Prime Inc driver thread

I have been looking for a company sponsored training program and have been researching different companies for two months. I have been impressed by what I have read of Prime's training and they offer the best pay while in training. I am really, really considering them but there doesn't seem to be much home time at all while in training and, since they don't have a terminal in Georgia, I worry about getting to come home once I go solo. I have a 7-year old daughter and would like to be able to see her at least twice a month. Also, I have read the previous postings about lease operators getting brand new trucks. I am only interested in being a company driver at first but I was wondering what type of trucks are they assigned and how old are they? Any advise or information would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

Well first you should consider that this is Over The Road trucking. Our business is moving freight around the country - not driving around a local area. That being said, the hometime policy is you accrue 1 day for each week you're out. They want you out 3 weeks between home visits, no more than 4 days per visit. You let your FM know when you want to be home, they arrange a load that delivers near where you live... you deliver it, drop the empty trailer at a mutually agreed location, then drive bobtail home.

Prime rotates all of the reefer division trucks in at 3 years, 4 years for tanker and flatbed divisions because of the additional equipment. The truck you will be assigned will be anywhere from brand new to the limit for that division. All of the trucks are clean, detailed, and all known maintenance problems along with those you identify are corrected before you take it out. They are a mix of Freightliners (Cascadias and Columbias primarily - the Centuries are being rotated out now,) Peterbilts (386 and 387's) and International 9400's.

 

I love the Cascadia. It has super singles on it, and I really have not noticed a difference. It is quiet, runs well, and is comfortable. I also am averaging a little over 7.5mpg - which helps with the bottom line big time!

 

Thanks for the update , have an appointment at FREIGHTLINER tomorrow to look at getting 2 new tractors. Like the WESTERN STARS but getting big $ on purchase , so comparing the CASCADIAS.

 

Thanks a lot Ironpony. Its good to have someone working for the company to bounce things off of. I have been on this site for the past couple of months before posting and have read a lot of your posts. I understand I would be out for a while and I am trying to prepare my mind for it if I go with Prime. Like I said, after 2 months of research, Prime does have what seems to be the best training program. I want training that is thorough and I feel I would get it at Prime. I also like the fact that you are not sitting around with other students waiting on "truck time"; you are actually on the road with an instructor after 4 days of orientation.
Do you get to pick your truck or do they assign one to you? What engines are they running (Detroit, CAT, Cummins)? When travelling all over the country what have you (or anyone else who responds) found to be the best truck (Freightliner, International, or Peterbilt) or best truck/engine combination for all environments (city, highway, mountains, etc)? Hate to bug you with all the questions but just excited to have someone who can answer some questions for me. Thanks.

 

I am not Ironpony but just want to add this. It doesn't matter where you train, home time is rare. Period. Just the nature of the business. I started with Prime in its training program, and would not change a thing. It is the best. Instead of learning with a lot of other guys in a parking lot (like you said, "waiting for truck time"), I learned ON THE ROAD with a CDL instructor while he carried on his trucking business. Once we learned how to shift (and that was in a parking lot... in Springfield), the first time I took the wheel of a semi was on I-70 east of St Louis. We got off and on every exit until I learned to downshift. Those kinds of lessons you can't learn in a parking lot. This company is second to none in training and support of the drivers. I recommend it to everyone I meet who is even thinking of being a driver. I have been with other companies, sure, but have come back home to Prime. Do not listen to the Prime bashers. Listen to Ironpony and others who are out here making it work. After all, you don't listen to a mechanic telling you how bad a business banking is! There are a lot of naysayers, but while so many other companies are downsizing, selling trucks, and making trainees wait, Prime is growing.

 

Thanks KingsSon. I have read quite a bit of your posts on here as well. I realize that I am going to have to suck it up about hometime and do what I have to do. I thinks its more important that my daughter have food, shelter, and clothing than to be home regularly. It will just be hard because we are close and she is a daddy's girl.
I prefer that one-on-one training because driving trucks is a big responsibility and I don't want to be rushed through training and end up hurting myself or someone else later on. And you are right about the Prime bashers because reading some of their negative posts is what has had me sitting on the fence. But I am ready to make a move and hopefully can do so in the next few weeks. I thank you for your advice and welcome advice from anyone else who would like to share. Thanks.

 

When you ARE home, make it COUNT! Most of the folks who bash Prime also have negative things to say about every other company. I have talked to so many drivers who have been with 15 companies in 10 years, and they ALL screwed the drivers! LOL.

 

As a company driver for the last 18 months, home time for me is whenever I want it. As mentioned, you get 1 day off for each week out. But no one has ever told me of any specific rules for when you can or cannot come home. I can come home whenever I want. In other words, if I want to come home for 2 days every 2 weeks, I can do that. Or I can stay out 4 weeks and come home for 4 days. And I've always gotten home on the day I requested. In addition, there are local opportunities, regional, and dedicated routes. I don't know that this is necessarily advertised, but the opportunites do exist. I'm sure it will depend on your exact location, but I wouldn't hesitate to ask about the different options that may be available in your area.

Personally, I stay out 4-6 weeks. I'm here to make money, and thats the way you make the most. The more you come home the less you will make. I've had opportunities to take dedicated runs or stay closer to home at all times by just bouncing around the area where I live. But both of those options would be a substantial pay cut because you will run less miles. The best dedicated route I was offered was 2300 miles per week. I would have been home every week, but I also would have had around $200 per week less in my pocket.

 

Thanks for the info Rusty266. The recruiters I have spoken to at Prime all tell me you have to stay out at least 3 weeks and there didn't seem to be any options about that. I may not want to come home every 2 weeks but it would be good to know I could if I needed to handle some business. Also, the recruiters never mentioned anything about local, regional, or dedicated routes. I would want to start OTR anyway but it would be nice to know they have other opportunities available once you become experienced. Any other info you can provide would be helpful. Thanks.