Profile For Jacob

Sounds great, but the closest airport to where I would be in Florida is Panama City Beach, and I don't really have a ride there. I did work it out to where I can visit my dad in Gadsden, Alabama for a few days before I head out, which will cut my trip via the "Dirty Dog" to just over 20 hours. Appreciate the information, though.

No feathers ruffled on my end. I considered many companies before making my final decision to go with Prime Inc. and am certain I made the right decision for me. What is a fit for me might not be a fit for someone else, and I accept this.

To update everyone, I just closed out my trade here at Job Corps (Transportation) and am all set for orientation. I did, however, have to change my start date to the 6th of August so I can spend a little time with my family in Florida before catching that 37 hour Greyhound to Springfield, MO. I am beside myself with excitement about starting this new chapter in my life and am, as always, indebted to all of you for helping me thus far.

Oh, I'm definitely taking full advantage of the information, and I'm glad to have it. Working my way through the HRTP as we speak and am also reading everything I can on this wonderful website. The manual transmission isn't a big deal, I just didn't want the restriction on my license. It does make sense to take a trainer when I can get one, so I probably won't mention it unless they ask. I'm also leaning towards flatbed because of the physical activity associated with it. Wouldn't want to get fatter than I am now.

This is a lot of information to take in, but I definitely appreciate the well wishes AND that there are some "Primates" here whose brains I can pick as my orientation date draws near.

I do have one question, though it's not terribly important. I have a preference for manual transmissions, mostly because I don't want to be restricted to just automatics. Now I know most companies are leaning towards automatics in this day and age, but would it be too much to ask for a trainer with a manual? I don't want to seem elitist or anything.

Much appreciated, Chris. I will keep this journal as up to date as possible.

Where to begin? I had a few choices when it came to a company sponsored CDL training program, but what sealed the deal for me was reading these same forums along with many others across the internet. It struck me as odd that there were so many good and wholesome reviews for Prime when absolutely every other mega had almost exclusively bad or at best mediocre reviews. That is not to say the bad reviews for Prime don't exist, because they do, but I had to actively search them out. Another oddity that drew my attention to Prime was that they call their program an "Apprenticeship" and, after you receive your Permit, you are immediately sent out with a trainer where you drive with live loads and gather highly sought after hands on experience. After speaking with my recruiter, a few close family, as well as my counselor here at Job Corps, I decided on the 23rd of July for my orientation, which is 13 days away as I write this journal entry. I am steadily working my way through the tools on this sight to prepare myself for the Permit test and eventual Road test. I am beyond excited for this opportunity to begin a career that I am a tailored fit for, being 26 years old with no wife and not a kid in sight. Any words of wisdom are much appreciated, for if I have learned one thing in this life, it's that I don't know everything.

I'm working on that, though.