ask your questions about prime inc here

if i have to start off in reefer because there is not an instructor available, do i have to take the training for what ever length it is for (?) and do i keep the same light weight truck or do I get a different truck for the flat bed side?

 

If you learn in a reefer truck you will test with a reefer truck/trlr. Flatbed doesn't use lite weights, if you were assigned a lite weight then transferred to flatbed, you would turn that truck in and get a flatbed truck w/ toolbox on it.

 

You generally stay with the same trainer for the entire period. That won't be a hindrance to you on the flatbed side... generally what we're trying to do is get you used to the way Prime does things, and how to drive a large commerical vehicle in as many settings as possible. Once you are solo qualified, they'll put you with a flatbed instructor for a month to get you through securement training.

Generally speaking, flatbed guys are in full-sized trucks because of all of the additional equipment they need - just not a lot of stowage room for that stuff in a lightweight. That being said, a full-sized condo is not exactly a whole lot larger than a lightweight inside. I've seen Prime lightweights set up for the flatbed side with a headache rack - there is an advantage in taking one of them out, you can pull heavier loads than a driver in a condo.

 

Hey to all you people who know prime inside and out,is there an absolute max BMI? I know if its 39 you get a sleep study,but is there a point at which you wont be hired because of it? Right now mine is at 44,but I AM losing weight(slowly but surely). I have done TONS of research and I feel that Prime is the company for me and really hope that something like this wont keep me from living my dream.

 

Don't think there's really a bmi cutoff point. As long as you can pass a dot physical from prime's doctor and are able to meet all other requirements, I don't think it's much of and issue. Might want to ask a recruiter.
I've seen more than a few people who work for Prime who pretty closely mach the weight description you gave for yourself.

 

Awesome. I have been trying to get ahold of a recruiter,but when I call and give them my info, they send me to Tabitha-who was out of the office this week. Im hoping to get my chance to go to Springfield ASAP. I have been toying with the idea of trucking for over a year now, and things have just gotten to a point that I can do it now,and Im ready to GO. Im not sure if i have what it takes to be OTR for life, but I have always been told to never pass up a valuable experience,and a year plus training time, seems like a small price to pay for an experience that also would be able to keep my butt employed in the future,even if its not for prime.

 

I could tell you a horror story about my trainer @ Henderson...that's why I'm stalking the Prime line here looking for a new company.

 

I have slightly high blood pressure. How strict is the Prime doctor for the test at orientation?

 

Per the FMCSRs in this case, but you'll need to qualify for a one-year medical card. Part 391.43(f)...

Blood pressure (BP). If a driver has hypertension and/or is being medicated for hypertension, he or she should be recertified more frequently. An individual diagnosed with Stage 1 hypertension (BP is 140/90-159/99) may be certified for one year.

You should have your BP checked by a doctor before you apply, and if you have hypertension get treatment and get it under control - its not a problem if you're taking medication for it. If you come to orientation with high BP, you'll get a chance to come back the next day after you fail your physical for another chance. If your BP is still high, they'll send you home. Go see a doctor first.

 

Sure... get some experience, they're always looking for qualified trainers. But that's the point... if you're going to train, at least run solo long enough to know what you're doing before you step-up. At this time Prime accepts drivers with IMO inadequate experience to be a trainer.

We have a 10-western state company division based out of Salt Lake. It would have you in that part of the world very nearly exclusively. Home time is not based around the location of terminals. You let your FM know (with a little notice) when you want to be home, and they set the system to find you a load. You deliver, drop the trailer at an agreed-upon location, and bobtail home. Reverse the process on the way out.