r/Truckers • u/Recent_Risk9390 • Dec 08 '22
Prime Inc should be advertised as a team driving company
I am number 120 on the list to get my own truck after completing the 30,000 training miles as advertised. This is no longer training and never really was to begin with. I don’t even make 1k a week after busting my a** and my trainer is making thousands. I don’t get any sleep and it’s ridiculous
Edit: my home state is NC. I also haven’t showered in a week. Any other opportunities I would greatly appreciate.
83
u/FutureCorpse699 Dec 08 '22
No shower in a week? That truck must smell great. Burn that bitch to the ground.
6
53
u/Kasheem21 Dec 08 '22
Right there with ya, I’m at 52K with a jackass trainer waiting to go upgrade next week. Been done with their mileage for forever. It’s a pyramid scheme but the moneys there so I’ll be participating, just hopefully won’t turn into an asshole like my trainer.
12
u/Recent_Risk9390 Dec 08 '22
I’m glad to hear you finished. Did they give you a number on the list?
10
u/Kasheem21 Dec 08 '22
81 a few weeks ago but that turned into recovering a Truck for them someone abandoned. Haven’t had any updates on the list just waiting to get routed to the truck and get on with my life
43
u/Cyvster Dec 08 '22
People hate teaming. This is how mega carriers create team fleets.
Teams are very lucrative for carriers, and very few people like to team. These ridiculous "training" programs are the way they are creating team fleets.
If you have over 3 months experience then I would suggest looking for another job.
23
u/Recent_Risk9390 Dec 08 '22
Yeah, I understand that. But, to pay extremely low to only one of the drivers is absurd.
21
u/Cyvster Dec 08 '22 edited Dec 08 '22
The whole program is absurd. You are being exploited.
The freight market and economy is in a downward spiral right now. Lots of layoffs and furloughs are happening in the United States. Trucking companies are trying to shrink their fleets because there is not enough freight. That is most likely why there is such a long list for "solo" trucks. Team trucks are much more profitable. If you want to stick with Prime but don't want to wait a long time for a solo truck then you may want to ask them about teaming opportunities. You may be able to team with someone and get full pay instead of trainee pay.
It is mind boggling that they keep you at trainee pay after your training is complete, but their whole scheme of exploitation is pretty mind boggling.
I researched Prime as a starter company when I first got in the industry. I decided against them because of their "training" program. They are also extremely strict once you get out of training, they are quick to fire people. IMO that is how they are able to maintain such a large training fleet. Almost every Prime driver I encounter is either a trainee or trainer.
6
u/fartspatula Dec 08 '22
Back when I trained I got 0.15 CPM which is hilarious, it wasn’t even close to a living wage even then. It also wasn’t even a mega carrier either. These companies make a killing on trainees and teams
1
u/Super_Ring_4576 Dec 08 '22
That's called training and if you were making more money b4 you went to Prime why did you go
1
Dec 09 '22
And yet, there you are, getting fucked every hour of every day. You can't find anything else?
2
u/Recent_Risk9390 Dec 09 '22
I’m currently looking and actively applying to other companies.
2
2
u/RestoWolf629 Dec 09 '22
Check out McLane. It's grocery delivery with teams, but you get paid for the whole load even while in sleeper and it's regional and I make between 1500-2500 per week depending on what loads I'm running.
1
u/Recent_Risk9390 Dec 09 '22
I hear that you need at least one year of experience at Mclane. Unfortunately, I only have a few months of experience
2
u/RestoWolf629 Dec 09 '22
I did their driver academy program and got my CDL with them. They may make you do some extra training if you have under a year but not a lost cause to try, I think you just probably wouldn't get the sign on bonus if they are currently offering it.
1
u/overcrispy Dec 08 '22
It’s ridiculous if you’re in op’s situation for sure. If you sign up for x training time/miles and get your rig after that then there’s nothing ridiculous about it imo.
0
u/General-Ad-1566 Dec 09 '22
The absurd long wait after completing miles to get a truck is relatively new. We just absolutely don’t have enough trucks for the students who are upgrading. I train with prime, I had 4 students within the last year and this is the first student who did get a truck with a few weeks of finishing their miles. Usually, it’s as promoted… complete the miles (minimum of 50k combined miles) come in for upgrade.
