New to Prime INC - What to expect (Springfield edition)

Thanks lol. I was just curious. I start late this month to get my CDL. Cannot wait!

 

I leave in 20 something day's for pittston pa for orientation

 

That is exciting... What program are you going through? My dad was a truck driver for 20 years so I am pumped to get this going. I still have to get my CDL. I am thinking about doing a post like I have seen on here where the newbies do a first hand account of there days in the school. It is all really cool.

 

I have my license already I just need my 40000 training miles to be solo I need it though haven't driven in almost a year I'm a lil concerned about my bmi is a little over 39 but I was assured I would just have to do a sleep study which oh well I'll. Do it

 

Does Prime offer any tuition reimbursement. If I was to go to my Community College to get the CDL and some driving experience, I've read some companies give tuition reimbursement. Is that old information?

 

Well, this has been some interesting reading folks. I have been lurking in the background on truckersreport.com for a few months now soaking it all in. After reading, reading...and more reading, I created a list of questions that I wanted to use when interviewing recruiters from several trucking companies.

I took my CDL written exam on Friday and passed the first time. Did I have any doubts? Not really, but there's always that little voice in you that worries if you woke up on the wrong side of the bed and would mess it all up...hehehe. I applied with Prime, Inc. a little over a week ago and was approved on Thursday. I begin my Orientation and training with Prime on the 26th of March. Why did I pick Prime, when there is so many of the big guys out there! Well, it wasn't an easy task in the beginning. Being completely new to the industry, I had to learn through a great deal of reading.

I called and spoke with many recruiters with quite a few companies. I spoke with at least one recruiter and sometimes even a driver or two from CR England, Prime, Schneider, Stevens Transport, JB Hunt, Knight Transport, Watkins Shepard, Marten, Gordon and US Xpress.

I weighed several factors in my decision:


1. Cost of tuition (if any):
-I was looking for a company that wouldn't penalize and deduct a weekly tuition cost from my paycheck for 3 years to payback tuition costs!
-If they don't charge for tuition, what is the "employment contract length" in order to "work off" the tuition costs?


2. How long is the initial training?
-Is there an actual school involved?
-Is there pad training for backing and cornering?
-What is the length of the school training as opposed to the hands-on training?


3. How long is the "Team Driving" trainee situation for each particular company?
-What is their min mileage requirement?
-What is their mileage rate or pay during the training period?


4. What the base pay during training, or if not, is there any kind of subsistence pay during training?
-How long does the "training period" pay last?


5. What are the hidden costs?
-Do you show up with bag and toothbrush only, or are there hidden costs?
-Do you get your CDL permit prior to showing up or after and what is the benefit if either one?
-Does the company nickle and dime you for all the costs, i.e.- Medical Exam, Drug screening exam, CDL permit, Transportation to the company, Hotel, Food, etc.?


6. What is the average pay/mileage rate "after" you go solo and are productive for Prime?


I created a word document with the above questions and started my research.


To begin with, there were several anomalies being from California that I was not prepared for. First of all, not ALL companies will hire student drivers. But if that isn't bad enough, there are some within the ones who will hire students, that won't hire California Student drivers. Why is that? Well, the padded answer I got from several was that they hire based on quotas and due to the high population of drivers who apply from California, they just can't accept them all. The truthful answer I got from one very frank recruiter at Knight Transport was that far too many California applicants drop out before completing, or they get trained and then immediately leave for another company. Their recruiting and training costs were simply too high for California. So, if you're a student from California, more particularly from the Los Angeles Terminal area...beware! It's not going to be that easy for you. There are several BIG Western companies that will NOT hire California students right now. It's an Employers market still and they would rather pick and choose the students who in their opinion have the greatest chance of succeeding and sticking it out.


So, some companies were immediately disqualified because they are not hiring California students. Knight (I was disappointed about this one because I had heard good things about the driving environment for Knight). Stevens Transport, Watlkins Shepard, Gordon and US Xpress. These will NOT hire California students at this time. It doesn't mean they couldn't possibly open up their school one day in the future to California students, but not right now.


