going to work for prime very green need advice

[jaycrazy]

So i know this question is probaly asked a million times to you guys that have been out there for a while, i a about to go to primes trucking school in springfeild, i am curious if there is anything i should watch for, or pay close attention to i want to be out on the road for a couple of months so i can be home for a couple of weeks is that possible, and can i ask tem for a east to west west to east route or am i stuck with what they give me, thanks :idea: :?: :arrow: :shock:

[Uturn2001]

Prime is listed as an irregular route carrier and that means, unless you get on a dedicated fleet, you go where they tell you to go unless you are an owner/operator or are stupid enough to sign up for there truck lease program.

As far as home time goes that will be between you and your fleet manager within the confines of company policy.

At most companies you will accumulate 1 day off for every week (6-7 days) worked. Companies do vary though on how much time you can take off at once and what happens to the truck if you take off more than a few days.

[jaycrazy]

well i reckon i will do my year and find a company that i can drive coast to coast a little easier i have heard that prime was not a good choice and my recruiter is not extremlly help full kinda feel like i am talking to an army recruiter, i wouldnt be real worried about being home but my wife will miss me as i will her and that is mainly why i want to stay out long to be home longer 8)

[Jumbo]

If you have heard bad things about them and recruiter wasn't very helpful why are you still doing it. Doesn't that gaive you a bad feeling before you even start? Not trying to discourage you but do you have other options to get into trucking?

[jaycrazy]

not a bad feeling i have heard bad things about 95 % of the compaies out there, just tring to get any thing more good or bad about prime so i know what i am getting into

[rgarthman1969]

If you feel like this right now. Then you need to look somewhere else. The chances of you making it through Primes Training feeling like this is slim to none. BOL Why did you even pick them anyways?

[freebird]

Yeah, why Prime?
Your in Oregon.
Plenty of west coast firms to check out.
Not including England of course!
I remember back a few years ago another who was all gung ho to join Prime!
Wouldn't take any advice that anyone had to give him.
I wonder..........! :?

[belpre122]

Yeah, why Prime?
Your in Oregon.
Plenty of west coast firms to check out.
Not including England of course!
I remember back a few years ago another who was all gung ho to join Prime!
Wouldn't take any advice that anyone had to give him.
I wonder..........! :?

Freebird are you talking about the young guy that went with Prime, then was talked in to the fleece purchase program while everyone was telling him not to do it. He insisted that there was no way he could go wrong.

If I remember correctly, he eventually got burned and was driving a box truck in Texas?

Just wondering if we are thinking of the same guy?

[freebird]

Yeah, why Prime?
Your in Oregon.
Plenty of west coast firms to check out.
Not including England of course!
I remember back a few years ago another who was all gung ho to join Prime!
Wouldn't take any advice that anyone had to give him.
I wonder..........! :?

Freebird are you talking about the young guy that went with Prime, then was talked in to the fleece purchase program while everyone was telling him not to do it. He insisted that there was no way he could go wrong.

If I remember correctly, he eventually got burned and was driving a box truck in Texas?

Just wondering if we are thinking of the same guy?

Could be, don't remember the end results.
Just that he wanted advice, then argued back at all the negatives that were pointed out.
Just wondering if this guy won't turn out to be the same (way?)
Primerboy???

[belpre122]

Definitely the same guy. That was in '05. I remember because I was leaving for CRST school and communicated with him via IM for a while.

He wouldn't listen at all. He got to Prime and was talked in to the "you can't lose----just walk away" fleece purchase program.

Some of it is coming back to me. He was ex Air Force and was in his early 20s. He did come eventually and admit that he should have listened to the advice from this board. I WILL think of his board name. That whole thread/incident would be an excellent teaching tool to prospective Prime newbies. Actually, to all newbies............. :wink:

[truckiedriver]

Or you could talk to these guys.

http://www.primedrivers.net/forum/

[jaycrazy]

dont get me wrong i am listening and taking advice, i have looked all over prime happened to call first and offer to pay for school, no i will not go for the fleet purchase program, i will eventually buy my own truck i thought maybe prime would be the one to go with heard less bad things about them thanks for all the advice :arrow: :wink: 8)

[freebird]

Wish you the best where ever you decide.
That being said hands down the top two least favorable companies out there are likely Prime and CR England.
If you find any good on either of them it will be far and few between!
Your on the west coast have you looked at May or Gordon?

[jaycrazy]

thanks i havent looked into them but i will i leave friday at midnight so i have time 8)

[Kevin0915]

If you are in Oregon, why not go with Swift? They will send you to Lewiston, Idaho i bet. I went thru their school, and went from not knowing jack about driving something that big, to being able to drive 9 straight hours.

They pay for school, as long as you put in 2 years with them once you go solo. Most places are like that anymore. I was going to go with MCT, but read they make you sign a $4,000 promiceary (spell check) note on day one. and if you 'wash out' you are stuck with a $4k bill. Swift, if you 'wash out', they will atleast pro-rate how long you spent in school, and you only pay that back.

They dont force you into anything, so far, they pay ontime, they dont force you to run hot, or fudge log books. So far, all the horror stories everyone has about Swift being so bad, havne't come true.....yet. Now granted, i've run into a couple situations where i've caught people telling me things that were 'fact' or 'confirmed', when they were just speculating.

There are so many companies out there, and so many ex-drivers, you are going to hear how bad they all are if you look hard enough. Your additude determines your altitude.

[Fredog]

imho staying out longer so you can be home longer is not a good idea. coming home for day or 2 or 3 every week or 2 weeks works out much better, I now leave on Monday and then come home Thursday of the following week and then start over again on Monday. works out pretty well, after 11 days in the truck I am pretty sick of it and 3 days at home is enough to get stuff done..

[rgarthman1969]

Well what do you know. Someone else thinks like I do. :wink:

[Fredog]

Well what do you know. Someone else thinks like I do. :wink:

[rgarthman1969]

LMAO. Great response.

[freebird]

imho staying out longer so you can be home longer is not a good idea. coming home for day or 2 or 3 every week or 2 weeks works out much better, I now leave on Monday and then come home Thursday of the following week and then start over again on Monday. works out pretty well, after 11 days in the truck I am pretty sick of it and 3 days at home is enough to get stuff done..

Great way to run!
One day at home for buisness (Friday or Monday.)
Two days alone with Momma and the family!