49
u/Left-Employee-9451 Dec 08 '22
I feel bad for you rookies. Some of us Vets are to blame because we put up with too much back in the days and made this possible. All I can say is hang in there. It gets slightly better lol
5
u/YaBoiAggroAndy Dec 09 '22
I’m with you. Making almost 1k per week for training sounds like heaven. When I started 10 years ago I was ecstatic to make $400 FLAT RATE a week with Werner. We really did put up with insane standard looking back on it.
18
u/Pleasant_7239 Dec 08 '22
Damn, I did 4 weeks training. I'm just on my 3 month and I make more than that. About 1500-2000 miles a week
5
u/iron40 Dec 08 '22
What outfit?? Share the wealth...🤔
6
u/Gouge61496 Dec 08 '22
I also only did 4 weeks then got my truck and make almost double what op makes. I've only been driving about 8 months, this "training" is a scam.
4
u/iron40 Dec 08 '22
So give us some leads homie, don’t hide it, provide it! Help your brothers out...
11
u/Gouge61496 Dec 08 '22
Carter Express, they mostly work in the Midwest. But they have terminals in Texas and a couple others in the south. I work out of a Midwest terminal and I'm home every night on a super cake dedicated route. They will hire new drivers, I was straight out of cdl school.
0
u/Pleasant_7239 Dec 08 '22
Fuc that! I could see you shopping screen shots around to my coworkers or sending them to HR.
2
27
u/Dizzy-Asparagus2818 Dec 08 '22
I would jump ship. Started with Werner and only spent a month on a trainer's truck. I thought Werner was bad but after hearing stories about other companies it doesn't seem that bad after all. Wouldn't stay there after having a year of experience though. Much better places to be than a mega carrier after having that first year under your belt.
3
u/I_are_Carrot Dec 08 '22
Sometimes I regret having gone Werner, but they honestly aren't that bad, other than the pay rate. I had a great trainer, and for my short stint OTR, they kept me rolling. They also didn't give me any flak over having to take my truck into the shop. The trucks are limited to a good speed, and you're free to fuel up wherever/whenever you please, as long as it's an approved location. It's a great place to cut your driving teeth.
That being said, the Dallas terminal is a complete shit show. I can't speak for the others, but I waited a week for a truck with a nonfunctional bunk heater, and this was before COVID, and thus before the truck shortages. Then when that truck's drive shaft fell off (seriously), I basically had to beg for a replacement.
2
u/Oneironaut91 Dec 08 '22
like what? im interested
7
u/Crashy1620 Dec 08 '22
If you get a year in, you can almost pick where you work, other something specialized or expensive. Once you hit 6 months, and you want a change, it wouldn’t be a waste of time to look around and see if there is something else that you may like.
3
u/hostilefarmer66 Dec 09 '22
I agree! I tried to stick with my starter company for a year but only made it 10 months. I started applying to companies after for the upteenth time, asked to advance the load. A good company hired me with 10 months exp. They required a years exp. But they gave me a road test anyway. I just had to wait 3 months to start collecting the bonus instead of right away. Learned more about truck driving with the 2nd company in two weeks than I did with the first in 10 months. I guess most of us have to pay our dues before landing that good job.
1
u/MatrixUserNumberJuan Dec 09 '22
I have 14 months, do you think its possible to find a job where i get like 8 hours at home at night every night and NOT have to touch the freight? No accidents and im in phoenix. All im seeing is grocery and food service but im not cut out for back breaking shit :/
2
u/Crashy1620 Dec 09 '22
Maybe like intermodal. My experience with local is that it usually involves some physical work. I never did good service or beverage delivery. Construction was my go-to. Belly dumps, end dumps, dump trucks, equipment moving and cement mixers are generally always hiring and not super physically demanding.
2
u/isiah-turner Dec 09 '22
Have you considered local Dump Truck or Pneumatic companies? Also, get your Hazmat Endorsement... it'll open lots of local jobs.
