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Thanks Sazook. How was your vacation by the way? I just returned from the beach this morning. It was a well deserved and much needed vacation. The only downside is pushing back my orientation. At least Prime was very understanding and had no ill will or hard feelings. Just said let us know when everything is ready to go. I liked that.

 

Glad everything is working out for you IP. You said "we" are you running team now, or you a trainer like U2? Just curious. I've heard frieght is moving very well. See a ton of Prime trucks up and down my I-95 corridor. Of course most are doing 57-62MPH but its all good.

 

It was great... I need to take them more often! The best part was that of my family, I was the one that ended up the least sunburnt!

 

Well I am happy to hear you had a great vacation. I guess now back to the road. So how long do you normally stay OTR? Is it the recommended 3-4 weeks out

 

"We" as in myself and the other sufferers on my board. Gonna be glad to have my man back next week!

Company trucks are governed at 62 now, and lease at 65. Me... I run at whatever I have to in order to make my receiver appointments. I don't like running flat out at 65 only because it eats into my bottom line. The Century I was driving had 3:70 rear ends, but the Cascadia is geared higher at 3:36. I can drive faster with better fuel economy when I need to.

 

Glad to hear things are going better with the "fill in" FM. I am sure you will be glad your "normal" FM gets back from vacation.
So you are now leasing correct? You'd still recommend waiting a year or so before going lease correct? I've heard Prime is getting away from the Columbias and getting more of the Cascadia's. Is that correct?

 

They retire trucks at 3 years - some at 4 - they mostly have specialized stuff for skateboards and tanker yankers. So the Centuries and T-660s are being rotated out now. Columbias, Prostars and Pete 386s all with 13-liter engines are the "lightweight" tractors they're buying - looks like you could stand up in at least the Columbia model. Cascadias and Pete 387s are the current full-size tractors they're buying.

I ran company for nearly 3 years before jumping to the lease side - for a number of reasons. The biggest is that leasing is not just driving a truck... you are running a business. Run company, decide if you like it, learn to run the truck efficiently. And while you're at it, figure out what makes a trucking business tick and become profitable. Made reasonable money at it too... nothing like the stories you hear coming out of Marten, CRE, Roehl, Werner...

Second reason... I figured when the economy is making like the Titanic after the collision and the administration (aka Alfred E. Bush Jr.) is going "What??? Me Worry!??" - are not necessarily good omens for starting a business. Better to hunker down and stay company until things started looking up.

 

Negative on the Prostars IP. The International lightweights are 9200's. We have 1 full size Prostar in the fleet, and from my understanding, they aren't very impressed with it.

 

I'm sure I've seen a baby Prostar or two... I remember seeing the full-size Prostar in the yard when the driver was moving into it.

But yeah, now that I think about it you're right... most of them are 9200's.

 

What is the real reasoning behind the lightweights that Prime is buying up? I know I have read on here that initially it was for Regional runs, however, I know that has since changed or so I thought I read. Basically I've read is it is for hauling heavier loads. Are these lightweights also more fuel economical? I mean, if they are, I understand as a company you want to spend less on fuel, however, being comfortable on the road for weeks at a time is also of importance. Truck drivers I have talked to say that being comfortable away from home, being able to stretch, etc in your cab is important and a lot I have talked to say they wouldn't do OTR in a lightweight. Am I missing something here?