Prime: Orientation and Training?

Hey man were you approved first before you were giving a date as to when you get to training? I put my application in Monday and I called day before yesterday and she needed some more info and then yesterday I was unsuccessful in reaching her and today I called and she said i wasnt approved yet and to call tomorrow. Im hoping i can get to training this coming up because im really running out of money.

 

I was fortunate to get my recruiters email and have done 95% of my communication via email. She has been very quick in responding to my email. I am just getting some medical clearances from my doctors. More of a formality than anything. I know they start a new class every Tuesday. So if everything is not done in time by end of business Friday, then I will start one week from Tuesday...I was told that is all that is left for me to be approved, and I like I said, it's just waiting on those doc's in Texas to fax the requested info up to Springfield....So I am looking to start June 2...

Maybe I'll see you there...

Kevin

 

Not necessarily. You get your hometime when you request it... Prime tries to arrange a load(s) that will get you there when you need to be there. It helps to provide a window rather than a fixed date, and some advance warning. That being said, it's better to be on a major freight lane - say I40 or I80, rather than in a corner of the country like NE Maine, for instance. Being in Springfield, it can be more difficult to find a load out, but if that's where home is, it's not necessarily a problem!

They use a "manual" BP cuff.

 

Well, thanks for that info. That does help alot. Looks like I will probably be in the Jun 2nd class. Any other hints or advice will be much appreciated...

Hope to see you all soon on the road....

Kevin

 

spent some time on the driving range and simulator yesterday. Some students left with their Instructors last pm...others are still waiting for an instructor. I am here till at least Tuesday pm finishing up a class and catching a truck. Just my two cents on where I am in the process. By the way.. the trucks here are incredible... Vorad avoidance system, lane departure system, anti-roll, and ABS tractor and trailer.....All trucks! Impressive.

 

This looks like the program for me. I'll call a recruiter tomorrow considering it's a holiday. Anyone know the best time to call?

 

I reccomend you have someplace as a permenant address... you wont be able to claim the per diem the IRS allows you for being away from a home. I use my brothers house, If push comes to shove I can prove I live there.

I have taken hometime in other places other than my home. No problems, I give my Fleet Manager a 10 day notice of taking time off... I also try to be very flexible with my dates....

I try to limit the use of the truck as much as possible. Yes you can run errands with your truck as bobtail... Also its hard to get the bobtail into some places... with prior planning you can get a rental car for pretty cheap.

I dont think a queen will fit in the tray, the matress isnt half bad.

You can smoke in the truck.

Yes, its all direct deposit. They do charge you a dollar a week for your fuel card and you are charged a dollar for every com check you write. The fuel card charge is unavoidable... the com check is a convienence to keep you from having to keep a wad of cash on hand to conduct truck business for which you are re-immbursed.

Its probably best to come without the experiance... I have driven stick all my life and it took a while to break habits associated with stick shift in my personal vehicles.

Im not aware of a fee for a rider, but 18 years or older and some ID verification paperwork is required.

Alot of truck stops do have WiFi, and most do charge... some free ones out there.. few and far between... most signals reach the lot.

Prime trucks do have APUs installed with an inverter... you can buy a power strip for your electrical needs

When you hit a deer there is only one gaurantee.... there will be some damage... as for a wreck or extent of damage... depends on the situation.

If you log legal, you cant drive more than 11 hours in a 14 hour period. After a 10 hour break... repeat... the rules and regs about split breaking will make your head spin, but eventually you will learn them.

Daily paperwork depends... 15 minutes a day maybe... 15 to 30 minutes for trip inspections... 99 percent of scale visits are pull through... maybe delay you a minute or two... inspections can run 15 min to an hour depending on the level of inspection.

 

Sorry I moved this post into another thread without realizing you were already replying to it. Thank you for being so quick with it! This forum is great.

My dad's house technically is my permanent address so that won't be a problem. The apartment I lived in through college and the apartment I live in now I just claim as temporary addresses. All of my important mail already goes to his house.

O.k. As long as I can have a box fan running for the noise I guess I'll be alright.

Thank God!

That's great. I just hope I don't make a fool out of myself trying to learn how manual transmissions work. One time an ex of mine drank too much and I commandeered his car. Lets just say that I was fine in the high gears but trying to get going after stop signs wasn't pretty.

Hmmm. I'm a verizon customer so I'll look into that air card. I have a 20 gig connection now and am quite spoiled but I suppose I'll get used to it.

That's kind of scary. Does that count as a nonpreventable accident or will the company dock you for that?

And have you ever hit a deer...or elk?

And I looked at the miles averages per week and it seems like a driver drives an average of around 6 or 7 hours per day. Does that sound about right?

 

Glad to see you over here!

One of our gal drivers says that, "The hum of the reefer running practically guarantees a good night's sleep!"

You won't - like U2 says, its better you don't know - less bad habits to break. Once you get used to dealing with the tach and doing the little double-clutch two-step, you'll be fine.

You can use the WiFi, but I find it's so slow as to be useless. Park in the back, and every time a truck drives between you and the antenna, and there goes your connection. Get the aircard - Verizon has super coverage, even in the sticks...

Depends...

For solo driving, it's best to average around 8.75 hours of driving and non-driving on-duty hours per day to keep from running out of your 70 hours on an 8-day schedule. Some days if you're waiting for a load, you don't drive. Some days you max out the 11 hours driving and the on-duty not driving as well. Basically you have to do what's necessary to get the job done. Advantage to solos... the truck isn't moving when it's time to sleep.

Team trucks are different. Some folks run 10-on and 10-off, so your days and nights keep changing. Some folks do 12-on and 12-off. Most of the time though, you'll be pretty much maxing your drive hours (remember the 8.75 per day) except on days you are loading or unloading. The truck is moving when you're attempting to sleep, but you make more money.

 

Hey man, Looks like i'll be joining in the Jun 2nd class.