Recently, we faced a temporary challenge related to equipment availability and staffing in our refrigerated company divisions. As a result, we needed to adjust our approach temporarily. During this short period, we shared with our fleet that we would not be adding any solo company trucks and we still had opportunities for company teams or the option to operate as a team or solo independent contractor. This issue has since been resolved and we have immediate solo and team opportunities as a company driver or independent contractor.

We want to clarify that this was a short-term adjustment to ensure the smooth operation of our fleet and to meet our commitments to customers. It does not signify a permanent shift away from hiring company drivers or solo drivers.

Please contact communications@primeinc.com with any questions or concerns. If you’re interested in driving for Prime, you can apply online at www.primeinc.com/?r=blog or give our recruiters a call at 866-290-1568.

Q: Did you come through our training program here at Prime Inc and how was your experience?

A: I came through as a PSD five years ago. I had a great training experience. I took the information that I received from my trainer and made it my own.

Q: What made you decide to become a trainer?

A: Well, I was happy with the money that I was making, but after speaking with my fleet manager and looking into the numbers, I couldn’t believe I could earn that. So, I decided to give it a try to see whether I liked it.

Q: Were you able to see the numbers he was talking about?

A: I did, yes.

Q: How long have you been training?

A: About 2 years. I really feel like I’m preparing people for life on the road.

Q: In your opinion, what makes a good and coachable student?

A: One who pays attention and who asks questions. The student and the trainer must be respectful.

Q: What do you think are the key components to becoming an effective trainer?

A: You must be understanding that everybody doesn’t learn the same way. You also need to be organized and willing to help people to be effective. That’s the main thing. I feel good when I can teach my students something, and they can go out in the world with that.

Q: What type of questions do you ask your students to get to know them, and their motivation for being here at Prime Inc?

A: One of the first questions I ask is “why did you come here?” Especially with social media, they can get all kinds of perspectives in their head. Some have all these expectations. I try to figure out where they came from and what are their goals in the trucking industry.

Q: What are some of the strategies that you put in place to help your students succeed?

A: I like to give them a routine and a schedule. I also try to be attentive and give them a flow, so they understand what a productive day looks like. My students learn what they need to do before can roll so, that when we are rolling, they can be attentive. And when we are stopped to make the most of their time.

Q: Do you think it’s important for a trainer to get to know their individual students? If so, why is that important?

A: Yes because everybody doesn’t learn the same. Certain things may affect them in a certain way, compared to another individual. I ask questions like, “how do you respond to certain situations?” That helps me out as a trainer getting that feedback.

Q: How do you handle conflict resolution to keep your students focused and engaged?

A: Since the beginning, I made it a point to avoid having conflict. I remember being a student. So, in the beginning I am already aware of the process. I let them know that I’m the trainer and here to help them. I explain that whatever I ask them to do, it’s for their benefit as a student and as a future driver. My role is to guide them through their success as they put in the work.

Q: Are you approachable and transparent with your students?

A: Yes, I am approachable. I let them know that they can come to me at any time. I try to make it clear that I am here to answer any concerns they may have.

Q: Would you say that coaching skills are necessary when working with your students?

A: You do have to sometimes assist people with things outside of trucking. I feel like for me it’s being motherly. If the student is a male, it’s more like coaching. I use my motherly instincts with the way I train.

Final thoughts:

This work can be very rewarding in different aspects. It’s rewarding to see your students go on with their trucking careers and be successful at it. The financial aspects can also be rewarding. That said, I love training.

Q: What did you do before coming into the trucking industry?

A: A little bit of everything. I drove a bus for special needs kids. I delivered pvc pipes for Seven Eleven. I did in home healthcare, and I worked at Toys R Us.

Q: Were you intimidated coming into a male dominant industry?

A: I was scared at first, because I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. I met so many good people and I had awesome trainers. My TNT trainer, Mike Settle, was with Prime for 30 years. Mike basically taught me everything that I needed to know about trucking.

Q: What does being a Highway Diamond mean to you?

