Choose Prime Over Swift
Topic 872 | Page 5
Hi mason. This has been an extremely insightful post. I am currently talking with a recruiter from prime and am really stoked about possibly bein able to sign on with them. You said it was 20 weeks to get thru the program. Would I be correct in assuming that means from day one getting off the bus in Springfield to getting the keys for your own truck? How much cash would you recommend having on hand for the training period? I can get by on next to nothin. Just need ciggs, water and ramen noodles and I'm a happy camper. I'm kinda up against a wall financially speaking and would like to get thru training with as little out of pocket as possible. Thanks again for such a great post.
Yes, that was from day one and ended the week i got my rig.
Take as much cash as you'll think you will need. First I would suggest setting aside the funds required to pay your bills. What's ever left you take with you. For me, I ended up taking $500 if I remember correctly. My bills were roughly 1k so I had to use some of the PSD advance money. They discourage you from doing that, but you gotta do what you gotta do.
Ill provide a cheap sustenance level diet. 1 apple 2-4cubic centimeters cheese (take a 2LB brick and cut it into 7-14 parts. fruit cup 4 slices bread 4 tbsp peanut butter 1 carrot 2 packets oatmeal 1 granola bar 1 multivitamin
This will not fill you up, nor be too tasty, but it will keep your from starving. Also, nothing needs to be refrigerated technically. should come tto less $50 a week.
Hey Jacen, thanks for replying so quickly. So just to make sure I'm understanding you correctly here, the 200$/week is when I'd be on the road prior to going back to Springfield to test out? From what I've read after testing out I'd basically be driving teams with a trainer and getting a check for 12cmp or $600 and whatever advances or loans would be deducted from that.
Yes. The $200 is what you get before you take your cdl test. the 12cpm or $600 is for after your cdl test.
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.
CPM:
Cents Per Mile
Drivers are often paid by the mile and it's given in cents per mile, or cpm.
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.
Nice post so far. I am on my last day as tnt we are heading in tonight so I can upgrade to be on my own. I passed my cdl test on july3rd so we probably crossed pathes at some point. If you have any questions about the next step I will let you know as I go through it. If any one has any question s about the training process let me know I will awnser them to the best of my knowledge and I will not bs you. Stay safe fellow drivers
Stupid question...but serious. Do I have to take another **** test when I go back to prime for upgrade from tnt?
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.
Did they **** test you again during upgrade from tnt
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.
Sorry ..did they make you take another urine test during upgrade my students a idiot he is goin in for upgrade and worried about having to take another urine test
Hello,
I was thinking about getting my CDL via Prime and I just have a few questions about the medical exam and how the DOT physicals generally take place. You mentioned, briefly, in an earlier post about the process. I was wondering if you could go into detail about that. I am "heavy-set" myself and am really worried about not passing. I read somewhere that you blood sugar just can't be over 200, and blood pressure can't be over 160/100. But you also mentioned a sleep study? How does that apply? and also nude exam? How does that work? I'm female so it worries me a little, the way you were describing it was that most of it was a group process.
Thanks a lot. :)
Also side questions
Is there a list of things we should bring to orientation. Some other companies seem to have a checklist of what to bring and I can't find one for Prime.
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.
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.
Sorry ..did they make you take another urine test during upgrade my students a idiot he is goin in for upgrade and worried about having to take another urine test
I only had the initial urine test when I started the process. Expect to be dry till you get your rig and a few days off.
Hello,
I was thinking about getting my CDL is via Prime and I just have a few questions about the medical exam and how the DOT physicals generally take place. You mentioned, briefly, in an earlier post about the process. I was wondering if you could go into detail about that. I am "heavy-set" myself and am really worried about not passing. I read somewhere that you blood sugar just can't be over 200, and blood pressure can't be over 160/100. But you also mentioned a sleep study? How does that apply? and also nude exam? How does that work? I'm female worries me a little, the way you were describing it was that most of it was a group process.
Thanks a lot. :)
Also side questions
Is there a list of things we should bring to orientation. Some other companies seem to have a checklist of what to bring and I can't find one for Prime.
Depending on how heavy you are, they may force you to take a sleep study. this is intended to see if you have sleep apnea. The idea is that with sleepapnea that is untreated, you may be too tired to safely drive. I think they do have portable sleep pap machines. You end up paying for this but you need to talk to the recruiter about the payment aspect.
Medical requirements should be in the state cdl manual. Including blood sugar and pressure. These are not things I paid attention to. However, before me my trainer had a trainee who was near 500lbs & under 6 foot.
My medical exam was in 3 parts due to so many people. I did the urine test first. Basic go in restroom fill cup and give to nurse. Second was nurse physical where I had my weight, vision, and hearing checked. Just get on the scale, read the letters on the chart and listen to the nurse whisper. Finally was the doc physical. Ie a hernia check and questions about aches, pains & substance use. The group aspect is just waiting in line. Each examination is done privately, with I assume the addition of a female nurse when needed for thr women.
I never got a list. Just took what I thought I needed. Suggest over a week's worth of clothes. Beyond socks, underwear& bras, you can wear most articles more than 1day. Suggest women look into GoGirl or another product that allows women to urinate standing up. Take meds if needed. Entertainment is also important. I took note books , my laptop, audio and ebooks. Food towels and hygiene products can be bought in Springfield. No jewelry or anything else you would not like to lose. The less you can live on the better. All my stuff fit in 2 duffle bags of roughly 2x1x1ft in size. consider a sleeping bag or blanket as well.
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.
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.
Sleep Apnea:
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.
10-4..hey how was the skills test? Also did you go lease?
Depending on how heavy you are, they may force you to take a sleep study. this is intended to see if you have sleep apnea. The idea is that with sleepapnea that is untreated, you may be too tired to safely drive. I think they do have portable sleep pap machines. You end up paying for this but you need to talk to the recruiter about the payment aspect.
Medical requirements should be in the state cdl manual. Including blood sugar and pressure. These are not things I paid attention to. However, before me my trainer had a trainee who was near 500lbs & under 6 foot.
My medical exam was in 3 parts due to so many people. I did the urine test first. Basic go in restroom fill cup and give to nurse. Second was nurse physical where I had my weight, vision, and hearing checked. Just get on the scale, read the letters on the chart and listen to the nurse whisper. Finally was the doc physical. Ie a hernia check and questions about aches, pains & substance use. The group aspect is just waiting in line. Each examination is done privately, with I assume the addition of a female nurse when needed for thr women.
I never got a list. Just took what I thought I needed. Suggest over a week's worth of clothes. Beyond socks, underwear& bras, you can wear most articles more than 1day. Suggest women look into GoGirl or another product that allows women to urinate standing up. Take meds if needed. Entertainment is also important. I took note books , my laptop, audio and ebooks. Food towels and hygiene products can be bought in Springfield. No jewelry or anything else you would not like to lose. The less you can live on the better. All my stuff fit in 2 duffle bags of roughly 2x1x1ft in size. consider a sleeping bag or blanket as well.
Thanks so much, that was really insightful. I do feel a lot better but I am taking a DOT physical today outside of company just so I know if I should just go to orantiation or I'd be stopped by it. Does anyone know if they still do a physical if you already have your card?
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.
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.
Sleep Apnea:
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.
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Hey Jacen, thanks for replying so quickly. So just to make sure I'm understanding you correctly here, the 200$/week is when I'd be on the road prior to going back to Springfield to test out? From what I've read after testing out I'd basically be driving teams with a trainer and getting a check for 12cmp or $600 and whatever advances or loans would be deducted from that.