My Experience with Pride Transport

Took the flight to Las Vegas and was able to locate the truck at a drop yard - a 2013 Freightliner Cascadia with 49,000 miles. The former driver had left the truck and a trailer at a Home Depot, where it was towed and impounded. Prior to my arrival to Las Vegas, Pride had gone through the process of getting it out of impound and brought to a drop yard. Former driver had not taken very good care of the truck.... quite a few issues needing attention. Thus, I was provided a load assignment headed to Salt Lake City where the truck could be brought into the shop.

At about 8:00 PM last night, I was called to be informed that the truck repairs were completed and that they would make my time of availability to be 8:00 this morning.

While the truck has been in the shop, I have been able to gather all of my driving / comfort / tool gear and get it over to the truck to make it my home away from home. Further, I was able to get my CB over to the shop where they could install it for me.

Am waiting for another 1/2 hour to make my way over to the terminal to see where I'm headed next.

Again.... so far, so good. Have really enjoyed this experience thus far and am looking forward to the upcoming things in the future. Will keep you all posted!

 

Interesting! Did the previous Driver abandon the truck? Do you know the story as to why it was left there in the HD parking lot? What were the issues with the truck? Were there any that would have have gotten you a ticket if you had gotten inspected? Hope things work out. I'm enjoying this thread

 

Thanks for starting this thread. Looking forward to reading more of your experience(s) w/ Pride. Just have a couple quick questions, do they have APU's or inverters in their trucks? Or will they allow inverters in their trucks? Thanks once again for the info. Stay safe.

 

From what was told to me, the former driver indicated that he felt sick and lightheaded.... feeling that it was necessary to park immediately.

Upon my arrival to the truck, Pride called to ask the condition of the truck and whether the former driver had left any personal belongings. After telling them of the fact that the truck was completely cleaned out of personal belongings, Pride decided to call it abandonment.

Issues of the truck weren't safety related. A lot of interior damage and being unkempt. Exterior was dirty, with missing lug covers. Rear wind fairings were damaged / broken.

 

I actually am not the one to start the thread, but thanks for your comments!

At one time they were running APU's, but they tend to turn their trucks so often that the APU wasn't cost effective for them. They also indicated that the APU wasn't reliable and constantly needed repairs, servicing, etc.

They do not have inverters and they don't allow any inverters that are attached to the batteries. Small inverters that plug into the power socket are okay.

 

Am very pleased with my decision to work for Pride.

My first week out on my own was sort of slow, as they were probably trying to get to know me, how I run and how my pattern of driving / planning happened to be.

Ever since my first week though, I have been on a constant run, dispatch after dispatch without any waiting time. Of course, you have your wait times at the shipper and receiver, but. I have been on dispatch every day since after my first week.

Basically, as soon as I arrive to my destination, I am receiving a new dispatch for another load.

I really like the pay system, where they pay "daily". As soon as you complete a trip, get the TripPak sent in and they pay you for it. No awaiting for a weekly, or bi-weekly check. Have not had any problems with the payroll.... no weird settlement statements, etc. Everything is easy to read, easy to understand, spelled out exactly.

Very nice company to work with.

 

Unless things changed, it is 7000 solo miles, trainer in the pass seat on duty non-driving, miles. Then you test with Ken to see if you are ready for team, then 2 months of team'ing before testing again and going solo. 3 months total.

I loved my time at Pride. They always did right by me, and Neal always had my back, as did everyone in the office. Penny and crew in payroll are as perfect as it gets when it comes to settlements. Now, did some things change for the worse, yes. They really had a crippling issue with a lack of empties at the yard, which sucked when you got the Hexcel load of graphite tape going to Vermont and couldn't find a trailer. No APU's, except for the veteran drivers. Truck only idles above 70 and below 30, and no inverters. Yes, per diem is mandatory.

The shop is top notch. Rick and Wayne are awesome, as is the floor crew. Mandatory inspections when you go through the yard after a couple weeks out. At least it used to be that way.

You can't go wrong picking Pride for a training company/long term if you are a hard worker, and aren't afraid to give one away once in a while when asked. I know I was always rewarded for taking one for the team. Only reason I left is because I had an offer I couldn't refuse in my old profession.

 

I thought it was illegal for Companies to force Per Diem? I guess not, huh? That is the only thing that is making me shy away from them. I was really pleased with some of the Facebook PM's I have gotten from them. Not standard cookie cutter copy/paste answers.

How long have your waits while at a shipper or receiver averaged? When I drove for May, My waits were easily 4-7 hours if at a reefer warehouse with no detention and ALOT of time was spent unpaid Having to go buy pallets or sell them them somewhere. If I can't find a suitable local Job by the end of April. Then I will probably go drive for them. Their Drivers always seem to be clean cut and happy when I seen them in truck stops. I love that the owner of the company still is out there driving a truck himself.......I wonder what his CPM is, LOL!


Thank you for continuing to update this thread. I wonder what happened to the other guy.

 

Wait times at shipper/receivers are what they are at every refer company. Pride does pay $15 an hour after 2 hours, but have to send in your detention call after 1.5 hours, but before you get to 2 hours. If you don't send it in during that window, no detention. The load planners are good about keeping you moving, but as we all know, things happen and you will have to wait for a load once in a great while, especially in the N.E.

I never had to do a pallet exchange, but it happens once in a while, I hear.

 

Does anyone know if pride is or does hiring out of Washington state. Seen their trucks all over looking nice