Here we go, my PRIME opportunity...

I've learned alot of valuable information here and now I need to give back so I've started this thread to document my experience with PRIME, from beginning to whatever end.

Friday night I started an online application but eventually felt the need to stop because I did not have a copy of my 5 year MVR, and I have some 4-5 yr old stuff that I needed the dates on. Up until 3 years ago, I made some really bad moves including no insurance and excessive speeding all the time.

Fast forward to today and I am 3 years spotlessly clean with the exception of a seatbelt ticket about a year ago.

I just got off the phone with Prime recruiting about 5 minutes ago and he told me not to worry about getting my MVR, just put down all that I can remember and they would fill in the blanks from there. We spoke about past unemployment, and currently I have 6 months of unemployment in the last 36 and he said they will still continue forward with my app at this point. We discussed training pay and what not, and it looks like things have changed a little. There is still a $200 weekly advance available AFTER 3-4 Orientation, then once you get your CDL-A, training pay starts at $500/wk, then progresses to $600/wk after so many miles. You will continue at $600 until you go solo. I am interested in Tanker division and he said that they are doing O.K. right now and that my Kentucky location is good in relation to their current regional Tanker runs.

So, thats all I got at the moment. He gave me his name and direct line and said my app will be flagged by my SSN and he will see it immediately. He asked if I would be interested in going to MO next week! I about jumped outta my skin!

Anyways, gonna go finish this app, cross my fingers and see what happens.

 

Just finished my app and fired that off. I put down absolutely everything I could recall, I'm trying to appear as upfront and honest as possible. I really need this to work the first time.

I know for a fact I'm 3 years clean on the MVR, and then there is some ugly stuff 4 and 5 years back, which I'm more than willing to fess up to. No DUI's or anything, but I did lose my license for points.

Just called and left my recruiter a VM, apparently redundant, he's supposed to see my app immediately anyway, but I just wanna cover all my bases.

Also, I asked about getting my permit before I come and he said they would have no problem with a KY permit and that it would make it alot easier on me when I arrive. I didnt ask if I would still need $150 but I would take money with me anyway.

 

Ok, so I just called my recruiter to see if he's made any headway and he said yes.

He says my MVR has come back and it is just fine. They are waiting on my criminal background check but I myself do not forsee any problems there. He is faxing all of my prior employers and said that my employment history looks just fine. Mind you, I have 8-9 months of unemployment in the last 36 months. I have questioned my unemployment periods more than once and he insists that there is really no problem.

His last words to me were, "Stop worrying about it."

He says that he will be in contact daily with me until I have an orientation date, which he hopes to be one day next week.

So far so good. This will be a huge change for our family. Once I have an orientation date set, we plan to sell everything we own and leave our rental house. My wife and daughter are moving back in with her mom until we are firmly situated in a job, at which point we will start over in a new house again.

 

Just a quick update on the process, I know I'm documenting even the most minute things, but it would be nice for a newbie to see exactly how this goes from the first phone call. For me, the application process is the most nerve wracking since I am only just now this year eligible for a truck driving job due to my record and I have never applied to one before. On top of that, I have easily turned in over 100 applications in the last year to various employers of all types all across this nation, seeking good paying work ($14-18/hr or higher) to get my family out of this rental trailer and be able to have something.

Anyways, recruiter says my criminal background is clean, MVR is good, he is having trouble verifying previous employment. He has asked if I can fax W-2's from all previous employers. LoL! Years of anal retentive paperwork neatness finally pays off!!! I have everything he needs right here but no scanner! Heading down to the library in a minute to piss off the ladies down there with a pile of papers to fax. It's an 800 fax number so the library wont charge me to send, but I think they will reconsider their policy after today!

 

Ok, so the ladies at the library were ever so helpful. 7 pages of W2's and a coversheet and thats done.

Photocopies = $1.40, Faxing to a 1-800 number = Free, Value of your local library = Priceless. People really should support them more, ours says they are closing one extra day per week now due to funding. Shame.

Recruiter says he got them just fine and he's running through his "verifier". Says he should be finished before 4pm Central and will be calling first thing in the A.M. Says he still wants me at orientation next week. Hope I get a 24 hour heads up before Saturday so we can get the house ready for a moving sale. Were just sitting here twiddling our thumbs at the moment, soon as I have an orientation date set, we got a whole plan ready to rock n' roll.

 

Small update, and a good reminder to all newbs to be sure to disclose EVERYTHING.

Early on in my app I realized I had forgotten to include 3 weeks of work for a temporary agency about a year ago. I called and left recruiter a VM about this, then called again and told him about it. He said to wait until the verification process clears and we would add it then.

Well, surprise surprise, they wanted to know this morning why I didnt put those 3 weeks on my app. I politely reminded him that I told him about it and he admitted forgetting. I was very specific and told him immediately where, when, and how many paychecks and offered to fax the W2 for that job again, he again admitted fault and said that my app should be approved by lunchtime.

Getting pretty anxious over here...