Ignorant Question

Hello.

First, thank you to everyone who posts here. I was laid off of my job due to outsourcing my job to India and am seriously considering becoming a trucker. The info here, particularly on schools and the reality of being a trucker, have been invaluable.

I'm an introvert and have no family. Being out on the road would not be a problem as far as home time and/or loneliness, especially with a company that lets me take my cat. I have two questions.

The really ignorant question: One of the companies mentioned here (Prime) says it is hiring in the lower 48. Their closest terminal to me is in Salt Lake City. I live in Los Angeles. I know I'd have to go to one of their schools for training. Once I'm trained, however, do I have to move near one of their terminals or could I work for them living in California? (I told you it was an ignorant question.)

Also, the two companies I'm strongly considering are Prime and Werner. Prime, because of the excellent write up they received here re: their training program. Also, several people have spoken positively of them in the forum.

Werner, because they have a terminal near me in Fontana. I don't see much info re: Werner on this site, however. Is there a reason for that? I don't expect anyone to bash them. I'm just wanting to get more practical information on Werner so I can pick the right company. If I do go into trucking, I want to start off on the right foot and build a solid foundation.

Thank you! Colin

Its not a dumb question at all. You do not have to live near a companys terminal but you do have to live within their hiring area.

Werner vs. Prime.. They are both excellent companies as is swift, knight, etc that have their own schools.

Find one that accepts pet cats, since thats obviously important to you.

I live in Los Angeles. I know I'd have to go to one of their schools for training. Once I'm trained, however, do I have to move near one of their terminals or could I work for them living in California?

Welcome aboard Colin!

If you live in their "hiring area" is the only thing important about your home address. You do not have to live anywhere near a terminal. My trucking jobs have usually had me something like a thousand miles away from my home terminal.

One of our Moderators, Daniel B, lived in Sacramento, California while working for Prime.

The way they get you by your house for some home time is give you a load of freight that delivers in California, and then you can go home for a few days after your delivery. It's that simple. What is important to them concerning your domicile is that they have customers near you, and most companies running refrigerated line Prime have all sorts of customers in California.

There you go... it wasn't a ridiculous question after all. If you don't know the answer, then the question is warranted in every way.

Rainy D drives for Prime and has a crazy cat on board her truck.

Colin, I forgot to say anything about Werner. It's also a great place to get started. We've had several drivers in here who worked for them. Guyjax isn't in here a whole lot any more but he he's always been one of our top professionals with great advice. He spent a good bit of time there. Check out this conversation where Guyjax talks about Werner.

Also if you'll use the search bar at the top of this page it will only search this site. There should be a lot of conversations and information available there on Werner.

Welcome Colin. My experience in the corporate world with outsourcing, right sizing, downsizing and what ever "sizing" word they use to loosely disguise a termination,...is exactly what motivated me to become a trucker.

We are here to help and offer our collective experience for the benefit of you and others in a similar situation.

I like Allie knight''s YouTube channel. She works for prime and has an adorable cat.

https://youtu.be/3xI5gNXrB3s

I drive for Werner and if there are any specific questions you have about them I'd be happy to answer. I can tell you they do allow pets.

One difference between them and prime is that with Werner you have to go to a private trucking school to get your cdl. Then you go through company training.

Hello MiracleofMagicK.

Thank you for offering to answer some questions. I can't find a way to e-mail you directly so I will post something here. I want to make it clear I'm not trying to bash any company. Just briefly relating an experience I had and asking two questions.

Several months ago, I started trucking school with Roadmaster. The school was at the Werner terminal in Fontana and I was told I'd be an excellent candidate.

I have Type II diabetes. I spoke to the recruiter about it and he assured me that it wouldn't be a problem. What he didn't say, and I didn't know enough to ask, was that my blood sugar levels needed to be under 200. I never would have started training if I'd known that because, at the time, my blood sugar levels were way above 200. I failed the medical and was sent home. I was frustrated but I wasn't angry and chalked it up to a lesson learned.

I soon received a bill from Roadmaster and was even sent to collections. Since I failed the medical, I wasn't liable for the pro-rated training money. It took several weeks to straighten out.

My concern with Werner is how they handle paperwork. Are mistakes common? Also, if I choose Werner, I'd have to go back to that same Roadmaster school. Given my previous experience, I'm hesitant.

Second, how are they about getting you home? I don't have any family but I do have a God daughter. I'd want to be home for big events like her upcoming 8th grade graduation. I'd give them several months warning, of course. I know nothing is 100%, but how is their track record in that regard?

Sorry to be so long winded. Thank you for your time.

Colin K.

Colin, mistakes with paperwork at big corporations happen. That's just part of working at a big company.

Most companies are good about getting you home if you follow the proper procedures. Every company has their own procedures but normally you just have to send in the request over the Qualcomm like two weeks before you want to be home. If you have a specific date you want to be home for then make sure you put in for home time a day or two ahead of that just in case you hit a snag.