Prime Inc. Orientation Starts 8/15/16

Good Morning all,

In three days I will be boarding a bus to Pittston, PA for Orientation with Prime's refrigerated division. This will be my first job in the industry and first time away from my wife and two sons for long periods of time. I am anxious, excited and any other adjective you could think of to describe a moment like this.

It seems like a whole new world is on the horizon for and I can't wait to see what the journey holds for me and my family. I know that time away from them won't be great, and training won't always be exciting or fun. But, I am ready for the challenge!! I am proud of myself for getting through trucking school and earning my Class A on the first go around. Apparently the school I went to was having a hard time getting students to pass at the MVA.

There will be more to come on this new endeavor, but for now I have packing to do. Talk to you guys soon.

Joe Rayz

Check out this... should help you! Good Luck!! https://www.truckingtruth.com/truckers-forum/Topic-14807/Page-1/2016-prime-training-update-i

Good Morning all,

In three days I will be boarding a bus to Pittston, PA for Orientation with Prime's refrigerated division. This will be my first job in the industry and first time away from my wife and two sons for long periods of time. I am anxious, excited and any other adjective you could think of to describe a moment like this.

It seems like a whole new world is on the horizon for and I can't wait to see what the journey holds for me and my family. I know that time away from them won't be great, and training won't always be exciting or fun. But, I am ready for the challenge!! I am proud of myself for getting through trucking school and earning my Class A on the first go around. Apparently the school I went to was having a hard time getting students to pass at the MVA.

There will be more to come on this new endeavor, but for now I have packing to do. Talk to you guys soon.

Joe Rayz

Opps my bad dude! I did not see you are going to Pittston, PA for Orientation! and that you already have your CDL. Well, I hope the information i provide does help! Again, good luck and remember take the bad in with the good!!

Thanks again Dutch for the helpful info! Today is Sunday, 8/14/16 and I am on the Greyhound leaving Baltimore. In a few short ( I hope) hours, I will be in the Lovely city of Wilkes-Barre checking in to my hotel!

Saying goodbye was really tough this morning. My wife cried silently the entire ride downtown to the bus terminal. My two sons were still asleep and I felt it better to kiss them and whisper in their ears a soft I love you than to wake them up. Still, tears aside, I am very excited about the opportunity to change my life by becoming a trucker and the financial benefits will pay off in the long run.

So long for now, I am going to try and relax as the bus cruises up I-83 and I look at passing by. I feel like I'm able to say goodbye( temporarily) to my home by taking this route. See you all in The Diamond City.

Joe Rayz

Whats up Trucking Truth?!

I am back with an update on my training journey with Prime Inc. I had a busy week of orientation that was full of Computer Based Training (CBT) Drug Testing, DOT physical and live training sessions. This first day was very hectic, but by Wednesday, we had settled into a routine and the rest of the week flew by.

I loved the (CBT) because it was go at your own pace, but I didn't like that some people were just trying to breeze through it as quick as possible. I actually had classmates telling me I was wasting my time by taking notes and that I should just skip to the quizzes... Nope, I think not! I feel like I actually learned something by taking my time, so I would encourage anyone going to orientation to do the right thing and absorb as much info as you can. One of the biggest hurdles we had was driving on the simulator. I was shocked when a classmate came out of the Sim saying that he failed and was being sent home. We didn't know that the Sim was a test to decide whether or not you could continue on with the orientation. I was nervous, but ended up passing the Sim and moved on, but two of the seven men in orientation with me ended up being sent home.

For anyone considering Prime, I have to give a little info on the Terminal I was in. Pittston, Pa was great. The facility looks and feels brand new. There were laundry facilities, a fully stocked gym, Drivers lounge with ample seating and pool table, clean private showers and large orientation rooms with new computers. The kitchen and cafeteria catered to all diets and we had stipends for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I am a vegetarian, but I was able to have fresh made salads, rice and beans and even veggie burgers off the grill. The regular food looked and smelled great and there were always new things on the menu from day to day. Anyone i encountered was polite and seemed happy to be there and not in some false, smile for the recruits type of way. I am sure that there are many companies out there with terminals like this, but I can only speak on what i experienced.

By Thursday, I was finished with orientation and approved to work for the company. I actually lucked out when it came to receiving a trainer because he and I both live in the same city so I was able come home for the weekend before starting my 40k mile C-seat training. So, tomorrow morning I will meet my trainer at the TA near by and get started on this long awaited journey. The next time you all hear from me it will be from the road hopefully with a few thousand mile under my belt. Talk to you soon.

Joe Rayz

WOW WOW WOW.

Not a few thousand miles under you belt, we need more before that, too long to wait.....

Have fun, becareful.