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

I read through this thread from page 1, and there's a ton of great information on it.

I do have a question regarding sleep apnea...I changed my primary doctor a couple months ago, and part of his intake screening for me was a sleep study. He wanted it because of my ht/st (5'2", 190, BMI 35). The sleep study was done at a specialized sleep lab, and the results are that I do NOT have sleep apnea. When I go to orientation, would I be subject to another sleep study...or could I just bring a copy of my previous results? I just don't want to have to pay for a procedure that I just completed. If Prime requires another study, can I claim it on my insurance?

 

Bring a copy of the study; the doctor will want to see it.

 

HELP ME UNDERSTAND i will have to team with someone for 6 months right before i get my own truck and then still have to team?

 

Help me understand this I have to team for 6 month before i can get my own truck? do i still have to team after that 6 months?

 

Not exactly.

Prime uses an OJT (On the Job Training) model. This is in two phases:

Phase 1: PSD, or Prime Student Driver. This is the "school" phase. You are out driving with a learner's permit. You do the pretrip inspections, drive the truck, and back it into the dock. That is all. You are practicing to take your driving test. Your instructor is sitting in the passenger seat the whole time you are in the driver's seat. This phase typically lasts 3-4 weeks.

Phase 2: TnT, or Trainer 'n Trainee. You've passed your driving test and have your CDL, and have been officially hired by Prime. This is the "mentoring" phase, where you go from being a truck driver to being a trucker. You learn the other parts of the job, such as route planning, handling customer paperwork, and the like. You will effectively be running team during most of this phase. 6-8 weeks is typical, though some people take longer.

Times given are typical; your actual time will depend on a number of factors. The biggest is YOU; you will stay out until your instructor/trainer feels that you are ready to proceed. Freight and weather can also keep you out a bit longer.

If all goes well, you should be in your own truck in about three months. There is no requirement to team once you get through PSD and TnT.

If my numbers are off, I'm sure someone will speak up...

 

I'm looking for some general information if anyone could answer my question, it would be greatly appreciated. Would an individual who has had a lower back fusion surgery be automatically disqualified to drive a tractor trailer?
Would Prime disqualify me for said surgery?

 

I have a question regarding the below info. If you come to Prime with a CDL and experience, do you still have to sign a 1 year contract? Thanks

Originally Posted by silenteagle
RE: The one year contract... You are getting the following:
1. Free hotel stay anytime you are not on a truck during the training process
2. Free food for a week during your orientation, after you pass your CDL, and during your upgrade week.
3. A loan up to $800 during your PSD phase. No Interest, paid back at $25 per week.
4. About $4000 worth of CDL instruction. Yes, you would have to pay around that much if you went to a CDL school. You would have to sit around with 10-20 others waiting hours to drive a truck for 15 minutes.
5. You are getting a $600 a week GUARANTEED paycheck during the TnT training portion. That's about 6-8 weeks at that pay.

All they ask is that you drive for 1 year. Either way, company or lease. Leave before 6 months and you owe $3600, leave after 6 months and it's $1800 or something like that.

You could go elsewhere, but make sure you know how much it's gonna cost ya

 

No, you don't.

 

Can you pass a DOT physical? I think that's the important question. If so, you're 80% of the way there. Prime has some physical tasks you must perform as we'll. The duck walk and lifting a weight above your head, that are described in the body of this thread. They are intended to show that one is capable of performing the physical activites incident to the job. The final thing would be getting Prime's doctors approval, but I think that wouldn't be a problem if you can do the rest of it successfully.

Is your experience recent? If so you're going to do orientation, and step into a truck. I think that's what FMJ is assuming.

If you've had a long break, a few years, then you may be looking at doing the full training course as a refresher... and probably the contractual one year commitment. The training isn't totally free, but what they do is to accept a commitment instead of paynent for it. In between is some sort of period on a training truck without the rest of it. That's up to the safety guys to determine.

 

If my wife gets her CDL learners permit in Idaho before going to Prime's training, will she be licensed in Idaho or Missouri?