Prime: Orientation and Training?

U2Exit - You seem to be the defacto goto "Prime-guy". I live in Central NJ - not more than 40 minutes away from NYC and have a CDL class A with basic 3 endorsements (got it Summer of 2007). I called up Prime and they told me that they're NOT hiring applicants with CDLs yet, I read about all these cats who are getting hired WITH their CDL's......what's the deal at Prime? Is this based on where you live that they hire CDL Class A graduates? Any info would help as I'm about to go drive a School Bus in September and I'd RATHER be driving/training with Prime. Thanks, >8 )

 

I was told as recently as two weeks ago that they are only taking CDL school grads within 6 weeks of their graduation.

Now, as I understand it... other current CDL holders must have at least 4-6 months of recent OTR experiance... no unexplained gaps in work history etc..

The criteria changes often due to need. They may not hire from one classification one month and then the next month open that area back up to applicants... this goes for geographically challenged or experiance level

The rumor from some of the women around here is that they are not taking anymore woman for trainees at this time. That there is a waiting list more than 2 months long for women trainers and/or trainers that are willing to train women. Only way a woman trainee is getting hired right now is if they already know someone willing to train them.

For a while we were only hiring CDL drivers with recent experiance and Students (with no CDL)... and then a few months back the opened it up again to Trucking School Grads with no experiance.

 

We hear A, then find out B to be true, followed by C when we are asked about it a week or so later. Best advice:

1. Check with the recruiters regularly, because it seems that hiring criteria changes with need frequently here. I know that's flakey, but it seems to be what happens. You never know when it will turn in your direction.

2. Find a way to get some OTR experience. Once you have 8 mo's to a year, Prime will hire you as an experienced driver. You may find a happy home in the process, but Prime seems to be a really good choice.

3. Driving a straight truck, bus, dooley, etc., is not considered vaild OTR experience by any OTR company.

 

I got my CDL in July of 2007 because I was yet again laid off from yet another corporate job and the State of NJ offered to pay for training so I took the opportunity to get my CDL (I've been a graphic designer for 25+ years) after I got my CDL I stayed local for my kids, got a Corporate job (again) and then around a year later, got laid off (again) then of course, the economy tanked!

Bottom line is, who is going to hire me or allow me to "re-train"?
Would Prime take somebody who went thru a "refresher course" and has a CDL Class A?

I really don't know what to do, I don't have any real-world experience other than "the Garbage runs" for my School (Winsor Academy) from Linden NJ to Secaucus (thru some very tight & congested areas in North Jersey)

Who should I go to if Prime won't take me?
Thanks.......

 

Hey U2Exit,

I'll be on the Bus from the ATL to Springfield in 12hrs. Thanks for the detailed breakdown of your training and the company pay scale. Going in as a Class Driver I'm ready to get this ball rolling. Any last minute advise please let me know. I'm have access to e-mail on the long #### bus right . Hell maybe the bus driver will let me drive a stent! LOL! .
I'll keep U up to date on how training is going.

Regards,
Sparkyhd

 

How are your skills? Can you back into a dock, make sharp turns? You may have to "retake" your CDL course to get hired.

As far as "where to go..."

- there are a lot of trucking job boards out there... google trucking jobs.
- check craigslist in your area for cdl jobs.
- got to be some small companies in your area looking for drivers.

 

how long is all this training ? and how long will i have to stay down their ?

 

You got all the way to the end of this thread and didnt get those answers?

 

now THAT'S funny!!!

 

You're in Springfield for a week or two - depends on how long it takes to get an instructor for you. Then it's 80,000 miles - roughly 5,000 miles per week - plus a couple of more for testing for your CDL, upgrade to A-seat. Sounds like a lot, but let me say that I've seen the results of the outfits who give rookies a couple of weeks of training past their CDL.

It ain't pretty. They're not ready, have a difficult time backing, and are a danger to themselves and others. It's like learning to swim, being thrown in the deep end of a pool full of hungry sharks.

Nothing like being in a truck with a rookie passing you in the middle of the night - the clown can't control the back end of his trailer and nearly hits you - except you pull onto the shoulder. Or they come up behind you so fast they nearly hit you - unless you're unlucky and they do.

Go for all the training you can get. This is a complex and dangerous business, and driving an 80,000-lb truck is nothing like driving a car.