning will help U get through Tnt. Once u get routed back to terminal u will test within a few days pass and u will start getting a pay check and of course if u pass all three on test day u will get a 250 bonus. Frustration is really part of the job. I’m very serious about that learn to handle it! Tomorrow is always a new day!
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
- 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 wanna see the video now. Probably cheer me up. Link? Will find your article on here and read it. Love the stuff that lady Rainy used to post. And yes was ready to test weeks ago now its like this looming cloud I wanna see but hope it doesn't storm. Too much time to think about messing it up. Auto fail rings in my head. Know pretrip by heart. Not much pad time to learn points. Lots of road time though so I have that at least.
Kinda wanna see the video now. Probably cheer me up. Link? Will find your article on here and read it. Love the stuff that lady Rainy used to post. And yes was ready to test weeks ago now its like this looming cloud I wanna see but hope it doesn't storm. Too much time to think about messing it up. Auto fail rings in my head. Know pretrip by heart. Not much pad time to learn points. Lots of road time though so I have that at least.
I am "that lady Rainy". lol and thank you! I used a fake name to write my novels years ago, and used my dogs name for forums. I never expected to be here 4 years!!! Last month instarted a youtube channel so i switched this profile to Kearsey (my real name) for sanity reasons. I have people calling me by so many names i feel.like Sybil.
the YT link is in my profile. Lots of rookie tips going up there. ;) Even my story of how i failed.
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I am 1 day away from 5 weeks PSD training been driving 11 hours a day for weeks and still have nothing to show for it. Or at least nothing to show wife or kids there will be food on table. Sitting in Maryland hopefully heading to terminal to test later this week but no guarantee. Wondering if I chose right path into trucking. Left a good job wife has now sold my car to pay bills. Expected a month tops but six weeks will make my family suffer too much. Had an unexpected setback with having to redo permit in home state. Laws change I guess but need this to get moving. Should I just go home and work and save money to try with another company? Not sure what to do I have not heard it would ever take this long. Any thoughts or suggestions or maybe company to speed this up so I can feed my family.
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.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