Jim Palmer Trucking Based In Montana

I am looking into Jim Palmer Trucking and doing their CDL apprentice program which looks very much like what Prime Inc does. I'm looking into them over Prime because it looks like they do more west coast and I live in the Seattle area. Talked to one of the recruiters today and she told me they do a lot of driving and routes through WA and drop off here as well. Want to know if there is anyone out there that has either worked for Jim Palmer or knows anything about them to give me an idea of if they are telling me the truth about regular routes into and through WA and Seattle or if they are just saying what they need to get me in the door?

Jared; can I call you Jared? JPT is a subsidiary of Wil-Trans. They haul freight for Prime, that's why you see pictures of Prime trailer behind JPT tractors. As of the beginning of March, Allie Knight was driving for JPT. For about a week she had a recruiter from Wil-trans along with her. You can visit Valerie's (the recruiter) blog of the experience here.

Regarding the recruiter blowing smoke, who knows? Sure JPT is based in Missoula Montana, but Wil-Trans is based in Missouri. That said, everyone here will tell you that you don't need to live near your companies yards or headquarters, as long as they handle freight near to where you live to other regions, then you should be fine. The only stipulation being that if you don't have a place to park a truck at your home, you need someplace nearby to park it securely - either a locked lot or company premises.

Will you get home when you want? Probably. Okay, enough of this neophyte's answers, as I seem to kill every thread I reply to.

Good luck.

OWI:

Operating While Intoxicated

Wil-Trans:

Darrel Wilson bought his first tractor in 1980 at age 20, but, being too young to meet OTR age requirements, he leased the truck out and hired a driver.

Through growth and acquisition, Wil-Trans now employs over 200 drivers, and has a long-standing partnership with Prime, Inc. to haul their refrigerated freight. The family of businesses also includes Jim Palmer Trucking and O & S Trucking.

Argh, Valerie travelled with Allie Knight at the beginning of February, not March.

Jared, You and I are on an identical target course and I've been really studying these companies in our area in Idaho and this is my take for you. I don't have first hand inside yet anywhere other than speaking to their recruiter supervisor, Haley, who has been very friendly and professional. I can tell you that my general feel for this company is that they are the real deal and they don't have to take shades of the truth to bring anybody in. In fact, in my finite observation, I'm sure Jim Palmer has to be very well known at their level of operation in the industry and has humbly operated day by day and year after year, quietly doing very good business practice. We need companies like them. On their new corporate formation with O&S and Wil-Trans; DOT 1009435 and look into them here; FMCSA Ratings and I believe that tells some of the story about them and the company they keep. You're already are aware of their starting wage and their equipment being all 2015-16 Peterbilt 579's and Freightliner Cascadia's loaded up, that almost makes me salivate, look a little closer at things like their community involvement, their emphasis on a family atmosphere philosophy on how they desire to know the people they work with, this is not a common thing. Now I don't know about Wil-Trans reputation who probably had the larger interest in this venture, but I'm looking everywhere and seeing nice equipment there, not to mention at O&S. They do appear to have something going with Prime and it may be that they are their key overflow support. Jared, this consolidation effort looks to me like a unified effort that people dream about being involved in. I encourage you and I know this sounds funny, trust that recruiter and move forward and I hope you get an invite. Due to my background issues with old DUI's I may have to wait a while, but someday I hope to be in the caliber of this company, even if I have to school local first. Seattle also is a natural for this company to get you home and on-time, just a 475 mile straight shot from Missoula in the busiest cargo area of the Northwest at I-5 and I-90, it's almost like just down the street and you should have frequent loads in that direction. My very best to you Jared!

CSA:

Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)

The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle

FMCSA:

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

The FMCSA was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000. Their primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.

What Does The FMCSA Do?

• Commercial Drivers' Licenses
• Data and Analysis
• Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement
• Research and Technology
• Safety Assistance
• Support and Information Sharing

DOT:

Department Of Transportation

A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.

State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.

Fm:

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.

DUI:

Driving Under the Influence

Wil-Trans:

Darrel Wilson bought his first tractor in 1980 at age 20, but, being too young to meet OTR age requirements, he leased the truck out and hired a driver.

Through growth and acquisition, Wil-Trans now employs over 200 drivers, and has a long-standing partnership with Prime, Inc. to haul their refrigerated freight. The family of businesses also includes Jim Palmer Trucking and O & S Trucking.

EPU:

Electric Auxiliary Power Units

Electric APUs have started gaining acceptance. These electric APUs use battery packs instead of the diesel engine on traditional APUs as a source of power. The APU's battery pack is charged when the truck is in motion. When the truck is idle, the stored energy in the battery pack is then used to power an air conditioner, heater, and other devices

Gerard A,

I agree with you that this company does really look like an amazing company and yes I was drooling over the brand new equipment. Personally I'm hoping to get the Peterbilt 579 since from what I can see it looks like the sleeper cabin on it is a bit larger and the mattress looks bigger. Anyone out there that knows if this is true or not please let me know? I'm a big and tall guy at 6'4 so larger sleeper cabin is very important to me, as is also a thicker more sturdy mattress that would better hold mh weight since a good night's sleep makes me a safe driver.

I remember will trans being a part of Jim Palmer but I don't remember hearing that O &S was also a part of them as well?

So if I do my testing for my CDL Class A in Montana and I'm a Washington State resident does that mean I go back to Washington and get my license or do I have to transfer it to Montana? How exactly do they get your license through your own state of residency when you are testing out of your state?

So if I do my testing for my CDL Class A in Montana and I'm a Washington State resident does that mean I go back to Washington and get my license or do I have to transfer it to Montana? How exactly do they get your license through your own state of residency when you are testing out of your state?

Jared,

Not sure about the transfer requirements for WA (born/raised in SW WA) since I have been gone for so long now. But if it's anything like VA (where I live now), it's simply you go to DMV , pay the required fee (from MO to VA it was $64) and your CDL class A is transferred. The only state that I'm aware of that requires you to take the driving test over again is IL. But your best bet is to contact DMV and ask them directly.

Since I initially tested in MO with Prime, Prime has made arrangements with the MO DMV to do a temporary transfer of your state of residence to MO for testing/issuance of your CDL, then you go back to your home state and transfer it there.

Ernie

So if I do my testing for my CDL Class A in Montana and I'm a Washington State resident does that mean I go back to Washington and get my license or do I have to transfer it to Montana? How exactly do they get your license through your own state of residency when you are testing out of your state?

Jared,

Not sure about the transfer requirements for WA (born/raised in SW WA) since I have been gone for so long now. But if it's anything like VA (where I live now), it's simply you go to DMV , pay the required fee (from MO to VA it was $64) and your CDL class A is transferred. The only state that I'm aware of that requires you to take the driving test over again is IL. But your best bet is to contact DMV and ask them directly.

Since I initially tested in MO with Prime, Prime has made arrangements with the MO DMV to do a temporary transfer of your state of residence to MO for testing/issuance of your CDL, then you go back to your home state and transfer it there.

Ernie

So I can take the permit from OK take it to MO and just pay the transfer fee then should be good to go?

So I can take the permit from OK take it to MO and just pay the transfer fee then should be good to go?

That is true. But since Prime (or the state of MO) has changed the rules some since I started with them 4.5 yrs ago. Then you could just keep your permit from another state, as I understand it now you have to get a MO permit. So why would you want to pay for your permit twice? You should contact your recruiter to find out if that is true, you have to have a MO permit.

Since I am not in the training program at Prime (just returned to Prime last month myself), you really need to make sure that the information I am giving you is correct. The best source you have for that is to contact your recruiter.

Ernie