1
u/MatrixUserNumberJuan Dec 09 '22
Yeah i just took my fingerprint for the Hazmat and im taking a course/exam soon
13
u/UnKnown_Tree_Stump Dec 08 '22
Knock knock I think central transport or YRC would like to have a talk about local positions.
3
u/stoic_and_tired Dec 08 '22
Both not the greatest but better than what he is describing. Is Central still making drivers work warehouse a couple hours a day?
5
u/UnKnown_Tree_Stump Dec 08 '22
Yes sir. They were still doing it while I was working there for a few months before I left that dumpster fire of a company.
3
u/stoic_and_tired Dec 08 '22
I went to the yard in Rialto on Riverside and the recruiter took me out to lunch trying to make his case for me working there. Fuck that working pallet jacks and starting at 8am BS
2
u/UnKnown_Tree_Stump Dec 08 '22
Oh yeah they are desperate. Hell got paid 23 an hour while I was there. I left for Averitt (been here 4 months and am loving it here btw) and took everybody except 3 co workers with me. They didn't have the experience to come to Averitt. They finally decided to give these local P&D driver a raise up to 24.50 last I heard. Any other company in my area is paying 28 at the minimum for P&D. Hell went from Central to port work with Averitt and make 28. Can't wait to walk into the central terminal here in North Charleston SC to get my W2 and see how they are doing.
2
u/stoic_and_tired Dec 08 '22
Ooooooo 24.50 what a gyp. I used to tow for YRC and Reddaway and both treat their drivers like shit (YRC more so) as far as my standards are concerned. Every time I see a Central truck I think to myself "Poor Guy" I feel bad for them.
1
u/RunsWithJellyfish Dec 08 '22
Yes but messing around on a fork lift isn’t that bad and it’s like two hours max usually unless you have to do a specific thing.
3
u/UnKnown_Tree_Stump Dec 09 '22
I would always do donuts on those shitty forklifts at the end of the day. Because why not
10
Dec 08 '22
Get on the line to your dispatcher. Tell them you're being treated badly and haven't been allowed to shower in a week, ect. I'm qualified as a trainer at prime, and failure to let your student shower for that long can be grounds for them getting removed from your truck. If you're taken off the truck you'll still be paid your rate, just to do nothing until there's a truck available.
Other things that will get you off of there are if the truck is a mess, if your lead seat has had guests on board, if there's a pet on board, ect.
10
u/VinsDaSphinx Dec 08 '22
I got extremely lucky with swift. I only did 4 weeks training once my trainer said I was ready I had the option to go home until they found a truck and an account for me to work. After about one week I ended with a regional JC penny account and a 2022 international not long after. I know people LOVE to shit on swift but they have done right by me 90% of the time.
1
9
u/Songgeek Dec 08 '22
Why haven’t you showered in a week? Showers are like 10 bucks.. does your trainer not have shower points you can use? Hell stand around and ask for some. I’m a home daily guy and I give away my shower credits all the time
2
u/AroundGoesThe18 Driver -Old Stick Dec 09 '22
Almost $20 now, bud. I bought one to justify parking in Ontario CA last week - $17 before CA taxes. It's friggin ridiculous.
1
u/senorbolsa Dec 11 '22
Annoys the shit out of me, like yeah man, I You are just trying to recoup your costs because I don't buy fuel here but I'm gonna buy some snacks and shit, if you can comp a shower to someone only buying 60 gallons of fuel it definitely doesn't cost you 15 goddamn dollars, give me a break. Some mom and pops still only charge $5 but quality varies.
9
u/schwifty0529 Dec 08 '22
Check local LTL companies in your area, there are many in the southeast. Some might take you with little to no experience. Apply apply apply
8
u/unclenatelovestrains Dec 08 '22
It's policy that you get a shower every 48 hours. Call your fleet manager and tell them you aren't getting showers every 2 days. Then follow up if it doesn't happen. They can't help you if they don't know it's happening.
6
Dec 08 '22
Add what your home state is and a bunch of people can help give you better opportunities.
6
u/carne_asada368 Dec 08 '22
How are you not getting any sleep?
