What Does Prime Check Before Approving You For Orientation?

John L wrote:

All of this is on your DAC report and you can request a free copy from HireRight once a year. You can also request a copy of your MVR , usually for a minimal fee (in VA it is $7 for an online report, $10 for hard copy).

I highly recommend that everyone preparing to begin training or change companies start by getting both reports.

I did and (so far) have had no surprises.

John L requesting the MVR is a really great idea. If for no other reason something erroneous is reported, you can try to have it removed or changed to accurately reflect history.

However unless the OP or anyone for that matter, has previously reported CDL/CMV driving experience, a DAC report will contain nothing more than the same MVR. As a newbie, requesting the DAC is a redundant step. For an experienced driver, it's essential when checking to see what a previous employer reported. Many times information is only reported upon voluntary or involuntary termination. So yes, for an experienced driver a great idea.

Click here: DAC report, what is it?

I decided to disclose everything that has ever occurred since the last event happened over 15 years ago. My recruiter said it should not be a problem. I hope he's is right. My orientation is scheduled 1/16/17. Since. I disclosed I should be okay I hope?

Also I was referred by a lease operator.

Also I was referred by a lease operator.

That will entitle him to a Bonus if you stick around for a certain time period. It will not increase/decrease your chances of being hired.

I start Prime CDL training on 01/09. I disclosed all 3 criminal matters on my application. The newest one being from 1999. The application you fill out electronically on Prime's website asks about convictions, pleaded guilty, pleaded no contest. It mentions nothing about arrests only. Anyway, that doesn't pertain to me because I did go to court and either pleaded guilty or was convicted on all 3 charges. One of the charges is horrible back from 1995 but I'm not going into details. My recruiter says that it didn't show up on my background check but since I disclosed it on my application, he has to talk to me about it. I explained the entire situation in detail. When I looked at the .pdf document of my online application, my explanation about this situation was over 4 pages long. My recruiter said that I definitely got a raw deal because I couldn't afford a defense attorney and my public defender was overburdened with over 100 other criminal cases. The recruiter said that none of the 3 criminal matters will be a problem. Is there any chance at all that I show up in Springfield and the safety department disagrees with my recruiter and sends me home?

Is there any chance at all that I show up in Springfield and the safety department disagrees with my recruiter and sends me home?

Quite honestly, yes, there is that chance. But don't sweat it. You can only do what you can do. You've disclosed everything, you'll jump through the hoops they require, and hopefully it will work out with Prime. If not, don't sweat it. There are a ton of great companies out there. You'll get your chance.

Almost everyone that's new to the industry believes that their choice of company is an incredibly big deal. In reality it's not a big deal at all. You can be very happy and successful at any of the major companies, which are the ones that do most of the hiring of new drivers. They all have piles of money behind them, excellent equipment, tons of freight, and all sorts of opportunities for you down the line once you've gotten a little experience.

Here's how I chose my first company. I went to school in 1993. We graduated on a Friday and had a graduation ceremony, complete with pizza and wings, on Saturday morning. About an hour into the ceremony a recruiter from Gainey, a company a few miles up the road from the school, came by and asked one of the instructors who the top three drivers were in the class. I was one of them. He gathered the three of us together and said, "You guys were the top three in the class and you all have jobs waiting for you with us. If you follow me to the terminal we'll get your drug tests and paperwork out the way this afternoon and by the end of next week you should all be on the road with a trainer. "

We all looked at each other, shrugged our shoulders, and said, "Sounds good. Lead the way." And that was that. We all did our physicals, drug screens, and paperwork that day and within a few days we were all on the road with our trainers. Simple as that.

People spend months sometimes researching companies and to be honest I feel a little bad for em because they're mostly wasting their time. You can evaluate every possible detail about every company on the planet but in the end you're going to get the miles, home time, equipment, freight, and treatment you deserve based upon your performance. If you're a great performer you'll do great anywhere you go. If you're a lousy performer you'll get terrible miles and be miserable anywhere you go.

So don't sweat it. If it works with Prime, great. If not, great anyhow. No big deal.

In reality it's not a big deal at all. You can be very happy and successful at any of the major companies, which are the ones that do most of the hiring of new drivers. They all have piles of money behind them, excellent equipment, tons of freight, and all sorts of opportunities for you down the line once you've gotten a little experience.

Hey Bob, let me give an emphatic "Amen" to this. I got sent home from three different orientations when I was getting started. I kept pursuing this until somebody said yes. I've never looked back, and have been a well respected top producer now for a good while.

Go for it, and if it doesn't work out don't sweat the details, just keep pushing forward. You'll land somewhere, and it doesn't matter if ignorance causes some folks to denigrate some of these companies with the title of "starter company," you can do well at any of them.

These companies hire or send home for a TON of reasons as is their right. People get worked up about the obvious. But I saw a woman yell at the kitchen staff for being too slow, calling them names. A couple hours later she was sent home for "not being Prime material". Another guy showed up with ripped cut off shorts and sandals. When asked if he had shoes/sneakers/boots and more appropriate attire he said no. They gave him several days to either buy some or have them sent from home. He eventually got sent home when he didn't produce any.

Another guy went on and on about how he drove 15yrs but let his CDL lapse. When we got to the SIM class he called it a video game and purposely crashed into things. He got sent home.

Old school has said before the ENTIRE orientation and even the permit period is an interview. They need to know you can take things seriously, accept responsibility, represent the company professionally. Now, if you can do this, other things may be over looked...if you can't...a squeaky clean record still wont get you the job.

So assuming acting in a professional manner etc. I am retiring from restaurant management to do this. I would assume I should be OK at orientation?

So what your saying is act professional, look the part. Be a team member!

These companies hire or send home for a TON of reasons as is their right. People get worked up about the obvious. But I saw a woman yell at the kitchen staff for being too slow, calling them names. A couple hours later she was sent home for "not being Prime material". Another guy showed up with ripped cut off shorts and sandals. When asked if he had shoes/sneakers/boots and more appropriate attire he said no. They gave him several days to either buy some or have them sent from home. He eventually got sent home when he didn't produce any.

Another guy went on and on about how he drove 15yrs but let his CDL lapse. When we got to the SIM class he called it a video game and purposely crashed into things. He got sent home.

Old school has said before the ENTIRE orientation and even the permit period is an interview. They need to know you can take things seriously, accept responsibility, represent the company professionally. Now, if you can do this, other things may be over looked...if you can't...a squeaky clean record still wont get you the job.