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I have Pre hires for Central Refrigerated and Prime

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by FluffyGuy, Apr 10, 2012.

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  1. Apr 10, 2012 #1
    FluffyGuy

    FluffyGuy Light Load Member

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    Apr 10, 2011
    Fresno, California
    0
    Still looking at applying to more places but for now those are the only 2 i've applied at. I'm trying to decide which one would be better for me?

    Central

    Pros-
    School is in california, where i currently live
    Training period is 3 weeks in classroom and 5 weeks OTR with a trainer

    Cons-
    Not paid for first 3 weeks of classroom training
    only 0.28 starting out
    If you stay for a year, you still have to pay back $1,500 towards the school

    Prime

    Pros-
    Better equipment, from what i've seen at least
    APU's and inverters
    0.34 a mile starting out
    no charge for schooling except for $100 initial fee


    Cons-
    I'd have to go to Missouri for training
    I'm guessing i'd have to do that sleep apnea test


    And thats pretty much how i see things rights now, any more info would be appreciated.
     
    FluffyGuy, Apr 10, 2012
    FluffyGuy, Apr 10, 2012
    #1
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  3. Apr 11, 2012 #2
    duckdiver

    duckdiver Road Train Member

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    Mar 28, 2012
    Surf city
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    I would go with prime you can make .39 off the bat, their training is longer but imho thats a good thing. U can also do tanker flatbed and reefer w prime lastly training pay is much higher 600 a week.compared to central. When I was with central my training pay was 450 true net was only 350
     
    duckdiver, Apr 11, 2012
    duckdiver, Apr 11, 2012
    #2
  4. Apr 11, 2012 #3
    FluffyGuy

    FluffyGuy Light Load Member

    166
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    Apr 10, 2011
    Fresno, California
    0
    Did you get your cdl through central? How was the training?
     
    FluffyGuy, Apr 11, 2012
    FluffyGuy, Apr 11, 2012
    #3
  5. Apr 11, 2012 #4
    Cranky Yankee

    Cranky Yankee Cranky old ######

    15,317
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    Green Bay Wi
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    think about it all in the long term If u r gonna drive OTR what difference does it make where you start or how high or low training wages are. Think what will be ok 6 months from now. Trans am only pd me 350 a week for a month but i got $1000 first week on my own. I love my 2011 T700 with an apu inverter and fridge all supplied. God was taking care of me when i didn.t even know what questions to ask to know what i wanted. I see a lot of trucks every day go down the road and I look and say would I be happier driving that then this. Some companies dont allow inverters have no apu's but pay higher so figure out your needs. Today I don't want anything else to drive but mabe that will change tommorow
     
    Cranky Yankee, Apr 11, 2012
    Cranky Yankee, Apr 11, 2012
    #4
  7. Apr 11, 2012 #5
    FluffyGuy

    FluffyGuy Light Load Member

    166
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    Apr 10, 2011
    Fresno, California
    0
    That makes sense, money is important but I don't have a wife or kids or rent to pay. The only bills I have is cell phone, motorcycle payment and car payment. So it's important that I make enough to pay those but I don't expect to be making a lot for the first couple years of driving. It is important though to me that the truck has an inverter, and I think all central trucks do have them or they allow them to be installed. I've been looking at other companies to apply to but my options are limited, I need a cdl and I don't want to apply to swift or England and I don't think that there's any other companies that I can apply to.
     
    FluffyGuy, Apr 11, 2012
    FluffyGuy, Apr 11, 2012
    #5
  8. Apr 11, 2012 #6
    bostonsteve

    bostonsteve Light Load Member

    71
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    Feb 4, 2012
    0
    I am at Prime now, 3rd day tomorrow. They will make you take a sleep apnea test if you are risk for it. I have one already and I can tell you, if you have signs of it, take one and get it done. You will be amazed at how better rested you feel.

    I am at the hotel and there are about 15-20 trucks here at any given moment. I have not seen one that looks anything less than new.

    The permit portion of your road work is 75 hours minimum but most of the driver trainers I talk with say they will run you at least a 100 to make sure you pass your CDL.

    One thing I have noticed is it is a very tight ship. I am constantly hearing student drivers and new hire drivers being denied access to class because they were late.

    If you do go the Prime route, figure out a way not to take the bus. I am hearing horror stories of a 600 mile trip taking 2 days.
     
    bostonsteve, Apr 11, 2012
    bostonsteve, Apr 11, 2012
    #6
  9. Apr 11, 2012 #7
    FluffyGuy

    FluffyGuy Light Load Member

    166
    33
    Apr 10, 2011
    Fresno, California
    0
    Yeah i don't care how much I have to pay out of pocket, I will be flying. And thanks for the info, thats kinda the company i want to work for. One that is still professional and demands accountability from it's drivers.
     
    FluffyGuy, Apr 11, 2012
    FluffyGuy, Apr 11, 2012
    #7
  10. Apr 11, 2012 #8
    ironpony

    ironpony Road Train Member

    17,502
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    Ask my GPS...
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    A ride on the Grey Dog is a great motivational tool. You'll never want another - so it motivates you to succeed!

    :biggrin_2559:
     
    ironpony, Apr 11, 2012
    ironpony, Apr 11, 2012
    #8
  11. Apr 11, 2012 #9
    FluffyGuy

    FluffyGuy Light Load Member

    166
    33
    Apr 10, 2011
    Fresno, California
    0
    haha I wouldn't want to take the grey dog around the block, let alone from california to sprimo
     
    FluffyGuy, Apr 11, 2012
    FluffyGuy, Apr 11, 2012
    #9
  12. Apr 12, 2012 #10
    FluffyGuy

    FluffyGuy Light Load Member

    166
    33
    Apr 10, 2011
    Fresno, California
    0
    My dad owned a trucking company for 20 years and I was talking to him earlier and I told him one of the things that I don't like about prime is that I might get a lightweight truck and it might be pretty cramped in there and I can't stand up straight.

    All he said was to suck it up, you can stand when you get out of the truck haha...guess that's not a problem anymore
     
    FluffyGuy, Apr 12, 2012
    FluffyGuy, Apr 12, 2012
    #10
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