Classmates

I’ve had a chance to observe and get to know a number of my classmates this week. Here are a few observations.

The effect of the slowdown in the economy is apparent here. On the one hand, Prime is bringing on a lot of new drivers; 400 so far this year with plans to bring on another 400 by the end of the year. As smaller, less efficient trucking companies are closing their doors, Prime is picking up the slack.

On the other hand, many of the trainees are here because they’ve lost their job and haven’t been able to find a new one – many for a number of months. Prime’s training program is a great opportunity for folks as it includes free transportation to the training facility, free room and board during the week-long orientation, a $240 per week advance while you work towards your Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), and then a $600 per week minimum pay check while you finish up your 80,000 miles of training. From what I’ve heard, there’s not a better training program out there, especially when many private truck driving schools charge $4,000 to $6,000 to get a CDL.

I wish only the best for all of my classmates but I believe (and statistics prove it) that a lot of them will not make it through the training phase; some because they can’t pass the written learner’s permit test, others because they’re just not cut out for this lifestyle, and still others because they don’t have the right attitude to prosper under Prime’s performance/incentive-based pay system.

I’ve also had the chance to meet folks from all over the country and all types of backgrounds. In a class of 31 students, there were people from Florida to Minnesota ranging in age from 23 to 60 (I was afraid I’d be the oldest person in class; I’m only the fourth oldest!)

I’m looking forward to seeing how everybody does in the trucks. I hope it doesn’t turn into a bumper car ride!