Jim Palmer Training

I'm at Jim Palmer.... what kind of questions you got

 

For example, from what I've gleaned from their website, if you go through their training you are basically teamed for nigh on 6 months before you go solo. Is this accurate? Are they all reefer? What areas do they run in? (I currently live in northeast Ohio) How much of their loads are touch free? Live? What happens if you don't get along with your trainer while teamed in training or have a falling out on the road? How are they to work for?

 

I'm on team right now going towards solo.... been out 2 weeks so far this is after I got my CDL.... there's 2 weeks of training before you get your CDL or....1 week orientation before that.... it's all reefer... there's live load and live unloads.... couple drop and hooks but still the waiting is not long...I been all over the 48 coast to coast I don't know if it's just for training purposes but I can tell you for sure it's not 6 months

 

Interesting. Did you get your CDL through them? The reason I ask is because (From their website):

Obtain CDL Permit

• Enter program, study and test for Missouri or Montana CDL permit. Students who come with their CDL permit have a 2-3 day head start.
• Start driving/training at the Jim Palmer Trucking Training Center.
• Work toward 40,000 training dispatched miles.
• Receive $200/week advance for living expenses while you train to get your CDL. Advances will be paid back with future earnings.

Over-the-Road Instruction

• Train with a professional CDL instructor for 3-4 weeks in a real-world environment.
• Get 75 hours (minimum) of behind-the-wheel time with a one-on-one student/instructor ratio.
• Receive 10,000 mile credit toward your 40,000 miles needed.
• Pass final state Class-A CDL exam in Springfield, Missouri or Missoula, Montana.

Pass Final CDL Skills Test

• Complete additional 30,000 miles toward 40,000 mile minimum to complete the training program.
  • Start out as a C-seat company driver trainee earning $600 per week guaranteed or 12¢ per mile (whichever is greater) for 10,000 miles.
  • Upgrade to a B-seat company driver trainee earning $700 per week guaranteed or 14¢ per mile (whichever is greater) for 20,000 miles.

Onboarding

• Attend Onboarding in Springfield, Missouri or Missoula, Montana.
• Pass upgrade skills test and get into your own truck.
• Earn 40¢ per mile solo or split 44¢ per mile team as a company driver – or, lease a truck.

And I just read that wrong!! LOL I was reading it as 70,000 miles. 40k for training then and additional 10k @12cpm, then another 20k @ 14cmp. I am a complete moron. So in this case their full training is only ~40k then.

How is the training going so far?


BTW my idiocy of thinking it was 70k is what led me to think training was 6 months. Though on a rough calculation Assuming 3,000 miles/week it rolls out to about 13 weeks. Do you get credit for all miles traveled or only the ones that you personally have driven? And how many miles/week are you averaging so far?

 

Yes I got my CDL from Jim Palmer.... training is fast paced and but you learn alot

 

Training is awesome......I'm at B seat now.... miles is total to the truck combined you and trainer so it goes pretty quick

 

Oh I'm sure you're thankful for that! I know I would be. I'm a bit of a recluse to an extent so being stuck in close quarters with 1 other person for an extended period of time would probably grate on me....perhaps that is why I never married

 

Yeah it is what it is..... make the best of it and move on to solo...

 

I just spoke with someone today. I actually spoke with someone else yesterday. Put in my application with them and within about 2 minutes got a call from Montana. Spoke to a nice guy up there(with Jim Palmer) and then today I got a call from Springfield(WilTrans?) and spoke to that guy for about 30 minutes actually. Not sure if they were competing or what, but the second call went into extremely minute detail about pay and what to expect, complete with a warning off the bat about the rigors of this game and how it affects families, being away from home and missing games and holidays and birthdays etc.

No recruiter I have spoken with has given a single #### about whether I was informed on those issues. Not an issue for me. My girl and kids understand it's better than starving.

Went very well. I have a formal phone interview on Monday morning, and Lord willing my background check turns out ok. I have a very old felony and he said it's not an issue. We will see. Would be a real blessing to get a chance to work with them. So far it seems to be a better company than any other I have spoken with.

 

Wil-Trans owns Jim Palmer Trucking. Will you work for Wil-Trans or Jim Palmer?