Starting soon with prime transportation and wanted to get a good idea about the training physical as well as starting pay (gross pay) for new drivers.
I just found out that depending on which division (flatbed, reefer , tanker) there is a new physical/stress test depending on which one you go into. The reason I am sure is that they may have had some injuries recently that prompted this.
Other than that, the rest is pretty much the same. During your initial phase (PSD/getting your CDL) you get a $200/wk advance that gets paid back once you start your TNT phase. During the TNT phase you get $700/wk minimum guarantee or .12/mile which ever is greater.
Any other questions, don't be afraid to ask.
Ernie
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
A refrigerated trailer.
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.
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.
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.
I'm scheduled to start the end of May at Prime, in MO. What is the physical like for refer? I don't think I have any health issues, but I'm also not in the greatest shape of my life.
Hey Guy. Welcome aboard!
We have a ton of information on the DOT physical here:
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.
Abnormally high blood pressure.
A physical disorder in which you have pauses in your breathing, or take shallow breaths, during sleep. These pauses can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Normal breathing will usually resume, sometimes with a loud choking sound or snort.
In obstructive sleep apnea, your airways become blocked or collapse during sleep, causing the pauses and shallow breathing.
It is a chronic condition that will require ongoing management. It affects about 18 million people in the U.S.
BMI is a formula that uses weight and height to estimate body fat. For most people, BMI provides a reasonable estimate of body fat. The BMI's biggest weakness is that it doesn't consider individual factors such as bone or muscle mass. BMI may:
It's quite common, especially for men, to fall into the "overweight" category if you happen to be stronger than average. If you're pretty strong but in good shape then pay no attention.
At Prime, they give you a standard DOT physical, which is a medical visit. The agility testing is done and has one or two specific requirements depending on which division you go into. It's a basic physical therapy test. You'll do a number of range of motion tests, then for tanker and reefer , you'll pick up a box that weighs 40lbs and raise it to your chin, then pick up a box that weighs 60lbs and raise it to your chin. Then you'll pick up a 40lb box, walk it about 5 feet, put it down, pick it back up, and walk it back to its original spot and put it down. Then you'll climb 3 steps on a wall ladder 6 times. For flatbed, you'll do all of the above tests, but you'll also have to pick up a box that weighs 100lbs and lift it to your chest, and take a rolled tarp off a high shelf, put it on the ground, then put it back on the shelf.
They just want to make sure you can physically do the minimum exertion necessary for your division.
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.
A refrigerated trailer.
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Starting soon with prime transportation and wanted to get a good idea about the training physical as well as starting pay (gross pay) for new drivers.