Most people would be content retiring from just one career, but not Mario Almendarez. After serving his country and retiring from the U.S. Air Force after 20 years, Mario signed on to the Prime Student Driver program, earned his CDL and has now embarked on his second career—pulling a refrigerated traileras a long-haul company driver for Prime Inc. Even though he has been with the company for only 15 months, he has already earned the Prime Time Certified award for outstanding on-time performance and Safe Driving award for safety excellence on the road.
Mario wasn’t ready to stop working after his military career ended. He continued working in the aviation and airline industries for a while before coming across an article about Siphiwe Baleka, now Prime Inc.’s Director of the Driver Health and Fitness (DHF) Program. When Siphiwe first started driving for Prime, he kept a fold-up bicycle in the cab so he could exercise when he was done driving each day. Mario, an avid cyclist and runner himself, was impressed with the fact that Siphiwe participated in athletic events even while he was on the road. So, he did a little research, found out that Prime was indeed on-board with driver fitness, and signed up for the Prime Student Driver program.
Mario has as much “drive” to compete athletically as he does to be behind the wheel of his rig. He has run in over 100 footraces ranging in distance from 5K’s to marathons. He has also participated in about 20 organized cycling events, with some up to 200 miles in length. And since he has been with Prime Inc., he has competed in five triathlons with other Prime drivers, including one with Siphiwe.
Mario is happy with his choice to drive a truck and even happier to do it for Prime, Inc. He likes the interaction with the different departments when he’s on the road. “I like the support I get as a driver. They listen to me. You can ask a question and get an answer and it’s friendly. Not like you’re bothering them.” As for being a truck driver, Mario says, “My favorite part of driving is getting to see the United States up close. I was used to seeing it all from up in the sky during my previous time in the Air Force and in aviation.”
Mario and his wife of 27 years, Andrea, live in Oregon. They have two children that are grown and have moved out of the house, but they still have two more four-legged kids that live at home—their dogs. In addition to cycling and running, Mario also enjoys reading and working with computers. From student driver to accomplished athlete, Mario’s doing it all, and he’s doing it with Prime, Inc.
If you like Mario’s story, and are ready to start a new chapter in your own life as an associate with Prime, Inc., visit their website.