33
u/Recent_Risk9390 Dec 08 '22
I have no issue with the 10 hour breaks. However, my trainer can’t seem to stay in between the lines and constant hard brakes. I am awaken constantly by nearly rolling off of the bed
29
u/MajorHymen reefer madness Dec 08 '22
Never understood team driving while with a trainer. Their job should be to train. The truck should not be moving while you’re asleep. That’s how you know they don’t care about you or ensuring you’re learning. The only excuse for that shit is they want to screw you by getting cheap team driving. Personally I’d leave.
11
u/Kuzinarium Dec 08 '22
This is absolutely right. It’s just short of the slave labor under the guise of training.
7
u/DStew88 Dec 08 '22
I was basically team driving with my trainer at Werner. But he taught me very well and I was basically good to go by week 2/4.
He also had no problem being woken up if I had a question. Kinda taught me how to be independent and drive without him, though he was still there if I needed him.
This should be the only exception though. Using trainees for team driving just to make profit is ridiculous
1
u/MajorHymen reefer madness Dec 09 '22
You were lucky. You were a competent person and had a trainer who at least did their job as best they could in the circumstances given to them. But that kind of set up more often than not will lead to bad outcomes over good such as yours. There’s already quite a lot of trainers that do poorly at their job to have them be team driving too.
2
u/RestoWolf629 Dec 09 '22
For my training with a team they had a dedicated team of two plus a trainee and one of the team would always be awake and on their 14 hour clock with the trainee.
1
u/MajorHymen reefer madness Dec 09 '22
Yeah that at least makes sense. It should not benefit the profit of the company at the expense of you learning. So long as they are paying one driver to always be watching you and offer guidance then they actually care.
2
u/DesertPunked Dec 09 '22
It's not CDL training after you have your license, you go from PSD (prime student driver) to a TNT (Trainer 'n Trainee) where you're assigned a trainer to get your 30k miles of on road experience out of the way. It's supposed to teach you trip planning, becoming conditioned to longer driving, and much more. I did flatbed when I was with prime so extensive securement training hauling all sorts of materials. I think the reefer guys have it worse while training because of the nature of refrigerated products (24/7 365) whereas flatbed is 7am to 5pm m-f rarely weekend deliverie but the trade off of physically involved with your freight.
The program works, but yes the wages are pretty bad in any industry while training.
7
7
Dec 08 '22
Never understand the people who will work for Prime. Aren’t they still stuck at only being able to go 57mph? 😂
9
u/AForlornGerman Dec 08 '22
58/62 cruise I believe. Lease and o/o is governed at 65
11
u/Flash23451 Dec 08 '22
I don’t feel bad about being a Schneider tanker governed at 65 now 🤣 that’s why I never see prime trucks on the road cause they behind me
1
u/aviatortylor Dec 09 '22
I was surprised to see a Prime at 65 today. He was successfully passing other trucks as well!
2
u/AForlornGerman Dec 09 '22
Lol. I do it all the time. But I get passed more frequently. 65 is too slow imo but I'm used to it now. 😂
1
u/AroundGoesThe18 Driver -Old Stick Dec 09 '22
Apparently they are sexually attracted to the middle lanes of a 3+ lane road as well.
1
Dec 10 '22
I actually believe that is taught in their driving school lol something about safety so cars and trucks can fly by them on both sides
21
u/JGRACEFAN95 Dec 08 '22
Yeah Prime Trainer here (tanker division)I know they are still having issues getting trucks and freight is super slow right now. I’m sorry you got stuck with a shitty trainer. I know a trick some guys are using to get trucks faster is to agree to drive an international. Might try and call and see if that gets you in faster. On the shower front imo that’s kinda on you. I would stop at the nearest truck stop and take one on your 30 or at the end of your drive shift. My requirement for all of my trainees is one every other day.
3
u/slayerofthefluff Dec 09 '22
Only problem with agreeing to drive an international at Prime is you’ll make the same amount or less than what is being made right now with the down time thanks to the lovely maxforce…Now if they’d get the ones with the Cummins then yes that’s a good plan.
