Orientation With Prime.
Topic 27268 | Page 1
Ahhh, one of my least favorite things about being a truck driver--dealing with the DMV.
Went in a few weeks back to renew my license (because heaven forbid, I can’t do it online or through the mail since I have a cdl). Other than a two hour queue, no problems, until my safety department calls me the next day to tell me I no longer have my hazmat endorsement (which is kind of important since my job is hauling petroleum products). So, another two hour queue and I find out that in this state, if your hazmat has less than two years before renewal when you renew your license, you have to retake the hazmat test in order to keep the endorsement. Seemed like information that would have been handy to been informed of on my first trip, but what do I know? So now, not wanting to wait in line again the next day, I choose to take the hazmat test totally cold with no studying at all. Fun times.
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.
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
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.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
I'm not totally clear on Prime's policy about paying you for something like this. Technically you passed your CDL and are available to drive. Are you being paid as a TNT student while you wait?
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.
If it's out of the trainee's control, Prime pays up to 10 days @ $70 per day. Good luck with your problem DC & you too, andhe78, with your cold HM test.
Yes, I'm supposed to get the 70 per diem pay, but told only during orientation, which was three days, though, technically I am still in orientation, so I have no idea. It's just really unfortunate. I was told by the driving school, they are 45 days behind in license updates. That is very poor in my opinion. I sent an email in to MVR , but not expecting a reply, because; it's Christmas, and it's Missouri.
I'll keep everyone posted on this new journey, which has fought me every step of the way so far.
Merry Christmas everyone!
DC
MVR:
Motor Vehicle Record
An MVR is a report of your driving history, as reported from your state Department of Motor Vehicles. Information on this report may include Drivers License information, point history, violations, convictions, and license status on your driving record.
Per Diem:
Getting paid per diem means getting a portion of your salary paid to you without taxes taken out. It's technically classified as a meal and expense reimbursement.
Truck drivers and others who travel for a living get large tax deductions for meal expenses. The Government set up per diem pay as a way to reimburse some of the taxes you pay with each paycheck instead of making you wait until tax filing season.
Getting per diem pay means a driver will get a larger paycheck each week but a smaller tax return at tax time.
We have a ton of information on our wiki page on per diem pay
D.C., let me clarify. I was held up for 2 weeks at orientation cause the lab f'ed up my drug test. Prime didnt retest me until 2 weeks later. Too much to get into but I was at the terminal the entire time. I showed up every day until I was finally cleared by the 2nd test.
If you aren't at the terminal then you might not qualify for the daily per diem. I'd ask your recruiter to clarify but I do know that they only pay up to 10 days.
Again, good luck & Merry Christmas to you too!
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.
Per Diem:
Getting paid per diem means getting a portion of your salary paid to you without taxes taken out. It's technically classified as a meal and expense reimbursement.
Truck drivers and others who travel for a living get large tax deductions for meal expenses. The Government set up per diem pay as a way to reimburse some of the taxes you pay with each paycheck instead of making you wait until tax filing season.
Getting per diem pay means a driver will get a larger paycheck each week but a smaller tax return at tax time.
We have a ton of information on our wiki page on per diem pay
I've been at the terminal each day, ready for work. Monday I had to do a sleep study, yesterday got results and picked up a CPAP machine, just as soon as I finished that, my license showed up on MVR , so I met my fleet mrg. and on-boarded. Heading off on first run in a few hours. What a whirlwind day yesterday was. Incredible how things can absolutely turn on a dime.
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.
CPAP:
Constant Positive Airway Pressure
CPAP is a breathing assist device which is worn over the mouth or nose. It provides nighttime relief for individuals who suffer from Sleep Apnea.
MVR:
Motor Vehicle Record
An MVR is a report of your driving history, as reported from your state Department of Motor Vehicles. Information on this report may include Drivers License information, point history, violations, convictions, and license status on your driving record.
Looks like you got your Christmas present, DC. Yes, trucking is a 24/7/365 operation. Good luck with your road training. Now you'll put the polish to your school learning. Drive safe!
Update on Training:
So my first week included plenty of driving, getting stuck behind a rollover on a snowy steep hill downgrade mountain road outside Salt Lake City, a lengthy deadhead in the early morning hours to Kuna ID, cray.... A beautiful day of driving through the Tetons with lots of snow, until a the snow gave way to a wonderful drive through to Billings. An overnight into next day road closure through North Dakota I94 east of Bismark near ****inson, and Icy road driving at night going east past Fargo through Minnesota. So, I'm guessing I got my winter cherry broke a little bit! LOL My trainer told me he's been able to sleep a lot better than he has in many months, I guess that's a really good thing, as he trusts this greenhorn behind the wheel apparently. Shippers, receivers, lots of yard work docking, qualcom, fueling, etc.. All in all, a good week. I logged 400+ miles/day avg. with the exception of the 2 rotations of mountains and ice. Now at main terminal Springfield, I should even get a 34 reset as I was off today. Plus I get a holiday drive bonus! Tomorrow looks to be 40 bound for CA and then hopefully headed NE for another long haul. What a first week it's been!
DC
Deadhead:
To drive with an empty trailer. After delivering your load you will deadhead to a shipper to pick up your next load.
Shipper:
The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.
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.
Sounds like a full week! Definitely not a winter virgin anymore. Keep up the great work & attitude.
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I went through orientation with Prime last week, but still am not cleared to drive, since my license isn't showing in the MVR records in Jefferson City, MO.
It's been 12 days since I passed my test and went to the DMV to get my paper license. I've been told it could be up to 45 days before it shows up in MVR because Missouri is behind in processing.
I'm a bit frustrated, I cannot believe it takes this long for a drivers license to show up in the MVR.
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.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
MVR:
Motor Vehicle Record
An MVR is a report of your driving history, as reported from your state Department of Motor Vehicles. Information on this report may include Drivers License information, point history, violations, convictions, and license status on your driving record.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated