New CDL A, Passed Private CDL Test (no School), Now What?

Prime has been great to me so far even with all my blunders. The night driving thing I heard about after I did the PSD phase. I ended up driving all night during PSD and TNT. I can't wait to be back to a normal day shift. I'm a hoping.

OS, Thanks for taking the time to write. I hope you have speech to text, I feel guilty for taking up your valuable time:)

1) Team driving/Logs/etc.: There a few that do things illegally that reflect poorly on a company. Stan did give me numbers to call. (Incidentally, when I left a few messages for me, he never returned my calls.) Nevertheless, I really liked him, he is a great guy. Where I could have done more was to move up the chain of command, even if it meant talking to Mr. Lowe himself. Then I think you're right, chances are things would have been fixed. I didn't mean to imply Prime as an entity was unwilling to correct problems, just the few I interacted with were.

2) The operative here is "still ended up in the division they chose once they were upgraded to go solo." I made the wrong choice with my trainer. No trainer is going to say "By the way, I am kind of a #$%^, I want you to drive at night, do some shady things, etc." All things considered, I hated being forced into something I didn't want to do from the beginning, be it for 1 week or 1 year (in this case it would have only been a few more weeks).

3) This could have been solved at the recruiter level (division-related equipment costs, or a simple "what to expect in your new career guide")

4) If tuition costs are taken out at $400/mo. for 1 year (they told me approx. $100/wk.), then reimbursed at the same rate for the next year, that is a 2 year commitment in terms of the factors necessary in order for the school to be free. I could have quit after 2 months, but I would have owed them $4,000 in order to fulfill my obligation. Money solves a lot of problems...

5) I believe DOT does not allow a CDL Permit holder to drive between 1-4am for the first 3 days, I'm not sure. This is probably my trainer's actions as opposed to Prime's policies. And again, I am sure the company would have corrected things had I moved up the ladder.

So, yes, I could have continued to whistle, ring bells, and take matters higher until the situation was solved, and I think most likely they would have been. But being put in a situation where I have to battle for fairness as part of some "test" to see if I can make it in the industry, is a goofy approach, IMHO. I believe there is a difference between the driving side and the admin side of the industry. I will do my best to be a safe, productive, reliable driver, and get as much out of the experience while doing it. At the same time, I will pursue companies who have been up front with me, treat me with respect, handle issues in a timely fashion, and who are team players in every capcity.

Summary: I am going to be good at this career. This career will be trying at times, and the tests I will have to face and pass in order to succeed are not intimidating to me, as long as I am calm about them, perservere, and am as safe as humanly possible. However, I am unwilling to put up with goofy things on the admin side. I know that every company will have policies, dispatchers, loads, etc., that I will disagree with. I understand that, and will put up with a reasonable amount of it, it's the nature of the industry. But only within reason. For the unreasonable it's easy, I quit them and move on. The industry preaches 1 thing over and over: Honesty. It's a 2-way street. In my mind, it's quite simple. I will be honest about myself, and give 100% to my employer. In exchange, I expect they are honest and up front ahead of time about the things that matter most (pay, divisions, training policies). That's not too much to ask. In retrospect, I could have pushed my issues higher up the ladder rather than bail after 3 or 4 days of trying to work things out. I am a little wiser for the whole deal, and so for that I'm grateful. After 4 pages of posts, this is what I have gathered:

1) I should have given Prime more opportunity to fix problems, I just didn't think it would take so long to do so, and I am pretty sure they would have, based on what I believe to be true about thei company. (I suppose if this happens in the future, I should be prepared to give things the amount of time it takes to resolve them, as though I were in a government beaurocracy.)

2) This industry operates in a fashion unlike any other I have seen. I should throw out any preconceived notions of how I think a prototypical employer operates, and make the necessary adjustments.

3) I have to achieve a balance between finding a company I am happy with, and the expectations I may have for them. Again, I wholly disagree with the notion that putting someone in a position they shouldn't be in to begin with is somehow a test of character and resilience, and translates into that person being a good fit for the industry. My challenges should come in maintaining safety 100%, always being on time, driving in harsh weather and traffic safely, etc., not in seeing if I can deal with some goofy situation (only an example) where my first check is $200 short and payroll arguing with me over it, and it taking 2 weeks to resolve. That isn't a test as to my being fit for the industry, it's an expectation I have for ANY industry, and non-compliance will always result in my leaving that company.

4) I will pursue a team situation, w/0-6 mo. commitment, in order to gain enough exp. to solo in 11-western, dry van.

5) I WILL succeed, and will have as much fun with it as I can. I always make my way of life as enjoyable as I can:)

I hope to have good news one day. Thanks OS, and all

I hear ya Hudson, personally I hate driving at night for more than a couple hours. I am going to try and avoid that as much as possible. Hang in there Hudson, I am glad to hear that things are going great for you at Prime.

