Vet looking for pros and cons of a couple of companies.

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by mydartswinger, Jun 28, 2012.

  1. Highway101

    Highway101 Road Train Member

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    Sep 19, 2011
    Fallon, Nevada
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    Mydartswinger.
    1st of all let me say that I AM a company driver for Prime.
    So I will tell you what I know, not going to blow smoke up your butt or brag on Prime.
    To begin with you will spend Tuesday through Friday at the Prime facility (Campus Inn) getting all your paperwork done and your cdl permit if you don't have it. I would recommend that you get your permit prior to going, less stressfull.
    On Friday you will be assigned a PSD instructor who you will ride/drive with for 10,000 miles, during this time you will be paid an ADVANCE of 200.00 per week which you will have to pay back at 25.00 per week later. This period normally takes 3-4 weeks, during which time you learn how to handle the truck enough to get your cdl.
    After the 10,000 miles you are returned to Springfield to test out and get your cdl.
    Once your cdl is obtained you will be assigned to a TNT trainer for 30,000 miles. This may be the same person you did your PSD training with or not. Kinda up to you in most cases. During this time you will be paid either .12 cpm OR 600.00 per week, which ever is greater. most cases its the 600.00 per week.
    During the 30,000 miles you gain experience in driving and learn how to do the things that the company requires, paperwork, QualCom, etc. After the 30,000 miles and with your trainers endorsement you are then upgraded to your own truck.
    Just to be clear, if you run in the Reefer division it will be a Lightweight, Flatbed Division was getting full size condo's but I have started to see some Lightweight's (LW) there also.
    Once you are upgraded you will be paid basically .34 cpm + .05 cpm (for driving a LW) and then fuel bonus. This is your gross pay weekly. Included in the .34 is the per diem pay also. But in a nutshell its .34 cpm
    Con's - The Lightweights are probably the biggest issue's most have. While we can haul heavier loads in them, you do not have a full sized bunk area, basically a bunk and overhead cabinets. Most pull the passenger seat and install the refrig there as well as the microwave. Speed is another Con. We are governed at 57 MPH on the pedal and 62 mph on the cruise, so everyone passes us, and we must maintain a 7.25 mpg rating, anything above that and we are paid a fuel bonus.
    Pro's - Well I get home every 3-4 weeks, pretty close to when I want to be home, I normally wind up Bobtailing home 200 miles as I live in NV and I drop my trailer in CA. Prime has done everything they have said they were going to do, so I guess that is a Pro. I was not promised the stars and like you I did my homework.

    Hope this helps you and if you have any questions feel free to pm me.
     
    mydartswinger Thanks this.
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  3. mydartswinger

    mydartswinger Light Load Member

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    Jun 28, 2012
    East Texas
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    PM sent.

    One thing I didn't cover in the PM, though. As long as I have my wife and dog with me, I wouldn't care if I've gotta be out 6 months before getting home time, except for the occasional lucky pass through for a 10 hour break or 34 hour reset and home cooked meal.
     
  4. OpenRoadDreamer

    OpenRoadDreamer Road Train Member

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    Apr 26, 2011
    Alabama
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    Flatbed division also has a Texas regional. Flatbed pays 36cpm, less odds of getting a cute truck :D Though if you have a passenger you should be able to get a fullsize even on the reefer side. My truck is 58mph on the floor... Just sayin...
     
  5. mydartswinger

    mydartswinger Light Load Member

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    Jun 28, 2012
    East Texas
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    Cute don't pay the bills, as long as the truck hauls what it's supposed to, don't break down, and has a sleeper, I'm good.

    That brings the question, would I be allowed a passenger once I'm assigned my own truck, or is there a "probationary period" where I have to prove my solo safety before having a passenger.

    Texas Regional would be nice, but I don't expect that during my first year.

    Thanks again.

    Shannon
     
  6. OpenRoadDreamer

    OpenRoadDreamer Road Train Member

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    Apr 26, 2011
    Alabama
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    I gotta mess with um bout the cute trucks :D Cause I dont have one lol Not sure how long it is, but I think its 90 days. Not sure though.

