Well, I got to Salt Lake City, Utah on Sunday via greyhound, which they paid for. They put the new hires up in a decent motel and it is 1 person to a room, so you are not stuck sharing with a random stranger. The room has a mini fridge and microwave, which is nice. The motel provided a continental breakfast as well. Pride provides lunch, but you are on your own for dinner. There are a few cheap restaurants within walking distance, but no convenience store or grocery store close by.
Monday, 8am was the start of orientation. We were greeted by Steve, the director of recruiting and retention. He told us a bit about the company, gave us folders with all the important information and made us feel welcome. 1st order of business was drug testing. They do urine and hair testing. If you shave your head I recommend growing out about an inch, or they will get samples from more embarrassing areas... south of the belt if necessary. (That happened to one guy in the group.)
After that was DOT physical and agility/ability test. You do the DOT physical regardless of how much time is on you medical card. The agility test was not as bad as I thought it might be. I'm not in the best of shape, so I was a bit worried. They have you step up on the 2nd rung of a ladder, walk for 4 minutes on a treadmill at 3 miles per hour, simulate a load lock, push some weights, lift a tire chain from a kneeling position and lift it over your head height, some twisting and bending, but nothing to serious. If you don't pass, they might give the person a 2nd chance the next day.
Lunch was deli sandwiches and salads ordered from a delicious local deli. We would pre-order in the morning from a menu.
After lunch was driving tests for the new hires with driving experience. (I am a trainee, so I don't take my drive test till Wednesday.) I was told that the test was driving around the block and driving the freeway for about a mile. Also there was a backing test of a 45 degree ally dock.
Overall everyone is really friendly and helpful. I am glad that i picked pride over one of the larger companies. Tomorrow's post will be Tuesday's experience.
My Experience with Pride Transport
Discussion in 'Motor Carrier Questions - The Inside Scoop' started by Artisanchain, Mar 13, 2013.
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freemouthhere, luv2drive365, Lonesome and 3 others Thank this.
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Sounds like you're getting it done, that's great.
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Thanks for the information!! I hope to hear more and more about your experience. I start with Pride on Monday..... am enjoying the opportunity to read what is ahead of me.
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Oh yeah.... forgot to ask.... "How many people were in Orientation?"
Just wanted to know whether they're hiring a lot of people, or just a few. If they're hiring a lot of people, I am kinda wondering why they're hiring so many people. -
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Well.... I guess Artisanchain isn't going to keep us updated, as per what he indicated he was going to do. Of course, that could be because Artisanchain is a "trainee driver" and probably doesn't have the time to keep us updated as to his progress and as to how Pride Transport is treating him.
I started this past Monday and am highly impressed with the company, the people, the policies and the great attitude throughout the entire company.
I have experience under my belt and will be going through a two-week evaluation with another driver, then assigned my own truck.
These past few days of orientation have been much like any other company would provide..... policies, procedures and such.
I head out tomorrow on my evaluator's truck and will make all attempts to keep this post updated to the best of my abilities. -
Pride Transport has three varying levels of hiring: Trainee, Evaluation, and OTR. In addition, they have their re-hires.
Trainee are those that have attended a CDL school, but have no experience up to six months experience. These trainees will be assigned a trainer and will run with a trainer for a period of approximately six months.
Evaluation are those that have 6 months - one year experience, OR those that have several years experience, but have been out of the industry for a few months, or so. Evaluation runs with a trainer for a period of two weeks, then is assigned their own truck afterward.
OTR are those that have one year, or more recent experience. They are provided with a road test on the first day of orientation and are assigned a truck by the end of orientation and given a load assignment.
Re-hires are of course those who have worked for Pride in the past and they too have to go through orientation / road test / etc.Gunner710 Thanks this. -
In my orientation, we started with 13 people: three re-hires, two newbie trainees, three evaluations and five OTR. One of the evaluations could not pass the agility test due to bad knees.luv2drive365 Thanks this. -
Wow, glad you decided to go with Pride. Sorry about no updates, internet has been very difficult for me as well as all my time is going to learning and training. I was assigned an older driver with 20+ years experience and 5 years with Pride. I am lucky to have a patient and knowledgable trainer. Everyone I met at pride are happy and helpful.
I think I made a good choice for starting my trucking career.AchioteCoyote Thanks this. -
Well... so far so good.
I started with my evaluator one week ago and he has already approved me for solo. We are delivering our final load today and will head back to the Pride terminal for my "upgrade" to solo status where I will be assigned my own truck and my own loads.
So far, I am highly impressed with the company and what the other Pride drivers have commented. As I was fueling in Oregon, I happened to meet a driver from another company who asked me how I liked working for Pride. I told him that I didn't know yet, because I was going through my eval.... Anyway, this particular driver told me that his brother works for Pride and has been with Pride for six years. He said that his brother speaks highly of the company. This particular driver indicated that he would make a switch to Pride, but he lives outside of the "normal operating lanes" of Pride. So... it is good to hear the positive comments coming from other sources.
The equipment is all very good. I am being evaluated in a 2013 Freightliner. One of the guys I met in Orientation is a brand-new driver from out of CDL school. He is on his trainer's truck for a period of three months. His trainer has a 2013 Peterbilt.
Pride does not use the Qual-Comm system. Instead, they use another system called "DriverTech" which seems to be A LOT more user friendly and more of a Windows-based application, rather than an out of date, old-fashioned DOS based application. I also find that the E-Logs on the DriverTech system are more easier to use than the E-Logs on the QualComm system.
As part of the DriverTech system, Pride provides the Rand-McNalley trucker GPS system. Many of the other companies that I have seen require the the driver provide their own GPS if they choose to do so.
On all of Pride's truck stereos - they are equipped with SiriusXM satellite radio. However, you do need to pay the monthly subscription fee, if you're interested in having it.
My evaluator's truck has an installed refrigerator in it. However, Pride does not supply the refrigerator in any truck. Instead, my evaluator earned the refrigerator as a bonus. If he chooses to leave Pride, the refrigerator is his.
I am definitely looking forward to receiving my truck on Monday and getting out there. Again, I will keep my updates as much as is possible and as I have the time.Blackadder47, Artisanchain, jomar68 and 1 other person Thank this.
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