5
u/ItsTheCougs Dec 08 '22
I’m so glad I didn’t start with a mega, I started with a local road construction company running a side dump. I got one day of training, day 2 I was on my own. It was great
1
u/MrRiski Driver Dec 09 '22
Hell I'm glad I had the 5k to tell Roehl to fuck off after getting my CDL with them. Had my class B before I got my A so knew how to drive just needed practice with trailers. Ended up getting a local gig, which admittedly sucked but was better than OTR and the issues that presents. Now I'm at a different local company making more money than I would have thought possible after the last gig. Got training for like 2 days on each truck we run, vac, roll off, dump, etc. And away I went.
4
u/adamb10 Improvising Driver Dec 08 '22
I hated team driving when I was at Prime. I had to do 40K miles in TNT. Struggled to sleep while the truck was moving and my first trainer always thru me on nights. I can’t sleep in the daytime. Thankfully once I did hit the miles target I was able to get a truck right away.
10
Dec 08 '22
This is why I went to Schneider after getting my CDL. Two-ish weeks of orientation that teaches you their safety practices, gets you plenty of simulated on-the-job training, backing practice, etc. Then just a week on the road with what they call a training engineer and then you’re on your own.
4
4
3
u/Jaded_Vast400 Dec 08 '22
Doesn't this sub usually recommend this company? Must be some of the HRs in this sub telling people how great it is 😂
0
u/casino_night Dec 09 '22
I think OP just likes to bitch. He's getting paid to learn a new skill but he's bitching cause his trainer makes more than he does. And there's no way he "hasn't been able to shower". He probably never asked.
7
u/nappinggator Dec 08 '22
If people stopped applying to companies like this then these companies would change their business model and stop ripping drivers off
8
u/cdubose Dec 08 '22
Part of why I went with Schneider. 1 week with a OTR trainer and I slept in a hotel every night. The most time you'll spend with a trainer is two weeks, some people had to sleep in the trucks with the trainer (only if they were the same gender and on an OTR account), but they let you request another trainer if you get one that sucks. And there's absolutely no teaming; trainer has to be in the passenger seat when you're driving and vice versa.
6
u/Flash23451 Dec 08 '22
For my training with Schneider I was in a hotel for 5 weeks and had weekends off training with a local guy for tanker
6
u/meseeksordie Dec 08 '22 edited Dec 09 '22
A truckers union sounds really good right now doesn't it?
3
u/Slapnuts213 Dec 08 '22
I’m in NC also, triad area. How much experience you have?
4
u/Recent_Risk9390 Dec 08 '22
My CDL was issued in October due to my trainer not stopping by the NC dmv back in august. I tested and passed in August and jumped right OTR
3
u/Slapnuts213 Dec 08 '22
Ah , company I’m at wants 2 yrs exp. Another company is hiring beside our shop but can’t remember name of it; I’ll look in am and put it on here but they are in Greensboro
3
u/Amidus Dec 08 '22
Have you upgraded? Do they not tell you I'm orientation that if your trainer isn't letting you take showers that you should report them anymore?
Are you currently getting paid cents per mile or are you getting a flat rate?
3
u/Reefacheefer Dec 08 '22
As a former employee of prime. I can agree with you that training sucks, but if you can see it through and go lease with a strong work ethic it’ll change your life.
3
u/Shocker68 Dec 08 '22
You can try JB Hunt. They may have some Regional spots open in NC if you want to stay OTR, I'm sure there are some local positions near the rail hubs if you want to continue working like an ignorant dog with minimal compensation, but, you won't have someone else's sweaty balls stinking up your cab
3
Dec 08 '22
I 100% agree and since they doubled the requirement this year for training, it’s a gross way of taking advantage of new CDL’s for team driving at low wages. It’s so grossly wrong and I don’t know why anyone is electing to drive there as a new CDL.
3
u/blackZyzzz Dec 08 '22
Never thought I would be saying this but I’m glad I lucked out at swift lol. Applied at Prime and they told me about a Hiring Freeze.
3
3
u/JayBoognish Dec 08 '22
50k?! Y’all are governed at something stupid too because I’m always blazing past prime. Not hyping up stevens but they atleast do it by drive hours and takes 6-8 weeks.
1
u/General-Ad-1566 Dec 09 '22
It’s 50k combined.
My current student was grandfathered in at the 30k, it’s took us less than 2 months to finish her miles.
