Prime: Orientation and Training?

Just a question about training. If you're going in without your CDL, I understand you go to SPRIMO for a few days to a week to get your permit. Then you go out with the trainer. Is this when you learn to drive the truck? I'm just trying to wrap my head around how Prime training works. Do they start you out on a range before you leave with the trainer or no? Just wondering...

 

You will do some driving on the range, mostly backing, and you will spend some time at an industrial park practicing shifting and turning. This is during orientation week with whatever trainers/instructors happen to be at the terminal. Once you are placed with an instructor you may or may not have time to get some more of this type of practice in. You will then be leaving SPRIMO with a load and get most of your instruction out on the road with your instructor in the passenger seat as you drive. After 4-6 weeks you'll return to SPRIMO to test out and, with luck and the skills you have developed, pass, get your CDL, and become employed by Prime.
Now you head out with a trainer (most likely the same person that instructed you) and run team for 60,000 miles, at which point you can upgrade and start running solo.

Prime is of the notion that you really are not going to learn much tooling around on the training pad or bopping around town with an empty trailer. You are much better served hauling real loads, on real roads, and in real conditions.

I went through their CDL program in 2009 and have been a solo company driver for them since December of that year. I truly believe it is some of the best training offered in the industry.

 

Thanks for the info. Prime does seem to offer some of the best training out there. I like the fact that it is long training period. Coming into it cold, it makes the most sense. Thanks again.

 

No. You cannot drive for prime with a recent felony,especially if your on probation. You must be able to get a TWIC card which you cannot get if you have a recent felony.

 

Can you read, or has what's attached to your neck drained the blood from your brain??? LOL!

As I previously posted... "DEPENDS ON WHEN IT HAPPENED." Yes, Prime will give a person a second chance - depending on what they did and when.

 

44yr old safe driver with tanker endorsement. Will be testing out this week with Prime. The snow storms of late delayed me a week. My instructor will vouch for my good listening and safe driving abilities.

I want to be a Prime company tanker driver. I am looking for a Prime company tanker trainer that would like to T n T.

I'm from the Carolinas and I'm a non-smoker, although my current instructor is a smoker and we've had no issues at all.

Please contact me if you have a lead or want to discuss this further.

THANKS!

 

I am waiting for the recruiter to approve my husbands application. We are hoping to be team drivers for Prime. Just have a question, so after he goes through training he will train me. Does he go through a class or training to become a trainer or will I just hopefully hop in the truck with him when hes done and go from there?

 

I believe after 90 days of safe driving he can apply to become a trainer. He has to come back to Springfield to go through the training for that.

 

I'm scheduled to be at the orientation March 7th up in Pittston.

Any specific things yall would recomend I bring?

 

I'm going to start reccomending a mini oven.

Seriously, has anyone ever delivered a Pillsbury load without having a couple cases of biscuits rejected for one or two cans of dough exploding per case.

Two separate trips this month and I've given away about 20 cases out to truckers at the fuel island. I would bet they are Local guys and OTR near home, as I can't imagine someone sitting on all that dough for any length of time without access to an oven.