Hey everyone, I been out for a while and Im back again to get on track. I been on this forum before but its been a while back since last year. I filled in my application again because the one previously has been expired and the recruiter wanted me to refill out another one. I will be ready and out by the 15 of this month, just getting a couple of things done first. I passed all 3 tests for my permit, general knowledge, airbrakes, and combination. I wanted to add more but I guess I will leave this for later. Getting tired of being a taxi driver now, been doing this since 2010 and Im tired of it and want to go try trucking. My driving record is good, never got a ticket or into any accidents since 1994, I dont drink or smoke, and about 2 weeks ago my doctor did my physical. Checked everything, and everything is good. Just that my blood sugar is getting a little high but he said I should be fine. Been through a trucking school before over at Stevens for 2 weeks, got sent home because there was a document that I didnt bring. I learned some things on Pre trip, straight line and parallel backing, and shifting 10 speed. Brothers who could of train me both sadly passed away, both were experince drivers, One was a lease operator and was driving since 2000, and the other was a company driver, driving since 2002. I use to travel with them a lot and thats how first I got interested in becoming a trucker. Sometimes I would spend even a whole month out with one of them, so I knew how the life style was like. Since now I have my cdl permit in hand I feel that I'am ready to go I had been researching about Prime and the pay is what got my attention so good. The light weight trucks maybe the only thing I dont like at Prime, but other than that I think everything else is good. I feel that this is the company that I will be planning to stay with, I hope everything works out for me. I have some questions, havent seen answers to these on this forum, they are some what a lot but I wanted to know these so I would make sure I know everything that I need to know before I go up there so I will already know what Im expecting. ( These Are The Questions I Have ) 1). What are the most important things while you are out with your instructor are you suppose to learn? 2). Does Prime runs mostly northeast area? 3). To get a good MPG like 7.25 or higher, how fast should you run most often? 4). Are there more chances that you will be getting a Cascadia as a light weight? 5). How often does Prime drivers go into Canada? 6). Having a Hazmat Endorsement? 7). Before heading out with instructor, is theres anything like Pre trip inspection, or road test that I have to pass in order to head out with a instructor 8. What is mostly done the first week and in orientation? 9). What is the pay for the first 3-5 years? 10). As a company driver, are you told where to fuel up? Also are you suppose to follow a certain route? Sometimes GPS routes maybe different 11). How many months solo can a driver take a passenger with them? 12). Average age of Prime trucks? 13). Will I be averaging 2500-2800? 14). How do you get home while in training, does the driver drop you off, or you have to get home on your own? 15). If you cant do direct deposit because of the Bank issue, how else can I recieve my check? 16). Does Prime do a lot of drop and hooks? ( General Questions On Trucking ) - What happens if you get over loaded while you check at scale, what should you do? - Are you always required to go in a weigh station even if Prime give you a Ez or prepass? ( Questions On The Company ) - How is their training overall? -Are their trucks equipped with satellite Tv, Microwave, fridge, Etc? - Not planning to do this, but what incase of a situation, what if you turn down a load? - If you are having a hard time with your fm can you get another one? Sorry for the questions, I know they are a lot, but if there are some questions or most or however questions you can answer please do. These are all the questions I wanted to know so I know what I will be expecting and also I will be familiar with how things work at Prime. Thanks
WOW, lots of questions.see how much help I can be here. little to no home time for the first 6-8 weeks Prime dont like breaking up training time. trucks are equiped with what ever the drivers put in them,tv,micro not standard equipment. 2 step training on the road,1st to get your CDL you laern the driving and backing parts,driving the big road,reading maps,trip planning.2nd learn the rest of paperwork part dealing with customers moer of a team truck. Prime allows you to get your Haz-Mat while testing may as well get it,haz-mat loads pay pretty good. First week filing out the paperwork,D.O.T physicals,training pad. refusing loads can leave you sitting for awhile with just about any company. Prime is a good company,I wasent happy when i was there,but i have nothing bad to say about them.
There's not exactly a lot of space in any of the sleepers - condo or lightweight. I think we make a bigger deal out of this than it really is, including myself. Have you read this thread? http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...27-new-prime-inc-what-expect-springfield.html I'll answer what I can... We run all 48 and Canada. IMO, only as fast as you need to in order to assure an on-time arrival. 55 is good in most places, but on the company side you're only going to get up to 62 in any case. It'll get you a load sometimes that means you're running when others are sitting. Technically, company drivers are required to follow the macro 27 fuel route, which includes your fuel stops. To get something approved outside of this is supposed to require your FMs approval, and the assent of the fuel desk otherwise. In practice it depends on your FM. GPS... can't count the idiots that have to explain why the top of their trailer is missing because the GPS told 'em to do something stupid. That's why there is manditory routing that company drivers are required to follow. Buy a Rand McNally Motor Carriers Atlas (that's also known as "maps") and learn the country from that. GPS is nothing more than a tool, and the last thing a new driver should be doing is depending on those things. It'll get you into serious trouble eventually. Brand new to somewhere in the 3rd year of service. They're retired around that point, or in the neighborhood of 500k miles. Something like that. I believe I've seen 2400 to 2500 miles per week AVERAGE, with over 3000 upon occasion. Teams average more. Via the debit card side of your ComData fuel card. Maybe 30-70 drop n' hooks to live load/unloads. It's the nature of our freight. I'm assuming you mean at your local CAT scale near your shipper. You're supposed to go back to the shipper and get the load reworked. Prepass... you follow the prepass indication - green means bypass the scale. Now if your hauling a placarded hazmat load, that's different in OH and AZ... you're required to go in. We think its the best in the business. Overall quality does depend on your instructor/trainer. Just a Sirius satellite radio receiver/CD player. You're required to initiate and pay for satellite service. The rest of it is on you. Company guys don't get to turn down loads, although if there is a real reason you can't make the schedule (like you're out of hours) then you can let your FM know - who is then supposed to take you off of the load. Depends on the reason... you have to convince management that it's in the company's interest to move you. No problem!
My husband has a lightbody truck and it is a lot smaller inside for storage, etc., but he is enjoying it so far. It is easy to get it into some of the tighter spots at t/s that other trucks pass by as being least desirable.
Thanks for helping me with the questions I have. I really wanted to know them. Now I see what I will be expecting when I go
I know what you mean if you had a passenger. I rode with him for a year back in 2008, hence the navigator, and he had a 2005 Volvo Condo with the sunroof. It had plenty of room and storage in it. I had so much stuff in it, just like being at home. The lightbody does not compare, I don't see how a very large person could get around in it really. He was wanting me to go back out with him at least during the cold season, no grass growing and needing to be cut, but at the moment I am tied up at home with my daughter and her 4 kids. And a single bunk isn't going to cut it I am afraid. We didn't go home before except for about 2 days every 3 mo. Maybe in the future, make a tilt out for it (that would be a sight).
Well I contacted a school in my area. Want to get my CDL on my own. After I would come over to Prime. Things might be shorter for me. The school is called National Training. It's a 3 week school with no classroom because you do all the book work online before you come. I'm hoping that things should be shorter like this. Can anyone give me info on this choice, is it better than attending Prime training program?
from my research if u come to prime with a recent CDL you will have to do the 40,000 miles of training/teaming. Plus you will be out the cash u had to pay to National training.. U do it all thru prime you only do 30,000 miles of teaming and it practicly cost zero dollars... I am set to start on 2/26