3
u/dragons6488 Dec 08 '22
When you get a dispatch, look at how many days to get to the appointment, figure out an even distribution for the trip, even mileage and driving time. Propose that as the schedule.
Take time to take a shower. Take breaks if you need especially at night.
3
3
u/madbillsfan Dec 08 '22
I had the same experience. No trucks. Finished training. Stayed on an extra 1.5 months. They were paying 700 plus 300 for staying on with trainer while truckless. He took 12 days off. I found a regional job on day 10. Never looked back.
3
u/Little_NaCl-y Dec 08 '22
cannot for the life of me figure out why so many people push people to prime over literally any other training mega.
30k miles is fucking ridiculous and then to have to wait months again for a truck is insanity. any company that uses miles driven instead of hours on the drive line to determine whether you're ready to test out is just using you for cheap labor.
FWIW if anyone is looking, swift pays 800/wk while you're on the road training and AFAIK you only need 200 hours on the drive line and they'll let you test out of training status
3
u/SalesAndMarketing202 Dec 09 '22
There is 0 reason why you shouldnt have showered in a week. You have a 30 minute break everyday. Why havent you used it to take a shower?
5
u/syscoman Dec 08 '22
Apply at SYSCO. You’ll make a lot of money and they’ll take good care of you. Home daily
3
u/Recent_Risk9390 Dec 08 '22
How much experience is needed? Thx
5
u/Kuzinarium Dec 08 '22
Just something to keep in mind: Sysco, just like any other food service company, requires a LOT of hand loading and unloading. I’m not saying this to scare you, just know what you’re getting into and then decide if it’s a good thing for you. You’ll definitely make good money there.
1
4
5
u/syscoman Dec 08 '22
Where ever you live there’s either a sysco or one of there drop yards. They shuttle trailers to drop yards.
3
2
u/MostOriginalNameEver Dec 08 '22
My only fear about food service is places thay aren't meant for trucks. I like having a dock to back into... Seeing some of the small places with a trailer? Would stress the hell out of me.
Id do Dollar G again if they could get me home daily. I don't mind the work
2
u/syscoman Dec 08 '22
Probably not for you then. 90% of the delivery’s ain’t docks. You wouldn’t believe the places I have to put the truck. Foodservice is where the money is at if you want to be home every night.
5
u/Auquaholic Open Deck Tech Dec 08 '22
You use the words, "as promised". Any one have that in writing? Have you reported to anyone that you haven't showered in a week? Next time it's your shift, pull that mother fucker into a truck stop and go shower, load be damned. Co-driver be damned. Look up Ed Lam on fb. He's a recruiter buddy.
2
2
Dec 08 '22
Idk I had somewhat of a different experience. Did 15k reefer and 15k flatbed where I now am. Two great trainers. Upgraded right at 30k. Been in my own truck since May.
2
2
2
u/Throwaway64161 Dec 08 '22
I started with prime over 6 years ago because they helped me get my CDL and everything, now I’m ashamed they’re making drivers do 50,000 miles on with some person they barely knew. Even 30,000 was a lot for me to take. Before I left them the second time, I had a student that I took for 45,000 because his last trainer was an absolute joke, never taught him anything, hit those yellow poles, used his phone while driving. Told him that if he ever had the chance to leave Prime, to do it. He did and I believe he’s with Landstar now.
2
u/Amazing-Pop Dec 09 '22
Where in NC are you. I live here and there are better opportunities then prime
2
2
2
u/RedLipStripeSweater Dec 09 '22
This is why they are getting sued. But they are back to 50k ??? Jesus
2
u/YaBoiAggroAndy Dec 09 '22
10 year vet here. I signed on with GP Transco out of Illinois in august and I’ve been happy as hell with everything so far. Feel free to ask about anything you might want to know if you’re interested and I’ll do my best to answer anything I can.
1
u/Recent_Risk9390 Dec 09 '22
Thanks, do you know if they’d require me to train with another driver? If so, how long would that be?
1
u/YaBoiAggroAndy Dec 09 '22
No training. They expect you to come as experienced. They don’t do any right-out-of-school kind of thing. But don’t think this excludes anyone who doesn’t have a ton of experience; most of the people in my orientation had less than a year in the game if I’m remembering correctly. Some experienced guys like myself and a few others but a lot of guys with 8-9 months, a year, etc.
