Question:
Haven't seen referance to either company much in the past few months of posts. I am looking for the current feelings, as I plan to start with one of those companies in January.
I'm a RN who is no longer feeling like a Nurse. Have wanted to drive the big trucks since high school. I'm now mid 40's and am going to take the chance. Both of my younger brothers drive and I accompanied one of them for a week just out of nursing school. I realize that week is not a complete example of how things are on the road (it was 12 years ago) now, but I still want to try it.
I traveled during most of my nursing career, working for an agency that placed me for 3 months at a time. The thing I liked best was the drive to and from and the least packing and unpacking. Hopefully there will be little packing and a lot of driving.
If you haven't already determined, I'm a untrained driver want-a-be. I have passed the written CDL test, Hazmat, Combination, and air brakes in Kansas. I have a daughter who lives with her Mother in South Florida and hope that the company I work with get's into Florida. I'd like to see her more than I am currently able.
Thanks in advance for any replies, advise or comments. If you have comments not suitable to the board you may email me at lappir1@yahoo.com

Answer:
(5pgs)Past Posts about Prime(click here)
(5pgs)Past Posts about Stevens(click here)
Since you live in Kansas, there are BETTER carriers you could choose from.
If those are your ONLY carriers you are interested in...I suppose that Stevens, would be the Lesser of two evils.
***Whatever you do...!!!Stay AWAY From Prime!!!***
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You may want to look at....
www.schneider.com www.pumpkindriver.com
Arrow Trucking
Continental Express
CFI(After you get some Experience)Excellent carrier.
CRST(if you don't mind running TEAMS w/Low Pay.)Still Better than the other 2 carriers you chose.
deBoer
FFE
MCT
Roehl-Excellent carrier.
Click on any of the carriers I listed & the link will give a little more info.
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Use TruckNet's "Search" feature(click here) to get info on almost ANY topic.

Answer:
Where are My Manners?
Welcome to TruckNet!
Feel free to Ask whatever Questions you may have.

Answer:
Email me. chetjester@yahoo.com.
Stevens requires a 2 year committment if they train you for your CDL.

Answer:
Check out TransAm in Kansas City. Prime: NO! Stevens: maybe.
"Creatin' Chaos- Coast to Coast!", but doin' it safely!
ASE Certified Diesel Technician who found a love for the road!Not liable for any information posted.

Answer:
Thanks for all the information. I may live in Kansas for now but want to spend my days off in Florida. Don't want to live there either. Will pick a place that seems to be on my way here or there after driving for a year or two.
I did check out Schneider but they are currently not hiring in Hays, Kansas. They said I would have to move, get a new permament address and then apply again.
Why does every one say no to Prime? Is it the lease issue? Do they force you into the lease? The training seems good to me. They say you have 4 days in Springfield to get your permit, physical and backround check then you go out with a trainer for up to 21 days to do the driving test and get your CDL. The on the job training starts then and even thought the pay isn't very good, if you stay for one year the training was free.
Stevens has a similar story but it isn't in writing like what I have from Prime. I am going to call them back and ask for more information in print.
Thanks again for the replies.

Answer:
Prime are perhaps the most dishonest carrier in an industry filled with dishonest carriers. They make a profit from putting brand new truckers into bankruptcy. Even if you aren't interested in lease-purchase, it's best to stay away from Prime on general principles, just because they are snakes.
The consensus on the Truck.net boards seems to be that you should stay far away from the following carriers:
Prime
Stevens
Covenant
C.R. England
Central Refrigerated (formerly Dick Simon)
You're only about 100 miles from I-80 in Nebraska. You might consider giving Crete Carriers a call.

Answer:
I'm starting to feel like a commercial. Call MCT, they have owners all over the country and they can set you up with one. the training is good, 50,000 miles with a trainer after you get through the little refresher course. I used to train for them. they are a great place to start and they stress safety. by the way, they have a terminal in sanford, fl. the phone # is 800-843-9904. good luck

Answer:
Please
Remember
I
Mortgaged
Everything
I
Need
Counseling!
May be funny, but sadly, it's true!
"If we keep electing the same lousy candidates into office, we'll always have a lousy government!
ASE Certified Master Diesel Technician who found a love for the road!
No liability for information posted, which are my opinions based on personal expreiences.Not liable for any information posted.

Answer:
Why does every one say no to Prime?
If you would take the time to "click" on the link I provided & READ All of the posts about Prime,(FIVE pages) then you would KNOW the Answer to That question.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
If those posts are NOT enough to Satisfy you, "click" on the link Below & do a search on Prime.
www.ooida.com
Here ya go....I helped you out a bit.
http://www.ooida.com/evf.html?keys=Prime&Submit=Search

Answer:
I know how you feel about wanting to change carrers! I drove a truck for 5 yrs and left the trucking industry to be a paramedic! I am now going back to trucking. The money in EMS is not that great and the stress levels are out of this world. I think that you will like trucking! It has it's good points and bad points just like any other job. Good luck to you!

Answer:
Prime or Stevens... that's a tough decision. Humm...
Neither!
Oink! Oink! Oink! Grunt! Grunt!
Answer:
1). Stevens
2). Prime
3). 3rd. shift at Wendy's drive thru for minumum wage
I would choose number three---get my point?
_________________________
Cover Your Cans People!!!It's apparent this place is never going to change....then again; why should it? It gets the clientel it deserves.
Bette Midler

Answer:
choose a carrier based on their ability to get you to Florida. This is no mans land for trucking. Most places will run you to Orlando,Tampa,Jacksonville, but rarely deep into South Florida.
There are very few places down here in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area to park a truck.
That being said find a company that pays well, had steady freight, good benefits and reliable equipment. I have been to Connecticut twice since I started driving, and have seen my family for two hours. The last trip I took a weekend off to visit with my family, but the snow came.........
My brother lives in Rhode Island, and I would have loved to see him, but there is no place to park the truck anywhere near where he lives.

Answer:
Lapir, I listened to Prime recruiters and went to their orientation last year. Let me tell you about my experience and why I did not sign on with them. First of all, their physical examination was not much more than, "can you breathe"? Very low standards where that was concerned. Secondly, the orientation was at their main terminal in Springfield, Mo., and during our breaks from the classroom we would talk to Prime drivers that were hanging out at the terminal to get real world observations about Prime. Every time the classroom instruction would resume the instructor would tell us not to listen to those truck driving lawyers outside the room. That immediately sent up a red flag and after going over the lease numbers I ran, not walked, away from Prime. I would strongly recomend that you check out Transport America. They are based in Minnesota and run exclusively from your area to the east coast. Another suggestion, at most major truck stops there are Readers Digest sized magazines full of recruitng ads from major regional and nationwide trucking companies. You can make a list of companies that hire drivers with your level of experience and call them yourself. Best of luck as a driver and stay away from Prime.