    You would have to ask about the Texas Regional. Only regional reefer has in NE.
     
  7. Weeble Kneeble

    Weeble Kneeble Heavy Load Member

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    Jun 10, 2012
    Rip City
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    Is that $950/ week gross or net. Will be moving to Portland, OR in the future and Pride is on my very short list of places to work. Extremely happy where I am, but don't go to Portland a lot. Thanks to both of you for your service.
     
  8. Shardrk

    Shardrk Light Load Member

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    Aug 14, 2011
    Macon, GA
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    Try to avoid driving for Werner if you can. I drove for them 17 years ago. They were a bottom feeder back then, and everything I've read so far says they are more so now. Are there folks happy at Werner? Probably, but not that many that I've seen. I loved the trucks I was trained in, and hated the truck I was issued by the time I was gone. From what I've seen, Werner has the worst pay of the Newbie companies.

    Best of luck to you. I'm working on state assistance for school tuition here in CA to get my Class A back. My top two companies on my list right now are Pride and Schneider. Both of them have been voted in the top 20 to drive for in the US and Canada over the last couple of years. That says a lot right there.

    Shar
     
  9. Diletto

    Diletto Bobtail Member

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    May 31, 2012
    irvine,ca
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    Have you looked at May trucking?
     
  10. chompi

    chompi Road Train Member

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    Jun 21, 2008
    Deland, FL
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    Whatever you decide, don't make your decision based upon whatever company is close to you.

    You can go with any company you wish and they don't have to be anywhere near you. As long as their freight lanes go by your house and you are in their hiring area then you will be fine. So with that being said try picking a company or base your career decision on other more important criteria. If having a pet is one of those criteria then search all companies with a pet policy. Also you mentioned having your wife ride with you. Make sure the companies you look at have a rider policy. Another thing to ask when asking that question is "when" you are allowed to have a rider. Most companies only allow riders during the summer months.

    I personally would highly suggest you and your wife do this together. Both of you get your license and drive team. You guys would have the opportunity to make a lot of money! My wife and I drove team for many years I can tell you that making over $200,000 is easily obtainable! We also had a dog in which we took with us and we just stayed out there. Had no reason to really come home, actually ended up selling our home after I made sure she would like it. We loved it. Every penny we made went into the bank because we had no home or utility expenses or any other bills other than what we were doing on the road. I highly recommend it!
     
    Magilly Thanks this.
  11. mydartswinger

    mydartswinger Light Load Member

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    Jun 28, 2012
    East Texas
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    Wow...forgot I posted this thread it's been so long. Things have changed and it's time for an update.

    I wound up continuing to look for a local job until I (finally) realized my wife and I could cash in our minimal 401k's to buy a car for cash (I felt kinda stupid that I didn't realize that sooner). Wasn't much, but got us a better car than a clunker.

    Finally got the car and a local job in mid/late 2013. The job was a recruiter for a local "for profit" college, where I specialized in students with VA funding (GI Bill, Voc Rehab, etc...). But the school wasn't a good fit for the majority of vets and I wasn't going to push them to enroll. That hurt my standing at the school because I wasn't meeting my numbers (the job was basically an outside sales job). I opted to leave that job to go back to school and take a part time job. During that time my wife and I were able to move out and we took in another dog. Things seemed to be going well...for a while.

    Did that and found it wasn't going to work for me and took a job at a local TV station in late 2015. Stayed there for over a year until I made the wrong mistake at the wrong time (something that under most circumstances would have been a write up at most) and lost that job just before Christmas last year. It seems I've been blackballed in the area for emoloyment, as I haven't been back to work since then.

    Throughout all this time, I've continued to think about driving. Finally, the time has come and I'm pulling the trigger.

    My situation and (some) companies policies have changed. With all my research done over the last 5 years, I made my decision and I have my CLP and just officially got accepted into Roehl's Get Your CDL program.

    After essentially wanting to drive a truck for a living most of my life, I'm finally about to do it.
     
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