PAM Vs Prime?

Hey everybody.

New to the site and also trucking, though I have wanted to be a proffesional driver for quite some time. I am looking to get my CDL , I have checked a few companies out but I have only talked to a PAM recruiter (Steve with Driver Solutions).

PAM: 3 weeks CDL training at Career Tech, Lakeland, FL Home break. 5 days in Tontitown AR for orientation 10-15 days (from what Steve said) OTR with trainer 300/wk for each week of orientation and OTR with trainer Upgraded to "First Seat" driver and have to do a mandatory 6 months of team driving at .35cpm TEAM (.17cpm each)

Prime: NOTE: The prime information I have is strictly from their website.

4 Days to get CDL Permit, Start training to goal of a total 40k miles. OTR with trainer for 3-4 wks, 75 hours driving experience, 10k miles closer to 40k goal. Obtain CDL with HazMat endorsement Upgraded to "B2" driver and must drive 30k miles to hit 40k goal 40k goal achieved, ACE Orientation, pass skills test, get own truck at .38cpm (.43cpm ECO49 trucks)

Now, I am assuming you will be driving with a trainer as a team for the 30k

Any feedback for this newbie would be greatly appreciated.

You are correct in the statement that you will be driving as a team for the 30K miles.

Most trainers that I know personally at Prime are very good about teaching you what you need to know during that 30K miles. Their job is to teach you how to do your job once you go solo.

They teach you about trip planning, fueling, how to use the Qualcomm , etc. From the time you start your training until you are solo is about 3 months (give or take).

If you have any questions, let me know. I will do my best to help if I can.

Ernie

You are correct in the statement that you will be driving as a team for the 30K miles.

Most trainers that I know personally at Prime are very good about teaching you what you need to know during that 30K miles. Their job is to teach you how to do your job once you go solo.

They teach you about trip planning, fueling, how to use the Qualcomm , etc. From the time you start your training until you are solo is about 3 months (give or take).

If you have any questions, let me know. I will do my best to help if I can.

Ernie

So from start of driving to 40k is roughly 3(ish) months?

Thats not bad at all if you consider the alternative. Personally after hearing so many horror stories of drivers who were forced on team driving for their first year and having the entire experience somewhat tramatizing and "ruining" their trucking career, I would really like to try and avoid that.

I hear Prime is a great company to work for, and a great place to get a start. I think I am going to try and talk to a Prime recruiter today and see what my options are as far as training. My only thing is, no income at all right now so trying to find a way to pay for food and the license itself (I believe the permit and license is a total $150 out of pocket) So should be an interesting challenge.

Also, does anyone know if I will be able to get my CDL Permit in Florida and still be able to get my CDL License with Prime? Maybe that can give me a bit of a head start.

I'm choosing Prime because I want the longer training times. As far as the $150 goes, speak to someone at your local employment center and see if they have any sort of assistance for that. Sell something you won't need for the road or several somethings. Borrow it and repay it with the $200 weekly loans that Prime offers during PSD. Your recruiter can tell you if you should get your permit or not from Florida. I live in Oregon and was told to get mine but, your state might have a different answer. Good luck!

You are correct in the statement that you will be driving as a team for the 30K miles.

Most trainers that I know personally at Prime are very good about teaching you what you need to know during that 30K miles. Their job is to teach you how to do your job once you go solo.

They teach you about trip planning, fueling, how to use the Qualcomm , etc. From the time you start your training until you are solo is about 3 months (give or take).

If you have any questions, let me know. I will do my best to help if I can.

Ernie

So from start of driving to 40k is roughly 3(ish) months?

Thats not bad at all if you consider the alternative. Personally after hearing so many horror stories of drivers who were forced on team driving for their first year and having the entire experience somewhat tramatizing and "ruining" their trucking career, I would really like to try and avoid that.

I hear Prime is a great company to work for, and a great place to get a start. I think I am going to try and talk to a Prime recruiter today and see what my options are as far as training. My only thing is, no income at all right now so trying to find a way to pay for food and the license itself (I believe the permit and license is a total $150 out of pocket) So should be an interesting challenge.

