Prime: Orientation and Training?

And that is exactly why, if I ever get the chance, I will go to Prime. I was riding with a friend who has done this for 9 years, stayed in the truck with him for 3 weeks. I can tell you right now, you cannot learn this job in 3-6 weeks, then be turned loose, left to sink or swim. You risk not only your life, but the lives of all those innocent people on the highways.

 

I'm a little confused about the training if YOU DO NOT have your CDL yet. It seems from the posts, that they have no structured 3 or 4 week class, at the end of which you take your CDL test like other companies do (Stevens Transport).

Are you (U2Exit) or anyone else with recent Prime experience saying that you show up as a complete noob and get your permit the first week, then you go OTR with an instructor? Or do you stay at the hotels weeks 2-? and just go to the terminal every day and meet your instructor to drive around town? Are you delivering loads while a student? Then, you come back for a couple of days to polish up for your CDL exam? And then when you have your CDL you get your 10K permit miles credited you go out with a trainer to begin working towards your 60K or 80K miles?

You stated intially that your instructor took you on as a trainee. So he was or was not running loads with you while you were a student?

I appreciate your clarification.

 

you get your permit your first week at prime along with all your other orientation stuff. once you obtain your permit and you pass everything else you go out with an instructor otr for about 3-4 weeks and learn how to drive, shift and back. you are learning on the job, delivery loads etc..

you then come back to prime and test to get your license. You then go out for 60000-80000 miles to refine your skills. you at that point are teaming, delivery loads, tri[p planning and learning more info that pertains to your job. at the end of that time you come back to prime, do your upgrade test and then you can choose whether you go company or lease.

 

Very little classwork... 2-3 days max... students get a little more extra time on the pad while they wait for their instructor.

90% of the CDL instruction is OTR... under real loads, real conditions. The instructor is sitting in the passenger seat next to you.

Its a real advantage this way. I have had two trainees. First one came from a "CDL school"... he had no experiance pulling a fully loaded trailer... no experiance climbing and descending grades... no experiance living on the road (part of the reason he quit... it wasnt what his family expected) lots of trouble shifting under load.

My current trainee spent 4+ week with his Prime instructor... He got Big city experiance, country driving, highways... hills, mountains... he's been coast to coast. I spend time showing the "ropes", fine tuning his driving skills... work on getting the max fuel milage possible...

Although Prime has alot of great instructors... you sometimes hear about some "shady" ones... From my perspective its the only dis-advantage to the program... basically its the prospect of getting a questionable instructor.

 

Thanks for clearing that up. One more question just to make sure I have this right, and maybe this has been answered but I didn't understand-During this phase where you have your permit, you are running with an instructor and before you have your CDL, you are not being paid, correct? But you can take a small advance every week? Or, maybe I have that wrong and you do get paid something?

 

Hey I have sat and read this whole thread. I know what the pay rate and training consist of. I know U2 said something a few weeks ago about Prime not hiring females right now due to the shortage of trainers. I have already put my app in sat on hold for a recruiter for a long time today, but I'm thinking cause of the Holiday weekend they aren't there and it was like 10 p.m. here, so 9 there, so I didn't get a hold of anyone.
I was wondering if ya'll have heard anything else about them hiring females right now? I have been putting my App in every where and really want to get this going ASAP.
I've applied at other Trucking Companies that train, but Prime seems to be what will work for me right now. I live off I-40 and I-75 and 640 in Knoxville, I wouldn't think my location would be a problem.
I have 23 BMI, perfact BP and nothing in my back ground, never any tickets or arrests for anything, matter of fact I was a Cop in my younger years, long story.

I guess my concern is not being able to get in and start training cause of the Female shortage in trainers. If ya'll could let me know, thanks and be safe.

 

I have another question for those that may know-

I have my Texas CDL permit. In Texas, we have to take several tests eventually, before you take the final driving skills test. The permit requires only one 20 question test, that has general quesitons like lengths, distances, weights, etc. You then also take individual tests on:
Combination Vehicles
General Knowledge
HAZ-MAT
Air Brakes
Pre Trip Inspection

During a "normal" school here, you would pass these tests in the first week or two of instruction (same as Prime, they do not teach you on this-you're on your own). At the end of a "normal" class you then take your driving skills exam.

My question is this: Having my permit from Texas, I would assume I will have to retake the permit test in Missouri, right? From what I have gleaned from this thread, it sound like the MO permit exam is ONE written test, not a series of tests. Sounds like they include all of it in one, whereas Texas splits them into individual tests.

Does anyone from Texas know anything about this, or somebody from Prime? I can't call a recruiter until Tuesday I would guess.....and even then, I may or may not get the correct answer from a recruiter. I guess I may have to call the Missouri State Troopers/Drivers License office or something....

 

boogdaddy,

What happen at Stevens? I thought you were starting traing there? Are you changing to Prime now?

 

No MO has the general exam, and then the exams for the various endorsements... air brakes, combination vehicles... these are the ones Prime has you take.

No point in taking Hazmat as each state will require you to re-take the test when you transfer your CDL to your home state.

Pre-trip is not a written, it is given as a seperate practicle along with the skills test (backing) and road tests. (although there may be some pre-trip questions on the general exam)

 

Okay, so it's basically the same as Texas. If I decide to go with Prime, I'll most likely just take all the tests here then and get them done so I'm not having to spend time at the MO DMV when I could be studying pre-trip or practicing on the pad. Thanks for the info.