Prime: Orientation and Training?

Thanks, I will investigate them. Anything at this point just to get my year OTR will help, then maybe Prime will take me. CR got back with me today, but their pay rate isn't that great. But thank you, I'll look into them and get more info to make that decision.

 

Just remember you can't judge them based solely on the pay rate/cents per mile. Stevens pays much less to train you ($350/week) and less to start ($0.26/mile). However, you will more than likely get more miles with Stevens. I am in contact with a couple of guys who recently went solo with them. They have been given a raise, but they are also getting some good miles. Usually right at 3000/week. So, if you work at Prime and get an average of 2100/week at $0.34/mile you make $714 gross. If you work at Stevens and get 3000 miles at $0.26 you make $780. So which company has a better pay rate? Stevens is 100% refridgerated and they pay you the same money loaded or empty. They have beautiful equipment, mostly late model Kenworth T2000's. Most have an APU. Stevens, like Prime, also has a lengthy training schedule as compared to the industry average. You do 3 weeks in class to get your CDL. You then go OTR for 5 weeks with a trainer. You come back to the terminal for more instruction and testing, and then back out on the road for another month with a "finishing" trainer. With this finishing trainer, you are solely running the truck and loads. You do everything, and he answers questions that come up and makes sure you are capable of running on your own before they turn you loose. He sits in the passenger seat and observes. Also, with their training they require you to hit all four regions of the country, cross 3 major mountain passes, and bump a dock in the Northeast, Southeast, Northwest, and Southwest. They don't play around. They are serious about safety and you will hear about it until it haunts you in your sleep.

Having said all that, it's likely I will go with Prime just so you understand I have no bias. I think they're both good starter companies to get going in this business. But with Stevens, I have to wait until Oct 5th before I can start. I put my app in with Prime late this afternoon, and before I did I made a call and the recruiter told me that if I was approved I could start as early as next Monday. I need the income, and I need it fast. So I may go with Prime since, for me, I think it is a toss up between the two. There are a few other subtle differences, but nothing worth noting here. You might think something else. It's just my opinion. Stevens would actually be ideal for me if not for the wait because their terminal is in Dallas near where I live. Just be prepared, they are pretty strict there. They will bounce people on the physical for things other companies wouldn't even blink at. Same goes for your MVR. But by most accounts, the guys I speak with are happy and have all the work they can handle.

 

Hey U2 (or any other Prime company driver)-

I wonder if you would clarify the initial instruction for me? The way I understand the training is, if I show up at Prime to get my CDL and I have my permit (or I get it there, either way), on day 1 I take the physical and drug screen, fill out paperwork, and then I do a few days of orientation and classes on various company policies, etc. I then get an instructor assigned (or wait for one for a period of time). At that point, I am put with my instructor and hit the road for about a month, correct? Then come back and test for my CDL, right?

My question is this-Prime actually puts students in an OTR truck that have never driven one? How and when do you learn the shifting pattern, clutch sensitivity, etc? On the job, when the instructor tells you to take the wheel and you're heading onto an interstate? This is the only thing that I can't wrap my head around. It would seem inordinately difficult, not to mention unsafe and ill-advised to put someone on the road who's never been behind the wheel of a moving truck. But that is how I understand the program to work, so I guess it must work if this is the case.

I am guessing that most of the fleet are Freightliners from what I've read. Let me know if I have that wrong. What transmission do they have in the trucks they put students in? 8 speed? 10? 13? When you finally graduate to your own truck, are they pretty much all the same configuration? Are the Peterbilts a different transmission than the Freightshakers? Do they ever give a new driver a Pete? Or do they all get older FL's?

And, thinking way ahead now and purely hypothetically.....if and when you opt for the lease program, do you get to choose which make or model you want? Do you get to choose between new and used depending on your preference?

I am a proactive type. I want to study anything and everything I can to ensure my success when it comes time to test. If there is a shifting pattern I need to know, along with RPM's and Speed settings I should be shifting at, where can I find those? I know there are some companies that won't let you in their truck until you can tell them from memory each gear and it's corresponding tach and speed to shift readings. Is that how it goes with Prime?

I put my app in today, and before I did that I called a recruiter to get a handle on the timeline for entry. I was told that each recruiter can only hire/start 2 students per week. I'm not sure if this is a new policy or old. That being the case, each recruiter is looking for the best 2 candidates in their pile of apps each week to have a greater chance of that student succeeding, and therefore the recruiter getting paid the most he can off each new hire. I told him my background (clean) and he said if approved I could start next Monday if I wanted to. I have some constraints that will keep me from starting until the following Monday, Sept. 21st. However, if approved, I would like to show up as ready to step into a truck and drive as possible. I have two weeks that I could be memorizing shift points, patterns, etc.

I wondered if maybe they give you a little pad time before they put you OTR. Just wondering. Thanks!

 

Last question for tonight then I'm off to la-la land.

Can anyone tell me-does Prime pay their company drivers for all miles, both loaded and unloaded? Or, do they only pay loaded? It's difficult to compare and contrast company vs. company when they pay differently. For instance, the other company I've been approved for pays for all miles, loaded or unloaded, but they pay $0.06 to $0.08 less per mile. It seems to me the question comes down to a little less miles for a bit more compensation per mile vs. virtually guaranteed more miles (given they pay loaded or not and they appear to have more freight right now than Prime) for less compensation per mile. In the end, it may be a wash. U2 and the others, from what I can glean are averaging around 2K miles/week. The other company's guys are averaging right about 3000 miles/week but get paid less. One factor in Prime's favor is that they pay significantly more than the other company during the training phase. As much as double, or if the miles come, it could be more than double. That is a big difference to a broke newbie!!!

Thanks and everybody be safe out there.

 

Hey boogdaddy, what were the terms of repayment at Steven's? When I checked them out, it was $6000 and a 36 mos contract to pay it off. That was my big turn off with them. Did they give you these same figures?

 

They do the contract signing and go over tuition on Friday of the first week after they know everyone that's still there has passed their drug screen, physical and some background checks. I actually didn't make it that far before I got put on med hold. However, I think the info you have is pretty accurate. They quoted us $5995 on day one. I know their literature states they don't check your credit. Other than that, I didn't get to see a contract.

 

Hey boogdaddy,

I look forward to reading about your experiences with Prime. It may be a while yet, but I think that's where I'm headed.

 

Prime pays their company drivers both loaded and MT---L/O are a different story---my Co-Driver (L/O) could talk them out of some MT money once in a while but not always.

 

Any of you Prime veterans out there-

Can you give me a play by play of what goes down in the physical? Do they do the whisper test? Do they check you for color vision? How? I assume they check your blood pressure and pulse rate. Is the physical itself clothes off? Turn your head and cough? Do they have you do any lifting of a certain weight, or any other testing of your strength or endurance? I'm just curious so I can be prepared if I decide to go with them. Thanks.

 

I have to say that I am a little disappointed that it is so difficult to get one's recruiter on the phone. I applied online, and I have been calling the person assigned to my file for three days, and have yet to speak to her. All I get is voicemail, and yes I have confirmed she is there. I've left voicemails for her to call me. Three days without returning my call.

I know I know......I have to be persistent.....