I went through Prime's training. After you get the CDL which took 3 weeks for me... I got hired and then tested. The test was about $600 that prime took from my pay omin $50 payments. I did not have apnea. If I did I would then have to buy a machine for $500 for $25 per week. On the trainers truck you would have to use the machine. It has a modem and transmits your readings.
That is it. No going home.
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
Thanks Rainy. I was looking into Prime but more closely to Jim Palmer. If I understand it correctly, aren't they pretty much the same company? Same policies, same trucks, use each other terminals, etc? So, would that be the case for Jim Palmer? If anyone has some insight to JP if it's any different. Thanks.
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
They are not the same company but do have a close affiliation. I can't speak to them as my only experience is with prime. Sorry... but someone here will know.
Anyone out there from Jim Palmer/Wil-Trans with experience with this. Thanks.
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.
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I'm considering a company sponsored training to get into truck driving. I'm overweight and will probably be sent for a sleep study. I'm not sure if I do but if it comes back that I have sleep apnea do I then wash out of their program? I have read that it's not that big of a deal and they just issue a CPAP machine and you need to use it every night. I'm just not sure if this information is accurate. Any experiences and what freight lines you're with would be helpful. Thanks.
Sleep Apnea:
A physical disorder in which you have pauses in your breathing, or take shallow breaths, during sleep. These pauses can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Normal breathing will usually resume, sometimes with a loud choking sound or snort.
In obstructive sleep apnea, your airways become blocked or collapse during sleep, causing the pauses and shallow breathing.
It is a chronic condition that will require ongoing management. It affects about 18 million people in the U.S.
CPAP:
Constant Positive Airway Pressure
CPAP is a breathing assist device which is worn over the mouth or nose. It provides nighttime relief for individuals who suffer from Sleep Apnea.
Company Sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.