From Training to Paychecks: Start Driving with Prime Inc.
No experience needed | Earn while you train | $250 first-try bonus | 2–4 weeks training | 401(k) participation
Prime Inc. makes it possible to start your trucking career fast — no experience needed.You’ll train 1-on-1 with a professional instructor, earn a $250 bonus when you pass your CDL test, and start making weekly pay as you travel the country.And enjoy health benefits, a 401(k), and paid vacation once you’re on the road.
1. Basic Idea of Prime’s Training Path
Prime’s CDL training program is built around four core phases:
1.Orientation at one of Prime’s terminals (Springfield, MO; Pittston, PA; or Salt Lake City, UT)
2.CDL instruction with a 1-on-1 instructor
3.State CDL exam
4.TNT training – team driving with a trainer until you complete a minimum mileage requirement, followed by upgrade eligibility into your own truck
The company emphasizes one-on-one training and “real-world driving” from very early in the process, so new drivers aren’t just sitting in a classroom—they’re out with a trainer running actual freight.
2. Before Orientation: Getting Your Permit & Meeting Requirements
To enter the Prime Student Driver Program, applicants typically must:
• Be at least 21 years old
• Have held a valid U.S. driver’s license for a certain period (for example, the last 12 months)
• Meet Homeland Security / Transportation Security Administration requirements
• Be able to obtain a U.S. passport, TWIC card and hazmat endorsement (where applicable)
• Pass a DOT physical and meet medical standards for commercial drivingv • Maintain a stable work history and safe driving record
Before traveling to orientation, candidates must secure a Class A Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) in their home state. Prime provides permit-prep information, but the permit itself is obtained through the state licensing system.
3. Step One: 4-Day Orientation
Orientation at Prime lasts about four days and typically takes place at one of three facilities (Springfield, Pittston, or Salt Lake City).
During orientation, students can expect:
• File review and interview
• Computer-based training modules
• Driving simulator sessions
• Classroom instruction on safety, company policies, and expectations
Prime also arranges transportation to orientation, plus hotel lodging and three meals per day while you are there.
This phase is focused on confirming eligibility, setting expectations, and preparing students to move into hands-on CDL instruction.
4. Step Two: One-on-One CDL Instruction (2–4 Weeks)
After orientation, students move into Prime’s CDL instruction phase, training 1-on-1 with a CDL instructor for around 2–4 weeks.
Key points in this stage:
• You learn backing, shifting (where applicable), space management, inspections, and road awareness
• The focus is on mastering the skills needed to pass the state CDL exam
5. Step Three: CDL Exam & Performance Bonus
Once the instructor believes a student is ready, they return to a Prime training center to take the state CDL exam, which includes:
• Vehicle inspection
• Backing maneuvers
• Road test
Prime highlights an extra motivator:
Those who pass on their first try receive a US$250 bonus.
Passing this exam and earning a Class A CDL is the turning point: at this stage, drivers become eligible to be hired on as company drivers with Prime.
6. Step Four: TNT Training (Team Driving, 30,000+ Miles)
After getting the CDL, new drivers enter what Prime calls the TNT training stage – a team-driving phase with a certified trainer. During TNT:
• You share the truck with your trainer and run real loads nationwide
• You must complete a minimum of 30,000 training miles with your trainer
Training Pay During TNT
Prime guarantees a minimum training pay during this phase, as long as you are available for dispatch:
• US$900 per week when you’re away from home and available for dispatch
• Minimum US$672 per week if you’re at home, still available for dispatch
This structure allows new drivers to build real-world experience without completely sacrificing income while training.
7. Step Five: Upgrade Eligibility & Career Options
Once the training mileage requirement is reached, drivers become eligible for an upgrade review.
At this stage, Prime looks at factors such as:
• Safety record
• Service and performance
• Equipment availability
Drivers who upgrade can:
• Run solo as a company driver
• Team up with another driver
• Or, where eligible and interested, explore lease/owner-operator pathways through associated programs.
8. Company-Driver Benefits at Prime
For those who stay on as company drivers, Prime notes that drivers are eligible for a range of benefits, including:
• Health insurance options
• Dental and vision coverage
• Life insurance
• Participation in a 401(k) “Success Sharing” plan
• Paid vacation
• Access to late-model equipment and ongoing safety support
In other words, the training program isn’t just about passing an exam — it’s designed to lead into a long-term driving position with a full employee benefits package.
Those who become a company driver for Prime are eligible for a number of benefits, including health insurance, a 401(k) and paid vacation.
9. Why Some New Drivers Choose Prime’s Path
People who choose Prime’s paid CDL training often highlight:
• Relatively short early training period: 4-day orientation plus about 2–4 weeks of one-on-one CDL instruction before testing
• A clear, step-by-step structure from permit to solo driver
• The ability to earn weekly training pay after obtaining the CDL while logging miles with a trainer
• Access to company-driver benefits after entering a full-time role
For someone who wants to move from “no CDL, no experience” into a structured trucking career, Prime’s model is one of the better-documented paid-training paths in the U.S. market.