57 and starting over need advice

I agree with Prime. I am doing the same as you in life, a little younger 42, but I started with Prime and the CDL training program was good and the OTR training program though it took what seemed like an eternity was very good and every mile of it was informative and helpful. Start to finish was right at 3 months before going solo. That’s orientation, cdl training/exam, and OTR training with a trainer for 30k miles.

 

I agree with the choice of Prime. If you are stable, have adult habits and work ethic, will follow company rules, and essentially have a perfectly clean record (tickets, accidents, convictions) Prime is probably the best training (also the longest training period) and sets you up very well to work for any other company in the industry if you leave after a year of experience.

The Downsides with Prime 1) Reefer freight. I hated almost every minute I was connected to a running reefer trailer. The noise 2 feet from my head when sleeping was ALMOST too much. I used certain foam earplugs for almost all of my career. And they are a big help for me. They are available at Amazon, Walmart, and many grocery stores. Fueling the trailer, not a big deal was one more hassle to deal with. With every reefer load there is always the possibility of having some rejected freight, which will need you to babysit it until you can get rid of it. Reefer customers also usually have appointment times around the clock. Reefer freight also brings the curse of dealing with lumpers to load/unload freight. Dealing with lumpers just adds a whole level of hassle not present with dry van, flatbed, & tanker. 2) Prime is mostly a lease-op company, with some company drivers. For a new driver having to manage expenses and learn to drive OTR is an additional headache. But Prime has the process of learning the lease-op process pretty streamlined so you can at least "paint-by-numbers" and stay out of trouble with the IRS.

Prime also has a TINY tanker division, but it's so small it a bit difficult to get into the division, from what I've been told. Prime also has a flatbed division. I know nothing about flatbed and am allergic to hard work, so I don't want to know about it. Overall, I think Prime has the best training in the industry for a newbie, and they seem to have their choice of new drivers because they are so selective.

 

On the other hand....you do have alternatives.

Prime, Inc is NOT your only worthwhile option.

Pulling a "box" is boring. And no one is glad to see you when you arrive at your destinations.

One worthy "plan B": bypass Prime's tanker fleet....& try to get in on this one, instead:

https://www.wdtmilk.com/driver-academies

Their nearest facility to you is (likely) Cabool, MO.

With Western Dairy Transport, you can:

• Go straight into the tanker sector of the industry
• Get paid while you train -- & even get your CDL there with them
• They also provide lodging & meals while you learn & earn
• bypass all the earlier-mentioned headaches waiting for you over in the reefer world
• learn to pull food-grade tanker loads; this experience sets you up to later pull other tanker freight -- which can be some of the highest-paid gigs in the industry

Be sure to verify the paid training/lodging/meals when you talk to them -- that may (or may not) have changed, from before.

-- L