A: It means everything to me. I wish I could win the Highway Diamond of The Year award. I like seeing the women that Prime has chosen for Highway Diamond. Look at Emily Plummer and Dee Sova! I feel like they have earned it.

Q: What advice would you give to a woman wanting to come into the trucking industry?

A: The training program at Prime is great if the student is serious. Trucking isn’t for everybody. It takes a special type of person to do the job and to be willing to lay aside everything and for an over the road career, in my opinion. If that’s not what you’re willing to do, this might not be for you.

Q: What have you been able to accomplish that you wouldn’t have before becoming a driver at this company?

A: I’m 52 years old. I feel like I’ve come a long way. I’m not just working from paycheck to paycheck. I can buy anything I want! Prime has made me a stronger, better woman. I’m glad to have this opportunity to be a part of Prime. They have certain award they give out and I have earned a lot of them!  I have earned my safety jackets, my on-time, my PTC jacket, and now I’m working on my million miles. Next year will be my seventh year with Prime Inc. Six years accident free with no critical events and no tickets!

Q: Are there any places that you’ve travelled since you’ve been with Prime that stick out to you?

A: My first load took me across the Golden Gate Bridge!

Q: What is something that you must have on the truck with you?

A: A Bible and prayer

Q: Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?

A: Probably retired. But I really hope I’m healthy and still able to do the job.

Q: What or who has helped you to experience success here at Prime?

A: One person is Dee Sova. I really look up to her. There are so many others I could mention. I think there are so many great people that work for Prime.

Q: Who is your fleet manager? How important is that relationship?

A: My fleet manager is Maurice Anna. You have to a good relationship with your fleet manager. If not, you can’t work together as a team. Make sure to communicate with them and be on the same page. So that, they can keep you moving and making good money.

Q: How long have you been driving with Prime?

A: I started driving at night for Prime back in 1997 and I drove team with my husband, Michael.  Then, I drove solo for 2 years. After that, I wanted to get off the road for a couple of months just to take a vacation. Long story short, I found out that my mother had cancer and I had to stay home to take care of her. My husband got a local job because he didn’t want to be out on the road without me. I ended up going back to college and getting a lab degree and worked as a Lab Tech. After a few years, we came back to Prime.

Q: How did you get into trucking?

A: I had a friend that drove for a small mom and pop trucking company in Dallas, Texas. I was looking at his check stubs and saw how much he made. I thought, “I want to do this!”  But back in those days there weren’t a lot of female truck drivers. I asked my friend if I could drive a truck. He challenged me and told me I couldn’t do it. I am not one to back down from a challenge. Three or four months after, I was driving a big truck.

Q: What has it been like to team with your husband?

A: It can be a little challenging at times. You can’t go off into the other room when you’re mad. You must learn deal with one another’s idiosyncrasies. But I must say, I wouldn’t trust anyone else’s driving while I’m asleep in the bunk.

Q: How instrumental has your fleet manager been in this whole process of teaming?

A: Chance has been awesome since day one in 1997. When we came back in 2018, the first thing we did was see if we could get back on his board. He has been awesome through everything! If anything family related came up, Chance immediately asked if we needed a plane ticket to get home. His attitude has always been “what can I do for you?” When I found out that I had breast cancer and needed surgery, he asked “what can I do?”.

Q: October is breast cancer awareness month. Can you tell us how you found out you had breast cancer?

A: In 2020 I had a new doctor that was assigned by the hospital. When I went for the meet and greet, he was going through my charts and said “wait a minute. I don’t see where you’ve had a mammogram in two years.” He had me go downstairs and get it done. A few weeks later, I received a call from the doctor’s nurse telling me to come back because they found a lump and I was going to need surgery. I remember telling her “I don’t have time for this mess!” Her response was “yes you do.” I called my fleet manager Chance and told him what was going on and he routed us back to the house. I had the procedure and had to take a month off work. The healing from that surgery wasn’t bad at all. At the time they caught it, I was stage one. I was told that if I would have waited another six months, I would’ve been at stage three.