To reply to the previous post about the accident in training at Prime, I think it's unfortunate and of course I don't wish ill on anyone. Just to be clear Prime was fantastic with just about everything. I think I just had an unfortunate situation, and being a complete newbie in the industry, I didn't handle things the way I should or could have. This was a great lesson for me, and I am better because of it. Live and learn as they say :-)

Tom, I really think you seem like a guy who is gonna figure this out and make it. I also think you probably got a bum deal on a trainer - it happens - I had the same kind of experience. Trucking attracts a lot of the Alpha Male types, and there is a whole host of problems that can be associated with that. There is also a lot that gets accomplished by those types of folks - so it makes for a fine line to walk at times.

I just want to comment on a few of the things you said.

Team driving/Logs/etc.: There a few that do things illegally that reflect poorly on a company.

The idea that what a few rogue employees do is a poor reflection on a company is something you will want to be careful about holding on to. In trucking there are so many diverse types of people and personalities involved that it's just not that simple to expect everyone to be cookie cutter images of the companies core values and/or policies. I had a trainer who I thought was crazy, but the company overlooked a lot of his waywardness because he was very productive. This business is completely performance based and it is the top performers who make the lion's share of the money. A truly productive employee who gets a lot done without being a safety concern is usually allowed to run things the way they see fit. What I'm trying to say is that all trucking companies will tend to not notice if one of their drivers isn't exactly a stellar character as long as that person is very productive. You may not like that approach, but it is reality out here. The rookie who is just breaking in doesn't really understand that, but it is something he has to deal with until he can be the captain of his own ship.

All things considered, I hated being forced into something I didn't want to do from the beginning,

Tom, this concerns me, and let me explain, because I think none of us enjoys being forced into something we don't particularly care for. This career is always forcing you into something that may not be your preference. Probably about twice a week I am forced into driving all night. I'm getting more comfortable with it, but at first I did not like that. Even though we are our own masters in a sense in this career, we also want to be productive so that we can make a decent living at this. It is not unusual for me to get a load that picks up at 5:00 in the afternoon and is due 600 miles away at 7:00 in the morning. We manage our hours so that we can do what the loads dictate. I get loads that need to be at a factory on time or else the factory's production lines will have to shut down if I'm not on time (these are called JIT loads - Just In Time) Last winter I drove through a record breaking snow storm in upstate New York to get to my receiver in Connecticut on time because it was a JIT load - our company would get a hefty charge back if we we're late - this is a dedicated account I'm on, it pays very well, but not only has the company committed itself to serving the needs of this customer, but they make it clear to the drivers that they have a commitment also in this endeavor. Take a look at the snow - this is looking out my windshield after doing an approximate 100 yard straight back into the loading area. You can't even tell where the perimeters of the pavement are on this property.

I didn't do anything that was unsafe or excessively risky, but I did do something that I felt I was forced into. Trucking can be a harsh master, there are a lot of variables beyond your control. It takes a person with a resilient approach to the job to succeed.

If tuition costs are taken out at $400/mo. for 1 year (they told me approx. $100/wk.), then reimbursed at the same rate for the next year, that is a 2 year commitment in terms of the factors necessary in order for the school to be free.

I have never heard their program described in the way that you put it. I wish some of our Prime drivers would weigh in on this - I still think you do not really understand how it works, and you made a decision based on false information. Can someone who has gone through, or is currently training at Prime, clarify this for us?

being put in a situation where I have to battle for fairness as part of some "test" to see if I can make it in the industry, is a goofy approach, IMHO.

You might think it is "goofy," and I can't say I disagree with you, but you can't come in here and change the way things are done with your idealistic views about the way it ought to be. This is the classic rookie mistake, and why there are so many trucking forums where all you see is people whining about the way they were treated at such and such a company. You can't change the way trucking operates. You can figure out how to get yourself through the initial "goofy" baptism into the industry and then do things the way you see fit once you are a solo driver, but you will need to keep yourself at a high level of performance and productivity if you expect to be kept around, and that may include doing a few things that you don't really like.

Continued...

I will do my best to be a safe, productive, reliable driver, and get as much out of the experience while doing it. At the same time, I will pursue companies who have been up front with me, treat me with respect, handle issues in a timely fashion, and who are team players in every capcity.

Tom, I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that if you ever met me you would probably think I was kind and quiet and very easy to get along with, because I am. Here's a surprise for you though, there are some fellow flat-bed drivers out here who think I'm a S.OB. When they show up at a job site to get unloaded, they find me there ahead of them and blocking their way into the gate. They will not get unloaded until after I am done. I had a driver go stomping mad back to his truck the other morning at 4 am in Riverdale, NJ because I refused to move my truck to let him back into a loading dock at a receiver. I've been there multiple times and I know that if he gets in there before me their policy is to unload the trucks at the docks before they get out to us flat-beds waiting in the parking lot. I am not a "team player" in any sense of the word out here on the road. I am looking out for number one, and it is totally contrary to my personality, but it is the harsh reality of being successful at this career. You can throw all that team player nonsense out the window now before you try to get yourself started again. It will not work in trucking.

