Your Advice and Opinions Wanted

Need your opinion--advice
I am leaving a management job in auto finance Jan 2, 2008 where I have been with 15.5 years due to company downsizing.

I have my Class A CDL from previous driving experience from 1992, but need to take a refresher course (160 hrs), or sign on with someone like Prime to go through their training program. Tentatively, I have agreed to go to Prime Jan 9, 2008, but also bouncing the idea of going through Roadmaster's school for their 3-week 160hr course, as I also have a pre-hire approval with US Xpress and trying to get a few more to have options.

Any thoughts out there. Have been reading some good things on Prime's training in other posts. Will look forward to anyone's and everyone's insight.

Thanks and Merry Christmas to All!!!!!

 

With Prime - - since I have a Class A CDL presently I will take a road test first, and if I pass then I will be sent out with a trainer for 60k miles. If I cannot pass the road test then I will placed with a CDL trainer to get a refresher course, which would require me to sign to a 12-month committment.

 

So far my plan is to go with Prime - - have to be there on Jan 9th.

I was pre-approved??? by US Xpress, but would have to pay $4,495 to Roadmaster and attend the 3-weeks school to get refreshed.

Another offer was made by CRST Van, but not crazy about long-term teams at this point...maybe down the road with the right person or my wife once she retires in a few years. Their school was only $2,500 for 3-weeks with no commitment.

Prime does seem like the best deal with no cost for their refresher and better pay for a newbie.

This site has a few bad things to say about both US Xpress and CRST, but not much bad about Prime. My goal is to run for the miles, make the most money I can in the first year to get some experience under my belt, and then see where I want to go from there----either stay at Prime for a longer period or find a more dedicate route closer to home. That decision is down the road a bit.

I have been a pretty solid employee for most of my adult years; 8-yrs in the US Navy 12/1982 - 3/1991, and my present job held from 4/1992 - Present. My last day will be Jan 2, 2008. I earned a 4-year degree in Business Management from University of Phoenix Online that took me the last 5-yrs to complete, but now I ready for a change and this will be it for awhile until the wind blows differently and in a better direction.

Anyway, thanks Wallbanger for your input.

 

No, I have no plans in staying in auto finance at this time. The corporate office has decided to close the small finance company I was managing, and I am ready for a change of pace. It is not to say that one day I will not return to something of that nature again, but right now I just care to manage a truck, its cargo, and myself for awhile.

I am aware trucking is a tough gig, as I worked for a few months back in 1992 OTR with Silver Eagle before I took the management job I am leaving now. I enjoyed it then and see no reason I will not again. Sometimes a different direction is needed to re-energize.