ask your questions about prime inc here

Discussion in 'Prime' started by bartage, May 6, 2009.

  1. ironpony

    ironpony Road Train Member

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    Ask my GPS...
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    Yeah... just givin' you a hard time dude! Looks like this trip gives me a RON within a week of being home, so I can complain!
     
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  3. bartage

    bartage Bobtail Member

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    Apr 27, 2008
    buffalo newyork
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    u2 and iorn pony thnk you both for helping me with this thread if you guys caan get to the questions before i do please feel free to answer them i wanted this thread for us guys who know whats going on here to help others learn what we see every day :biggrin_255:
     
  4. shifty

    shifty Light Load Member

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    Apr 26, 2008
    Conway, AR
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    Ok guys im really thinking about going to Prime. I have a couple questions.

    1. How long does it usually take after you been approved to head towards Springfield?

    2. I live about 2 miles from I40. Do yall run on 40 a lot?

    3. What kind of trucks does Company drivers get and is there an automatic tranny available?
     
  5. ironpony

    ironpony Road Train Member

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    A few weeks at most. Mostly depends on how quickly you want to get going.

    Yup! Actually, it's not a bad place to live - easier to get hometime that way, especially on say a run that has some extra time available going along that corredor.

    Pete 387s, and Freightliner Centuries and Cascadias. No autos, we only use 10-speed Eaton manual trannies. Learning to drive a manual isn't very difficult, and we have really good instructors. It also helps you to know how to drive a manual since only being able to drive an auto limits your marketability as a driver.
     
  6. Rascally Road Warrior

    Rascally Road Warrior Light Load Member

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    Jul 23, 2005
    Titusville, FL
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    Do the Prime trucks have cruise controls or are the drivers taught to drive according to the tachometer? Reason I ask is because just about every Prime truck I pass (or try to pass) is doing around 58 mph. Then about 15 minutes later the same truck blows by me doing around 70 mph. A short time later you see the same Prime truck once again doing about 55 mph and when a governed truck (such as mine) tries to pass, good old Prime speeds up and no, it’s not just an isolated incident… as I mentioned, this is something I have experienced with just about every Prime truck I come up on, what’s the deal?
     
  7. U2Exit

    U2Exit Road Train Member

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    WA and VA
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    I dont play any games, but if the terraine is hilly... I use it to my advantage to improve my fuel milage.

    I travel 55-58 and will let the truck coast down a hill to 65.
     
  8. Rascally Road Warrior

    Rascally Road Warrior Light Load Member

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    Jul 23, 2005
    Titusville, FL
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    I’ve been driving a few years now and understand the hilly terrain and weight differences and after being out here for a few years, I see that this is a practice by Prime trucks only… I don’t see any other trucks out here traveling 55 mph then speed up to 65 or 70 then slow down later on up the road. Just wondering if your company has asked their drivers to drive differently for fuel economy’s sake or if it’s a general practice not to use your cruise controls. I know it sounds strange but can’t seem to figure this starnge driving habit that is practiced by Prime drivers.
     
  9. ironpony

    ironpony Road Train Member

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    We have to get a minimum fuel mileage number on the company side - 6.5 mpg minimum. Our Century class Freightshakers are geared for a sweet spot around 58-ish or so, get max torque on minumum fuel around 1100 rpm climbing hills. And... if you want to get better mileage, just let the stupid thing accelerate down the hill until you hit the speed limit before letting the jake take care of things. Yeah - it's a bit nuts, but that's what it takes to stretch the fuel.

    If you really want to get some good numbers, run a 10 psi profile on the turbo overboost gage... ala Ken Rutherford on Roaddog. I was doing that before I started listening to him. Hit 7.8 mpg with a GVW of 68000 or so today on I70 eastbound between KS and IN.

    So... think about it. If you're paying for your own fuel, why let that mindless cruise control eat your paycheck alive, when you can control things and maximize your take-home by just running a little nutso?

    :biggrin_25525:
     
  10. kickmack

    kickmack Bobtail Member

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    May 16, 2009
    Cave Spring, GA
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    Do most newbie's head out on the 4th day of orientation? I read a few posts here and there about some waiting up to two weeks for a trainer to come in? Just wondering if someone can give me an average wait time to head out for the first time.?

    I am expecting to start Jun 2nd and trying to make myself as informed as possible heading into orientation. I feel as I have learned quite a bit from reading these forums.

    Any advice any one willing to give before I head into orientation would be much appreciated!!!

    Kevin
     
  11. notarps4me

    notarps4me Road Train Member

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    NASA HQ
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    That will vary from co to co. Most orientations are 3-4 days. Trainers can be now, days or weeks.
     
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