You've got to get your mind in the right attitude to approach this as a new career. Look at these two op[posing statements you make when you try to summarize what you've learned:

I have to achieve a balance between finding a company I am happy with, and the expectations I may have for them.

This industry operates in a fashion unlike any other I have seen. I should throw out any preconceived notions of how I think a prototypical employer operates

In one statement you state that you need to throw out all your preconceived notions, and then in the other you speak of the expectations you have for them. That part about throwing out all your preconceived notions is the most critical thing you need to do right now. The most critical thing for you at this point is that you just jump in there and be "all in" like I tried to explain with the bull riding analogy. Do what it takes to get past the training, and move on to being a solo driver. At that point you can run your business the way you see fit. You may starve to death, or you may really surprise yourself and figure it all out, but it will not come easy, and it will be stressful.

I still stand by my advice that you need to go through a Company-Sponsored Training program. From everything you have stated in here I do not think you will ever last in a team situation with another noobie who has less of a clue than you do with what they are doing, and that is exactly how that program at Western Express Works. I can't hardly believe I'm encouraging someone against Western after all the times I've defended them over the years, but I can't see you excelling over there. Everything they do is the kind of stuff you have labeled as "goofy."

One more thing, If you can get your feet in the door, hang on for one good solid year of safe driving. Give up your pipe dream of running the western eleven at first, just do what ever is required of you. There's a reason that over the road driving is the industry standard for measuring experience. You will gain so much valuable experience by running all across the country. I hit 46 of the lower 48 states in my first three months of driving at Western Express - there were some priceless learning experiences during that time. You want to know about stress? You put a rookie driver in a solo truck and run him like they did me, and you will either have a failure on your hands or a very savvy driver. You will be the one who determines how that outcome plays out. Don't put any expectations on the company, put them all on yourself and how you will handle what they dish out.

Hey, Old School, I'm glad you're on this forum, along with all the other guys and gals. It's really awesome to get this kind of advice and information before I've even set foot in a truck.

I wish there was a "like" button on here! I think I'm falling in love with Old School...lol seriously, *thank you* for your writing, great advices, thoughtful, and a lot of common sense. I need to read this kind of advice.

I wish there was a "like" button on here! I think I'm falling in love with Old School...lol seriously, *thank you* for your writing, great advices, thoughtful, and a lot of common sense. I need to read this kind of advice.

You'll learn quickly that Old School is a fountain of knowledge. He's blunt and doesn't sugar coat anything because his advice comes from life lessons. Not to mention he's just one helluva nice guy too. A true southern. gentleman

I used to ride/race motorcycles (sportbikes) and belonged to my "home" forum for over 8 years, along with a few others. I have *never* witnessed so much friendly, mature, adult convos as I am seeing in here. So far, I'm very pleased. PS true gentlemen are a rare gem...it's nice to see the breed is not extinct...*sigh*

[i apologize for the formatting/proofreading, i typed this quick in a text editor and pasted it...]

Old School, i understand your point about the a$$es who think they are god's gift to their company. i have always tried to avoid them like the plague.

you bring up a great point about the jit loads. my only concerns are:

-knowing when to say to my dispatcher that i can't physically make it from a drop to the next receiver based on my pre-trip plan and have it count against me as a rejected load when the company has forced dispatch, being teamed with another inexperienced driver, especially in the winter, and driving through brutal conditions like 50 mph winds or midwestern black ice so that i'm not late. those are going to be the tough ones...

listen, i know i am going to suffer a lot of hardships, frustrating times, and complete bs. i was only trying to minimize it all by going for the best situation i could put myself in the first year [decent truck, experienced trainer/team driver, and a good dispatcher]. i also agree with you 100% i would not feel comfortable going solo in any less than 1 month, probably more. i have WAY to much to learn yet, and will probably be learning until the day i die. if not, i am doing something wrong.

certainly there has to be SOME disparity between companies in terms of my 1st year experience, so i was just trying to do it the best way i know how, by overplanning it. your advice of forget most of my wishes is completely understood, but u cant blame me for trying:)

i almost have my company list together for those that offer refresher courses, and will then send out my pre-hire requests. when i see which ones are interested in my i will narrow it down from there.

i am going to try and choose the best fit for me. training program, length of commitment to that company [i know 1 year is the magic minimum for future consideration to other companies should i want to switch at that time], divisions and routes, and reputation [that i get from other drivers and forums like this, not the internet].

after my decision, i will do a better job of trying to exhaust every option before i give up in situations like that come up, and make it through my 1st year safely and with a clean DAC:) and maybe from there it will just be an afternoon spring drive in kansas instead of a winter drive over loveland or donner:)

i have to say that this industry is SO much different than every other i have had experience with. there are so many things that mystify me and that seem completely illogical. but, it will all be an adventure and i will have to just call on one of my strong suits a little more often, focusing on the positive:)

thank you once again OS for your candor and all of the time you have taken in replying. i will buy you a $6 junior whopper at a truck stop one of these days:)