I would expand your company search a bit. While Prime isn't the worst company out there for new drivers those lightweight trucks sure are tiny. You might want to look at Magnum. They have a performance pay system that you could potentially earn 50 cents per mile though I'm not 100 percent sure on exactly what the benchmarks are for it. Their trucks are also better equipped. Petes with apu's and a fridge. If you can make the same money with a nicer truck it sounds like a better deal to me. Might also check out halvor lines though I'm not sure what they pay I know they take new drivers. Their main terminal is ten minutes from my house and they have a good reputation in town. As Chinatown mentioned also check with some tanker companies. The pay is usually decent in that sector. I would also check into the ltl companies. Old dominion, abf, fed ex freight and the like. On occasion you can get into one of them with no experience. It is not unheard of for a linehaul driver to make 100k a year after reaching top rate. Just some food for thought for ya to chew on some.
While YMMV, www.primeincreview.com has one driver's experience with pay. The site is maintained by a driver on here named Yuta Casel.
Thanks for the link sleepily. Looks like that guy has not problem getting over 2300 or 2400 on average. Looks like Magnum doesn't hire out of Alabama. I did speak with Halvor. Seems like a nice company. Down side is their refer pay is 35cpm compared to 46cpm at Prime.
I have a fridge and microwave riding shotgun. The miles depend on your fleet manager more than anything. I have one now that is apparently morally opposed to 34s
Dang!! Does Halvor get better pay in reefer over time? I started with Roehl almost 2 years ago and was at $.34 right after completing their school and at $.385 under six months later when I went owner operator. I am presuming they would pay better because their ads mention decent rates and they have relatively low turnover. I work WITH (not for) Halvor doing dry van as a power only contractor so I don't know their pay, but I can say that the folks I have talked to there from drivers, maintenance, and up have been good folks. They usually have Volvos and have the free EpicVue (sp?) TV satellites for their drivers. I can't recommend a certain company because we are all different, but my personal experiences working for Roehl and with Halvor have been pretty good overall. If Halvor's reefer pay goes up quickly with performance (I know they like incentives for fuel and safety), you may want to give that one a second thought if starting pay was the only issue.
Abilene Motor Express trucks run 68 mph. Those drivers have no complaints. Beelman Truck Co. sometimes hires new cdl grads and has a terminal in Montevallo,AL. Not sure which type trailers they pull there; maybe dry bulk; check the website. They pull several different types of trailers. Wiley Sanders Trucking has a dry bulk division. Schneider Bulk hires new cdl grads. Here's Beelman trailer types : Beelman offers a variety of trailers consisting of end dumps, side dumps, pneumatic tanks, tippers, vans, and flats.
From what halvor told me its like 1cmp raise each year, though you can get up to 9cpm performance. Of course you can get 9cpm in fuel bonus at Prime too, so that doesn't really make them stand out against Prime. Thanks for those extra names Chinatown.
Either way you go, after 6 mos. you will qualify for A&R Logistics in Decatur. Check their website. When I lived in Tennessee one of my neighbors worked there and made $72K per year. Most drivers make about $65K.
