Comments By Bran009

You too man! I did my first 10 hour drive today and I'm wore the heck out. About to grab some food then to pass out. Tomorrow we are going to do some pad practice at Springfield, MO, then go deliver our load by st Louis tomorrow evening. We are gonna try and get another load to get us to the weekend after that and I should be back by middle of next week at the latest to test out if all goes well.

Welcome to the forum! Even if you aren't actually new. I'm doing truck driving to get away from the medical field, still in training but I'm enjoying it. I went with Prime and for the 3 years verified employment if you have W-2s or paystubs that helps verification. Also got time not working or working self employed they will sometimes take a personal reference to account for that time. I'd say give them a look, but I'm sure other companies do similar things.

Good luck!

I'm with a Splitter, tho I still prolly won't go home every 4 weeks or I'll only take 2 or 3 days instead the 4. Also congrats on being out there! On one hand I can't wait to finish PSD and TNT ...on other hand I know I have a lot to learn. You have a LW right? How are you liking it?

I've tried to get more info from him about his cost and everything, usually I just get that he puts 2k at least in the bank a week. I was slightly tempted at one point, but I just remembered all the advice here and the totals that you have posted Rainy.

My current plan is company and starting out in a lightweight. I can deal with the space to make that extra cash for now. Plus with company I'll get better benefits, especially after first year on medical, and I won't have added stress.

I agree that Prime fully wants folks to go company, one if the in house trainers even said so. The main reason I'm seeing a lot of the people out of training go lease is their head is filled with dollar signs put there by other lease drivers.

The Kool aid always has hidden components! He was telling me after everything he puts about 2-3k in the bank and he has been doing this 9 years. I'm thinking to myself Suuuure and if the truck breaks what then? I still plan on doing company, even if I was slightly tempted.

Thanks guys! This adventure is awesome so far, even though it's had ups and downs I'm glad to be here. I know I have lots to learn so I listen and watch. I'm not perfect by any means but I want to do the best I can.

The only "complaint" I have is my trainer is lease, he says that I am my own captain and choose my course but he feels I'd do great at lease. So he is always talking about how "great" leasing is. I just smile and nod. Lease does sound good but I'm going to take the advice of everyone here and stick with going company.

Welp the past two days have been awesome!

I'll start with yesterday (ish). We left out of Springfield late Wednesday night with the instructor driving so I wouldn't have to start late at night with no extra sleep. We drove over to a dog food plant to get an empty, which took an hour, then over to a chicken processing place. Both were smelly and gross, we had to wait forever at the chicken place to get loaded with product. We ended up getting some sleep and heading out from there. By time it got light out I was able to hop in the driver seat and drive for 6 hours. It was crazy and I was a nervous wreck! But after. Little bit I slowly got less nervous. I even got to drive through Dallas, TX, which shot my nerves to Max level. I made it though and my trainer said I did an awesome job, even doing a right hand turn out of a truck stop we took a break at. What was even more cool is a friend of mine that drives for another company was able to stop at same place to have dinner with me ( he is a smelly flatbedder 😉 ). This morning we did two unloads and I was introduced to more of the hurry up and wait if truck driving. The only issue I had driving to receiver was I pressed the brake too hard and the load shifted, causing a few boxes to be damaged and rejected.

Currently I'm sitting in the truck while the trainer is home with family since he lives here. I'm able to just relax and have free run per his words. Tomorrow he is going to drive me around town a bit in a car so I can be a tourist, then we head back north with a load Sunday.

I'm having lots of fun, learning a ton, and becoming more at ease with this plan of mine. My instructor is super patient and calm, which helps a lot.

Safe travels folks! thanks

Forgot the link for company programs

Paid CDL Training Programs

Apply For Paid CDL Training

I know here at Prime after orientation you go one on one with an instructor. You might want to look into the company sponsored training programs.

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

This is awesome advice, I got to watch the video before going out with my instructor and wondered if it really worked that way.