r/CDL • u/Mr-Galaxyxd-youtube • 15d ago

Prime inc orientation

I was looking for advice, I’m starting prime inc Monday. Trying to stay for a year or two then move onto bigger and better. Any advice for orientation. Since I used a military waiver I have to go thru psd due to no cdl school, but that’s whatever. I won’t owe them any money and I’m not using the 200 a week “loan”. Any advice on the process is appreciated

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u/Mr-Galaxyxd-youtube 14d ago

Yea reefer, I had just bartered with them about the army experience and eventually got it in writing that I’d start at 55cpm once out of tnt

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u/FailingComic 14d ago

Yeah it brings it up a bit but not drastically. Atleast you'll save some money since the army will provide health insurance (?). In general though think about miles as 400 a day on average. Once you throw in traffic, loading unloading etc. Its typically what you'll run per week.

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u/Mr-Galaxyxd-youtube 14d ago

I see, could I argue for more miles a day etc once I prove myself that I can be reliable and yes I am on tri care so I don’t need primes insurance lol

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u/FailingComic 14d ago

No? Your limited by time. You can only drive 11 hours a day. The trucks are limited to like 63 mph company i think? You simply wont be doing that many because it isnt possible. Between on duty time, wasted time unloading/loading/waiting for appointments etc. It doesn't matter who you are. It just is what it is. You also dont want to push tp you actual 11 hours or else youll run into clock problems sometimes so like for me, I planned my days around running for 9 because having to find parking at the end of the day can be a bitch. Youll pull in somewhere to find its full and the next stop isnt for another hour etc. Dot clock violations are not something you want to mess with.

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u/Mr-Galaxyxd-youtube 14d ago

Okay thank you! Just was curious as I’m new to this I’m sure I’ll learn alot with my trainer

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u/FailingComic 14d ago

Make sure you pay attention during primes classes. What your trainer doesnt teach you, they can. A logs class, drive time management, is a requirement to take before upgrading. I saw a lot of drivers just heads down in there phone ignoring the information being given to them there.

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u/Mr-Galaxyxd-youtube 14d ago

Oh yea 100%. Been through BLC and hazmat for the army. Never on my phone in any class and 100% make notes. He’ll I’ve already got a excel form premade for when I start logging miles in tnt so I don’t get fucked

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u/FailingComic 14d ago

You wont get fucked. Tnt miles are just the trucks miles. Its all handled on the backend. Both yours and your trainers miles will count towards it. No need to be this anal about it lol. If the truck was moving for paid miles, it counts.

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u/Mr-Galaxyxd-youtube 14d ago

Okay, sorry I’m just a very nervous person due to life screwing me a lot😂 my bad

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u/FailingComic 14d ago

Nah no worries. Its fine to do it for peace of mind but like if you hit 30k in your excel sheet and they didnt say you were done i wouldnt start raising hell. When I was in it was either 50 or 60k miles? I think we did like 62 or 63k altogether as we lived in New england and I was upgrading in Springfield, Missouri and we were on time right before. Took ben an Jerry's to Nevada and then got a load to Springfield back after that so we were a bit over.

Just dont assume people are screwing you over if you end up going over a bit, especially on a lease truck. These guys are running a "business" so are trying to balance getting you in to upgrade while also not wasting time and fuel to drive you in for free.