Prime: Orientation and Training?

Interesting point about the load/unload portion. I see U2's point about e-logs and MPG. Theoretically one could log 3850 miles in a week while adhereing to MPG and the 70 hour rule, but that would be an awefully perfect world - or at least a better economy. (Though U2 said the 70 clock is difficult to explain how it affects the work week.)

I'll check into the flatbedding option, is this available to newbies out of Prime training? Can anyone give me a comparison, flatbed hauling versus reefer?

 

To get 3850 miles in a week, you'd have to be driving a heck of a lot faster than we do now. In 2002, the driving duty day was 10 hours (not 11 as it currently is,) lease trucks were limited to 72 or 76 mph (not 65) and company trucks were 65 mph machines (not 62 or lower.) So that number is definitely not reasonable these days, and certainly not while adhering to our present fuel economy restrictions. You'd need to be running in the 70's wherever possible to achieve that which would kill your fuel economy... that gets you fired on the company side, and broke (considering diesel is back on the way up) on the lease side. Reefer loads tend to be heavy all the time (read... you have to drive slower) vs a flatbed load of styrofoam insulation (read... flyin' down the road!)

As far as getting loaded in the flatbed world being easier than reefer... well, I never had to snow tarp a load in the dark, at -10 degrees with the snow blowing sideways. But there are folks who enjoy that. The freight cycle is very different too. Flatbedding (at least at Prime) is tied to the ups and downs of construction to a great extent... so right now is very slow for them. Those same people don't quit eating when it gets cold out, so the reefer side has ups and downs but seems to be more consistant.

Flatbedding is an option out of training, but its harder to get a trainer because our flatbed division is small compared to the reefer division. You can get your training done on the reefer side, then switch to flatbed and get another 30 or so days of securement training later.

Depends on what you want to do... flatbedders love what they do - most wouldn't trade it for a different side of the industry. Personally, I'm not real wild about climbing up on top of a load 13' off of the ground, and doing it in whatever the weather has to throw at you. OTOH, dealing with reefer appointments and putting-up with slow/incompetant lumpers tends to drive flatbedders out of their tree.

 

I must be wrong about the miles, but I know it was the mid-3000's, and yes we were allowed to run much faster back then. I was on the Lease program. My truck was governed at 72 mph and I was wearing a groove in I-10 between TX and CA.

We were pulling a lot of coils for beer cans, etc. Some building materials and structural steel too, but coils and ingots seemed to be the bread and butter for us then. I practically lived out of Ontario, CA and ran mostly back and forth to Texas, so it was easy to make hard fast miles back then.

I would still recommend the flatbed option. I would rather be paid to tarp (really not that hard or challenging) than screw with lumpers and meat plants, etc...

ETA: I'm presently signed on with a local reefer carrier, but have been promised a skateboard slot as soon as one opens up!

 

My cruise is set on 54mph almost all the time. The reason I pick 54 instead of 55 is because if they look up your driving habits on a printout, your speed is in shown by how many hours you drove in specific brackets. So, for example, 50 - 54 is one bracket and the next bracket is 55 - 59. If they ever get a printout of my driving, the majority will be in the 50 - 54 bracket. I get a copy of the printout from time to time when I'm in Sprimo.

I don't really understand the company drivers who go faster than 55 to 57mph. Yeah, it would be nice to pass people every now and then, but I almost never have a problem making my appointment times running 54mph. It might make things a bit tighter, but I get paid the fuel bonus and keep everyone in the office happy.

As far as driving 3500 miles or more...those days are over at Prime. Welcome to New Prime.

I've heard our flatbed side has been hurtin'. I don't know if I'd want to switch over until this economy improves. But then again, I'm not on the flatbed side, so take it for what it's worth.

 

Hey everyone, I'm in SprMo now and have all my sim time, permit(even double/trip and tank) and I need an instructor. I'm a PSD and will even join up with you in Tenn, Miss, or BAMA. I live in Tupelo and I'm ready to get the miles and get goin. I'm a very quick learner and am also a very motivated person. Feel free to call me 662-891-7294

 

Are you joking? Must be? Hard to tell with you.

 

Believe it or not, sometimes 58 is better than 55. Im always 55 on the flats.

Call me crazy, but I get better milage running 58 across WY on I80. Seems to be just enough to get me up alot of those smaller hills without having to downshift to 9th.

Key is get to the top with as little downshifting as possible and then cutting off the cruise and Let gravity do most of the work.... cruise control will want to race the engine over the crest and down the otherside until it catches back up to the set speed.

I let gravity take me all the way up to the speed limit (when safe) using the jake and break where needed to keep me at the limit and then coast back down to cruise setting where the cruise is re-engaged.

going down Steep grades I treat with the respect they deserve and downshift etc... to get down them without abusing the brakes

 

Yes u2 I have been okayed to be in orientation in Springfield Mo.

 

Yea but not at Prime

 

Agreed. When I get into the hills, I turn off the cruise. So annoying having it still accelerating while you are going downhill. Such a waste of fuel! Usually I'll keep my speed around 54mph, then speed up slightly before a hill and try to make it up without downshifting. Doesn't always work, but when it does, it's like I won a game.

I actually love drivin' the rolling hills through Missouri on I-44. I am actually able to increase my fuel mileage on those hills. Prime stresses keeping the cruise on, but sometimes it's better to have a keen foot.