Driving For Prime
Topic 26516 | Page 3
I still say bad words going through Atlanta in a four wheeler.
I was through Atlanta couples days ago and only said one or maybe two ugly words.
Atlanta is an hour drive from Atlanta.
Thank you everyone for advice, opinions and thoughts!!! I hope to make the right decision for me and my soul is telling me to do this!!! When it's time, I hope I get a cool trainer!!! I understand what you mean Donna regarding 2 women in a truck together for that long period of time lol 🙂
Donna, you could write your stuff up as a TT Blog entry. That's something Brett can decide.
In the meantime, here is Rainy's (Kearsey's) Blog entry: Sexism In Trucking From A Woman's Perspective
Sorry to have rambled on. We women do have some “different anxieties about certain things. We’ve all heard the team shower joke. Women need to be ready for such bs!
Why are there only 13 out 100 left???
I am currently still in training with Prime. Great company to start with and from what other drivers tell me long term as well. Did my research for years only made me nervous and made me feel like I knew what I was getting into. Haha OMG. Nothing you read or do can prepare you it only gives you realistic expectations. This has been one huge learning adventure of a lifetime. If its your time do not miss your opportunity. You cant dip your toes and check the water. Like others have said don't worry about training Prime wants you to succeed and anyone can learn the basics. But be on your game and study High Road Training here. Out of 100 in my orientation class only 13 are left. Read the diary Turtle made from his beginning word-for-word truth of what it's like. Hopefully, you make the right choice for you whatever that may be.
People are stupid. They think they can trick the drugs test, hide their past drug test failures, dismiss their driving records, ignore their criminal records. some idiot immature guys pretend the SIMs are video games and get sent home.
Orientation is one of the screening methods. My class had 76 and in one week we were down to 20. They want serious candidates and the others are rejected. It would surprise you the kind of people who show up.
And the numbers continue to drop when the new drivers get out onto the road. Some can't handle the pressure, some don't adjust to the lifestyle, others have accidents, some just want to be home more than a few days each month.
Not many make it to the one year mark and beyond.
ExFloridaGirl asks a fair questions...
Why are there only 13 out 100 left???
This is about average for every company offering Paid CDL Training Programs
For instance, Swift has regional CDL Schools they call Academies. I attended one in Richmond VA. First day there were about 40 students (memory of this is fading). By the end of week 1, there were less than 20. At the end of the requisite 3 weeks, only 6 graduated. Of that 6, 5 passed the State CDL tests. The 6th student went back to Richmond for further instruction and practice (on Swift's nickle), 2 weeks later he too passed the CDL. Of the 6 that graduated? After six plus years later, only 2 of us continue to drive professionally. Me for Swift, assigned to a NorthEast Region Walmart Dedicated account and the other person (who I maintain a friendship to this day), driving flatbed delivering building materials for Toll Brothers based in Morrisville PA.
As Rainy indicated, stupidity is one of the primary dis-qualifiers during school; failed Drug & Alcohol Test, Non-Disclosure of Criminal Background, chronic disrespectful behavior, unexplained tardiness or absence, drinking after class (yes, true), and my all-time favorite...a gentleman was asked to get off his cell phone during class and he proceeded to give the instructor the middle digit. Foolish. "Perspective", greater than half the attrition occurred because of the stupidity, moronic behavior mentioned. So that thinned the class to 16 by the end of week 1. Happened really quick and decisively! Like most of the carriers offering Company Paid School...they want to quickly eliminate the wood form the chaf so instructors can focus their attention of students who are serious about learning and winning the prize at the end.
The other lingering "wash-outs" occurred because of either lack of information retention and/or comprehension (like Pre-Trip inspection , Map Skills, Hours of Service/logging knowledge). And a few because of their inability to master one or several of the driving skills required to graduate (and subsequently pass the CDL) like backing, shifting and/or road driving. And one person...very unfortunate, twice neglected to pull the parking/trailer emergency brakes during road driving practice causing the truck to drift with no one behind the wheel. Nice guy, but dangerous. He was dismissed.
So there you have it...not a pretty picture, but shows how little most people understand the requirements for graduation and passing the CDL. Many go into this with the false pretense "easy money" and that it's not difficult. Quite the opposite... It's why we constantly obsess over the following links of information...
- Truck Driver's Career Guide
- Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
- High Road CDL Training Program
- CDL Practice Tests
- Pre-Trip Inspection Study Guide
- Daniel's Pre-Trip Inspection
- Pre-Trip Inspection Checklist
- Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Questions
Like others have said...a positive attitude is key and if nothing else will get you through the rough spots and get noticed. Beyond that; it's about dedication, focus, common sense, unemotional thinking, listening skills and an ability to accept, adjust and learn from mistakes you WILL make; thus not letting the highs get you too "high", or the lows too "low"...
Good luck...!
Pre-trip Inspection:
A pre-trip inspection is a thorough inspection of the truck completed before driving for the first time each day.
Federal and state laws require that drivers inspect their vehicles. Federal and state inspectors also may inspect your vehicles. If they judge a vehicle to be unsafe, they will put it “out of service” until it is repaired.
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.
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.
TWIC:
Transportation Worker Identification Credential
Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.
Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Hey G Town... i just noticed the "ramblings" remark!!!!!
Hey G Town... i just noticed the "ramblings" remark!!!!!
Stated with great admiration and respect...from one rambler to another.
Dm:
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.New Reply:
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Prime Inc Swift Transport Attending Truck Driving School CDL Pre-Hire CDL Training Truck Driver Training
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Check out my articles. I talk a lot about the lifestyle and struggles i got through.
Blog by Rainy AKA Kearsey
Long story.. but i published books years ago in a fake name... then joined here in my dogs name... i have people calling me by 3 different names... it is crazy. i never expected to stick around here this long. So i just changed to my real name recently. but they are my articles
and I LOVE prime!