Since there are a lot of questions about this I am going to go the long route and attempt to explain it. I slept my 14 away as they fixed the windshield and can't sleep.
Your permit allows you to get behind the wheel of a truck and drive it on public roads. There used to be less cooperation between states but it has gotten a lot better so most permits will work across USA. Check with your recruiter to be sure. You keep the permit from where you got it. If you don't get it before coming to prime you get it in MO. On the permit it is not legal to be paid for driving while holding a permit in most of the USA so prime does not pay you during this time. YOu are given a loan interest free with a small repayment plan. Also during the instruction time you are on a solo truck so the claims of free labor are void as you are not labor as you are a student and usually slow the truck down.
Once you get through the instruction and pass your CDL you fill out a form to claim temp residency in MO and go get your CDL. This is the point you surrender your DL if from another state. Now you are legal to earn money for driving. At this point you should have the basics of driving down (if you went through prime's school) but need to fine tune your skills. I wish they called it mentor phase because I think a lot of people get confused. This is time to learn how to run the truck in the prime system and this is why you are team. The first two weeks of this phase they want the trainer/mentor to be aware when you leave the interstate. This is the point peoploe claim cheap labor and in a way they may have a point as 12 cents sounds really low. But you are guaranteed 600 bucks a week provided you are available for dispatch. That equals a 31,200 a year salary for a no experience worker. While I expect to earn more than 31K driving it is a good learning wage if you think about it.
After 30 days you need to go to your state to transfer your CDL or else you are perm resident of MO and have to pay state income tax. I live in a no income tax state so it is important for me to do so. If MO is cheaper than your state you might want to consider your options.
As for the testing Prime employs the examiners who are audited by the state often. They take it very seriously. Unlike other company schools that just turn them out. I was talking with my FM who said it is amazing how many guys they send home due to not passing the test. In his words great drivers who can do it all in the field but can't test. The examiners are not there to pass you or fail you they are there to examine your skills. You are there to pass or fail yourself.
Well I know there are those on this board that bash Prime. Of course there are people that bash every company. Prime is not the perfect company for every one nor is everyone right for prime. For me it has been and continues to be a good fit. I was taught how to drive one on one over a 100 hour period. (I only was required 75 but 100 hours is where it ended up and I am glad). I am being trained on how to do my paperwork, plan my trips, and effectively and efficiently operate the truck.
I say this because I know of a lady that worked for swift then came to prime. She just did not feel like it was for her. She went back to swift and like it. To this day she doesn't bash prime she just didn't find prime to be her thing. I know drivers here at prime that came from swift and hated them but found prime to be home.
In the end you gotta get your cdl and Prime offers stellar instruction followed by a training/mentor program that will set you up to succeed in this industry. After that you got to find what works for you
Thinking of prime
Discussion in 'Prime' started by MICH, Sep 8, 2011.
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If I always did like IP said, I'd be......
You know what... never mind.
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If they ever legalize it, I'm leaving!
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