Question About Training, Dispatcher, Home Time, And Pay

Sam,

One thing about Prime that you may not know, and that is as a company driver you do not get the option to change Fleet Managers (FM) if you don't like/get along with the one assigned. I know because that's what I had to deal with when I was with Prime. As a lease driver, you do have a little more leverage, but you do have to have a VERY GOOD REASON to change or you will have an extremely difficult time get a FM change.

So your best course of action as it has already been pointed out is to find a way to make amends with your trainers FM and move forward.

As for future home time requests, it was pointed out early to me that if you need to be home by a certain date, set your home time request a couple of days earlier than needed to be sure to have some cushion time for just in case (just like GuyJax pointed out).

Just some food for thought.

Ernie

I have to agree with everyone else... the way you handled the situation was all wrong. I'm not going to chew you out for it because I think Brett already did a good job at it. I don't feel it's necessary and also since I'm not even training yet let alone a an employee I don't feel I have a place to chew you out even if Brett didn't.

I do want to say this analogy was quite awesome:

Before you were hired, you were like a person floating in the middle of the ocean, hoping to be rescued. Then along came this company in a tiny little life raft. They were overcrowded in there, low on supplies and barely surviving themselves, but they pulled you up into the boat anyway. That's the position you're in now. You're sunburned, hungry and dehydrated, and they are nursing you back to health in the hopes that once you're all better, you'll be able to contribute to the group by fishing, fighting off sharks or whatever. But as you're lying there near death, instead of being grateful for their help, you're complaining about the sun, the food, etc. You're making them think they might be better off to throw you back overboard.

Next time you want to make plans, get a refundable rate.

Also you said in a more recent post than your first that all you did was ask if you would be reimbursed for that hotel:

Im sorry you feel that way daniel but what I did was by no way in the wrong or disrespectful. I simply asked if I would be reimbursed for money spent.

but when I read your first post it sounds like more like you demanded it not asked.

At this point I was pretty heated so I sent a reply stating that I would expect him to reimburse me for the money I had spent on the hotel and that this instance was probably one of the top reasons they have such a high turn around of students quitting while in training.

So which is it... did you ask if you would be reimbursed or did you expect them to do it... there's 2 stories going on here. one of them is somewhat reasonable, it never (ok more like usually) never hurts to ask a question but to make a bold statement like in your first post that's not ok, even if you are a 20 year trucker veteran, because in the end unless you are an owner op you belong to them.

I can promise you if you were an employee in Texas and did even half the stuff in your first post you would be fired that day. Texas is hardcore in the sense it's a right to work state, in other words they don't HAVE to give you any breaks, can work you as many hours as they want as many days as they want as long as they follow all employment regulations federal and state. Now here's the best part of right to work states such as Texas... they can also fire you for any not discrimination reason. If they can legally choose to note hire you for it, then they can't fire you for it (you know the usual age, gender, religion, etc). so if they don't like the color socks you are wearing that day, unless you have a documented medical condition or a proven religion reason that says you have to wear pink socks with yellow polka dots, they can fire you for it. So yeah in TX you can pretty much expect to get fired for crap you pulled.

Oh and just so you don't get the wrong impression on TX for that last statement, most employers are nicer than they have to be and give you 2 15 min breaks plus a 30 min lunch and those 15s are paid time. a lot of them will give you 2 days off, most at least 1. My last employer gave me a 15 min break every 2 hours, even if it was only a 6 hour shift, most will only give you 1 15 in those 6 hours and only after 3 hours. so yeah despite not being legally required, employers here still treat most of their employees well.

I am still in tnt training and my trainer and I took our home time this past week, last Tuesday to this Tuesday. Let me rephrase, I was supposed to start my home time last Tuesday, what actually happened is I dropped a load tues morning at 10 am and sat waiting at the receiver til 4pm for my next load to get me home seeing as I was still over 600 miles away. At 4pm I messaged my dispatcher to find out wth was going on. He then sent up a load going further east that didnt even pick up til the next morning and didnt drop off til friday. Once again I messaged him stating that both my trainer and I were supposed to be starting our home time, tues for me and wed for my trainer. He replied that it was the best he could do. I sent another message stating that I had already made plans with my family to go to an amusement park wed and that I had already payed for a hotel because my hometime was set a month ahead of time and that I hadnt been home since starting my training with prime 6 weeks prior. Once again he sent a reply stating this was the best they could do. At this point I was pretty heated so I sent a reply stating that I would expect him to reimburse me for the money I had spent on the hotel and that this instance was probably one of the top reasons they have such a high turn around of students quitting while in training. At this point I figured he was getting peaved because he then sent a reply telling me to deadhead home and for my trainer to drop the trailer in Springfield and bobtail to his home. At this point it was already after 6pm, needless to say I had to drive over my 14hour clock in order to get home and I didnt get home until 2am wed morning. I received my pay stub last night knowing that I wouldnt make much because the only miles I drove last week were the miles I drove home but I thought I would at least be paid for those miles. Instead I got a 0 mile pay and was charged for my training which equaled a negative pay. WTF? Is this right? Now I was supposed to be back out tuesday and instead I have been sitting at home waiting. They sent my trainer out tues but no where near me. Supposedly, after he drops off this load he will be dispatched by me so I can get back on the truck but at this point it already screws me on my pay. I talked to another dispatcher and he said I should still get paid my guaranteed min pay of 700 since I was supposed to be on a truck at the beginning of the pay period and that if Im not I need to bring it up to human resources. WTF? Is this usually this much of a pain in the ass? How did I get stuck with a crappy dispatcher?