I went back out on the road thinking everything was peaches and cream. Suddenly, the phone rang. I was told that I needed to return to Fairfield. The doctor had done a biopsy on the lump, and they thought that there were cancer cells still in my breast and I would need a second surgery. This time they took lymph nodes from underneath my arm. This surgery took longer to heal from so my husband went out and ran solo without me. I finally healed from it.  My fleet manager Chance checked on me regularly to make sure I was okay.

Q: Did you have any signs of cancer?

A: No, it was a nodule. It was a tiny one-centimeter nodule that was way in the back on my breastbone. I had no indication whatsoever that I had cancer. I would have never known if Dr. Jenks didn’t make me have that mammogram.  That is why I really wanted to tell my story.

Q: What advice would you give to a woman who’s afraid to get a mammogram?

A: It is so important that you don’t rely on the palpating breast exams. The mammogram is such a simple procedure. You walk in there and in 15 minutes you’re done. Look at my story. If I wouldn’t have had that mammogram, I would have never known about my cancer until it was too late. Do the mammograms and be aware.

Marilyn, thank you so much for sharing your incredible story.

Interviewed by: Dee Sova

Q: What were you doing before you came to Prime Inc.?

A: I was a Yard Jockey at a Dollar General warehouse in Montgomery, Alabama.

Q: How did you hear about Prime?

A: A highway Diamond named Jessica Taylor used to deliver to the Dollar General Warehouse.

Q: Since coming through the training program, how was that experience for you?

A:  It was awesome! Organized and everything was out in the open. Everyone was honest and wanted to be helpful. The open door policy made me feel right at home.

Q:  Were you intimidated coming into a male dominant industry?

A:  A little. Some of the men in my family made it seem scary. But I wanted to succeed. I was driven not to give up.

Q: Any advice for women coming into this industry or women coming to train at Prime?

A:  There are going to be times when you are going to question your resolve. But remember regardless of what people say about your choice in career, know that you are a Diamond in the rough. You will go through pressure so you can shine brightly. When coming to Prime, come with an open heart and mind. Prime is a great company. You aren’t just a number here. You matter to this company. Being a Highway Diamond is what you make it.

Q: What have you been able to accomplish that you wouldn’t have before becoming a truck driver for Prime?

A: I came to Prime having just lost my home. Since being here, my family and I have a roof over our heads. We are close to buying our first home. It has also allowed me to show my children that there is more to the world than the 334 area code.

Q: What does being a Highway Diamond mean to you?

A: The Highway Diamonds are a sign of exceptional excellence. A sisterhood of likeminded women that are looking not only to elevate themselves, but to also reach back and pull the next sister up to greatness. Making veteran Highway Diamonds like Dee Sova and Marietta Regnier proud that I’m part of the next generation means the world to me.

Q: Who has helped you to succeed here at Prime?

A: My fleet manager Barry Pahler, Jessica Taylor, Dee Sova, Marietta Regnier; my husband and my children have played a role in my success here. Whether through a word of encouragement, advice or lending an ear. I never feel alone.

Q: How important is your relationship with your fleet manager and why?

A: My fleet manager and I are a team. Without a good working relationship and understanding there is no way to survive. Honest and open communication is key and necessary so that we both succeed and support each other. Without him I can run and vice versa.

Q: Are there any places that you’ve traveled that stand out to you that you enjoyed? (Gold

A: The Arch of Saint Louis was beautiful to see. Near Oregon and Washington there is a river that extends the length of the state line. And the mountain range on either side is beautiful to wake up to. That view is spectacular!

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

A: I want to have three trucks here at Prime Inc. I want to have my event planning business in full swing and a few Air    BnBs.

Q: What is an essential that you must have on the truck with you?

A: My air fryer and skillet I must be able to cook.

Q: Have you hauled any off the wall or exciting freight? such as fish to a pet store, potatoes to a Frito lay plant, or cancer medicine?

A:  Yes I have. But I don’t know which one was more shocking the carrots, the tile or my first high value load.

I am a believer in excelling in whatever you do. I’m also mindful about the next person. And I really wanted to pay it forward, so I decided to become a trainer. I am excited for this next step in my journey at Prime.

Interested in learning more about the Prime Inc. Highway Diamonds program? Visit www.highwaydiamonds.com.