Prime: Orientation and Training?

After finishing orientation last week, I was placed with a trainer this am while on the pad and left Springfield for Wisconsin. There were still six srudents from my class waiting on a trainer and another 30+ set to graduate Friday. There would appear to be a shortage of trainers at the moment. My trainer says they have gone from 12 trainers on his FM's board to now only 4. Happy I made it out today and for once these #### cigarettes paid off.....I was the only smoker on the pad this am..... I will update again as I continue on....

 

Hows your trainer?

 

Yeaah, they do take students with CDLs... when they have enough trainers available. That seems to change by the month. But they want recent and nearly continuous employment. Best advice - call the recruiters and ask them.

 

be careful alot of trainers are lease operators who train so they can make the lease payments on there truck.... they get paid for the miles u run.. on the pad alot of there students fail the cdl tests cause there not teaching them like they should...even the easy strait line backing!!! not all lease trainers are like that but alot are... try to get a company cdl trainer...if ur a non smoker its seems alot harder to get a trainer as most smoke...

 

at the pittston terminal Primes northeast location some of the drivers are saying that prime is or has bought out cr england? anyone know if that statement holds any water?

 

Evidently you don't know what you're talking about...

Trainers are assigned to a new driver after they recieve their CDL - you learn to back while you have a permit, and are assigned to an instructor.

Huge difference.

CDL instructors at Prime must have extensive experience before they are accepted into the program, and go through additional training. If you have a history of students failing the driving test, you aren't retained in the program. All students who fail the driving test are evaluated and given additional instruction. Passing the CDL course isn't a given - and it shouldn't be! Some people just aren't going to be drivers no matter what anyone does.

Trainers get the new driver after they recieve their CDL. Both the trainer and instructor sign a contract that states what each party's responsibilities are, and the intended outcome. New CDL drivers have the option of asking for a different trainer if problems arise, and are encouraged to communicate with their fleet manager. Now that being said, the motivation from the trainer's side is to get someone on the truck to help keep it moving. If the newb doesn't pick something up in the process, doesn't communicate that to their FM, and/or doesn't do something about it - they're probably not going to make it as a driver.

 

NONE at all.

 

I got someone about my age and we seem to get along well. That being said there are differences of course but not enough to sweat. Also, short of some god-awful event, I can stand about anything for 3 months to get my own truck.....a means to an end they say...

 

Yep, Im still hopeing that i'll be going on June 2nd, My recruiter is trying to get the last of my work history finished and sent to "Safety" whatever that means. I think its my DMV record and Background check?

 

Whatever you do.....be truthful. Several guys went home the first few days of orientaion because of this. You will be given paperwork to fill out the night you arrive including work history and MVR. The very first thing Bill in Safety will tell you in class the next am is don't lie on app...we will find out. Several tried anyway....all went home. If you will lie on the app, what does that say about you personally? Prime thinks it says you don't want to work here....