prime recruiting

My jobs never paid well, but they did pay the bills. I see a lot of folks complain about only making $500 - $600, but for me, that's double the pay I've ever made weekly in an office job.

I know what you mean about the truck. I have a 2004 Toyota Rav4 that I'm making payments on. It's been a tough go the last couple months, but so far I've made all the payments. I left my job the end of May & started at Roadmaster June 1st. I haven't had a paycheck since I left my job. It's scary as hell right now. So, I can see and understand your worries.

The one thing I can say about what I've seen with Prime, they may have a long training period, but would you rather have that, or get thrown out on your own and not feel confident after 3-6 weeks of training?

I just keep the faith and say a prayer that something happens soon. And I'll keep good thoughts for you, also JW & Justin.

 

Yeah, I'm confident about actually driving the truck. The other stuff is what I really have to learn. I've been towing boats for as long as I've been driving (I work for a Boat Dealership). Some are fairly large, one was 35' long x 10' wide x 13' tall, I was probably nearly 60' long total (I was driving a 2008 GMC Sierra 3500 Crew Cab Long Bed Dually). I once spent 30 hours in a 2001 Kenworth T2000. My dad and grandpa made an emergency run from San Fransisco, CA to Portland, OR and back, I got to go along. I would have been 14 or 15 years old when I did that.

I have a couple of reasons for wanting to drive a truck:
#1 - I have always been enamored with anything that moved itself, my family is in the trucking and boating industries. It's just something I've grown up with.
#2 - The prospect of exploring the country on someone else's dime is exciting
#3 - They always say the comraderie of trucking is gone, but forums like this make me think there has to be some cool people out there on the road
#4 - I live with my parents (I pay rent though...and I'm only 22...and I work with my dad), I want to get out on my own and learn about life for myself, the whole family business scene is really protective and "safe"...one good thing is my job is safe if I choose to keep it
#5 - I want to build a life for myself,

Everything I've ever done in my life has been prepared for me, there's not much adventure when you aren't making many decisions on your own future. On the other hand, family wants whats best for you, and mine feels that the family business is best. How am I ever going to know if my job is right for me if I never do anything else? The easy answer is to stay working here and continue to dream...I don't want to but that may be the most realistic answer right now.

I've talked some of this over with my parents, and being that my dad is my boss, I get mixed reviews...but he has known that I've wanted to drive trucks for years. He said he needs to know what I am going to do so that he can make arrangements for the company. What bothers me is that he said that if I stay he will have to lay some others off after the summer, so I know I'm not necessarily needed for the continued operation of the company. To make matters worse, I don't know where I'm going to be living in a few months as my parents are selling there house (goes on the market tomorrow) and I'd like to take this opportunity to move out or go out on the road.

Any ideas or suggestions?

 

This is something I've wanted to do since I was 18, but my decisions for my future were based on family & responsibility. In a way, that's what my decision here is based on also. Right now, it feels very irresponsible. I had mistakenly believed that the school could teach me in the 4 weeks. Realistically, I now know that wasn't feasible. 5 minutes every couple of hours on the pad isn't going to do it.

I wish I had made the decision 25 years ago, but we live and learn.

Ideas or suggestions-if you decide to do this and ever want a trainee, don't forget me...he he he.

 

I doubt that its going to take you very long at all to pull the attention of a woman trainer on the forums here, somebody is bound to know somebody. Meanwhile, make friends with the brass at Prime and see if they can pull some strings...=)

Otherwise, then yes if I do go for it and you still need a trainer by that time, you'll have a trainer.

 

Thank you, JW, don't be surprised if I'm still here looking for someone. And if I am, I'll take you up on it.

 

The people who comment in this forum have to be some of the most awesome people ever. You all have been so helpful in answering questions, sometimes over and over again. It shows how much you are dedicated to the job you do and that you want to get as much correct information out as possible. Thank you to all of you.

 

I've definetely seen my fair share of those guys that say stay away, not sure what their motives are but its kind of off-putting. But I agree with teddy bear, for the most part everyone has been very supportive =)

 

Another question for you folks. As I've only ever worked at one location, is it kosher to put in an application to Company B if you are still working with Company A and then decide what you are going to do after you get the go ahead from Company B? I've never had to worry about that process, but I always assumed it was bad juju to seek employment elsewhere (in my case a different industry) while still working with your current employer. My basic question would be is it ok to "test the waters" and make my decision after I know who's offering me a position?

 

Dont quote me on this... but Im pretty sure Prime waits until the last minute to check with your last employer... They go ahead and verify everything else first...

I seem to remember a classmate mentioning this... something about him having the same concerns as you.

 

I don't want to put myself in a position where I leave my job here to do that and then either get pushed back too much and can't make a truck payment, or lose the job with Prime altogether...I will be screwed. If I'm going to make this "leap" I want to leave as little gap as possible in my paycheck, do they give you any pay while at school or are you on your own? I think I'd be ok for a couple months of making truck payments without pay but I don't want to stretch and mess up my credit by losing my truck. I figure I owe ~$25k and it booked (private party) for just over $24k in good condition, so I'm not in it so bad. Payments are $487/mo.