Training @ Prime Inc - What's Your Experience/Opinion?

Everyone says Prime has a really good training program but that's a lie. It's not that good. And I'll tell you why.

The school was all right. That was pretty good. But that only lasts maybe two days. Then you have an initial trainer. And that is your classic training. (But honestly it was kind of up in the air so I'm not even sure if the way it went for me is how it was supposed to go down.) We took a single load nearby and came right back. But I think we weren't even supposed to do that. We were just supposed to drive around the town until I got used to driving.

Anyway, then you get into the mentorship program. Where you drive for 3 months with a "trainer."

This is where it's absolute ########. This is after you've completed your test at Prime and you've passed and you've got your temporary CDL paper and you're waiting for the actual one to come in the mail or whatever.

Anyways, this is not real training. You're just team driving for three whole months. The other guy who you're assigned to, he is asleep while you drive. And you have to sleep while he drives.

So, not only is it not training. But it's also team driving, but you're getting paid less than you would be getting paid if you are a regular team driver. And, the trainer is getting paid the extra money that you should be getting.

And you could say that you're getting paid a lower income because you are a new driver and you are a liability. And those are some good reasons. However, they should just say that. If that was what it was, then that's what it should be. Instead, they are being dishonest and they're telling people that they're going through training. There was absolutely no training. And every time I try to ask my trainer for help, I would have to wake him up. And he would be pissed because he's trying to sleep. And half the time he would refuse to help me. Because, these aren't quality trainers. They haven't been trained on how to train. They're not teachers or helpful people. They're ######## who are getting cheap team driving labor so that they get a higher payout.

My actual trainer from before I passed my CDL exam? He was cool. It was my birthday and he even bought me a birthday cake. He actually answered my questions. He was helpful. And that makes sense because he has to go back to the terminal and hang around the terminal all the time. So he can't be acting crazy or else they'll see him acting like an ####### right there at the terminal.

But my team driving partners? They were all ########. And they make you do it for three whole months. Not a single month. Three whole ####ing months of team driving.

On top of all that, they we're always rushing you. When I got to sign my truck, they tried to rush me into my first load. But you're supposed to inspect the truck beforehand, you're supposed to get yourself set up with a fridge and whatnot. And even when you're in training, they're rushing you through it. It feels like your legs are kicked out from under you and then they're just shoving you down a hill. At no point did I feel like I understood what was going on. And, all my studying for the DMV exam? All that stuff flew right out of my head. Because, they were just pushing you through and rushing you through the whole time.

The company is not hurting for money. The owner is ridiculously wealthy. There's hundreds of trucks and drivers in this fleet, if not thousands. So it doesn't make sense for them to be pushing their drivers like this. The money is not that tight.

 

Still working there?

 

No

 

Hey I’m curious as I am about also tentatively going to go to orientation in a week from now. I have my CDL but I need experience. I wondered how all this went for you? Did you feel like you learned lots of valuable information, did the company set you up with a good environment to learn?

 

Go with refrigerated division!

 

Floral Div if your in Florida.

 

Shout at RoadrunnerNia (Youtube) for me...

 

I also already had my CDL and went to Prime for a year on the company side running reefer. I thought it was a good starter company, the time with the trainer isn't the most fun in the world but it's a one time thing...gut it out and try to learn as much as you can.

Once on my own they kept me moving and it was decent money for a rookie at a mega. You'll make mistakes but that's how you learn, and your clock management will improve over time to become more efficient. Once you have a year of experience a lot of doors will open.

 

Theyre decent if you get a decent trainer. Their flatbed training is a joke compared to how I was trained at another company. But driving wise, if your trainer doesnt allow you to back, or check in/out, teach you how to fuel, allow/make you do some night driving, ect ect. Ask for a new trainer. Number one issue I see is students not advocating for themselves in that aspect. You dont have to suffer through 50k miles with someone who isnt training you properly, theyll let you get a new one when available and when reasonable.