ask your questions about prime inc here

I'm always here, just don't post as much as I use to. Been running the Walmart dedicated for the past couple of months now and became a cdl instructor. Love it out here on the Walmart account.

Should be back at sprimo in a couple days for my student to test. It looks like he'll trifecta as long as he doesn't loose his nerve.

Merry Christmas to you as well. We are out right now making our deliveries to the Walmart stores before the mad rush of after Christmas shoppers show up, lol

 

Click on the number on the top right of a post - that will take you to a page that's a link to that post specifically, just like this:

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...-what-expect-springfield-152.html#post4260232

 

Hello all......... Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays!!! I am off to Springfield on Jan 19th. Dealing with my recruiter or lack there of has been somewhat frustrating, I know they are busy but when I send multiple emails and leave multiple voice mails and it still takes days for any return communication..... I was just about to give up on Prime, but I knew (from all your help) this was the best place for me..... and of course I was extremely anxious for the green light!!!!
I wanting to go flatbed. I understand the additional work that will be required and the extra initial cost of supplies and feel it will be right up my alley. However, unlike most others here, I am more compelled to want to be in a lightweight truck do to the fact of the extra 5 cpm. I have seen a few others post they have seen a few Prime flatbedders in lightweight trucks. Is this a possibly, can a request be made at the end of TNT to be assigned a L/W truck instead of a condo. The additional pay is quite significant; at 2500 miles week, that L/W bonus would be $500 per month. Seeing what redoctober had done with his truck, it seems plenty adequate. I am aware of the extra supplies (tarps, straps, chains, binders, etc) that flatbedders need to carry, but could I not get a headache rack for the truck.....even if I had to pay for it out of my own pocket, just 3-4 months of the extra L/W bonus pay would pay for the rack/cabinet.
Thanks guys for the time, tips, and advice, it is truly appreciated!!!!!!

 

Truck assignments are controlled by the leasing office - whether you are leasing a truck or are going on the company side. Your assignment will be up to them. Generally, company guys get what's available on the day they are released to go over there during the upgrade process after training. If you want something different I'd get myself introduced to the head of flatbed division, and talk to him about it. The leasing office folks will just look at you like you have 4 heads, and tell you to make do with what you get.

 

Definitely going company side to start out (As I have heeded your advice IP). That's good advice and I shall do that (albeit in a few months and thanks for your reply!!!

I have read your entire thread on leasing from start to finish, and let me personally say thanks to you for sharing your vast knowledge here on this forum!!!

 

According to the training department that's no longer how it works. If the student doesn't come to prime with a CDL they must get their permit in MO then transfer their CDL to their home state when they get home. It would be an added expense to get the permit in their home state then have to do it all over again in MO.

*Side note/rant*

I'd recommend getting your CDL at home if you can then gong to prime. If you decide trucking isn't for you then you won't be stuck in a contact for thousands of dollars or a year stuck doing something you don't want to do.

I personally love trucking but I keep running into to many rookies out here with prime and other training companies that for some reason thought they were getting into a career that paid them to visit every truck stop and attraction along the way. Don't come into trucking if you "just want to travel the country" they have these new inventions called RV's and that's what you need to get into. Also if you're on the company side and "not making any money" keep your left door shut and I swear you'll start seeing better checks being sent home..

 

On truck selection....

LtWt vs "condo"...

What is the mph governed to on the condo? Can i actually opt out of a LtWt and take the "condo" instead? By my assumed calculations, I could still actually make more $ with the "condo" (based on mph/getting in more hrs per day) than I can with a slower LtWt.

What tractors are being used for the "condo"????

 

full size freightliner cascadias and peterbilt 579 (i think) for the condos; Pretty much the only way you'll get a condo is if you lease, train, or go into the flatbed division. Lightweights aren't optional, and as a company driver you'll be governed @ 58mph (62 on cruise control) regardless of your truck.

 

It doesn't depend on the type of truck. It depends on if you're lease or company. Company trucks are 58 to the floor 62 on cruise. Lease trucks are at 65

 

Is the speed governed so low for safety reasons, fuel savings, and controling "payroll", or all the above?