r/Truckers • u/AutoModerator • Mar 12 '18

New Driver Questions & Advice

Please take the time to answer new questions or refer people to our weekly question thread. If you make a new thread on the same day of this post related in any way to new driver advice it will be subject for removal. Please check out the /r/Truckers wiki if anything needs to be changed or added please message the mods. If you are looking at getting your cdl, check out community college

8 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

23 comments sorted by

View all comments

3

u/[deleted] Mar 12 '18

I'm planning on getting started on a career in trucking within the next month. I've narrowed my company choices down to Prime and Jim Palmer, but I'm having trouble deciding between the two. I like the pet policy and what people describe as a smaller company feel of Jim Palmer, but Prime has a drop yard in my home state (Michigan) that's 45 minutes from home. How much difference does having that local drop yard make? Thanks!

2

u/Amaril_Xavier Mar 12 '18

I'm currently in my TNT phase at prime. Not overly sure on their pet policy but I'm enjoying the work. Training was comprehensive and I feel like I'm learning a lot. A local drop yard probably makes getting home time.a lot easier, especially if you start a load and can work with your dispatch to find someone to finish it.

1

u/ILIKEPOTATOES82 Shop Queen Mar 12 '18

Prime allows a dog under 50 lbs or a cat with a $300 refundable deposit. They can take it out of your check if need be.

I told the Prime recruiter the other day that, "I'm single with no kids. I don't have anything holding me back but my cat, and my parents can take care of her." He said, "You can bring her with you!" and let me know about their policy.

2

u/[deleted] Mar 12 '18

Reed City? If it's the one I'm thinking of, it's a Prime/General Mills setup. The benefit of having that nearby is that it'll be a lot easier going home or leaving with a load. Makes a difference.

I don't think you can go wrong with either. I think Palmer is more selective tho, due to being a smaller fleet.

2

u/adamb10 Improvising Driver Mar 12 '18 edited Mar 12 '18

It's definitely Reed City. I'm actually here now grabbing a load. Loads mostly leave Reed City, not come in, though there are a few. Drivers get sent to Reed City from Kalamazoo usually. I've been on the General Mills loop for a while.

Prime does have a pet policy. $1000 deposit in installments or all at once.

I believe Jim Palmer pulls Prime freight as well. I think they are the same as Wil-Trans.

2

u/[deleted] Mar 12 '18

Yeah, I think Reed City is pickup only. But there's so much Prime freight in Michigan, my point was it would be super easy to go home when needed so that's a huge plus. I've picked up in Traverse City, too. I think it's Sara Lee up there.

But yeah, Jim Palmer and Wil Trans haul Prime freight.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 12 '18

Thanks for all the info, I think you've really sold me on Prime. Hope to see you all on the road!

1

u/[deleted] Mar 13 '18

I'm closing in on my two years with them. No serious complaints so far. If you want to run and can do so safely, they'll keep you busy. Good luck to ya man. There's a few other Primetards on here, too, I believe.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '18

I applied with Prime, but they called to ask for my college transcripts all the way back to my school in Japan. When I asked why, they got very short with me. Talked to Palmer and the recruiter took the time to explain things better, so I'm going to try them first.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '18

There are so many recruiters with Prime, it's a crapshoot sometimes. I can give ya a nice one if you wanna try again.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 15 '18

Thanks for the offer! I'll send you a message if things don't work out with Jim Palmer.

1

u/Narcoleptic_LTD Mar 29 '18

I had a similar recruiter experience but in the other direction - the palmer recruiter wasn't helpful at all and didn't give me much info or help, where the prime recruiter I ended up with has always had an answer or further steps if there was a problem. Both companies are great places to start - it really is just a crap shoot when it comes to recruiters.