What's Everyone's Thoughts On Starting With Prime?

What's everyone's thoughts on starting with prime. My few questions I have what's the truck govern too. Can I take one of kiddos or my wife during there summer breaks. What type of trucks do they use. And when I become a company driving would be a new truck I get into or a used one

What's everyone's thoughts on starting with prime. My few questions I have what's the truck govern too. Can I take one of kiddos or my wife during there summer breaks. What type of trucks do they use. And when I become a company driving would be a new truck I get into or a used one

Hi we have lots of "Primates" here. I love it..went thru the schooling and training..been there over a year now.

Yes you can take passengers, but there might be an age restriction (above 9yrs old I think but ask recruiter).

Trucks are 62 on cruise and 58 on pedal... That doesn't stop me from getting great miles.

We have mostly Cascadia, Pete's, International and KW. But predominantly Cascadia. We have APU and inverters.

Whether you get an automatic or stick, a Pete or Cascadia or new or used depends what is available at the time. They will not force you into the smaller Lightweights of you tell them you want to bring a passenger. One of my friends just guy a brand new auto, another got a used stick. Honestly, our trucks are so well kept and detailed you won't know someone lived in it prior if you do get a used one. Mine had 225k and I just reached 100k I put on it. Never broke down, totally awesome and the mechanics are great. I have never been denied repairs when I requested.

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

So how bad is the clutch on there truck easy or stiff

Every truck you drive will have a different feel on the clutch. We never use the clutch anyway, so it shouldn't be an issue.

Also most every major carrier is switching their fleet over to automatic gear boxes right now anyway. Many, if not most, drivers are in autos now.

This will be a life changing, for I have been a emt/Paramedic for 18 years now. I'm just to the point where I don't want to see that much pain any more.

I was a postal worker for 18yrs and although some here call me a vampire.,..lol....I'm a woman. If incan handle the clutch you can. I don't even notice it anymore. It's just natural. I even try to clutch my auto on my car when I go home.

Prime is going to automatics- 10+ mpg vs around 7 for manuals. If you test in an auto you get license restriction for auto only. At Prime, if it were me, I might go with trainer in auto, but manual would be my 1st choice. I would ask for time to learn manual and test in it. I do not know what Prime will say about Learning the manual as I stated.

If and When I leave Prime, I want to be able to go to companies with manuals.

I have been with Prime 3 months and drive a 10 speed manual.

My last trainer is a brilliant man. He will go to auto for next truck. He has had a lot of damage done to his manual transmissions by trainers. Of course every trainee is different in their progress. He runs 54 mph. He figures the fuel savings will be around $200/wk- that is what he'll get.

So to add to the millions of the question I have running around in my head. The application ask about past driving record, I belive like the past 5 years. So I have had two dui's like 11 to 13 years ago. Would that be a problem for me. Like I have said I am a state license emt/Paramedic after the fact and hold a class b driver license now. But the more I think know about driving the more I want to do it.

Two DUI's could present a Big problem for many Carriers. Be up front with the Recruiters. You are probably going to have to do some shopping if Prime says no. Good Luck!

This will be a life changing, for I have been a emt/Paramedic for 18 years now. I'm just to the point where I don't want to see that much pain any more.

I'm a Paramedic also, 28 years. It was time for a change. So far I'm very pleased that I did!!!