Also, does anyone know if I will be able to get my CDL Permit in Florida and still be able to get my CDL License with Prime? Maybe that can give me a bit of a head start.

The first 10,000 really isn't 10k. It is 75 driving hours. I just finished that part. I didn't get to 10k. By the time I got back to test out I was well over 100 hours driving. We got allot of long runs in the beginning which didn't give me much backing practice. The last week we got put on a dedicated wall-mart account which got me allot of backing. Don't know why they tell you 10k miles when only 75 hours is mentioned after orientation.

The first 10,000 really isn't 10k. It is 75 driving hours. I just finished that part. I didn't get to 10k. By the time I got back to test out I was well over 100 hours driving. We got allot of long runs in the beginning which didn't give me much backing practice. The last week we got put on a dedicated wall-mart account which got me allot of backing. Don't know why they tell you 10k miles when only 75 hours is mentioned after orientation.

I believe they say around 10k miles as that is about 75-100 hours worth of driving give or take, most likely it is whatever comes first the hours or miles. A lot has to do with how your trainer feels you are doing on the skills, this would be a good guess since if you are doing poorly the train will request that you do more than the 10K to help you learn. All this is speculation of course and I could have it completely wrong, just making an educated guess as to how most places I have contacted have done things.

The first 10,000 really isn't 10k. It is 75 driving hours. I just finished that part. I didn't get to 10k. By the time I got back to test out I was well over 100 hours driving. We got allot of long runs in the beginning which didn't give me much backing practice. The last week we got put on a dedicated wall-mart account which got me allot of backing. Don't know why they tell you 10k miles when only 75 hours is mentioned after orientation.

Do you do the 75 hours of driving with your permit and then have to take a road test at the DMV , or is there some paper they give you to take to the DMV saying you did all the requirements and stuff and then they just print a new CDL out for you?

The first 10,000 really isn't 10k. It is 75 driving hours. I just finished that part. I didn't get to 10k. By the time I got back to test out I was well over 100 hours driving. We got allot of long runs in the beginning which didn't give me much backing practice. The last week we got put on a dedicated wall-mart account which got me allot of backing. Don't know why they tell you 10k miles when only 75 hours is mentioned after orientation.

Do you do the 75 hours of driving with your permit and then have to take a road test at the DMV , or is there some paper they give you to take to the DMV saying you did all the requirements and stuff and then they just print a new CDL out for you?

You have to go back to Prime and take a test with a state certified examiner. Once you pass, you get your license temporarily transferred to MO and then have to go back to your home state to transfer it back. It seems like a lot of pain, but really is very straight forward.

Any other questions, let me know. Will help if I can.

Ernie

Prime has a very good training program but it being all 1 on 1 is very dependant on the trainer. I had a fantastic trainer who went above and beyond teaching me the basics. I disagreed with his methods and had lots of arguments and doubts but I see now how much he was right. Unfortunately after I tested out he wanted his daughter on his truck for the summer which I knew was a possibility before I got on his truck and I got a different trainer for the TNt phase. Boy what a difference. I'm almost done now and may be leaving to go to Schneider because my fiance is pregnant ( found out after I left for prime) and I need to be able to get home every couple weeks for her. Make sure you speak up if your trainer isn't teaching you what he should. Mine this time is lazy and I end up calling my other one for advice because I don't trust him.

I'm not knocking prime for it just saying be careful who your trainer is and if you're not learning what you need to get off before it's too late. I didn't wanna be that guy who was complaining and whining and stuck it out I don't recommend that at all. Other than that they're great :) seems like good loads some have too much time on them but they will work and try to get you off it before you sit too long.

Unfortunately Prime will not accept me due to my previous employer (non-transport related) terminated me. I guess I will continue looking. If anything I know I can go with PAM transport since they are ready to send me to CDL school and get me rolling, however I really don't want to be forced to team for 6 months.