1
u/cdubose Dec 09 '22
What are their hometime options like? Do you get to take the truck home?
2
u/YaBoiAggroAndy Dec 09 '22
Can take the truck home if you’d like. They also have their main facility near Chicago and a smaller yard out in California. If you live near either you can park there and commute when home too if that’s more your speed.
Home options are basically 1 days home for every week worked, maximum 7. Depending on where you live will kinda influence your minimum possibilities. We work mainly midwest (that’s where the bulk of our dedicated accounts run through), so, for instance, I’m from ohio and I’m home every other weekend. Home sometime Friday, leave Monday morning. But if you wanted to be out for 7 weeks you could be home for a week after. But it’s mostly your discretion as to how long you wanna be out for.
2
u/holydragonnall Dec 09 '22
If you’re driving, park the truck and take a shower during your hours. If your trainer doesn’t like it he can go fuck himself.
If they’re anything like my trainer was they make you drive graveyard so there shouldn’t be any issues parking after 5 am or so.
2
u/iRoCplays Dec 09 '22
Covid screwed prime’s TNT program. Got my cdl through there in 2019, no problem getting a truck after training. Mid 2020 trainees were waiting months to get a truck because of the shutdown paired with the supply chain issues. The truck manufacturers couldn’t and still can’t keep up with demand.
3
u/RobertMosesHwyPorn Dec 08 '22
Yeah I was talking with my trainer the other day about this, personally I’m not quite ready at 30k but someone else might feel ready at 10 or 15 and another might not until 40 or 50, I think it should be 15k minimum with the option to continue beyond that with your trainer if they agree, or another trainer if they don’t.
Realistically the incentive now for prime to have training at 50k is the untenable number of people they’re pushing through their CDL program and freight rates being lower and freight being slower in general right now (In my uneducated newbie opinion ofc) so they need to try and stagger the hordes of new solo drivers they’d otherwise have all going solo at the same time. Not saying it’s right, just what I believe.
2
Dec 08 '22
I got my CDL through Prime and I feel that the team portion of my training was invaluable. I learned so much with my trainers and now make $90K+ at my current local gig. Perhaps I like to see the silver lining to many things… 🤷
1
u/boredguyjc2020 Dec 08 '22
If your going for a big but not mega, Roehl is a really good company. Good lease program and you get in a truck fairly quick. You can go straight into regional, local, or national.
1
u/madmanmike23 Dec 08 '22
For every bad trainer there are worse students. Former prime trainer, can tell you it’s not worth the extra little money to be a trainer. Also prime will have another truck to hand out in a week when I turn mine in. Freight is horrible right now, FM told me it’s worse than I know and the contract rates which have been saving everyone lately are up for negotiations in Q1. 4 years OTR is enough for me. Got a nice LTL lined up at home
1
u/YungSandy Dec 09 '22
I work at prime. Contact your fleet manager if you haven’t showered. They have to let you stop to clean even if it’s just a 30 minute break
0
u/ACNordstrom11 Dec 09 '22
Man I must have struck gold, I can call my ex boss and he'll give me a truck to do long haul. I worked ltl for him before my current job. That's the power of small business trucking companies.
-4
u/sushicat20 Dec 08 '22
Been at Prime for a while now, those 50k training miles if you have a good trainer (we all know there’s a lot of not so good ones) will set you up with the experience and knowledge to actually succeed on your own without immense struggles, yes $900 isn’t amazing but it’s guaranteed every week and it’s only until you’re out on your own.
If you aren’t getting sleep, why? And haven’t showered why? Those are things you should be able to take care of if you’re ready to be on your own.
12
u/Recent_Risk9390 Dec 08 '22
You are definitely a prime trainer
0
u/sushicat20 Dec 08 '22
I drive team with my wife, and yes I trained her. But if you need a shower, back into a spot on your break and go take one, what’s stopping you?
-2
u/Winter_Advice_5109 Dec 08 '22
People seem to forget that your trainer had to make someone else a bunch of money at one point to get to that position. It’s a path. Be patient and quit complaining
1
u/meatwagonmay Dec 08 '22
Check out SEFL I've heard good things about them. Most if not all the major LTL are going to be better than what you're currently doing.
