Prime: Orientation and Training?

I gotta admit. It's probably a bad time for just about every body who still has a job. The economy is on the rebound but not fully recovered. Every job or company for that matter knows just about every american is looking for some type of job or work.

I agree with a previous poster. If you have a job right now hold on to it. It may not be the best but atleast you have a job that pays the bills. No matter were one goes. There will always be some type of obstacle to climb. Example: Job, manager, hours, etc. Keep your head up til things get better and they will.

I must've read hundreds of post online and there would seem to be lots of people who are not happy with their jobs, lifestyles, etc. Life is what we make of it. If you have a gloomy outlook towards things. Then it is exactly what you will get.

 

After reading just about every posts on here, I'm kinda shocked. It would seem the government is dropping the ball so to speak if they allow this abuse to go on and on. With the economy the way it is right now, the average person is just tring to feed and cloth his family. The american dream... What ever happened to that?

I don't know about some of you, but it would seem that in this industry there needs to be some kind of worker's representation needed. AKA Union.. Well, being far from perfect they could give the average trucker the essentials to survive and not be used. I know.. some won't agree with this. But hey, this is america....

It's time people start reading and comprehending what's going on around them. Information is invaluable... With today's technology anyone can get the answers they want or are searching for. It's a fast paced world we live in and if you're not careful. You can get runned over fast.

 

That just what we need, more government involvment.(sarcasm)

If I wanted to be in a union, I would try and get a union job. No Thanks.

What abuse are you talking about?

 

I have read probably hundreds of posts onlne. I've probably gone thru thousands of other posts about othe OTR companies. I've come to the conclusion as with everything one should feel for themselves if OTR, flatbed, reefer, is what they really want to do.

You have drivers speaking good about companies and then you have drivers taklking bad. Based on what you've read. One can not come to a conclusion. You might get an idea of sorts, but in the end you have to make the choice.

What I get from reading posts is people want to make lots of money and fast. The trucking industry is basically an industry dependent on the country's economy. Correct me if I'm wrong. If so, that would explain the misconception people especially new drivers have about OTR.

I believe,there is money to be made. But that's up to an individual. If you're driving for a living that's exactly what you're doing. Driving for a living. One has to watch out for the expensive lifestyle cause that can set you back bigtime. 40k.... is not alot of money to live the life of a movie star.

It seems individuals have gotten caught up with the romantic lifestyle of OTR only to find out it's not for them. It would seem that OTR is not... I repeat... It's not your typical 9 to 5 job. It's a lifestyle.. If you have responsibilties at home.. Wife, children, etc. This can be draining on them as well as you. And remember, you're the one doing the driving. Everybody loves their family. Unless you've got it together, and everyone involved understands the commitment involved. then OTR can be a rewarding career.

 

It's no different than anything else. For example:

I love baseball. You love baseball.

I hate the Yankees. You love the Yankees.

You drove for XYZ company and loved it.

I drove for XYZ and hated it from Day 1.

Facts are facts...opinions...well, we know what they say about opinions and certain body parts. Is that really a body part? Or merely a portal for excrement?

 

I agree, inexperienced drivers just want to get some kind of idea of what to expect. The best teacher is experience. Fear or knowing what not to expect is a part of life.
As with any other job, One can't know unless they try. New drivers should keep a sense of staying positive, focused, drive safely, etc and not expect to get rch quickly.

Not everything is going to be peachy so to speak. It's good to get comments from people who have experienced some sort of negativity. But one can't expect what happens to others might exactly happen to them.

As with everything, if one developes a bad attiude from the start. All they can expect is things might get rough for them. don't take things serious that it causes you to have a bad relation with your FM. I know some can be trying, but as another poster suggested be political or smart. Use your brain not brawn and hopefully things can get better for you.

 

Well Bronx, then my Trucking Career should be great for me. LOL Cause I'm really looking forward to the change in lifestyle, the challenge and even the hardships of trucking. I definately have a positive attitude!

I get on the Bus tomorrow morning... and I'm sure I can handle Greyhound. Can't be any worse than the K-town buses in Korea durring the summer month's with the Kimschee (sp) odor from just about every Korean.

 

New to otr start at Prime Inc next week anybody know what to expect # oreintation and how long to get out on the road already have cdl but have to go out w/trainer for 60 days thxs.

 

U2, I'm a Union member. I get a decent hourly pay $21.50 per hour, get cola increases, sick leave, annual leave, FMLA, SLDC, etc.. etc..

Okay first things first.. I started around $16.71 and hour. Around 6 months later that increased to $18.00 per hour. My sick leave is based on 2 hours for every 20 hours worked. Sick leave is accumulative so the more hours i work the more I get. I never lose sick hours. I know employees with 3,000 plus hours of sick leave. Annual leave is based on 2 hours for every 20 hours for a total of 440 hours. Meaning, anything over that I start to lose. 440 hours is 11 weeks of paid vacation. Thats right. If i want, I can take 11 straight weeks and get paid for it. Now, SLDC, is sick leave dependent care allowed up to 80 hours to care of a sick relative or spouse. It can be used in conjuction with sick or annual leave which ever one prefers. I have a pension package consisting of dollar amount taken out of my paycheck or percentage up to 15%. Company matches dollar for dollar. All this thanks to my UNION.

Now I'm not bragging or boasting about this or my job. It has it's problem as well. But I don't go through half what some of the new young drivers go or went through. All I did was fill out application took test. passed test. Went to academy, got paid to attend academy trained at academy, went to work out of academy and have been working ever since. I didn't have to pay for nothing or take any risk on my part. All this thanks to our UNION.

Now, a lot of things our UNION does I may not agree with it but for the most part they protect us and give us decent wages. I know for a fact my job would love to use cheap labor and get rid of us union members if they could. I understand business. But Thanks to my UNION behind us members we still have decent wages and most importantly a job that no one can take advantage of us. Like they do in the OTR business.

That's all I'm saying.. I can go on and on, but it would seem like I'm boasting and I don't want anyone feeling out of place. Sorry if the words seem hard, that is not my intentions. As a fellow human being I want all my brothers and sisters out there to earn decent wages and make a decent living. That's all....

 

You're not even a truck driver are you? What are you NYPD?