upgrade ?

It took me about about a week to get my truck after I upgraded, but thats because I voluntered to road trip to pittston to get mine, at most itll probably be a week (company)

 

My husband also did a road trip to Pittston to get his truck... He went with a few other guys in a rented a car. He got his truck they had to fix a few things that were wrong with it and by the time he was driving i'd say it was about a week from when he upgraded. Good luck!

 

Skip orientation, psd, test, TNT training and get right to upgrade. This is should be so far down your list of priorities.

Lets just say you are arriving this Monday to start PSD.. Best case scenario I wouldn't start worrying about this part until Thanksgiving... And even then you may still have a few weeks to go further before upgrade.

why is nearly every student worried about what kind, how or when they are getting their truck. I'd be worried about getting your CDL. I'd be worried about the bus ticket back home if you don't pass the test.

 

As Chuck said, "waiting" for a truck is the least of your problems.

The "upgrade" process is just taking your final tests, and any classes you need to finish your training process. And as Chuck stated, you have a couple of months before any of this happens. ALL trucks, whether on the company or lease side are assigned by the folks in the leasing office. If you want to be a company driver you won't be signing a lease, but you will visit the folks down there for your assignment, inspection forms and keys. You get what they have, and if they don't have one for you that day, you'll be checking back each day until they do.

None of you new guys need a frickin' truck lease... so don't let anyone talk you into doing something as stupid as signing a lease. You don't have the experience and especially the money in the bank to make a new trucking business work. DON'T LEASE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. That being said, no one "pushes" leases at Prime, but you probably will hear that they have such a program. Pushing leases will get people in trouble with management, as that practice is actively discouraged by management.

Prime does the best they can to get trucks ready to go for the new folks. Unlike every other carrier I've heard about, trucks are completely detailed inside and out before you get it. So don't be complaining. While you're waiting, you will have a room furnished by Prime, a meal ticket... so it's not like you're going to be homeless and starving, and there are plenty of things to do around the terminal. The supply of trucks is based on how many come in that can be turned around for a different driver, how many new ones are available to the company side, etc. Now here's some advice... don't be trying to stretch your training out this time of year. You're best advised to forget about taking home time during training right now because after the turn of the year the truck supply will get tight. The manufacturers shut down their production lines over the holidays so they can put the next years' production changes in. THAT will interrupt the supply of new trucks to every carrier in the US, Prime included. So things do get tight in January until the new trucks start rolling in.

Once you get a truck, you will have to do a really thorough inspection. Anything that needs repair should be taken care of before you go out. New truck assignments have priority in the shop, so you'll get things taken care of right away. Be picky. Go over it with a fine-toothed comb. This will be your first and last chance to be at the top of the fixin' list. Don't forget to get all of your supplies, load locks, and chains. Yes chains... it's nearly winter, and you can't drive on many of the roads in the west if you're not carryin'. Doesn't mean you have to throw iron, you just have to have them.

 

Everybody gets some hometime at the holidays. Company side guys have a choice of one of the three big ones, and there is a big push to get everybody there before the turkey is ready. Personally, I always like Turkey Day, but while on the company side my FM made sure I always got Xmas too.