My journey is coming together (and some questions about Prime Inc.)

My high school ambition of driving OTR is finally coming together after nearly 20 years. I joined the Air Force after graduating HS in '95 because I couldn't drive interstate until I was 21. Ended up staying in the AF for 19+ years until I retired in August.

I started working in manufacturing after the military, and while the work is not real difficult, it's not very satisfying either. Around the holidays they cut our hours WAAAYYYY back. This got me to doing some soul searching, and my wife asked my why I hadn't pursued trucking when I retired (I didn't think she would be supportive of being gone that much). I did some (ALOT) of research and found that I'll likely make as much in my first year of trucking as I am making in my current job (and I'll be pursuing something I have wanted to do for along time). Turns out that having my hours cut was a blessing in disguise...it is allowing me to attend a 4 week local truck driving school by using the 11 days of paid vacation I have available (did I mention they cut my hours). I will be starting school on Feb 23rd. It will also be paid for by the GI Bill. I got DOT physical today, and plan to take my permit test sometime this week.

I have applied to several companies, and received a pre-hire from Prime (currently my first choice due to pay, pet policy, and generally positive reviews on this and other forum sites). The other companies I have applied to all asked me to "re-engage" with them after I start school. Before I get blasted over the pet policy...I will not be taking my dog with me until I have had several months over the road.

As I'm sure you can tell by the tone of my post I am REALLY excited to be doing this. I am also REALLY anxious about the total change in lifestyle. I am confident that this is something I can and will excel at but, I have enough humility to admit, I don't KNOW for sure until I've experienced it. I am trying my best to plan out my steps carefully, so as not to burn any bridges I may need to walk back across. I fully intend to give my current employer 2 weeks notice, even though I am sure they can put 2+2 together now. My supervisor is aware of why I'm taking my vacation.

I do have a few things I'm curious about:

Does Prime push their lease program or try to bully it like some other companies I've heard about? i.e. "Sorry you'll have to wait a couple weeks to be assigned a company truck, but we can get you on the road this afternoon if you sign this lease on one of our "gently used" program trucks". I am adamant about going company AT LEAST for a few years to learn the industry before I even consider leasing or purchasing.

When starting TnT with Prime, do they immediately expect it to be a "team" environment, or will there be a couple days that the trainer will be in the passenger seat? I'm not sure yet how big of a deal this will be to me by the time I get out of school and go to orientation, but would be good to know what to expect.

If I drive my own vehicle to orientation (600-900 miles from home depending on the terminal) rather than the greyhound, how can I work out getting my vehicle back home, assuming orientation and training go well? Would it be better to rent a car if I decide to pursue this avenue?

I am a pudgy guy (5'2", 190lbs), not one of the REALLY big guys, but overweight. I know that Prime does sleep studies on some of the bigger fellas. When I got out of the military and got a new Doc (around Dec-Jan), he ordered a sleep study due to my proportions. The sleep study came back totally negative for sleep apnea. Will Prime make me do another study or should I bring along a copy of my previous results? I don't see the need to pay for another study (not to mention I am suspect of the motivations of some of these studies). If they do make me get another study, am I able to put this through my insurance?

I am sure I will have other questions as I go along, but these are the ones that are currently bouncing around my head.

Sorry if this post is long and rambling, I am just excited and wanted to share my story thus far.

Thanks for any replies, and I look forward to sharing the road with you all in the coming months.

 

Glad to hear you have the opportunity and taking the steps to finally see what that nagging 'since high school' ambition is all about.
Best of luck to ya, SR77 and this is a great place to start doing research and get answers before making final decisions.
I can tell you're approaching this carefully and the correct way, as the more research you do beforehand, will really pay off from day 1 on.

Your few questions are "Prime policy" specific, and I can't answer those with 100% certainty (tho the lease purchase is commonly 'pushed' to many).
You may want to ask those in the Prime forum (under Trucking Company Forums) on this site.
Good luck!

 

Your posting was very, very long. I did not read it all, only about the first paragraph.

You can do better than Prime. They will almost force you into a lease deal, Like Cr England will.

 

Explore all your options before setting in on one company. Recruiters will come in to the school. There are some good companies out there....no reason to pidgin hole yourself before you even start school.
Chinatown will be along to make a bunch of suggestions. I don't know if your in Magnums hiring area, but check them out too

 

Lease: No. On my first day of orientation at Prime, the pretty lady said "Drivers who will be company drivers or drivers who are unsure, stay here. Drivers who want to lease head to room so and so." You'll never be forced into that. I've never even been asked about it again. People like G.Anthony who make that post with 26 years experience, 834 posts and 701 thanks, I have no idea where that post comes from.

