PRIME NEWBIES~Any comments from orientation?

BCBS of Missouri - reasonable. Available the first month after you've been employed there 90 days (? I think - been awhile for me.) They have cheap gap insurance to cover emergencies available from day 1. Dental coverage is available too.

 

U2exit, thank you very much for this information, its really appreciated. I leave for Springfield on Monday and begin training Tuesday. I don't have my CDL yet and will be starting at Prime from scratch, so your info has shed some light on what I can expect. I could care less about home time at this stage in my life, my main focus is learning everything I can and getting the training I need to have a good career.

I have one question if you could help, about how long is it before the average driver that comes in with no CDL begins getting paid the .12cpm/$600? Is it after I get my CDL through Prime and then begin the 50-60k miles with the trainer? I don't plan on borrowing the $200 from the company in the meantime, so I'm just trying to gauge time wise how long I'm going to depend on my own funds. Thanks again.

 

You're hired as an employee once you've obtained your CDL. Now that doesn't mean you're being PAID. The wheels must be turning - so you're not making any money sitting in the terminal waiting for a trainer or taking home time. The key for the guarantee is you must be available for dispatch or under load.

The last I heard the default for your paycheck is a check to your home of record. So... you need to talk to payroll before you leave SPRIMO with your trainer. You can't cash a check that's sitting in your mailbox at home. Other options include direct deposit to a bank account (you'd better have an ATM card if you want access) or putting it on the E-funds side of your COMDATA fuel card... basically its the same as an ATM. I put $100 on my COMDATA card (and try to limit my spending to that during the week) and the rest is direct deposit. Its real easy to spend a pile of money on the road unless you come up with a plan and stick to it. Some good advice... stay away from advances on your paycheck!

 

Hello to all,
I'm glad to see everyone starting their new career at prime. And ironpony & u2 thank you for all the info you've posted on here. I just wish the process was moving faster for me! Lol I guess this is one of those times that being female has made it a challenge to accomplish something. I spoke to my recruiter today to ask why I haven't received an orientation date yet. The reply was "we don't have any women trainers at this time and no males who are willing to take women trainees. There is a list of people ahead of you dating back to may. So you could be waiting anywhere from a week to two months". Geez! I guess I have to look at other options...any ideas or suggestions? I have my permit already. My dad drives OTR for himself and offered to teach me but I can't work for prime without formal training. I was thinking maybe SNI because they recruit from the local cdl training school.

 

What ever you decide on Jazi68, make sure you do it in a timely fashion. So many companys out there want drivers fresh after getting there CDL's. If you wait 3 or 4 months to hook up with someone, they may want you to take a re-fresher or may not take you at all. This info is based on others I have talked to as well as the instructor I have in my school. Just sayin. So good luck to you and keep searching cause there are companys out there that have trainers for you. Just might not be your 1st choice in companys.

 

Thanks oo7, I appreciate the info. I'm looking at other options. This is something I really want to do so nothing will stop me.

 

I am not bitter, just brutally honest.

 

When I was still in CDL school my step-son needed to use my truck to go pick up some plywood, so I took his manual shift Ranger to shcool for my driving time that day.... when I got back in it to go home I tried to double clutch the d*mn thing 'cause I was just in that "habit" at the moment.

Hey IP/U2.... what's the deal over at the primedrivers board?.... did the e-mail verification OK but I'm still waiting on the admin over there to approve the acct so i can post... been a few days now.

 

Bigfoot has been doing some real truckin' instead of "MS Trucking Simulator V3.5"!!

 

Well.... he must be back at the MS simulator.... did it last night.