Learning the facts- Prime

Realisticallly, yes.. However the slow season is coming up.. Which would make it a good time to get your training done and get some winter weather experience.

Things will begin to slow down in Jan. and hopefully pick up early March. I'm not sure how this year will be, but I can tell you 2010 was way more busier than the 2009 slowdown I experienced my first year solo in that time frame.

I've already exceeded last years $47k income well over a month ago and I attribute it more to miles than the regular pay raises.

I think I calculated 14 on the road restarts (uneccesary) in those early months of 09, vs. 3 in 10.

 

"U2Exit",,,who you drive for, just curious.....
"HoosierCruzer" have you looked at any other companies? Type "trucking jobs" into google. I like using Bubbajunk, or least I did when I was looking for companies in 08.

Wish ya the best and also, lots of info on this forrum.

SheepDog

 

A friend of mine drives for Prime so I tend to follow those threads. I'm hearing both good and bad... but what I'm seeing (through Jack) is that Prime isn't necessarily a bad company for which to work, policy-wise, but I can probably count on one hand the number of weeks he's gotten over 2300 miles in a week. There were many weeks he didn't hit 2000.

I suspect part of this may be because he's dispatched out of Pittston and gets a lot of short runs and runs into the northeast. He's out usually four weeks at a time and during that time may get one 1200 mile run. He's into his second year there and still isn't making the money he could make if they ran him harder.

One note about pay: Be sure you know everything for which you get extra pay. Their paychecks are usually correct for their calculated paid miles and submitted reimbursable expenses, but you have to speak up to get the extra pay associated with short hauls, hazmat, etc. If you don't remind your dispatcher that you're entitled to it, it's Jack's experience that you will not see it in your paycheck. So don't hesitate to speak up.

 

I'm going to play devils advocate for a second here...

Are you really sure this is a great idea for you? If you're wife isn't thrilled about the idea, than you are already starting behind the game. This isn't just a job. It's a lifestyle that will effect your wife almost as much as it efects you. You will absolutely be gone a minimum of 3 weeks at a time with almost every major OTR carrier. And if you do go home every 3 weeks, it'll hurt bank account for sure. During training, you'll likely be gone longer than 3 weeks.

After a year or so, opportunities for regional, dedicated, or local gigs will become more available to you. But the OTR thing can be very tough on a marriage.

Also, I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss the "low training pay" that trucking offers. I paid about $50,000 to obtain my 4-year college degree which was required at my last job (non-trucking gig). Want to be a plumber, carpenter, nurse, dental assistant, or a slew of other careers? You have to pay for that degree, certificate, or training. With the amount of training needed to become a safe truck driver, the pay is a bonus.

Just go with whichever company makes you the most comfortable. I am a current driver for Prime and am extremely happy with them. However, I can't recommend Prime to you. I'd consider a company like Con-Way or Schneider. After a year or so, it would be very easy for you to lateral into one of their more local opportunities, which will get you home more. Prime is almost exclusively OTR.

Just giving honest advice. Best of luck to you!

 

Not to dispute anything stated above, but I've had much better success at Prime. Never seen a sub 2K week that did not involve home/shop time.

Lately been running out my 70 almost every week. Been fortunate enough to have loads that I could just squeeze a 34 hr restart in.

I get plenty of short runs/overnighters, especially tooling around the mid-west or running New England to PA and back and forth and back... My fleet manager, however, seems to keep track of this, and gets me a good long run after playing at regional for awhile.

While getting U2 as a trainer was great, getting on his FM's board was also an important part of my decision to train with him.

Only thing I've ever had to remind him of, as far as pay goes, is the "extra pay" tied to doing him or the weekend crew a "favor." Haz-mat's been automatic, as has layover pay and lodging reimbursements.

Anyhow, running hard and very happy with Prime.

 

Its not Prime per se... or being dispatched out of Pittston or running the northeast. Heck, I run a lot of northeast, and rarely run less then 2400 miles.

Your friend has a piss-poor fleet manager.

 

Yeah, I could have made that point a bit stronger. A good fleet manager that one works well with is very important. Also, the back and forth communication really helps keep you busy. I always try to keep him informed as to arrival times, when I expect to be empty, and how many hours I'll have left at that time. Often, that will lead to a pre-plan which keeps me moving, as opposed to sitting until the following morning. We've developed a good relationship over the last year. He knows he can count on me, and I know he's doing his best to maximize my miles and both of our paychecks.

 

Before I got into driving, I heard all the horror stories about fleet managers. How you're just a number, they don't care, etc. My experience at Prime has been the complete opposite (just about 2 years now). My fleet manager and I get along great. He should be receiving his Christmas gift tomorrow. It'll be a very sad day if/when he decides to retire. And I agree, communication is key. Sometimes I feel like I'm bothering my FM with all the messages I send him. But I figure too much info is better than not enough, and he always seems appreciative when I update him on my status / future ETA's and plans.

I also run the northeast plenty and barely ever run below 2500 miles / week. My fleet manager seems to know my limits too. After I've been in the northeast a little while, he gets me a nice long run out of there. My runs going in are usually 1000+ mile runs too. Every now and then I sort of get stuck in a northeast lane with shorter runs, but my FM adds extra pay to compensate. Everybody is happy.

I don't think I've ever had a 2000 mile week unless there were extenuating circumstances such as home time or a breakdown. While I've had a 2300 mile week here and there, my average is much higher than that.