New to Prime INC - What to expect (Springfield edition)

Always something coming outta there...

 

OK.
Well, I signed my De-mob papers and I'm finally leaving Iraq and heading back to the US.
Expected arrival late January after a stopover in PI (Philippines for those of you who don't know - but vets who have been there know that)
Once I arrive in PI and talk to the Mrs., I need to decide if I am going to settle for a low paying local job (like a dispatcher - ugh!) or go back to trucking.
My wife is unsure about going with me OTR but she does like to travel so maybe it will grow on her and maybe not.
If I go back to trucking I have already decided that Prime is my first choice.
I am seriously considering flatbed as I think it will really provide me with more options after my first year.

Questions about flatbedding for Prime:
Average length of haul?
Average mile per week (company driver)?
Average downtime between loads?

And one question about health insurance... with the new ACA in effect, how is this working with the insurance Prime offers?
I'm a 58 yr old non-smoker in reasonably good health and married with no kids - wife is 60 and has hypertension but nothing else - Estimated cost per month?
Do you still wait X number of days before it is in effect?

Assuming Prime will have me and I make it through orientation (and I'm pretty sure I will), I will be looking for an Instructor/Trainer.
I'm 58, neat and clean (there is a place for everything and everything has it's place), non-smoker, drink only at home (and then moderately).,
Been working alongside troops and military advisers in Iraq for 10 years and served in the Navy back in another life.
I don't have a problem with new fangled gadgets (GPS and such) but sometimes I like the old school.
I will try to time my orientation week in SPO around the first week in February.
And I am from the Phoenix, Az area
Almost outta here.....
And a little on the small size (that's why they call me Mouse) - but I do like my space

Mouse

 

Sounds a lot like me. 57, etc. except for the size, Called "bigun" in the third grade.

Maybe I'll see you in SPO in Feb.

 

Sounds like Marine Corps boot camp, beautiful, i love it. sounds like all you need to do is keep your ##### squared away your eyes and ears open, your mouth somewhat shut and absorb everything you can. ##### shower and shave the night before and get up at zero dark thirty to do it again. Prime is looking good right now, still just on page 10 of this thread and trying to make a decision.

 

What happens if you fail your cdl hands on test 3 times? You are sent home, right? What about tuition? Do you still owe them 3,600 even if you fail and are sent home? It's not really a major concern but it's something I'm curious about if that did happen.

 

I start orientation soon. I have never driven a truck before. How hard is it to start from scratch and still pass? Do the majority of students start orientation with zero truck experience?

 

Yeah, I think they do, Shifting will probably be the hardest for you. Remember DO NOT press the clutch all the way to the floor, only 3 inches will do it, any farther and you will engage the clutch brake. Also remember your shift RPM points on upshift at 1200 RPM and downshift at 900 RPM. They in the simulator will teach you at 1500 RPM but that will not work in a real truck. Also another thing to remember is to take your corners wide, also another thing that students have trouble with.

 

Yeah kinda except that you don't have a DI "speaking-in-a-voice-loud-enough-for-everyone-to-hear-so-everyone-learns-from-everyone's-mistakes" with the brim of his/her hat pressing against your forehead. Bear in mind that when I went into orientation we had about 120 people. It was crazy busy on day one.

 

Can't answer for others, but I did start from scratch. So far love it. Working my way through TnT right now.

 

If I have a recent long form DOT physical, will this be enough or do I need to go through this all again?