Set to attend 11/2 orientation

Keep us posted, we're all rooting for you

 

As redoctober83 said, much easier to go from company to lease, than the other way around.

All it takes is one phone call to your dispatcher, and your next load will bring you right back to SpringMo for a lease.

Always suggest company for at least 6mo to a year for a multitude of reasons.

Run that company truck on paper as if it were yours, and there will be no doubt whether you can run it profitably. Big difference would be absolutely knowing you know what you are doing, and knowing you will not likely become a statistic. Like the overwhelming majority that think it will not be them. Why not be 100% sure it can work, rather than risk it. Learn on the companies dime. You'd likely make more as company, especially at first, till you truly learn the ins & outs of the complete business end.

Just trying to throw a little advice. I get so tired of seeing so many fail at this, jumping in right out of the gate. Not to say I haven't seen some make it, but, they sure learned the hard way. 100% of the guys I know whom did make it ALL said they wished they would have listened to advice & gone company to start. One phone call..........! LOL

Wish you nothing but success no matter which route you go. Only you know what's best for your situation. Rock it out either way!

 

Well to be honest have seen Many Many try and fail. I wish you luck, but the odds are not on your side. Go company save up the money and then buy the blasted truck. But I will wish you luck now, just don't want to hear any complaints later about not getting home or being broke. Sorry to be so cynical but freight is slowing down and your 2 prior trainers are leading you down the golden road. Keep in mind whether you succeed or fail they and the FM have NOTHING to lose, only you do.

 

Congrats on your first year! I am thinking about going to Prime also, and am starting out in a situation similar to yours. I already have my class A, but have not used it in over 10 years.

About training... did you go out first with a PSD instructor, or just do TNT?
Are you still leasing? How did that go? Now that you have done it, would you recommend going company first?
Thanks in advance for your answers. I'm happy for you that you are doing well.

Stay safe out there!

 

You would do a refresher course version of PSD. Possibly the night classes. Rather than taking the state CDL exam, Prime will evaluate your performance. Good luck with your decision

 

Hi Moose97. Thank you for your response. First of all I love your YouTube videos! They are VERY helpful..thank you for them.

I am actually going to try to go into the tanker division. I am trying to decide (and having a pretty hard time of it) between going to Schneider Bulk and Prime. They both seem to have great training from what I have researched, although Schneider's will probably be shorter as far as going out with a trainer, but I am not necessarily counting that as a good thing. I think with winter coming, it would be good to be out longer with someone who has experience with winter driving. Hopefully I could get a tanker trainer, although they are few and far between.
I will most likely stay a company driver for a while, and Prime has a higher starting rate of .48cpm vs .39 for Schneider.

The up side I see for Schneider is the home time. I could go on a regional route and be home every weekend, or OTR and be home 6 days/month, although I am sure I could stay out longer if I wanted. Prime OTR seems to work best if you stay out 4 weeks or so.

Although this is not the only factor, I am trying to decide which company I could make more money at (and the math points to Prime). If I am going make the sacrifice to be away from my wife and family, I want to do the best I can financially.

The last thing for me to consider is the time I need to commit for the contract. The Schneider refresher is a 3 day course, and it costs $1,200 or a 3 month commitment. Prime is a year commitment, I believe. I am not sure of the buyout price.

I live in southern Ohio, so I am hoping that is a good lane to be in for driving tanker. I wish I lived closer to Bellvue so I could run that regional route. Such is life..

Anyway, thank you for reading. Any advice you or anyone else might have for me will be very well respected and received.

Have a GREAT day !

 

Where, exactly, in Ohio do you live? We deliver several places in Ohio. Prime's buyout is prorated, but I don't have the current costs in front of me.