May be joining your ranks, asking a little advice

Most Ive dealt with on my own have been nice and respectful. A few are total @#%#.

 

If you do go to prime make sure your trainer is a lease/op and not company because the lease op will chase revenue while the company driver will chase miles.

I had the worst experience of my life while in training and left tnt after 2 weeks due to clashes with my trainer. The company trainer expected me to have 5 years of exp by the end of the first week and only cared about miles and fuel bonus.The truck was a filthy pigpen that smelled like bodyfluids and smoke and was covered in ash and spilt energy drinks.

If you have any problems with your trainer do not speak to your dm because they won't care about any issues you have ,call Don Lacey and speak to him and him only.

After quitting I had a few beers with Mr Low at the ramada and we spoke about my exp at prime , I can tell you that after our conversation the only thing that man cares about is money and very little about retaining drivers.

My 3 weeks at prime showed me that the trucker life is a very difficult one where you go days without a shower or a restroom,are expected to fuel the truck before using the restroom even if you have been holding it for hours.I ended up urinating myself in North Dakota while fueling and my trainer made me wait 2 days until we got to Ohio to take a shower.

 

Your experience JCW, is not the norm... My instructor and tnt trainer were both company drivers. As am I. My trainer and I ran hard, very hard. Over 1300 miles a day between us. I enjoyed doing my job...

 

My trainer made me drive while fatigued ,Slept in the top bunk while moving, drove threw hi winds in montana that made ip pull over for the night.

The best was he was aways on me about how quick I did my post trip yet he missed a flat tire in maryland and a headlight in Iowa that I had to point out to him.

All is good for me now ,hooked up with a job working in the same field as I had for past 28 years the week after I left prime.Back to 100k plus a year ,sleeping in my own bed,shower everyday and most important being with my daughter.

Cant say we did 1300 a day because we only did 55mph but 1200 sounds about right.

 

Full range of motion and ability to lift 100 lbs are good..but how about sitting for 12 hours or living in a box most of the day everyday?

 

Could do it in a pete.kw or volvo but never in a freightliner.