New to Prime INC - What to expect (Springfield edition)

Discussion in 'Prime' started by silenteagle, Dec 6, 2012.

  1. Easy Steamer

    Easy Steamer Road Train Member

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    Silent aeagle is an awesome guy and VERY thorough in his answers. He is a wealth of info. On a lighter note, the cooler is overkill at this point, Most instructors and trainers have a fridge in the truck and will gladly share space. You will get plenty of food to eat at the cafeteria and at the Millenium building, You can consider buying snacks for the evenings. Most rooms at the campus now have a fridge in them. don't worry about the sleep apnea unless you are a big guy or you tell them you snore, those are the flags for getting tested, If you get one and a machine, it is deducted from your check so no outlay there. I know this question was for SE but, As far as disclosure, I am a 52 year old company driver. retired Navy and former NASA employee, maintenance manager. I am a PSD instructor and TNT trainer though now I just stick with students. It helps me focus more on them. I just left my last student at the Campus in on Thursday 12/6. He was picked up by his trainer on friday, My fleet manager usually takes our students on his board and keeps them. So there is no wait between instructor and trainer. He is currently the number 2 fleet manager for reefer and sometimes #1 since #1 trained him 5 years ago. they flip flop 1 and 2 every other week. I tend to take students who are mature and understand the level of committment required to be a success at this. My students range in age from 21 to 52. so I do not have issues getting along with anyone, All my kids are grown so that helps. It is not difficult but you must be committed, Some of us should be committed but that is another thread. Seriously though, I would like to talk to you more and possibly arrange to be your instructor. You did not enter you age on your profile. Also, I do not know if you intend to be a company driver or lease operator, and it doesnt matter either way, but most will tell you stay company for a year, learn the business then decide a direction. If you are interested send me a PM and I will give you my cell number.
     
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  3. Easy Steamer

    Easy Steamer Road Train Member

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    If you stay company you will most likely get a lightweight. Condo's are reserved for trainers and lease ops. I got a brand new 2012 the day I upgraded and I loved it. Put 48k miles on it before I started training. Don't be discouraged, there is plenty of room in them
     
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  4. ironpony

    ironpony Road Train Member

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    The fees are reasonable, and what you'd pay up front at any CDL school.
     
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  5. Backwater13

    Backwater13 Light Load Member

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    PM sent and thank you kindly for the offer.
     
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  6. PChase

    PChase Road Train Member

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    This is just me but for cristmas ill be flying home and my trainer will be picking me back up in springfield after.
     
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  7. silenteagle

    silenteagle Road Train Member

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    Upgrading - That wonderful day when you get your own truck! Now that you have achieved your miles and experience it is time to go back to Springfield and go through the upgrade classes and get your very own $100,000.00 truck. Let me answer the most interesting questions first, then hit the mundane.... Everyone wants to ask questions about what to take or put in your truck. I always tell people to save up $200 for the following: Microwave ($50), Coleman iceless cooler ($89 at WalMart), small coffee pot ($20) for those coffee drinkers ($1.69 a cup at the T/S will add up quick.) and some basic cleaning stuff. (glass cleaner, lysol wipes, paper towels, paper plates & bowls, plasticware) All this stuff might top $200 a little, but you will need it all. You should have your clothes cleaning stuff from TnT, but if not, get some of that too. Don't forget the food.

    You will also probably want a CB radio. I would recommend you wait till you make some $$$, but if you saved an additional $150 you can pick up a decent radio and have it installed at the shop.

    You will want to get your FM to route you to your home to pick up clothes and other necessary items that you already have, and of course to show off your new truck! Most of you will get a lightweight truck and space is at a premium. Keep this in mind as you start jamming your life into your new apartment on wheels.

    Now for the real reason of this post: The Upgrade Process.... When you get back to Springfield you will get a hotel room at the Campus Inn at NO COST TO YOU. You won't even have to share a room. (Yea!) You will also get a meal card for the week (or 4 days) to pay for your meals that week. Before you return to Springfield you will be letting your FM know whether you want to become a Company driver or a Lease operator. If you do not let them know, you will automatically be scheduled for the Company driver orientation.

    First thing you will be doing (or the last if you get there late) will be the Smith Systems Class. This is required before you complete your upgrade and get your truck. (you get a one meal ticket with the completion) After that you will have some classes on truck and trailer maintenance, reefer operation and maintenance, how to use the Qualcom, payroll, health insurance, sexual harassment and equal opportunity, and a few others. Once these classes are done, the Lease operators and company drivers will split off and go seperate ways. Company drivers will go to Success Leasing and get assigned a truck, or will be told to come back at a set date and time. Lease operators will begin the classes that explain the lease terms, responsibilities and requirements. You will be tested on your knowledge at the end of the classes, which last 2 1/2 days.

    A few thoughts on truck selection. If you are excessively tall or round, you might be able to justify getting a full sized truck. You can also request a full sized truck if your spouse plans on becoming a driver. Company drivers cannot turn down a truck because of the color.

