My Update With Prime Inc.
Topic 2895 | Page 6
I finally have net access since coming to Prime. My phone is not very smart, can't access this site from it.
Currently there is a couple week back up on PSD students here. I got here on the 17th and went through the normal first few days of things, drug test, physical and such. I was haveing to wait for my doctor to fax in my record about my recent back surgery and also to sign job requirement forms to allow me to do the job. That took till Friday, but by the end of it I am cleared and have a 2yr DOT card.
While out on the pad yesterday watching one of the instructors go through the pre-trip, another instructor asked me and another guy if we were bored, then pulled us off to his truck and allowed us to do a couple backing manuvers. I was going second on each new thing he was having us do. While I was doing the lsat one, it seemed as if every one dissapeared to lunch. The trainer and myself stayed out on the pad talking for a bit. Then he took me out to an area to work on shifting, we did that for a while, then came back to the terminal got himself some fuel and we were going to have dinner. While in line he asked me if id like to roll with him for training, of course I said yes 
I expected to have to wait at least another week to get a trianer, so I count myself as very lucky not having to wait.
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.
SAP:
Substance Abuse Professional
The Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) is a person who evaluates employees who have violated a DOT drug and alcohol program regulation and makes recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow-up testing, and aftercare.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
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.
Michael Y...that is a HUGE score !!!!! you are one very lucky man!!...When you get out there, don't make him regret his choice !!!
Good Luck.....and make yourself proud !!!
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When I was training for Prime, I would not just let the student drive by themselves until I was comfortable knowing they are watching signs, traffic, etc. That usually took about a week. During that time I was running the truck as what Prime refers to as a super solo, I would drive only if needed to get the load to destination on time. Otherwise the student did all the driving.
After that, I did not get much sleep during about the 1st month because I would be up at all different hours while they drove checking on them to make sure they were alright. I would setup driving shifts (3 - 3). We would make the shift @ 3am & 3pm. Prime's policy during about the 1st 2 weeks of TNT training is the student cannot drive through 12am - 6am, so by splitting that, the student was able to get day/night driving experience as well as the feeling of independence as well (while I was only shout away should I be needed).
Worked out quite well I think. During the time the student was on my truck, they never knew when I would just pop out of the sleeper to check on them. Steve (my 1st student) for the longest time could not figure out how I knew where we were when I came up front (I would not tell him my smart phone works wonders). Then finally one day he figured it out (Google Maps), boy did he feel foolish.
The last couple of weeks the student was on my truck, I had them doing all the trip planning, fuel stop planning etc. I also let them drive the day shift (since they were kinda the boss during that time). I would only change the planning only if I needed to (and I would take the time to explain why I was changing it).
Hope this helps a little about how I was able to do a very good job of training & also make the student feel like they was ready to go solo when they got off my truck.
Ernie
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
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.