Newbie Vet Looking For Some Guidance.

Brian, first off, thank you for those six years you gave us in service to your country and all of us civilians . . . here's what I recommend given all of the info you have presented:

1. Go to the website for Prime, Inc and any other training company (there is a section of this website that gives you a great amount of details about several companies). Fill out the online application - get all the information you can't just "remember" and make the application as complete as possible.

2. Call the recruiter line and talk to a person live and tell them you have filled out the application. This allows them to go over all of the details and ask you to clarify some things. Don't be passive at this point. Call as many times as it takes to get someone to go over your application with you on the phone.

3. Once you have been accepted (and you WILL be accepted) be sure to bring a printout of that same application because you will be asked to fill out more paperwork at the orientation stage and you want the information to be the same in both versions.

I drive for Prime and recommend them to you for one particular reason: if you stay with them for one year then you owe nothing for the training. They DO NOT take any money out of your check fore tuition unless you quit them before the year is up and then they pro-rate what you owe back to them. They advance money to you for the first phase (PSD - Prime Student Driver) which lasts a few weeks at the rate of $200 per week - payable by deduction once you are driving. This phase is to train you enough to get your CDL-A license so you can advance to the next phase. The second phase (TNT - not sure what that stands for) is paid at $600 per week and it is your "salary" so it is not paid back at any time. There are a whole lot of Vets driving for Prime so you will be in good company.

No matter who you decide to go with, use the High Road Trucker training on this site to master the CDL rules and arrive at where ever you decide to go with your CDL-A permit in hand. You have time and it will be well worth the effort. Also, most places don't care where you live unless it's Florida (who lives there anyway??) so that isn't a problem. Good luck.

Jopa

Well just got accepted for Prime. I think I'm going to go that route after seeing so many people talking more positive about Prime than I have for CR England or for Scott. I'll be on the bus the 17th and start the 19th with class the 19th-23rd. The recruiter strongly recommended getting my permit before going out there as the class is shorter than usual due to the weekend so would only have 2 chances to test if I didn't come with it.

I'm going to pick back up on the class online here and try and knock out the permit Thursday or Friday while everything is fresh. I'll feel just like my army classes hopefully and absorb it as quick as possible.

For the permit test do you have a driving portion as well or all just written in order to get you in a vic to start practicing?

I'm really excited as the program and the operation has a better feeling than what I was getting with the other companies.

I was told the 19-23rd for the school, in truck for 3 weeks after that at 200 per week pay if I need it during that time, followed by 8-10 weeks at 700 per week guaranteed pay. Does that sound right or anything hidden in that I'm not aware of from you Prime guys? It really accomplishes trying to get out and driving and being able to support my family quicker from what I can tell and that 700 weekly pay will go a long way to get me ahead on money so that the family isn't struggling while I get my feet under me in the truck.

The permit testing is all written. You can take additional endorsements if you with, but since you are a bit under the gun focus on Rules & Regulations

Driving Safely

Transporting Cargo Safely

Air Brakes

Combination Vehicles

These will cover your General Knowledge, Air Brakes, and Combination tests. As I said, you can to double-triple, tanker, passenger, etc. if you wish but the GK, Air Brake, and Combination is the basic permit.

I was also told to get a tanker endorsment as well by my recruiter at Prime.

I was told the same thing about tanker. I'm going to try and knock out hazmat as well just incase.