Prime's Lightweights: Freightliner vs. International vs. (remaining) Peterbuilt

Well guess what? If you're a company guy running solo you're going in a LW. Teams, training and flatbed (additional equipment storage) have a reason to be in a condo, so that's the policy. If I'm paying for one of these things, I'm not paying for somethinvcg I don't want.

Maybe that's the case in dry vans, but in the reefer world, its all about weight. 80% of our loads that bring us to GCVW would fit comfortably in a 48' trailer. The last thing a reefer outfit needs are the extra weight of an extra axle, doors, and don't forget that both of those trailers need a refrigeration unit.

 

Get some cab curtains at the truck stop... doubles your space for $30. A lot of drivers have the passenger seat pulled... good spot for a refrigerator, and whatever you might want to strap to the top of it. Search this forum for " lightweight" or "LW" - there's plenty of discussion and pictures in other threads.

WIDE SINGLES (a different tire than a super single) are part of the weight savings on company trucks. I've run them for six years, and like 'em just fine.

 

A normal sleeper with refrigerated trailer tare is about 36,000. A lite weight can vary due to how it is ordered, but should be in the range arouns 33,500. Could be less depending on how it is ordered.

In the powder world our tare is around 23,500 to 24,500. The Pneumatic trailers are all aluminum.

 

About 31,000...

 

all trucks at prime (someone please correct me if I wrong ) run super singles regardless of condo or lightweight. The only thing I don't like about singles is if you have a blowout you're done, you can't even really "limp it in"

 

Jacob Casford did a few videos on his lightweight truck when he was a regular driver, and his fullsize truck when he became a trainer.

 

Guess what? Legally, you're just as "done" with duals.

 

you can be like the central driver I saw in Kansas, blow out the single and come flying by me doing 65 on the rim, hmmmmm

 

Just so you guys know the score, Prime isn't the only carrier using "lightweights." I've seen Millis, Maverick, England, and pulling out of where I'm loading this morning is a Marten lightweight. There are plenty of others as well. You're not being singled out by Prime... its a trend in the industry.

So ya wanna drive a big truck, and you were expecting a rolling palace? Pony up your big truck bucks and buy one, otherwise you get what you're assigned.

 

Yeah, I see them all the time also. More and more