Jim Palmer trucking

People just don't know the half of it!

 

Please tell !! Im considering attending this trucking school. I need as much input as possible!

 

You speak in generalities and then say stay away from Jim Palmer specifically. Why?

My experience with them so far (2 months in) has been mixed. The folks heading up the training dept are absolutely first rate. The problem are the trainers I've gotten out on the road. I made it 5 days with the first guy. Second guy was great but he left the company. Made it three weeks with coach #3 before parting ways with him and his anger issues. I'm waiting for coach #4. I've got another 15,000 miles of team driving before I get my own truck.

 

I'm not sure if that's a recommendation or not lol. I am considering JP but really hate to sign a contract if it's that much hassle finding a decent trainer.

What kind of CPM are you getting and what's your weekly miles?
Are you on long runs or shorter hauls?
Do they run mostly west coast?
Home time thus far?

 

It's rare to find a negative post about Jim Palmer Trucking.

 

Their average length of haul is 1300 miles. They pay 40 CPM + up to 5 CPM fuel bonus, most drivers get 4-5 CPM of that fuel bonus. TriPac APU, big inverters, riders & pets OK after 60 days. Trucks do 62 mph, Qualcomm & ELOGS. They will install satellite TV for free if you want it, you pay for subscription. Jim Palmer mostly does West Coast to Midwest. Midwest to Texas, and Texas to West Coast. The other parts of Wilson Logistics (Wil-Trans and O&S) cover the rest of the country.

You may not like signing a contract to get a "free CDL" but they charge you $3500 or you can work off your "free" training. $3500 is what I paid for my CDL 20 plus years ago. If you aren't going to make $3500 above what you would be making where you live now don't even consider getting your CDL. I suppose they could give it to you for free, give you a back rub, and a steak dinner. Even then someone would complain it's not enough free stuff.

 

If you don't mind running refrigerated loads exclusively, that's the company I would recommend. To make .40cpm out of the gate, with the added perks of the truck that has an Apu, flatscreen, NFL Sunday ticket, etc... Is pretty nice, especially considering that is what you make out of the gate. Their CDL school is top notch as well. By the time you do actually go solo, no doubt you're going to be actually ready to do so.

Like Jim Palmer on Facebook and then take a look at how they talk about their drivers by name, even their drivers spouses and kids on birthdays and anniversaries. They know their drivers by name.

And on top of that, I had trouble backing into a very tight spot at a truck stop. A Jim Palmer driver was the only one who didn't have his camera out recording to see if I would take off a fender. He stood out in the rain and talked me into the spot on his phone while my mentor slept.

Worth noting? That Jim Palmer driver wasn't parked. He was waiting behind me looking for a spot. I took the last spot at the completely packed truck stop. He got out and talked a dude who was taking the last spot into that spot while his clock ran.

That's pretty unique, but courteous Jim Palmer drivers aren't unique. They are some of the nicest drivers on the road.

 

Thanks guys. They are minutes from me and on my shortlist along with Maverick who's close to home if I move back to Arkansas. It's great hearing their drivers are courteous as I consider myself the same in most cases. I'm trying not to jump on a mega carrier if I can avoid it.

I don't care to haul reefers and staying west coast sounds good to me for now. The starting pay is one of the best I've seen from a student driver and that's including the ApU/Inverter like you stated.
Do they do the CDL in house or at C-1 or MTI?

Thanks again for the information. I'll be paying them a visit next week I hope to look around.

 

They have their own school in Missoula, MT. There might be a class of 1-5 students.