Honestly I went into psd and tnt not expecting any home time till it was over with. I ended up getting about 4 days after I got my cdl and ran team for about a week. After that, I didn't see home till about 2 and a half more months.

After you get your own truck, always on time with your loads and don't hit anything, I've had absolutely zero issues requesting home time then it being granted to me. First day during orientation they basically said you wouldn't be going home for a couple months. I think they know from experience that it is critical for a student driver to be learning and getting better everyday before they assign you that shiny new truck.

I'm sure you won't do it again, but I wouldn't have already paid for a hotel and had the date set in stone with this job/dynamic. So many things could keep that from being a possibility.

Prime is a awesome company and I have nothing but great things to say about them, but anyone that has a family and life outside of the trucking lifestyle really has to know that this first year is about sacrifice. Lots of home everyday/weekend jobs after that first year. Your going to work off that cdl cost trust me on that. I had to switch dispatchers early on and it was the smartest move I made. Been with the same one now with zero issues almost literally. First one I didnt click with at all and I asked to move boards and it was granted.

Ya know, I'm not a jerk but Im going to be real with you. Don't you ever disrespect your supervisor again for any reason. You're a grown man, act like it and stop acting out of emotion.

Ill tell you this, I like my dispatcher a lot, but at the same time I hate snotty, rude students who are disrespectful. I would choose my dispatcher over any student. If you were on my truck and I found out that you talked to my dispatcher in that fashion your ass would be hitchhiking home from Mile Marker 65 on I40 in New Mexico.

This is coming from a Prime Instructor/Trainer -- learn your place on the totem pole.

Now that we addressed your embarrassing, childish ways I can answer your question.

You don't get paid at home or to drive home under a load. He actually did you a favor but you're too new to realize it. You also had taxes kill the paycheck and weekly payments that you owe Prime. It's very easy to see you going negative.

Seriously though I've been a part of TT for a long time. What you did was the absolutely the dumbest thing I've read in a very long time. Learn your lesson from it and apologize to your dispatcher for your behavior. You're lucky you haven't gotten fired yet, though I wouldn't be surprised if that's pending.

I think this was rather abrasive and uncalled for. He's here venting and you saying is the dumbest thing you heard in awhile is very disrespectful. Just because he's the lowest on the totem pole as you say doesn't mean he's not a person, and that how he feels is irrelevant. I guarantee you wouldn't have dropped me off in the middle of nowhere if I had words with my dispatcher. Good luck trying

Your not seeing the big picture here... just cuz you can get a new dispatcher doesn't mean they don't talk... if you **** one off to the point where he/she gets really mad and the type to hold grudges then you just committed career suicide Cuz that dispatch will let your dispatcher know what type of driver you are.. kind of like one cop helping another cop... your best bet is to apologize and move on..

I actually don't agree with this. I switched boards after one month and it was the absolute right thing to do. Have had literally zero issues/flare ups going on 7 months now. Making way more money and being both appreciated and treated with respect. I've never looked as myself as the lowest on the totem pole or just another drive. From what I was told by the in charge of claims, he gets hundreds of them all time. I've had zero accidents and zero citations. I understand my position in the company but by no means do I think or look at myself as some peon peasant. Not even close. A good strong reliable safe driver is a huge asset to any trucking company. That's how I look at myself in this businees.

I have talked to my trainers dispatcher and explained my situation. He apologized to me for the delay on my home time and said that there is a load from that area everyday that he planned on giving me. That was the first time that he could remember that there wasnt a load. I will be getting my guaranteed money for this week while I wait at home to be picked up tomorrow. No bad blood

Joshua, many people get into Trucking school, or on the road and it's close to the first time in their life that so much had been demanded of them. The whole process from CDL permit to solo driver is full of hurdles they can barely get over. Also, so many expect nice hotels, decent food provided, and, as Sam is finding out, promises & dates he thought were "set" aren't necessarily so. Several people in this thread have pointed out that new guys aren't always going to get what they want.

