Prime: Orientation and Training?

Hello all, I've been lurking in the forums for awhile and just thought I'd join in. I've been thinking about a career change for some time, and having recently been downsized (politically correct term for laid off!!) now seems to be the time. I'm 57 years old but in good health with an excellent class D driving record. I've never driven anything bigger than a 24 ft straight truck and to tell the truth I'm a bit intimidated by the big rigs, but I've never failed in any job I've had so I'm confident it's something I can do. In my last job I was driving a car 30 hours a week, and I never got bored. (now don't anyone jump in and tell me a truck is different than a car....I know that! Just making the point that I love seeing the country and moving around.)

I would like a bit of advice. I'm fortunate that I'm able to pay for driving school up front, so would not neccessarily be tied to a company agreement. There is a community college nearby with a 5 week, 160 hour course that I am considering. I'm thinking of applying with Prime as my first choice and I see they have what looks to be a pretty good student driving program. Does it make sense to go ahead with the community college program? I'm thinking every bit of experience and training has got to be good, but on the other hand I know some companies like to train their way from the start. What do you think?

 

Prime is a excellent choice as I am just finishing up my training with my trainer,trucking is not just job but a lifestyle also. whatever company you go with a few things to consider, you will be spending all of your time with someone that you dont know during training for 3/3.5 months while you drive all over the country. when you do get your own assigned truck you will be gone for a min of 4-6 weeks at a time. working seven days a week dealing with shippers/ rvcrs long wait times away from loved ones,missing out on thier lives. this is only some of things that we go thru. if you think that you can deal with these then I would say at least give your best shot.that way you will know whether this is for you or not.

 

Hey lilrobby, thanks for the reply. I see you're from the air capital....I lived in KS most of my life until 12 yrs ago. I still have a lot of relatives there and get back often. Glad to hear Prime is working out for you, I know every company has their good and bad, but I seem to hear less bad about Prime than most of the others. I only hope my trainer likes classic rock otherwise there may be trouble LOL

 

Hey, Here's a good question, When I get in a truck with a trainer........who controls the radio??

 

Depends... you might get a reasonable guy who lets you listen to your stations on your shift - or you might get Capt. Bligh! Most of us have Sirius or XM satellite radio...

 

Hmmm... a lot of that going around. It was, "Your career has become a 'Tradable Commodity' - so now you can go enhance your life," for me. Funny, I don't remember the b*s*rds asking me about it!

I went to a good quality third-party school myself. It had advantages over CDL training at Prime. I also felt woefully unprepared considering the level of skill I was expected to have as a trainee when I got into the training truck.

If I had to do it all over again, I think that I'd rather come to Prime for CDL training. In my opinion, its very high quality - our CDL graduates have a better safety record at 2-1/2 years of experience than all of the other Prime drivers. Also, you are only committing yourself to Prime for ONE YEAR. You're going to want that kind of experience before you'd consider jumping to another company in any case. At that point your tuition is forgiven - but even if you leave before then, you're going to spend less at Prime than you would at the Community College. Best reason: You're going to get 4 to 5 weeks (10,000 miles) of one-on-one instruction behind the wheel in a real trucking situation. Community colleges and third party schools just can't afford to give you that kind of real hands-on training.

 

I agree with IP. I've looked at all the major company training and they all make you spend 3-4 weeks in a classroom setting and on the driving range to get your CDL and then you have to go out with a mentor for 4-6 weeks. With Prime after three days of classroom, you go right out on the road for 30 days driving to get your CDL. A big difference for the better, in my opinion.

 

Yeah, as long as you can handle an 80,000lb rig

 

Don't step-up if you're not gonna man-up... this ain't no kids gig!

 

Yo, IP, I'm not talkin bout myself. I'm pretty sure I'll pan out, as I've said, I've jockeyed these things around the yard for 2 years, so I have some idea what it feels like to pull 85, ooo. I was talkin about the guys who have never even sat that high off the road, and the co just lets em go.