    Once you get the keys to your truck, you will also be given an inspection packet. GO THROUGH THAT TRUCK WITH A FINE TOOTH COMB! You will be held responsible for any damage or problems with the truck that are not written on that inspection sheet at the beginning. BE ANAL! nitpick every little fault. Take pictures with your smartphone or whatever you have. Check the alignment, as this causes alot of problems on the road. Check the tire wear & balance. (this will shake the fillings out of your teeth) If your trainer is still at the yard, ask him/her to help you inspect the truck. Ask them to take it for a test drive and give it a shakedown run up I44 or US65.

    I would also recommend making contacts, networking with other people in your classes. Sharing experiences during your travels will not only help you through the lonely times on the road, but will also help you with any issues you might have. If you have built a good relationship with your trainer, you might be able to rely on him/her for help on occasion as well.

    Now lets talk about equipment. (I will let a flatbedder post their equipment requirements) On the reefer side you will need load locks, a set of locks and air cuff lock, tire pressure gauge, complete set of snow chains, and a thermometer (I recommend two) Some people get a couple of 1 or 3 gallon fuel cans for extra DEF, but I have never had to buy a box of DEF. (good planning will prevent this) You will also need a good pair of gloves. I recommend a set of the fueling gloves and a set of leather work gloves. You will also need a heavy coat, some overalls and a good pair of boots. (Last summer I wore the heavy coat in a cooler for 4 hours loading lettuce) I would also recommend a small tool kit that includes a good hammer, selection of screwdrivers, wire cutters, vice grips, star bit and allen wrenches, a good 10" or 12" adjustable wrench, and a 3/8" socket set. There is a good thread somewhere here that has a bunch of drivers sharing their selection of tools, so don't consider this list more than a minimum recommendation.

    Your FM: Usually you will be assigned the FM you had when you were with your trainer. Most FM's either are set up to manage lease driver or company drivers, not both. (a few do both) This might determine whether you stay with your FM from TnT or get a new one. A good trainer will try to set you up with a good FM if you have to move, but most of the time the switch is directed by the managers above the FM's. You should know who your FM is going to be before you get your truck. If all else fails and you don't know who your FM is, go talk to Linda Brown, Stan Auman, or Steve Larson. (Yes, write these names down. You will eventually have business to tend to with them)

    When you go to driver lineup to get your permit book, you will also want to grab a few trip sheet tablets, handfull of comdata checks, a few dozen back door seals, and some lumper receipts. I use a large clipboard for my trip sheets, BOL's, fuel receipts and weight slips. I keep a half sized clipboard with the load tablets ($1 at the company store) where I write down everthing about each load. I keep these sheets as a record in a seperate 3 ring half sized binder. (it's almost full) REMEMBER:::::: make sure that you install the license plate, EZ-pass & Prepass if you are picking up a brand new truck.

    Good luck and Keep On Truckin'
     
    Last edited: Dec 11, 2012
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  8. ironpony

    ironpony Road Train Member

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    Get a CB straight off the bat, unless you plan on walking a lot... to the shipping/receiving office when a call on the CB covers it. A GPS is not a replacement for the Rand McNally Motor Carrier Atlas - get the various truckstop guides, and a copy of the "Next Exit" as well. Rubberized gloves work best for fueling.

    GPS systems are a tool and nothing more. They cannot do your trip planning for you, and many who have relied on the little box to do their thinking for them have ended up in very bad situations... like stuffing a 13' 4" truck in a 12' 10" underpass. Avoid the non-truck specific models. They are only as good as the programming that went into them... programmers are mostly highly paid idiots.

    Something you should acquire soon after going solo is one of the 50' glad hand to tire chuck air hoses... many truckstops don't have air hoses, and if they do - they sometimes loose more air from your tire than get's in. It could keep your day "inflated" in the middle of nowhere too!

    Leasing... really, really think about this before you jump in the deep end. It's harder than many folks think.
     
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  9. Bigox3k

    Bigox3k Light Load Member

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    Atlanta,Ga
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    To Silenteagle, IP or anyone eles that has been company or is company got a question about fm and obtaining one.. my trainer is a l/o and his fm only does l/o from what my trainer has told me. Is there any way for me to stay with him without doing a lease that you or anyone eles would know. How so i go about getting signed to a gd fm that will keep me running but not running illegal? And are fm assigned to you based on your home location??
     
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  10. Backwater13

    Backwater13 Light Load Member

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    When we get back to PRIME after completing our PSD instruction, will we be able to use our draw money for the CDL licensing fees, assuming that four weeks in total time have not passed? I was going to try and bring enough cash to keep me from having to take any draws, but just in case I need to use a draw for the CDL licensing in Missouri, I would like to know if a draw is available for this purpose as a back up plan.
     
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  11. snowman1

    snowman1 Light Load Member

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    Steamer, IP and SE you guys post some geat info. SE that is great that you take that much time to make all those posts for the newbies and us wannabes. Thanks to you guys and keep the info coming, I for one am learning a lot. Keep the rubbber side down and the shiny side up. If any of y'all are going up to Minn and the cheese state watch the snow. :biggrin_25514:
     
    Last edited: Dec 11, 2012
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