Jim Palmer's CDL Program

I would like to start this thread by thanking everyone that has posted their experiences throughout these forums. I have read a ton of your posts and learned quite a bit. That has helped me make important decisions. So thank you for that!

Now, on my way....

I have decided to attend Jim Palmer's training program. I am looking at getting started on November the 27th. This will be my first driving position.

So a bit about me. I'm 41 years young, married with 2 sons ages 19 and 16. I had the great opportunity to serve this great nation in the U.S. Air Force as an F-16 Crew Chief (aircraft mechanic basically). And currently work for the Federal Government where I run a training program, so I'm leaving a 6 figure job to dive into this. I do have enough time to receive a retirement when I turn 62, so the timing worked out. I've always been more of a blue collar kind of guy. I chased money into my current cubicle and while it has been a great career working for Uncle Sam, I'm excited to get a better view of the world from my new "office".

I have always been interested in the trucking industry. I have some family members who have driven trucks and I always loved to hear their stories from over the road. Now that my boys are of the age where I best get in touch them through technology anyway, I jumped at the opportunity to "take a left turn" in life.

So now I will start with my experience with Jim Palmer so far. I have been completely impressed with the two people I have talked to so far. They have eagerly answered my questions, and have pointed me in a direction to ensure my success. The entire process started with me submitting an application. I received a call from a recruiter within a couple of hours. We discussed everything on there and had some great discussion on not only their company but the trucking industry overall. I have read lots of posts here and asked some groups on other social media about this company and everything they have told me has been validated. Because of this I chose Jim Palmer, I feel they have been very honest with me, and I very much appreciate that with a big career move like this.

I'm told the next step is for a processor from Jim Palmer to give me a call and begin in-processing and as long as everything checks out I'll get my firm start date.

I will absolutely try to keep this thread up-to-date as I move through my journey. Reading others experiences helped me a ton and I'd like to pay it forward in hopes of helping others through their decision making.

Till next time, you all stay safe out there!

Best of luck to you. Interested in reading your updates on your new journey.

Congrats!.. Im a JPT driver that went through their program. Be SUPER prepared, do your homework and be ready, both mentally and physically, for "total emersion".

I am 50 years young with similarities to your stated past professional experience. I have found it refreshing to be "rookie" while bringing a mature outlook regarding the need to pay your dues.

Do what you have to, do as you're instructed, trust JPT has your best interest in mind and go with the flow...

Its a heck of a ride! If you keep you're head in the game you'll find you and JPT made the right choice!!...

I look forward to following your journey and best of luck.

Fred - JP0037

I too am totally looking forward to hearing about your journey through training. From what I've heard, JPT is a class outfit. Can't say I've ever heard anything bad about them.

Once you make that step, go all in. You're in the perfect position to reap the rewards of this awesome lifestyle. Good luck and definitely keep us posted!

Any updates @Jeramy H. ? I'm hoping to start with Jim Palmer at the first of the new year. It would be great to hear on how your journey is going so far.

Unfortunately just before I was to begin training and my employment package was going through, I was declined. Really baffled me, as everything with the recruiter and the rest of the team was very positive throughout the process. They could not give me a reason for me being declined, just said that they receive far more applications than they can hire and that it is very competitive to get into their program.

Up to that point everyone was great, I have nothing negative to say about them at all, it just did not work out for me.

I am now working with Roehl Transport and excited to get started there soon. I will start a new thread with my journey with Roehl once I get fully into the program.

I wish you the very best of luck with all you are doing!

I had the same thing happen to me with JIm Palmer. I went through 2 interviews and had a definite start date of Dec. 18th. I was then told they were sorry they had more qualified applicants. This completely baffled me when they were so impressed with my high scores. I don't hold a grudge against them either I have just moved on.

I am Very Thankful for all the advice on this site. I had several other options I could go with. I will admit with all the applications I filled out and all of the companies interested it was a difficult decision to decide the top companies I liked. I feel very good about my decision to join Butler Transport out of Kansas City, Kansas. Even better they are only 3 hrs from my home.

Joan and Jeremy,...I understand. This however is only the beginning; trucking is very, very competitive and unforgiving.

Good luck to you both.

If you have read my first post on here in there I applied for JPT and was also declined. It is what it is. I am now with CRST and couldn’t be any happier. I got a great cod river and I am so proud to continue serving this industry and y’all on here also. BTW thanks so much for your service in our military. One of my biggest regrets in life is that I wanted to join the Navy however my parents forbade it. Oh well. I am extremely happy as a driver for CRST and I truly feel that I made the right choice signing on with them. Thanks Brett and Moderators for keeping this site going. I know I am not around here as often as I should be but I still love y’all for how y’all have helped me. Hopefully I will get to meet y’all someday. 😁

I am starting with Wil-Trans whos owns Jim Palmer and I start 2-12-18 in Springfield, MO and it has been a great process from the first phone call with Alondra!

I am new to this but was in the truck leasing industry over 20+ years back and taught myself to drive but I am going in with eyes wide open as I know nothing. I have been studying for my CDL exam and all my practice tests I have taken Ive passed.

I am so excited to begin this new career. My brother use to drive for Rohel and he drove for over a Million miles and was a driver trainer for them and told me expect to do everything wrong but it will all come to ya just listen and learn.

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

• Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
• Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
• Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
• Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.

Wil-Trans:

Darrel Wilson bought his first tractor in 1980 at age 20, but, being too young to meet OTR age requirements, he leased the truck out and hired a driver.

Through growth and acquisition, Wil-Trans now employs over 200 drivers, and has a long-standing partnership with Prime, Inc. to haul their refrigerated freight. The family of businesses also includes Jim Palmer Trucking and O & S Trucking.