deciding on prime

Im not with Prime but my friend is an instructor/trainer there and he is extremely pleased with them. That being said everyones experience is different and that depends a lot on attitude. Training is top notch there (I trained at another company and use that as my comparison). I know of few companies giving as much seat time to a trainee before turning him loose on the road. Training will be difficult in that its not as easy as it looks to drive one of these things and trucking life is very gruelling. Many quit within the first year of driving because its tough being gone from home and such. Trucking is also a career that will provide a job thru most bad times so if you can hack the hardships it can be a profitable and stable career choice. Its all in your motivation and attitude. Master those and you'll do fine. Word of advice,if you even think being gone for 4wks at a time will be a problem then trucking isnt for you. You'll just end up leaving Prime early and oweing them money for schooling.

 

Yeah, Dan's got it right on about this career. Most wash out not because they can't drive a truck, but because they can't handle the hardships it causes, so heed his advice. I came up through Prime's student driver program and can tell you it would be best to have your permit before you get there. It just makes everything a lot easier. You will then go out with an instructor for 4-5 weeks and return to Springfield to "test out," and get a MO CDL. You will then need to get back to your state at some point and transfer it there. You can knock out the hazmat test in your home state, but do not have it assigned to the MO CDL. You will have to pay for the endorsement again in your home state anyhow, and they'll have to run the background check again also.
My personal experience with Prime has been very good. We run some of the best equipment in the industry, have some of the best training available, that pays you pretty well while you're training, and simply requires you to drive for one year before your obligation is 100% forgiven. In fact, after only six months, 50% is forgiven.
I drive company and have a very good Fleet Manager. We have our run ins, as I do with other departments, but I feel I have always been treated respectfully and fairly. I'm not real happy with the way the trucks (company) are castrated (58 on the pedal, 62 on the cruise) and I don't much like having to confirm everything I've just sent over the QC on a live load phone call, but I deal with it. I don't know anything about the tanker division (I run reefer) but I do know a few guys that run that division for company. The per mile pay is a bit higher, as they tell me they get less miles than we reefer runners. Anything else I can add, let me know. Good luck dude.

 

I agree with what you said 100% that is my experience so far at Prime.

 

You'll surrender your permit when you get your CDL. You will be driving on that permit while doing the "instruction" phase. The permit just allows you to drive while a CDL holder is in the passenger seat. Does not matter what state it's from.

 

I'll second everything written here. I came to Prime with a CDL, but no experience. Went throught the apprentisship training program, and ran on the company side for 3 years. Now doing a lease.

Been very good mostly - I don't have any complaints that would be worth noting here...

 

I would like to talk sometime about how you are doing I have seen some 2 different flat guys settlements and wonder how reefer really does.

 

Hello I was wondering if you have gone with prime? and see how you weir doing with it?