Prime: Orientation and Training?

OK getting used to it because you are 5'8" and dont mind stepping over your stuff...I can see it.......
IT IS NOT ALL PART OF OTR DRIVERS...... IT IS IN FACT RIDICULOUS !!!!!
Please do not be another smiley face for the sake of the company man watching this web site....
I know for a fact it sucks and i Have Heard it from Many drivers out here !
I got the chance to see one for myself the other day and just shook my head !

 

Could be a lot worse... at least they are not cutting pay or benifits.

No one is forcing him to work at Prime. If he didnt like the company, or thought he could do better elsewhere, Im sure he would move on... and maybe he will.

Change is change... A company driver doesnt get a choice...you either get on board, or move on. Weigh whats right for you and make your decision.

I for one, if told to make a truck change, will give it a chance and make a decision from there. Ive got alot of room on my current truck I dont use... learned this when I took on my first trainee.. I will have to see about the height issue, as I am 6-3.

 

yeah i am a tall one too.... But in my post i was not saying a word about where he worked just the fact that he was saying that this is what OTR is about now.... AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED ..... I would not give up my comforts to conform.....
I also believe that if forced to drive one of those trucks as a company driver it would force me to go L/O..... That might be the underlying strategy as well .....
But I want to really keep philosophy of trucking companies out of this ..... just to say I WOULD NOT drive one of those trucks PERIOD !
But that is me and if guys or gals feel that they have enough room and are comfortable..... more power to them !

 

I have had the same thoughts also.

My whole plan was to Lease last Spring after getting at least 6 months on my own company driving.

Too much uncertainty... there is no magic list of things you have to do to be successful... For everyone who has claims they know, there is another who says they did the same and went broke.

Too many variables out of a drivers control or choice... thats just my observation.

Company driver.... get good miles...I get paid.. I got benifits... just wish we could take more than 4 days at home. 8 weeks out, 8 days at home would be nice. Im hitting all the goals (saving money) that I set for myself.

 

I just sincerely hope that they do not force you into one.....
You are happy what you are doing and who you are driving for....
I truly would never want to see that change for you or any one else no matter where they are !

 

The underlying strategy is to haul more stuff in a truck. That's where the industry is going (LCMV, tridems, etc) - and from what management has been saying, some of our larger customers have been VERY interested in having us pull more product per trailer.

One of the trucks from the bigger dog than us pulled into a shipper a few weeks ago, and I noted that he was a good 4,000 lbs heavier empty than I was. I had a Century Class plus one of the older Wabashes... the lightweight Petes with one of the new trailers can pull 8,000 lbs more than the other guy - that's called market advantage.

 

I believe i would take less money for my comfort and I might get pushed out of the business for it..... but you have to stand for something!
I have been around this business way too long to be cramped and if i have to be cramped to be successful then i am going fishing !

 

Got to agree man! I'm having real second thoughts about being crammed into one of those rolling shoe boxes. Hasn't happened yet. I've been told that if you team or train, you'll get a condo. Lease operators aren't being forced into them yet... but in a couple of years...

 

Just like i told U2 .... I hope that it does not happen to you and you stay happy doing what you love to do and where you want to be at....
I truly would be sad if you were forced into something like that...
Hopefully they will not force drivers but we will see ....
You would think that Peterbuilt would have the where with all to know there is a lot of people over 6 foot tall and after driving we might just want to stand up and stretch in our own trucks.... not to mention that morning just out of bed stretch....
My thought is if enough complained about it and not just complied they would do away with it and figure another angle to get a light weight tractor !

 

I got my angle... active trainers arent being put in em. The extra pay is pretty nice and the outside scenery changes alot quicker... I had already planned to pick up a trainee long before I found out the active trainer news, just some unfinished business to take care of first... Ive got a date with a race in Daytona in Feb.