People who have been in the military know you have to work hard for some things they took for granted as civilians. It's not a case of rookies are people, too. It's the rude awakening of life in a rough business.

FYI, early on I had a home time set, for a weekend. Because of dispatches sent to me, I didn't get home till Tuesday, four days late. Been there, done that.

I have talked to my trainers dispatcher and explained my situation. He apologized to me for the delay on my home time and said that there is a load from that area everyday that he planned on giving me. That was the first time that he could remember that there wasnt a load. I will be getting my guaranteed money for this week while I wait at home to be picked up tomorrow. No bad blood

The other day I posted a topic explaining the power of a phone call to the office, and an honest explanation. ("DON'T WORK FOR SWIFT!!! ... NOT!")

Joshua, many people get into Trucking school, or on the road and it's close to the first time in their life that so much had been demanded of them. The whole process from CDL permit to solo driver is full of hurdles they can barely get over. Also, so many expect nice hotels, decent food provided, and, as Sam is finding out, promises & dates he thought were "set" aren't necessarily so. Several people in this thread have pointed out that new guys aren't always going to get what they want.

People who have been in the military know you have to work hard for some things they took for granted as civilians. It's not a case of rookies are people, too. It's the rude awakening of life in a rough business.

FYI, early on I had a home time set, for a weekend. Because of dispatches sent to me, I didn't get home till Tuesday, four days late. Been there, done that.

I understand this errol but his rudeness and disrespect was uncalled for. No one in this businees should ever forget that we drivers put our lives and safety on the line almost every day we go out there. I just drive through new york city and all over the northeast and west Virginia. This job can be very dangerous, just ask Persian conversion. Appreciation and respect is an absolute must for whomever I work for when I'm out on the road 6 weeks at a time 7 days a week. I don't have to do this because I'm destitute. I choose and want to do this. And enjoy doing this. Daniels comments to sam is how some dispatchers truly think about us truck drivers. I have great pride in whatever I choose to do. To have someone say they would drop you off in the middle of nowhere and calling it the dumbest thing he's heard in awhile for sure wouldn't fly with me. He's obviously upset about the situation and came to us to voice that. Psd and tnt is very hard at times. 3 months brand new on a truck 7 days a week all day everyday with another full grown male can test the best of us

Joshua, many people get into Trucking school, or on the road and it's close to the first time in their life that so much had been demanded of them. The whole process from CDL permit to solo driver is full of hurdles they can barely get over. Also, so many expect nice hotels, decent food provided, and, as Sam is finding out, promises & dates he thought were "set" aren't necessarily so. Several people in this thread have pointed out that new guys aren't always going to get what they want.

People who have been in the military know you have to work hard for some things they took for granted as civilians. It's not a case of rookies are people, too. It's the rude awakening of life in a rough business.

FYI, early on I had a home time set, for a weekend. Because of dispatches sent to me, I didn't get home till Tuesday, four days late. Been there, done that.

I think the problem starts at the beginning, the recruiters lie off the rip. If I was going by what I was told from them then I would have started psd by day 5, which I did but only because I found a trainer not because they had a trainer for me. There were plenty of others waiting over a week. Also was told by the recruiter that I would get home the first time following psd, which everyone now knows was a lie, and would be home every 3 to 4 weeks after. The first thing we were told in orientation was that we would be there 6 to 12 weeks before we would get home. There were plenty of people who were told by the recruiters they were good to go only to get sent home when they got there, and of course after they quit there last job, for past work history. Hell one guy I knew got sent home because of the adhd medicine he was taking, even know he told the recruiter before hand he was on it. It seems like the recruiters goal is to just get as many people there as possible which is completely wrong because people quit there jobs thinking they are coming to start a new career. I was one of those people, I disclosed my past work history which was great up until a few years ago I worked for the same company for 10 years that later went under. Since then Ive had 4 jobs in 5 years as I try to find a fit. The last job I had up until the day before I got on the bus. I went into training thinking I was making a career change to something I could enjoy, a career where I decide how much Im worth instead of a "boss". The company I worked for for 10 years was an incentive job and I loved it. It was up to me on how much I could make so it made me want to work harder, unlike the jobs I had after. I didnt enjoy working for companies where I got paid as much as everyone else when I was the hardest working person there. Over time it turns into resent. Any way, my 3rd day there I got called into the office because of the fact that I had quit my last 3 jobs and that they couldnt contact the company that went under. REALLY? How am I supposed toverify a company that is no longer around? The only thing I could offer as contact for that company was the former owners phone number because we are still friends. The office guy flat out said that they could not accept a personal phone number as a contact for a company because it could just be a friend of mine. I was worried about being sent home. All of this should have been checked before I even got a bus pass. Thank goodness the companies I quit all described me a stellar employee or else I would have been screwed.