I Have Offers From Prime, KLLM, And PAM Transport. Please Help :)
Topic 21121 | Page 1
Hi, Indalecio. Welcome to the Trucking Truth Forum, and your new career.
The short answer to your question, all three are reputable companies. And there are more. The differences to help you make a decision are in the details.
Since you seem to be brand new to the business, you should start with the Trucking Truth starter kit:
- Truck Driver's Career Guide
- Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
- High Road CDL Training Program
Some reading material about being a CDL truck driver, and the best CDL test prep system. All for free.
Also, to help really answer your question, here are some more links:
- Trucker's Career Guide: Choosing Your First Truck Driving Job
- Article Category: Finding The Right Truck Driving Job
- Forum Topics Tagged "Choosing A Trucking Company"
There's lots more available for you. Touch on the three-bar menu on the top left. And read more here on this forum. You are welcome to ask any question here, you will get honest answers.
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.
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
EPU:
Electric Auxiliary Power Units
Electric APUs have started gaining acceptance. These electric APUs use battery packs instead of the diesel engine on traditional APUs as a source of power. The APU's battery pack is charged when the truck is in motion. When the truck is idle, the stored energy in the battery pack is then used to power an air conditioner, heater, and other devices
I have offers from all 3 companies, but want to choose the most reputable one so that I don't get shafted and stuck with a huge school bill because they decided to terminate me at 11 months.
I just wanted to put your mind at ease here with this. This is not how these companies operate. Forget about any garbage you've heard elsewhere. The unfortunate part about the Web is that any knucklehead can spew lies all day long if they like with no one to verify anything they're saying is actually true or not.
These companies are all looking for quality drivers. They're investing their money up front in you hoping they'll get a return on their investment if you turn out to be a safe and productive driver for them.
No one is going to fire you after 11 months and send you a gigantic tuition bill. If you did work at a company for a period of time and didn't complete the contract you would owe a prorated amount of tuition.
Believe me, the very last thing these companies want to do is fire anyone. They spend enormous amounts of money recruiting new drivers. They need quality drivers. Go in there and show them you're going to be a safe and reliable driver with a great attitude and things will work out great.
If there were irreputable companies out there we'd call em out and we'd warn everyone about em. You certainly wouldn't find any information about them on our website.
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
EPU:
Electric Auxiliary Power Units
Electric APUs have started gaining acceptance. These electric APUs use battery packs instead of the diesel engine on traditional APUs as a source of power. The APU's battery pack is charged when the truck is in motion. When the truck is idle, the stored energy in the battery pack is then used to power an air conditioner, heater, and other devices
You sound like a good candidate for our flatbed division over here at Prime. It's generally a day time operation and will get you all around the country from east coast to the west coast. If you enjoy a little bit of physical labor I think you'll be happy. We have regional opertunities as well. Can't speak for the other companies but I know what I got going on over here is good stuff. BTW, I went thru the training program here at Prime myself. Been at it a year and a half now, never looking back.
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
All 3 are good companies. Prime and KLLM will both try to push lease op though. Lease is a fools gambit. Just say no. Honestly you can't blame them for trying. Just say no thank you and that you want to be a company driver.
Prime and KLLM will both try to push lease op though.
Not true, at least here at Prime. I was never pushed. In fact only once during the whole recruitment / orientation process was I even asked which side I would prefer. I opted for company and it has never been brought up again. None of my classmates were pushed either.
Leasing is an option, but it isn't pushed.
I am glad to hear that Prime is no longer pushing lease op.
All 3 are good companies. Prime and KLLM will both try to push lease op though. Lease is a fools gambit. Just say no. Honestly you can't blame them for trying. Just say no thank you and that you want to be a company driver.
Not true. i was asked ONCE by Prime if i wanted lease or.company to assign my FM. If i went lease, my FM would lose a great driver cause he only runs company drivers. it is the lease ops who tend to try to influence the new drivers to go lease, not Prime itself, just to clarify.
I went thru Prime's Paid CDL Training. I just finished my 2nd year and I'm not going anywhere.
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.
Fm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.
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As the subject states.
I do NOT have my CDL and their offers are for me to attend their driving school free of charge so long as I work for them for one year, then I will owe nothing. I am a 32 year old male who lives with his parents, and I desperately need to be able to stand on my own two feet and feel like a man again. Trucking will both get me out of my parent's house, and give me sustainable income. I have no family obligations girlfriends or anything of the sort. I am young , in shape, strong, and prefer solitude. Hence trucking.
I have offers from all 3 companies, but want to choose the most reputable one so that I don't get shafted and stuck with a huge school bill because they decided to terminate me at 11 months.
You guys are the experts, please advise! And thank you!
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
EPU:
Electric Auxiliary Power Units
Electric APUs have started gaining acceptance. These electric APUs use battery packs instead of the diesel engine on traditional APUs as a source of power. The APU's battery pack is charged when the truck is in motion. When the truck is idle, the stored energy in the battery pack is then used to power an air conditioner, heater, and other devices