The remainder of the companies on the list I started qualifying based on the needs and desires I was looking for. Several weeks and many phone calls later, my research as to who would be the best "all-around" company to start driving with as a "student driver" was complete. In conclusion, I found that Prime, Inc. was the company for me.​

Here are some qualifying factors that helped me make my decision:


1. Higher out of the gate starting pay than many:
-$600/wk min guarantee. I know that doesn't sound like much for you experienced drivers, but for us students, that is actually quite good compared the others I spoke with.
-I spoke with some that were as low as $200/wk, but most were in the middle between $300 - $400/wk guaranteed pay while in training


2. Min tuition costs associated with getting started:
-Show up with $100 cash for applicant fee, $50 for CDL exam (unless you've taken the CDL written exam already like I've done) and that's it!
-All training costs are covered
-All Hotel & Food is covered during Orientation (that is not the situation with some of the others)
***Update on this: Up until now, I will have to admit, nobody said a thing to me about doing some sleep study. Not sure if that is just something Prime is anal about or if numerous companies do the same thing. All I know is, after numerous questions and reading, this is the first I've heard about this. So, there is that cost to consider if you fall into the "sleep study" category.


3. 1 on 1 Driver/Trainer Environment:
-Unlike many schools I did research on, there is no doubling and tripling up with a trainer. You're entire training is 1 on 1.
**I think 1 on 1 training is far better than a bunch of recruits cramming into the cab of a tractor

4. Excellent Home Time record:
-They guarantee home time every 3-4 weeks (+ or - 3 days each way so I was told). So you will get home within 3 days either direction on the calendar that you asked for. That's a pretty good home time
-It doesn't matter where you live, home time is guaranteed if you're in the lower 48 Contiguous US States
-You're 3 weeks out, 4 days in typically (though that number is not firm as I've heard of a few different variations)


5. Team Trainee time is good:
-Prime's Team trainee program was below average as far as mileage at 30,000 miles
-I found some were as little as 20,000 miles, with some as high as 70,000 miles
*Why is this important? When you first start out, after you've completed your initial training, you go out on the road with a trainer for a period of time. Well, the longer the time you spend on the road in that Team Driver scenario, the longer you're in "trainee pay" and not making a full salary. So, for me, I want to get to "Solo" driver qualification in the shortest possible time while still obtaining the best possible training.

Please keep in mind, that this was the best decision for me, based on my needs living in Southern California. I didn't actually want to start out with a company from the Mid West in my mind because I was unsure if they were going to have issues getting me back home on a regular basis once I go solo. But....I see Prime Trucks rolling up and down the 101 in California on a daily basis, so it seems for the time being they have a solid presence in the Western region so I'm hoping that is not going to be too much of an issue.


Best of luck to everyone starting out. There is always some hesitation when embarking on a new journey, but armed with the information above, I think it should make the journey a little smoother and more predictable.

As far as me...I'll shamelessly put in a plug about me. I'm going to be one of the mature students. 46 Yrs. young, Super Clean hygeine, Non-smoker, don't chew, not even much a drinker actually...lol, no nasty habits. I love traditional country music, so that would be helpful if my instructor did too.. I love the open road. I am a veteran who served several tours in the Air Force. I will talk when it's appropriate, but I enjoy "silent" time as well when I'm driving. When you tell me to shut up and listen, that's exactly what I'll do. I know when to listen and when to provide feedback. There's really only one thing I won't tolerate and that is disrespect. I will respect you as a trainer and my colleague and would expect nothing less from you.


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A special shout out and thanks to Silent Eagle, Iron Pony & Easy Steamer. Those of you who are trainers, you're more than welcome to find me in training on the 28th and pull up and chair and talk. I would be honored to have trainers like you who are so thorough and take the time to sincerely teach your new students.

See y'all on the road!

David
Call Sign: Global Responder
Ham Radio ID: KJ6TRU




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The sleep study deal is moving into proposed rule making at FMCSA this year... the carriers that are asking folks to do a sleep study are just getting ahead of the curve.

 

Good luck to you sir. Sounds like you really did your homework.

Everyone has to start somewhere. Sounds like you made a good informed decision.

 

Good luck globalresponder. ... and thank you for your service

 

Hello all and thanks for the thread - read all the way thru from first post and had a few questions? (hope this wasn't addressed earlier)....

1) PRIME's website mentions a tanker division... do newbies with a fresh CDL get a shot at tankers (if there's an opening)? Is it dry bulk, liquid, or both?

2) Is there any pay differential between reefer, flatbed, and tankers?

3) Any opinions on your alls maintenance dept? Are you out-of-service for long periods when you take your trucks in for maintenance/repair?

Thanks in advance.