Going to Prime Trucking School Mon.

Discussion in 'Prime' started by pokey1969, Oct 29, 2010.

  1. NicodemusAtNIMH

    NicodemusAtNIMH Bobtail Member

    6
    0
    Oct 27, 2010
    Orange Park, FL
    0
    Looking at Prime to train, not clear on this 200 allowance make 600 or 12 cents, then it's all you. Am I housed up some where for school, and for how long. Do I really need the allowance and what is my away time from family in real life, without the great recruiters shine on things.
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. U2Exit

    U2Exit Road Train Member

    2,353
    1,050
    Feb 22, 2008
    WA and VA
    0


    2 paths here... Not sure which one you are. Student(no cdl) or trainee(cdl school grad)

    Students are not employees until they graduate to trainees. I wouldn't expect to be home for at least 6 to 8 weeks. Possibly earlier, but don't expect it.

    Students arrive on Tues go through physical, interview, take permit
    test, attend classes, simulator time... Pad time and shifting practice on Friday.

    Friday afternoon are usually when students hook up with their instructor... However if there is a shortage you wait... I waited 5 days after that Friday before i got one and didn't leave out with the instructor for 2 more days.

    4 weeks out with the instructor, maybe 5. $200 loan available each Friday... Intrest free, paid back $25/week after you are hired. Take it or leave it... However you are expected to live on the road with that. Instructor isn't obligated to feed you. No pay for students.

    Pass cdl test and you are an employee. Instructor may keep you for training or he may pass you along to a trainer. Pay is $600/week or .12/ mile, whichever is greater. $600 minimum gauranteed if you are on the truck available to work for all 7 days. You take home time in a given week (pay period) no gaurantee just the .12/mile for the miles you got while on the truck that week.

    Prime students that grad to trainee are given a 10k mile credit towards the 60k team miles that a trainee has to complete in order to upgrade to solo driver.

    Hometime is worked out with you, your trainer and your dispatcher. 1 day is accumulated for every 7 days that you are out. No more than 4 days in a row, at least 3 weeks in between... However you may be stuck at home while your trainer is dispatched on loads to get to your area to pick you up. You may get stuck also, if your trainer is a L/O, as they can take off as long as they like. Remember you must have run that 4th week to get that 4th day unless you have excess days on the books to use(assuming you stick to the three week rule)

    Trainees who don't start at Prime as students do not get the 10k credit and start their first couple weeks at $500 or .10/mile before moving to the $600/.12

    The 6 to 8 week estimate they give the students factors in the instruction weeks, the cdl testing and about 2 weeks out with the trainer before the first home time.

    If you get home to visit while under a load (passing thru) even if it's a couple hours or a whole day it won't count against you. That's a big IF you are passing thru...
     
    revslev and orion3814 Thank this.
  4. U2Exit

    U2Exit Road Train Member

    2,353
    1,050
    Feb 22, 2008
    WA and VA
    0
    I see that you live near Jacksonville... While it's a good location near i95.. You should have not much problem getting home when you request it... However it's not someplace that you will be passing thru a whole lot.

    I've been at Prime almost 3 years and I can't count the number of FL runs I have had on one hand. And one of them I requested as a "home time" trip to Daytona.

    I live in the Seattle area... I've only ever had one load up there where I wasn't requesting to go home.

    I would never want to live near places in the middle of the country on major routes like Indy or Chicago... However I'm sure the drivers that live there have countless opportunities to get home for a couple hours or even a day while under load.
     
    revslev Thanks this.
  5. TruckerMike

    TruckerMike Medium Load Member

    420
    266
    Dec 20, 2008
    Chicago
    0
    I live in the North Suburbs of Chicago and pass through home at least once or twice per month it seems. Even if it's a quick bite to eat with the folks, it is really nice to see familiar faces. I've gotten lucky a couple times and have taken a 34hr restart at home which didn't count towards my home time. If I lived on the southside of the city, especially along I-80, I'd probably pass by the house just about every week.
     
  6. U2Exit

    U2Exit Road Train Member

    2,353
    1,050
    Feb 22, 2008
    WA and VA
    0
    Speaking of which... If I lived in the Chicago area, this week I would have been home tonight, and also this past Thursday and Friday nights.

    For the naysayers i wasn't sitting waiting around for loads... It was part of a week where i got almost 3k miles. Got in Thursday afternoon for a 10 break before delivering Fri morning. Friday I ferried some trailers, and even unloaded one for some extra pay. Left early Saturday morning with a load where I dropped my empty Friday night before i took a 10 break.
     
  7. producepimp

    producepimp Light Load Member

    177
    4
    Jul 16, 2010
    0
    soo.... if i went to prime with my permit comb. genr knowl. airbrk. haz. then how long would it be b4 i got on the road and 50k miles is that just my driving miles or while im with the traneeee co driver does his miles count to on my 50? or just my log
     
  8. TruckerMike

    TruckerMike Medium Load Member

    420
    266
    Dec 20, 2008
    Chicago
    0
    I don't mean to be the grammar police and I realize this is a simple message board. But, that was pretty hard to read. :biggrin_2556:

    I'm not sure exactly what your first question is, but as to the 50k miles, that is combined miles between you and your trainer. Expect to be in training for 4 or 5 months, possibly longer depending on your home time, truck issues, weather, etc.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.