hi guys/gals, im thinking about going to prime in MO to get my cdl. i have a few questions though. 1) how many weeks is it usually before i start getting paid? i have rent and bills and would like to be able to plan and save before i leave. 2) i live in minn, does anyone know if i can just transfer my new cdl or do i need to take road test again? hoping to start this coming spring (2014) and want to get a head start, planning on getting permit before i head down.
Its my understanding once you get your cdl you start getting paid until then I think they give you advances. However it shouldnt take more than 4wks(?) to get your cdl. Training pay after you get your cdl is 600/wk or 12(?)cpm whichever is greater. This isnt first hand knowledge though. Its just what Ive gathered from talking to trainees/trainers.
You will be able to find answers to all your questions here... http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...78715-ask-your-questions-about-prime-inc.html
ok, thanks. im probably gonna put a side 2 months worth for bills and food. helps that i have pto that i never really get to use that we get when we leave our company. im not worried about hometime too much as i already am never home as it is (90-110 hrs in two weeks). plus i should e in and out if you will since i have a great understanding of trucks and how to handle them, shifting too. also i read that i need to do my own state taxes, is that true?
While in PSD training to get your CDL Prime will advance you 200.00 per week. You will spend about 3-4 weeks in PSD training, 10k of miles minimum. If you don't need it then don't take it as you have to pay it back. While in TNT training you are paid 600.00 a week, untill you upgrade to A seat. Takes a minimum of 30K of miles. Check with your local DMV office about transferring you license from MO to Minnesota. Hope this helps you.
There are no DOT standards or requirements for the training of CDL drivers only testing. You can walk into the DMV in your hometown and pick up the study manual, study the manual, pay the fees, and take the test. You will however need a truck to do the road test in and that's it. Most companies that hire student drivers have a standard which is normally 150 hours from an accredited school. Every company is different so call around to a few companies you are interested in and see how many hours they require. Why the short course vs. the long course: Some students already have their class B and have been driving for sometime. Some students are laid off or unemployed and need to receive min. required hours to find a job and return to the work force. Some students have jobs and take the longer course to work it into their schedule Some students want the full training and practice to have more jobs available to them and feel comfortable with the skills Company sponsored training vs. non-company sponsored training Their are far to many reasons to explain here why company sponsored/paid training is a very bad idea, if you really want to know there are a lot threads on this web site alone explaining the down falls and horror stories driver have been thru fulfilling those contracts. So I will explain some of the benefits of attending a non-company sponsored schooling path. 1. Most accredited schools have FASFA and other financing options. Some state labor agencies even have free money. 2. Most schools offer lifetime job placement and normally know who is hiring locally before it is even advertised. 3. Most schools will have you pre-hired before you even finish schooling 4. If you attend a non-company sponsored training you receive all of the tax credits and deductions and NOT the company. Like tuition, books, maps, clothes, pens & pencils, notebooks, cost of a laptop/computer, cost of a printer, ink, paper, cost of the medical exam, permitting fees, meals, travel expenses, etc.. 5. Normally you will start with a higher CPM rate than drivers coming out of their own school. 6. Most companies have tuition reimbursement up to $10,000 which is paid directly to you weekly or monthly with no contract. 7. You can leave the company anytime you want because you owe them ZERO! 8. When you are in school you may find you like hauling something different than what you thought or you may receive better job offers. You are not locked into one company for the next 12-15 months so you can do whatever you want.
No offense intended CDL1968, but Joshinminn was asking about being paid by Prime while in training. I don't see the relevance of your reply about the Pro's and Cons of going with company paid training. Now if he was asking about that the Pro's and Cons of company paid training then your reply has relevance. I think we should be answering the posters questions and stay on post instead of going of on tangents.
There is no 10k minimum. There is just the 75 hour minimum of driving required before they allow you to take the test. Most students need more than 75 hours. Prime's stated average for all students last year was 120-125 hours before testing out. That's 75 hours drive time that is calculated from your e-logs. Instructors can no longer pad time to test early, and they can't short change you hours if they want to keep you out longer. 10k miles is the credit Prime gives a TNT trainee, who has completed the PSD program, towards the 40k minimum team miles before upgrade to solo. Instructors can keep students out up to 5 weeks, purely on their evaluation of students performance. 5 weeks from the day you depart Springfield. after 5 weeks instructors no longer get paid unless they have a good reason, and even then Prime will pull them in to test you themselves. However id plan on 5 weeks before getting paid. 3-4 weeks out with instructor plus calculate a week for orientation days, possibly waiting for instructor, and test practice before exam.
Alright thanks guys. I have a school that's 80 miles away one way and I work so that's a no go. I really don't mind the being away from home since I'm already 200 miles from my mom and 100 feet from my dad. Just thought I would do the year at least then find a better/closer job up here in minn. I have some experience in cmv as I drive a straight truck. I know it's no semi but you get a good idea of turning and backing using mirrors. Plus that's all night driving for me. Does anyone know if they have runs up towards Fargo,nd at all? Plus when I am done with the psd do I pay my way home to test or do they?
When you finish your PSD program, you will test for your CDL in Missouri at Prime. When you get it, you'll get a Missouri CDL, then during your training phase you will have some hometime to have your CDL switched over to your current state. Your trainer will drop you off near your house for this.
