Prime Inc driver thread

From what I was told you must be solo for atleast 3 months before you can get a trainee. This doesnt take into account any previous experience though. Your actual time may vary.

 

Yes 3 months before trainer. Worst idea ever.

Instructor is much longer. I want to say 6 months but it might be a year.

Oh yeah, late on a load or any preventable incident and your back to zero on that time counter.

 

Trainers should be passionate about their job and their duty as a trainer and not just be in it for the money. My trainer told me "I dont' need the money, I do it because each driver I train is one less person that's gonna kill my wife and kids on the road" Now that guy was confident in his skills and he definetly was good at his job. I couldn't have asked for a better trainer. As to answer your question: My buddy went with Prime after school and was training people within a month after HIS training was over, bringing in 2000 or more a week.

 

cool thanks for the tips guys, set to start in salt lake on the 27th now unless my current job fires me as soon as I give notice. theyre slow so it wouldnt suprise me if that happens, looking for any reason to drop someone.

as for training its not something I wold do unless I felt I could help somebody make an easier transition into trucking, I had a great trainer 15 years ago, of course back then I trained for 9 days i think haha, then solooooo. I was a instructor at a trucking school along the way and have been a trainer at a couple of companies over the years also so i know I can handle that program. feeling really positive about Prime, 1st time I hvae actual anticipation to take a new job.

 

was reading some other threads and guys talking about the tnt training? they wanted to be a trainer as well but had to go on the road with a trainer making the 600 a week but they were experienced, the recruiter told me that I would lease straight out of orientation, has anybody got some input on this?

 

Drivers with a CDL and no recent experiance are sent out for training miles.

I know in Pittston and SLC they will throw you into a truck for a check out if they have any questions about your abilities. Muck it up and you get sent out with a trainer for a determined set of miles.

In Springfield they used to throw you in a truck for a checkout around the pad, but I wouldnt put it past them to stick a guy in the simulator.

Even if you check out, and screw up within the first couple months with a minor accident, or late delivery, they sometimes give the guy the option to turn in their truck and go home (let go) or turn in their truck and get sent out with a trainer.

I met a guy last week that took a mirror off another truck while parking. He took the trainer option.

 

I have read every page and post on this thread. I am going to be attending school next march here in AZ and was thinking about applying at Prime for one of my few that I may apply for when I graduate. I don't mind getting miles, the more the better. What can I expect being a student driver if I was to get hired on with them. How much time is spent dropping off a load, is it mostly no touch? If I have been reading correctly, once I finish with my trainer they issue me a truck to drive? I wont be sharing it with anyone. And if I want time off am I allowed to take the truck with me, or how does that work. Sorry for the 20 questions, but I have learned not to always trust what a recruiter says.

 

It depends on which division. Reefer sits more than flatbed, normally. Not sure about tanker. Most of the freight is no touch. Prime doesnt want you loading/unloading your own loads. Once you finish training, you get a truck. Which truck is dependant on what they got. When you take hometime, the truck can go with you. IF you have a proper place for it.

 

I have really thought about flatbed. But starting out I think I would be better starting in reefer. How far back do they want your driving records for? I am actually going down tomorrow to get a copy of it for my application to school. How helpfull would it be if I was to send in a copy of my record to Prime when I apply?

 

Prime will conduct a very thorough check before hiring you. Forget how far back. Website should say.