Prime, W/S, Swift

I may have to look in to them bc I live about 18miles from there..

 

I'm a newbie to the forum. Graduated from a school in June. Obtained class A cdl with X endorsement. I accept the fact that I'm going to have to start out with a company that requires me to go with a trianer for a month or so. I also realize that I'm going to have to go otr for a good year before I can land a regional or local job. Now my question is, will any of the companies that run their own school such as Swift, Prime, WS etc. bypass the school and put me with a trainer? It seems silly to have to pay a truck driving school $4200 and then pay a company more money to go through their school. I was "prehired" by Werner right out of school, but, after doing some research I decided against that. $335 a month just ain't gonna cut it. Any information about companies that train school gradutes would be much appreciated.

 

With W\S i think you just go out with a trianer for 10 day's. Prime it could be 1 month. Swift i don't know..

 

Im a trainer... here is what I know.

Prime will require 60k team miles with a trainer... Pay is as follows for CDL School Grads with NO EXPERIANCE....first 5 weeks its 500 or .10 per mile... after its 600 or .12 per mile... whichever amount is greater... so for every mile over 5k per week you are doing better than the 500 or 600 dollar min. (the min is not paid for weeks in which you take any hometime only the miles for that week.... week consists of Wed thru Tues)

Finish your 60k get your truck and get .30/mile solo for another 20k solo miles and then raise to .34

or

Finish 60k with your trainer, and do the 20k (team miles are quicker) and get your truck and start at .34

No tuition re-imbursment for your CDL School....

Prime wont hire CDL school grads who have beyond 6 weeks after graduation... (or so I was told during the Trainer course)

 

Does W/S have a terminal in the Boise area?? Thinkng about going w/ them after schooling in Caldwell.

 

No terminals in Idaho that last I checked. Closest would be Spokane -WA, Vancouver - WA, Slat Lake City - UT or Missoula - Mt.

 

Only thing I can tell you about these three companies is this: I spoke with Prime on the phone and there is a 5 month waiting list for just a trainer right now. Watkins and Shepard pay .275 a mile which isn't that bad, but you have to pay for the schooling. If you go to your nearest unemployment officer and apply for the CDL grant you might get approved for it and they'll give you the money for your CDL as long as its a school on their approval list. Swift is also a good company to start with there trucks are governed at 62 mph, only thing i've heard bad about it is some of their dedicated accounts aren't that great from what their drivers told me when i worked at the Target DC in wilton,NY. Hope this helps a little. I'm not a driver yet but my best bet would go with Watkins and Shepard if you can get approved for the grant or if you have your own spare money for it. W/S school is about 4700 with room and board.

 

Hi
Im looking for company school too and somethere close to MA.
Need to find the best we can:

Central Refrig.
Swift
Prime
Stevens
Watkins&Shepard
USA truck
CR England...

I just wondering which are better,
some info....

Thanks

 

Uh.. that a 5 PLUS month wait for FEMALE trainers... Recent reports has guys waiting as little as a day and up to 10 days for a instructor or trainer.

Sorry ladies