About TNT, if you come in with your CDL, you will skip PSD and go right into TNT. I went through PSD, so I can't really comment on how it differentiates if you just jump right into TNT, but I can tell you in TNT it's you and another man figuring out the best way to meet a common objective, so surely every situation will be different. Interview TNT trainers and find one you can mesh with to hit your miles.

Whatever you do, they'll reimburse you the cost of a Greyhound ticket. I flew in from Detroit into the Springfield airport and they covered like 60% of it. I wouldn't drive my own car in, it's a pain in the ###. I'd just take a short flight or rent a car. Prime shuttle will pick you up at the Springfield airport and a rental car or plane will both take you there.

No knowledge of the sleep study questions, sorry man.

 

Prime is ok except the trucks are too slow. Many happy drivers there, but you have to stay in the granny lane.
Don't make a decision too quickly; do some comparison shopping:

Cargo Transporters - lots of positive comments on this commpany.
Abiline Motor Express - can't find any negative on this company.
Freymiller - has some good accounts that run from the Carolinas to Pacific Northwest.
Decker Truck Line-refrigerated division runs 48 states. Flatbed is more regional.
Magnum Ltd.
Pride Transport
Tyson Foods

Being as heavy as you are; can you pass a heart rate test? If so, then tankers pay the best. Several tanker companies hire new CDL grads from your area such as CTL Transportation and several others.

One of the best deals out there is A&R Logistics. They waive the "one yr. experience" requirement for military veterans. Pay runs from $62K - $72K on average; some make more.

 

I spent 3 years on the company side, and never heard a word about the lease program, except when it was mentioned during orientation. That was basically that they had such a program.

If you come in through PSD and stay with your instructor through TnT, that isn't an issue. If you change trainers or come in with a CDL, most trainers will want to ride right seat until they're satisfied that they can trust your driving. My TnT trainer did that, and then rode right seat as different conditions occurred. In the final analysis, its up to each trainer as to how much time he'll spend in the right seat.

Prime will reimburse you the price of the bus ticket to take a different mode of transport to orientation. You'll need to let your recruiter know about this. If you drive a car down, you'll have to decide how to get it back home.

You should bring a copy of your medical records for the doctor to review.

If its a recent study, that should be good enough. Just so you know, Prime has each applicant screened by their doctor, and he orders a sleep study based on that examination. Prime has contracted with a third-party sleep clinic to do the studies, so there isn't any financial connection between the clinic and Prime or the doctor. This is about liability insurance coverage, and who is acceptable to them.

You'll get a wider range of responses from current Prime drivers in the Prime forum.

Let's get something straight. Its pretty obvious you have something against Prime.

Company trucks are set for 62 on cruise and 58 on the pedal. Slow or fast, its about the bottom line at Prime. Company drivers have the choice of how fast they want to drive as long as they meet the minimum fuel economy requirement. If they choose to drive slower, they are compensated with a variable fuel bonus of up to 6-cpm paid weekly against all dispatched miles.

 

What makes you think I have something against Prime? I recommend them regularly. I just think this particular guy can do better. He's attending a private CDL school so no reason to graduate from there, then hire on with a training company, unless that's just what he wants to do. Some CDL students don't realize how much is out there to choose from; they only hear about a very few companies the school pushes. I don't think some of the schools even know there's dozens of companies to choose from.

 

My experience starting out at A&R Transport

Good thread to read. Don't need tanker/hazmat endorsements with this company

 

Thanks for the suggestions Chinatown. I have not committed myself 100% to any carrier yet; but having a pre-hire certainly gives me peace of mind prior to school, and gives me some guidance forward. I will certainly check out the carriers you suggested. As far as the trucks being slow, I am actually okay with that (at least until I get some miles under my belt).

You mentioned a heart rate test...what does that consist of exactly (and do most carriers conduct this)? I think I will be fine however, considering the size of some drivers I have seen around. My BMI calculates to about 35ish. I do not have any history of heart problems or anything, and I recently had an initial physical with my new care provider. He didn't do any kind of stress test though.

I am considering tankers in the, future after getting miles in dry van/reefer (one of the considerations when looking at Prime).

Another consideration in companies is that my wife intends to move to the Bowling Green, KY area shortly after I start driving, so I need a company that hires out of both areas.

The other companies I have spoken to that have told me to stay in contact with them while in school are Roehl, US Xpress, and Schnieder (I know they are all training companies but thought that would be the way to go with no experience).

Again I thank you for your suggestions, and will be looking into them also.