(New) Prime Inc. Springfield Mo.

You got it!!! I have been reading these Prime posts for awhile and I hear these newbie drivers and their plans to "save my pennies until I can buy my own truck and then lease on as an O/O." The problem is, there's no room for failure in that plan. Buying a new truck, with not the least bit of experience in running under your own authority is a recipe for disaster. No understanding of IRP, base plates, permits, fuel taxes, and an endless list of other details. It's like seeing an ad in the classifieds, "Television Repair Shop for Sale." Well, it may be a great deal; but, only for a television repairman. Buying that shop is certainly not going to make you one! Likewise, buying a truck will make you an 'owner', but, by no means does it make you an 'operator'. Sure, it's possible that a Prime lease may not be such a great deal; but it seems to me that it's a no-risk opportunity to learn the business. One should go into a business, such a this, with their eyes wide-open. The vast majority of drivers venturing out as owner/operators soon find themselves faced with filing bankruptcy and years of dealing with the IRS trying to pay off a tax debt which can't be discharged through bankruptcy proceedings. Thinking that you can learn to be an O/O based on experience garnered as a company driver is the first mistake.

 

thanks will try a different road

 

Honestly if you are planning to buy your own truck in the future the type of leasing that prime does will allow that. I drive in Schneider tanker division and I stay busy running freight I checked into schneider leasing and it's a lease to own but the trucks are over price. Example a 2005 T2000 w/ 489,000 miles on it. For $487.50/wk for 38months with a 10k buyout.....insane I wanted to pull tanker for prime but they are not hiring in my area (houston,texas).

 

I leased 6years with prime and it was the 1st company I had lease with , when I left them I still hadnt realized how much they were ripping me off , but I recently went to another trucking companies orientation ( O & S) and was shocked to learn on a weekly bases how much I was being fleeced, apx 300.00 to 400.00 aweek more than what it would cost me to lease a truck from O+S, same equipment even, and at the end of O+S 's lease I would own the truck with no balloon payment or anything. no I didnt go with them after prime and with things being as tight as they are right now i really dont want to get into any lease. So my advice to anyone looking at Prime for a lease truck is to take alittle time and shop around , they are not all the same . Prime doesnt pay tolls, base plates reefer fuel, scales and will charge you a over mileage fee if you go over a certain amount monthly. They will come off being the nicest people around only there to help you , but so would any con man. so be careful and hope anyone thinking about going there really checks out some other companies too. Good luck and be safe all !

 

I did the lease thing to at prime. I leased there truck or 3 months then want and got my owne truck for $900 month. Hmmmm, I was paying almost that a week there..

 

glad to hear you found a much better deal mrgreen. and for those that would say that i'm just mad at prime , I'm not really mad at prime at all, I am mad at myself for allowing myself to be dogged for so long . prime is a business and they do very well for themselves , but they could still make lots without fleecing the drivers so much.

 

Well I had to get off the road about 8 yr's ago but i will be going back in about a 1 yr or 2. But i think i will not bo going back to Prime bc of the MBI but thats if i dropp 100lb's by then..lol

 

Prime is for Prime. They dont care if you lease or the next guy will lease. They make there money. Robert Low thanks you for making him rich!!!!!

 

Prime brain washes there people.