Prime Student Driver Program | Meet the Instructor-Edwin Peig

Edwin Peig with most recent student, Rachel Thompson

Edwin Peig with most recent student, Rachel Thompson

Prime is proud to offer the Prime Student Driver (PSD) program to help student drivers earn their Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and get on the road to a profitable career as a professional truck driver. Last year, the PSD program made it possible for over 1000 student drivers to obtain their CDL. A very essential part of the hands-on, real world training program is the CDL Instructor that each PSD is paired up with for their initial 3 to 4 weeks of training prior to taking the CDL Exam. The CDL Instructor at Prime is required to have at least 1 year of professional driving experience and at least 90 days at Prime as an A Seat Lead Driver under their belt as well as completion of a week of training classes to prepare them for their important role in the program.

One Prime Driver who takes on the title of CDL Instructor is Edwin Peig. Edwin has been with Prime since May of 2009. Edwin spared a few minutes of his busy life out on the road to share his thoughts on being a CDL Instructor and answer some questions about his role.

How long have you been a CDL Instructor?

EP: “I started as a Prime CDL Instructor 3 years ago.”

What made you want to become an Instructor?

EP: “I became an Instructor when my former Instructor/Trainer Dylan Kirkwood told me that I would make a good instructor. I thought about it and looked back at the instruction and training that I got from him and thought that it would be nice to teach others. I wanted to teach future students how to become good, safe drivers with the skills and knowledge that they will use for the rest of their driving career.”

What is your favorite part of being an Instructor?

EP: “My favorite part is watching a student go from a PSD student on their very first day when they come to Prime to when they finally earn their CDL and become a driver for Prime. I love seeing the transformation when they are on my truck for the 2 to 3 weeks that we’re on the road as they learn how to drive our trucks as well as back the trucks with confidence. Watching my students succeed when they go for their CDL on test day and celebrating their accomplishments with them makes me feel good.”

What is the training process like?

EP: “The training process starts with when a student is paired with an Instructor, and they head out on the road on the Instructor’s truck for a couple of weeks. They learn the pre-trip vehicle inspection and how to back the truck at shippers, receivers, and truck stops as well as how to drive on the highways, county roads, and city streets. After being on the road for those initial few weeks, the student is then brought back to Prime to prepare for their test to earn their CDL. When they are back at Prime, they practice their backing skills on the pad as well as practice the driving skills that they learned while on the road.”

What are the benefits of being an Instructor for Prime?

EP: “The benefits are getting a new student and being able to inspire, motivate, and teach them how to do pre-trips, drive, back the truck and trailer with confidence, and at the end watch them successfully earn their CDL. Knowing that you as an Instructor used your skills and knowledge to teach them and help them start their driving career with Prime feels like a benefit to me.”

How do you feel about Prime’s Training Program versus other companies?

EP: “I feel that Prime’s Training Program is exceptional. Prime provides a place where a person can go, earn their CDL, and start their career as a professional driver and get paid while they are training.”

What is a quality every Prime Instructor should have?

EP: “Motivation. While we can teach a student, we as instructors have to motivate them, to give them confidence, give them accolades when they do well no matter what they did, whether it is them getting better at shifting or doing a backing maneuver or completing a pre-trip inspection. Motivate that student so they can succeed.”

 

If you’re ready to live up to your potential and earn a great career as a truck driver, visit the Prime Inc. website at for more information about the Prime Student Driver program.

If you are interested in becoming a Prime CDL Instructor, notify your Fleet Manager to let them know you are interested or email psd@primeinc.com. The Fleet Manager will be able to verify if you meet the qualifications and help schedule you for a CDL Instructor Class. 

Start typing and press Enter to search