Driving For Prime

I'm really thinking about attending Prime's cdl training program in Springfield Mo. I need thoughts and opinions before I change my life completely!!!

My advice, keep reading here, study the high road CDL course here and don't try to think too much about the what if s.

You can do it, like all us others on here and out in the world. It's a life change best done like a cannonball, not a super slow wading in.

There are several Primates here, so you'll get plenty of help. In the meantime here's some reading for you:

• Truck Driver's Career Guide
• Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
• High Road CDL Training Program
• CDL Practice Tests

That High Road Training Prograr will get you ready for the CDL written test.

Hello Exfloridagirl. It's really great to have you in here!

I love what Spaceman Spiff said...

It's a life change best done like a cannonball, not a super slow wading in.

Turn your back on your current life and start anew. This trucking lifestyle is adventurous and a little bit crazy. I love it!

It takes a great deal of Commitment. You can ignore the naysayers and make up your mind to jump in for the ride. It will be a real challenge. Anything worthwhile should be challenging. Don't even listen to the folks who try to tell you that you can't do this - you are certainly capable.

The folks who fail at trucking are usually the ones who just can't motivate themselves to be fully committed. The slightest issue causes them to go weak in the knees. And trust me, you'll run into some serious struggles - each of us had our moments of doubt, sometimes even sleepless nights of stressful worry and confusion. That's trucking. It stretches you into being a more confident person. Each day it offers new challenges and rewards you for reaching goals and expanding your horizons.

Prime is a great place to work. Their training is thorough, and their driver support is exceptional. Their pay is at the highest levels as far as new drivers jumping into the career goes. They are also a very females friendly operation.

I hope you'll hang around with us. I know we can help you along the journey, and it's always very satisfying to us to see another person jump into this and make a good showing as a new driver.

Thank you for your responses!!! Well I was excited about my decision but as people in my life are finding out they are trying to talk me out of it since I have never even drove a semi before in my life! And I have a real good career, however, I'm bored and need a change. This is very extreme but it's all I can think about!!! Although the thought of driving a semi in heavy traffic, backing in and turning scare me maybe I should rethink this? I'm so conflicted!!! Convince me please!

This is very extreme but it's all I can think about!!!

Errol provided you a link to Brett's book. It's free! You need to check it out. It's an easy read and if you're like most people, you will read right through the whole thing once you get started. It's filled with great information and motivation.

... but as people in my life are finding out they are trying to talk me out of it since I have never even drove a semi before in my life! ... the thought of driving a semi in heavy traffic, backing in and turning scare me maybe I should rethink this? I'm so conflicted!!! Convince me please!

Keep in mind, ExFlorida that you must live with your decision, not anyone else. Your people certainly are concerned for you. As you guess, the heavy traffic, backing an turning are complicated. But there are about 1.9 million CDL drivers on the road now , and thousands more starting their schooling, and they all had to start by learning how to back up a big rig. Also, Truck Driving has had an unsavory reputation until the last couple of decades. It's not a country club living, to be sure, but you may find many people love the adventure of over the road.

Here are some recent topics you might like to read:

Game: What Excites You Now That You Drive?

Game: Why Do You Love Trucking?

Welcome I’m with prime and I love it! I was a RN for years and really got burned out. Like I thought I was starting to hate people in general. I retired was bored our community needed bus drivers so I tried that. Drive for 5 years most boring job in the world. I started looking for other jobs with my class b license. They were for a straight trucks. I said no if I’m gonna drive a truck it’s gonna be a big one! One week later I was at Prime. I’ve been otr for about 7 months. I sleep in a different state most every night. I eat out , go to movies or whatever all over the U.S. It doesn’t take long to get use to the cities. I was through Atlanta couples days ago and only said one or maybe two ugly words. It was Houston today. Dallas is the one I hate I always stop and take a break before I get there. Then I’m like Dallas here I come! Backing is tough, but nobody came out the womb backing a semi! I still struggle with it but so what so does many others. The biggest part of this job is to take the stress as a challenge. I make everyday a challenge, if it’s road work, a new city, new state a tight appointment or just trying to beat my miles from the week before. No two days are never the same!

Omgosh thank you for sharing Donna!!! I can relate with so much of what you said. I just need to get the confidence in myself that I can do it. I've also read about a few horror stories regarding bad situations with trainers which is another concern of mine if we're going to be spending alot of time together... can you tell me what your experience was like. Do I get any input of who I get?

Omgosh thank you for sharing Donna!!! I can relate with so much of what you said. I just need to get the confidence in myself that I can do it. I've also read about a few horror stories regarding bad situations with trainers which is another concern of mine if we're going to be spending alot of time together... can you tell me what your experience was like. Do I get any input of who I get?

I think most companies will let you request a non-smoking trainer. Maybe even a female trainer for road training after CDL training. Trainers are carefully selected by companies, in my opinion. No company wants legal trouble because of a trainer who misbehaves with the student.

It sounds to me that you are really struggling with this idea of becoming a driver. Sitting on the fence, fretting over which side to go to, will get you nowhere. Nobody here knows you well enough to advise you what to do. You need to get sound advice from someone who knows you and your circumstances and abilities. Have you consulted with any experienced drivers? It would be to your benefit to really do your due diligence before committing to a career in trucking.