Comments By Sly48

Welcome back Sly!

I think you'll get a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to job hunting. Some companies won't care that it's been 16 months since you last drove, some will. The 8 months is enough time to prove you were capable of getting the job done, especially with the nominations and such. One big factor that companies take into consideration is whether or not your former company would be willing to hire you again. So hopefully Prime has you on their rehire list, but it's certainly not a make or break kinda thing.

Just hunt around like crazy for work and pretty much ignore the experience levels companies are requiring. Sometimes they'll say they require 2 or 3 years but often times they'll take people with less experience. A lot of times they say that to keep the call volume down. If they say they hire with little or no experience they'll get 1000 calls from people who never drove a truck or only drove a month or two before being fired.

We of course have an awesome listing of Truck Driving Jobs and you can Apply For Truck Driving Jobs With One Application also. Have a look around there and see what you can find.

Hi Brett!!! Great to hear from you!! I kind of dropped off the face of the earth when I started my TNT training with Prime in 2012. My trainer and I busted butt and were all over the US. East to West and North to South and I simply was worn out most days and didn't get on any forums. The main reason was sleep!!! Some might adapt to sleeping in a moving truck, but I never did. So most nights I drove from 9pm till my clock ran out and then was exhausted. Typically the TNT training last around 6-8 weeks, but we had our share of issues with the trainers truck breaking down a few times (once we were stuck in a hotel for a week in FL). then my trainer took off for 2 weeks just before Christmas and he lived in Montana and I live in Houston so he had to drop me off in Houston and come back to pick me up, so I had almost a month out of the truck which delayed things. I got into his truck on Oct. 3rd and didn't get back to SpringMo till January.

Anywho, I digress!! haha!!

Good to be back on here and catching up and thanks for the info!!! This is still the best Truck Forum on the web!! :)

That's cool!!! I considered flatbed for a minute...haha!! I don't know if my knees and back could handle it to be honest. That's why I'm leaning towards a Tanker gig. If I could find a company that was a 100% No Tarp I still might consider it.

I'm good, still tearing up the highways, and loving every minute of it!

That's awesome!!! Forgive me, but I don't remember what your hauling?

I remember you also, it's great to hear from you!

Old School!!!! How the heck are you? Good to hear from ya!!

I don't know about your distance from home to the terminal because I live in Houston and I always took mine home. I would guess (only a guess) that you are assigned a truck and that you would take it home.

I didn't exactly take mine to my house because I had no room, but I had a friend that had 2 acres and he left me park my truck at his place.

I remember you Sly!!!! Yep, I'm still here!

Daniel!!! How ya been? How are things? Company? Lease? Trainer?

Cool!

I've never driven an automatic, and the one chance I had to use one as a loaner I turned it down. Although a few drivers have said they like them ok, most seem to tell me that they don't like the lack of control, that it doesn't seem to shift at the right time, and is kind of awkward. But, like I said, I don't have any personal experience with them. I am sure they would be nice once one gets used to them.

My buddy Steve Marshall that was a big contributor here at one point went to Prime with me and left them and now owns his own truck ( International ProStar with an autoshift) and he loves his. I just spoke with him this morning and ask him again to make sure. But, I know there are many drivers that DON'T like them. I have noticed there are several "Tanker Companies" that run auto's and my best guess is due to the surge and slosh of the tanks the autoshift might be smoother? But I have to say, floating gears for me was smooth as well.

Guy, You are correct. I took my test and passed with flying colors solely off the training/studying here!!! I never cracked the local DMV book at all. Great Stuff!!

My opinion would be start calling some recruiters for companies you're interested in to get started. You've already been through the process so you got a good idea of what to do. It doesn't sound like you owe Prime any money for loans or anything so the issue is the 8 months? I started with my company as a qualified driver with 4 months experience! I think you'll find more options than one might expect.

Thanks!!! I think I want to go Tanker this go around for a few selfish reasons..ha!! No scaling loads, no docks to bump and they have regional work that will get me home on a regular basis and the pay is good. I've found 2 that I think will take me (will contact soon). Both state they will take me with less than the year since I graduated from an accredited school and PTDI certified. I'm actually waiting on my background check to get back to the DMV and get my Hazmat in hand before applying. I took the test and passed and have been fingerprinted....just waiting now. I did get good news and that's the turn around time would be a lot faster since I've already been there done that when I got my TWIC card.

Oh and one other reason I've picked these 2 companies.......and I bet I get slammed for saying this, but they run autoshifts. I learned on a10 speed and have no problems bangin' gears....but would like to try an automatic to see if I like it.

I went with Prime back in Sept. 2012. Prime is the only company I can speak to specifically (even though I researched them all over and over again). I will say this 1st, you need to find a company that YOU think will fit based on your needs and research.

I'll give you a brief report on what I know from Prime.

The training is very good (as long as you get a trainer that cares, I saw 1st hand that some trainers were more about the extra $$ than the training of their student). I got assigned a trainer that had 16 years under his belt with around 2 million miles and was pretty good. The only complaint I had, but never said anything was he didn't teach me much about driving, I did that my own and through my observation of him and others. He taught me more about the company stuff and do's and don'ts and made me drive 100% nights (usually from around 9pm till my clock ran out). But, I got to see some amazing sunrises!!!

Prime has their act together in terms of training, equipment and miles. The only problem I had was they pretty much kept me in the North and Northeast and I did not care for that (as most people don't care for either). I made decent $$ for a newbie and I appreciate all they did for me while I was new. If you have any specific questions, please ask. I will answer as best as I can and I'm sure we have other Prime Drivers that will help out too.