Prime: Orientation and Training?

Are you on the truck with your husband?

Im sorry your husband isnt doing well. You obviously havent taken any advice on here... or taken an active role in trying to find out where your husbands business is "bleeding" money.

You just come on here and complain... Its a walk away lease... walk away if your so un-happy.

The biggest problem I see is new drivers, who have no sense for business, or experiance running a businesss... Thinking they can just jump in a truck and mash the accelerator from stop to stop and be profitable.

The economy sucks. Everyone is hurting. Your husband THOUGHT he could make more money than staying a Company driver. A little more than a year ago, he probably would have had a BETTER CHANCE.

There are Prime L/O who are making money. They will be the first to admit they have had to cut back on things... tighten belts, and count every last cent. They are willing to hold on and hope this cycle (and yes it is a cycle) comes back around and they can go back to making the money they did before the downturn.

One guy commented to me, that he lost out on probably thousands of dollars in profits a few years back if he knew then just how efficiently he currently runs his business now just to stay afloat and turn a reasonable profit.

 

Wow, you sound like quite the expert on Prime. I never have to log illegally. If I can't make a run legally, I tell my dispatcher BEFORE I accept the load (trip planning anyone?). I've only had this happen once so far and it was on a preplan. About an hour later, I got a preplan I was able to run legally. No problems. Prime isn't going to babysit. They will send you loads they think you can make legally, but you are the ultimate decision maker and the one with the logbook in your truck. If you can't make it, tell them. And if you still have problems, request to be put on the electronic logs.

I stay out about 6 to 8 weeks by choice. I'm allowed to take hometime after 3 weeks. Dispatcher likes to see at least 4 weeks in before hometime, but 3 weeks is the minimum. I've never had any issues when I put in m

Sounds like you have an issue with the lifestyle. You're right, it isn't for everyone, and in fact, it isn't for most. That's not Primes fault. That's just a personality issue, and that's ok.

My experience with Prime has been fantastic. I have a nice truck (which I have no problems living out of for 60 days straight), I had a great training experience, I get good miles, I'm treated with respect (and I show respect), I always run legal, and I'm enjoying this LIFESTYLE.

 

Its a walk away lease and we will be walking away.

 

13 weeks without a check? I'd say it's time to find something else to do. I'm sorry your experience has been such a bummer. I doubt, however, that your experience is typical.

 

pRIME LIKE MANY BIGGER COMPANIES DO READ THESE POSTS DO NOT PUT ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION AT ALL ... AS TO WHOM YOU ARE OR WHOM YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT..... MAINLY THEY HAVE DESIGNATED OFFICE PERSONNEL THAT READ AND POST ON THEIR SPECIFIC FORUMS THAT WILL DEFEND SAID COMPANY TO THE END..... DONT BE FOOLED BY THESE COMPANIES.... LIKE SWIFT, USA, KLLM, ARROW.....I CAN KEEP GOING..... JUST AN FYI BEWARE TRUCKERS!!!!!

 

Well obviously you don't work for Prime.

- We don't log illegally. Our safety record is excellent, and if we were getting an inordinate number of drivers put out of service for log violations, we'd be getting pulled in at the coups on a regular basis. That ain't happening. As far as having an FM tell a driver to not take his 10's, that's a major safety violation; our safety manager - Don Lacey - provides every new driver with his personal cell phone number, and invites us to call if something like what Bill's Girl claimed happens.

- We don't have huge orientation classes every week. Prime is a large company, and has the usual problems with retention that most companies have - drivers having problems with family, tickets, medical, grass is greener somewhere else. No revolving door here - I know plenty of folks who have been working for Prime since the early days back in the 80's.

- Lease ops order their life as they please. Company types can go home every three weeks if their finances can stand it. Personally, I stay out longer, because I want to - and I get home time whenever I need it. Had a friend pass away on a Monday, and was home the following Sunday for the memorial service.

So... why don't you go crawl back under the rock you came out from???

 

I appreciate the feedback Pony. Am trying to be careful. My expectation is that I will go through all the difficulties you and others have described on this forum and learn what I enjoy about trucking and how do it most profitably. But in considering entering the industry, at some point you have to make a "go - no go" decision as to whether to try trucking and then start - somewhere. I don't think you can really know what your experience is going to be like until you are at a particular company. Fortunately for me and others we have people like you guiding us with your experiences.

Boogdaddy - FYI after your post(s) on Prime I checked them out. I like the fact that you can be finished with your school obligation in 1 year's time and that you can earn more while you learn at Prime. I talked to a recruiter and put in an application on line. Will get back with the recruiter on Monday. One issue with Prime is that they are not hiring out of my state (FL) and so I will have to operate from TN through relatives living there. That means home time will be directed toward TN rather than FL.

 

Crap, you found me out.

U2 is actually my boss in the office (Administrator of Internet Forum Defense - he makes a lot of money), and Ironpony is my supervisor (Truckers Report Division Manager - he makes pretty good money too). All I'm supposed to do all day long is come onto these boards to defend our crappy company (Level 1 Poster....will hopefully be level 2 soon and make more than minimum wage). Well played, sir. You may have just gotten me transferred to a new message board.

 

HAHAHAHA.... tHATS FUNNY AS HECK...... JUST GIVING THE NEWBEES AN HEADS UP.......

 

By the way Cactusjack, turn your CAPS off---it's rude and it's the same as screaming.