My Training Experiance (as a Trainer)

Hey U2, I haven't been on much due to training, but wanted to stop by to see how things were going for you and Ironpony. I started with Prime 06/14 and was assigned a trainer right away. In approximately 7 weeks, we have 34K miles, not great, but we're getting there. We get along very well and actually had the highest MPG's for our dispatcher's board for the month of July. We're hoping it gets us a contractor of the month nomination, so we'll see.

I do have a question for you and others though, if you get a moment to read it and form a response.

We were given a floral load a few weeks ago and picked up in Miami. The load was taken to Pierson, FL where it was unloaded along with several other trucks, then formed into multiple stops loads. I'm sure you know how it works. Anyway, my trainer slept while I counted the load all night and each package has to be counted, all 1500 of them. We had a total of 12 stops, the last being in Albuquerque, NM.

My trainer slept during the "longer hauls" New Orleans to Houston and Amarillo to Albuquerque, while I was to sleep between the 20-30 minute trips from Dallas to Ft. Worth..etc, then get up, lump the flowers and lay back down for 30 minutes till the next stop. A rough two day trip. The pay to the truck was one of the best I've seen, to include a $432 lumper fee. My trainer told me before we started that due to his poor health, he wouldn't be able to do much of the work, this wasn't a problem for me and I agreed.

Well after it's all said and done, I didn't get a dime of the lumper! I got my $600 pay check from Prime, and I realize that most of that money comes from my trainer's check, but my understanding is I'm paid to drive. I'm certainly not above the extra work and I always invite extra duties; however, I feel I was taken advantage of, but don't wanna speak my mind due to only being on board 7 weeks.

Additionally, he's stated on several occasions that he, "can't wait to get another one of those floral loads!" I guess so, so I can lump the #### thing and get no sleep while he watches his bank account grow.

Lastly, I stated before we do get along well, I'm a hard worker and he has already asked me to stay on board after my upgrade and team with him, but I'm more interested in being on my own. I have decided to stay onboard for 80k instead of 60k, this will increase my cpm pay to .34 as a solo company driver. Rather than 60k team, then 20k as a solo to go from .30 to .34

 

Right, I let it slide the first time, but with the recent chatter that he couldn't believe how well that load paid...blah blah blah and how he is gonna request our FM to get us more, it won't happen a second time.

My experience so far greatly parallels yours. My trainer talks about teaming, all the money WE'LL make, how well we'll do, how much time I'll have off...etc; however, every pay day, he spends an hour on the phone paying overdue bills.

Besides that small incident, my experience with Prime, it's employees and equipment has been fantastic. When you watch the trucks running up and down the highways, it's no doubt that Prime has the newest/best looking equipment out there. Their training pay is the highest of any company I researched and I appreciate the thorough training program.

I've found a real home at Prime!

 

Hey Guys, Looking in to getting in the Prime way of thinking, Is there anything you can tell me to do to get in rather quicker. I have been looking in to other co. But i really like Prime. Hope ya'll can help.

 

jjoy... call a recruiter and get the ball rolling - you are a CDL student? It's more difficult to get into Prime from a 3rd party school... you have to get the app in just at the right time. Might want to drop out of CDL school (if that's where you're at) and hop into Prime's CDL program.

txranger - Did a multistop floral with my trainer. We split the lumping fees down the middle. Frankie was a jerk in a lot of ways, but when it came to money, he was quite straight with me.

 

Thanks, so I'm not crazy that it bugged me! Well I guess that was a freebie, but I certainly won't do it again for free.

 

Is prime hihring out of the New England area? been out of CDL school for a month and getting harder to get a job

 

let me get this straight...i am a bit confused.. i get my cdl permit in tenn before going to prime then when i get there i will just have paperwork to do & wait 4 a trainer.While i wait 4 a trainer i make 240wk to eat off of which is eventually deducted from your check.Then when i get a trainer & get into a tractor and on the road( which should all happen in the same day) it is .12 a mile or 600wk whichever comes first. But getting a trainer could take up 2 a month. Do i have all this info correct? I dont understand why some people said they have not seen a paycheck?

 

U2Exit do you think you are gonna be back in Springfield the week of 09/15 to take on a new trainee...I sure would like to get you.