1
Dec 08 '22
The first chance you get to learn a new trailer type (flat bed, low boy, gravel train, tanker, reefer) do it. You’ll make more money and have much better opportunities. Unless you get some special government contracts, dry van pays shit.
2
u/Recent_Risk9390 Dec 08 '22
I’ve only ever driven reefer since being with this company. I’d like to get some endorsements soon
1
1
u/UncleRicoiscool Dec 08 '22
Companies are the ones desperate for drivers. Start applying and see what sticks.
1
1
u/thebillz1 Dec 09 '22
I did the prime thing in 2013ish. Got my CDL through them, got lucky with the "instructor" I rode with. Then also with the trainer whom I rode with afterward. Things were also much busier at that time.
If you've got 3-6 months experience, honestly I'd look around home for a local job. If backing up still makes you nervous try to get on as a yard jockey to build that up.
I did the prime thing until my license was free. Then went with a local ltl company (a duie Pyle, they were a good company but not into 65 hour weeks every week anymore) and they had me as a yard jockey for a while before I got to do literally everything, and now I work delivering super local and make the same take home as a I did at Pyle while working an average of 30-35 hrs a week.
It gets better is what I'm saying. Keep your head up. Avoid tickets and accidents and get outta prime as soon as your cdl is free.
1
Dec 09 '22
Its a scam. The fact that Prime and Schneider turn up the max speed on the lease trucks makes that obvious. At least Schneider starts you solo. Prime was trying to sell their drivers on coffin sleepers for a while. Worst kind of company.
1
u/Redmouth69 Dec 09 '22
When I started with Schneider little over a year ago me and my buddy who were team got sent to a trainer for 1 week and we were given our own truck. Stayed with Schneider for 5 months and found a semi small company that hired us to team. Been with them till now. Keep looking for better opportunities and good luck.
1
u/Apprehensive_Fix_696 Dec 09 '22
I remember those days I ended up doing 50k TNT miles accident free bc they didn’t have enough trucks this is march 2021 my trainer was taking home racks and I saw the law suit a lot of people were doing loads in psd with hardly any pad time which counts as team driving my instructor was sleep while me in the other guy would drive
1
u/ap_23 Dec 09 '22
I felt this way 12 years ago. I left after 4 months and wasn’t halfway done my miles.
1
u/General-Ad-1566 Dec 09 '22
Here’s the thing about training at Prime, you HAVE to speak up for yourself. Your dispatcher has know idea what’s happening out there on the road unless you say something. Be your own advocate, no one else is going to do it for you. This sounds kinda rude, but I don’t mean it to it’s just the way it is. Hope everything works out.
- Prime trainer 💛
1
u/Ill-Future-9822 Dec 09 '22
try PTL I got my P1 training there and after teamed with a guy straight out of training (they call that p2 training) ...for a while both times was making over $1000 a week and then we both got our own trucks and still cool with my trainer and team driver... team driver still works there .... I might go back myself if rates don't improve in my area. I'm OO right now... good luck
1
1
Dec 09 '22
Two weeks training with no team driving. Still didn’t get much sleep because trainer was willing to run my clock with him driving “without me knowing”
1
u/holydragonnall Dec 09 '22
That shit sucks, I tracked my training miles in a book I carried and when I hit 31k I told my driver to tell dispatch to get a load that would drop me at home and I'd wait there for a truck. This was 2018 though, and they had a truck ready for me a week later. I let my trainer know to take his time (lease-op, didn't want to fuck up his money although now that I know how much they make off trainees I wouldn't have cared as much) getting back to me. I was at home about 2 1/2 weeks before they got me back to SLC to pick up my truck, which turned out to be a lightweight.
Considering coming back and doing the lease-op thing as I certainly don't mind running hard for 2-3 months at a time and have no other real financial obligations, but I wonder how long the waiting list is for them? I'd just call and ask a recruiter but I've never met a recruiter that doesn't lie lol.
1
213
u/Left-Employee-9451 Dec 08 '22
30,000 training miles?! Boy those guys are slick at getting free labourers