Prime: Orientation and Training?

What happened at your first job? That could have a lot to do with it, and maybe everything to do with it. I don't know why Prime has the policy in place. But I assure you there is rhyme and reason behind it. They aren't simply messing with people in your position because it's fun. They are doing it because for whatever reason, it makes good business sense.

Maybe they feel like if you quit your first trucking job within 8 weeks or so, it may be the OTR lifestyle that you don't like instead of the company you just quit. Six weeks is not a lot of time to give a company before leaving. It costs the company a LOT of money to hire you. If Prime considers you at high risk of quitting in just a couple months, they will let you get your experience elsewhere to be sure you like it. If you do like the OTR lifestyle and get some experience, then they will reconsider hiring you. Remember, there are a stack of other applicants on the recruiters desk and their phones are constantly ringing off the hook from people who want to be hired. You have to make yourself stand out in a positive way. Quitting your last job after a couple months, whether you had good reason to leave or not, doesn't look good.

I recommend when you do get hired by another company, stay with whoever it is for a MINIMUM of one year. Solid work history is extremely important in this industry. Then, only quit when you have another job secured.

Sorry if my post seems harsh. It's not meant to be a slam. I'm simply playing devils advocate here. The exact reasoning Prime wont take you could be due to any number of things. If you truly want to work for Prime, get hired on by another company and stick with them to show Prime you're committed to this lifestyle and this industry. After that, give Prime a call. Once you prove yourself, your chances of being hired are much higher.

 

The reason I left was a medical emergency at home, mom became ill and im her only family left so i had to take care of all the legal crap which took longer than anticipated. As for the OTR lifestyle i loved it, different places everyday not knowing where i was going next, i really enjoyed it. The company i was with was a little screwy but most of them probably are. sorry to rant im just looking to get back out on the road.

 

The company you were with wouldn't let you take a leave of absence? Did they fire you? Did you leave peacefully?

These are all questions Prime and other potential employers will be asking, either directly or to themselves.

Sorry to hear about your mom.

 

Might be related to what's on his DAC report too...

 

Being's I'm the FNG here...when I look on Youtube and see the truckstops that y'all stop in they mainly have Wendy's McDonalds, and other fast food junk??? What happened to old fashioned "sit down" meals??? I remember when I was running cross country in the Navy I would stop at truck stops just for the trucker's breakfast and some great dinners. Love the Union 76 in Elko,NV great meals there.

 

Just about all Petro's have restaurants, and most TA's do too. Many of the Flying J's have restaurants as well, but most of them are being converted into Denny's restaurants. There are also quite a few restaurants outside the truck stops that have truck parking available. Read your billboards carefully.

Truck stops will change their business motto with what is in demand. If sit-down style restaurants become unprofitable, and leasing space to fast food joints or chain restaurants is financially a good decision, they will do that. Anytime we buy something from a truck stop, we are essentially voting for the truck stop to keep doing that. If we buy a sub at Subway over their sit-down style restaurant, we are voting for Subway. If we purchase a unhealthy food over fruits, and salads, they will supply us with the unhealthy food. Clearly, truckers have been voting for fast food instead of full service restaurants and healthy meals.

I'm probably the worst kind of customer for truck stops. Even though I take up space in their lot, I eat out of my truck as much as possible, and often times don't buy anything from inside the store. I may purchase fuel and get the free shower credit, but that's about it.

That's why most truck stops are starting to switch over to the kind of operation Pilot and Loves use. Instead of building 1 huge truck stop with enormous lots, they build 2 or 3 smaller truck stops. The goal is to have the drivers get fuel, buy their "to go" food, and move along so the next guy can do the same thing. Property taxes are expensive, and running a restaurant isn't cheap either. It's more profitable to get as much traffic in and OUT as possible. Even fuel doesn't rake in profits. It's the in-store items that makes them money. More traffic + less overhead and less property tax = more money.

While I would enjoy the option to sit down for a meal more often, you can't blame these truck stops for trying to make a profit. They run off of very small margins. If I do plan on buying something from a truck stop, I almost always buy (vote!) from the places with large parking lots. I'd rather see them be profitable.

 

Thanks Mike. Talk to Dave Barill on FB he also cooks in his truck, he runs with Millis. Good guy. He also is on Youtube and has some good stuff shot.

 

There are plenty of Walmarts around that you can buy groceries at - heck of a lot cheaper than trying to eat at a restaurant (truckstop or not) three times a day. I make it a treat at least once a week. Its also much better for your waistline... you'll be 300lbs plus in no time if you're not very careful.

 

You got that right! I see guys out here that have gained weight so fast they haven't had time to buy bigger shirts yet. Not a pretty sight!

When I first started trucking, I was eating out a lot and eating fast food just about every single day, sometimes multiple times per day. I shot up about 15lbs in 9 months. I was already at my heaviest when I got into trucking, so packing on an additional 15lbs was not good.

I now have a fridge in my truck that I got for $50 at the Walmart in Sprimo, and stole a microwave that wasn't being used from my parents. I eat lots of sandwiches, Healthy Choice and Hormel microwave dinners, soup, yogurt, fruits, and only eat low calorie items from the truck stops such as salads, grilled chicken sandwiches (no mayo - use mustard instead), and the low calorie Subway sandwiches. I've also cut my portions way down. If I do eat in a restaurant, I only eat half, and save the rest to microwave later. I've also changed my insane Mountain Dew habit to Diet, but need to get off of the diet crap too. That's an expensive habit...those Dews add up!!

After putting myself on an 1800 calorie / day diet using an iPhone app called Lose It! (its' free) and without any exercise at all, I've dropped 35lbs in about 6 months. Once I reach my goal weight (10 more pounds to go), I'll weigh less than I did when I graduated High School. And that's just cool.

I quit my pack a day smoking habit on the road too. Last smoke was on 2/24/10. Almost a year now...and a bit over $1500 saved since I quit. That was definitely up there with one of the toughest things I've ever done.

Take care of yourselves, drivers. It can be done, even on the road!

 

Hi all, I am wondering if anyone knows if Prime would hire someone with a good driving record but a class c felony and hes on probation til Dec 29th 2011. Thanks in advance!