Prime, good or bad?

Discussion in 'Prime' started by JNaum, May 18, 2013.

  1. JNaum

    JNaum Light Load Member

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    Aug 12, 2012
    Dyersburg, TN
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    Hello ya'll I got 5 months till my contract with the Army is completed. I am goin to get my CDL when I get out. I am looking at Maverick, Schneider, and Prime. Prime seems like a good company to start out with. I only got one problem with them. I have heard that with prime they kinda force you to purchase your own truck, is this true? Also I would like to hear any experiences good and bad about prime.


    Thank you,

    Jeremiah
     
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  3. PowderBlue

    PowderBlue Light Load Member

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    Dec 18, 2012
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    I was scheduled with Prime but ended up going with a smaller company .. Millis Transfer. Check em out. Pretty sure your in the hiring area if going OTR. I got my CDL thru them and now I am in my own truck. SO far no complaints. Pretty sure you can get your school loan to pay for everything as well. The deal breaker for me with prime was the fact I had to take a Small truck in order to get decent pay. I believe its a 5cent bonus per a mile if you take a lightweight truck. With Millis I get a fullsized sleeper and you get bonuses for mileage. With all the perks your looking at 33-37 cents a mile starting out Which is not bad at all imo. I have been solo for a month and have ran 3k miles a week 3 out of 4 weeks. I had a snow storm and bad tire slow me down to 2500 miles one week. I been bringing home somewhere between 800-1100 a week. Not bad for just starting out imo. So far I been getting home when I request. Good luck on whatever you choose. Just putting another option on the block for ya.
     
    Last edited: May 18, 2013
  4. CDL1968

    CDL1968 Medium Load Member

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    Sep 27, 2012
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    There are a few threads on this web site you could look to and you might be interested in searching Prime on-line and finding some of the many law suites brought against them by drivers and O/O over the years. There has even been a congressional hearing about their business practices. The disturbing part is when you see that they don't seem to learn from their mistakes and are often are sued for the something more than once.

    With that said it should be noted that when reviewing a company on these threads keep in mind that most are posted be drivers that have had unpleasant experiences or are currently having one with the company. Normally I will advise you that most companies who take on drivers new to driving tend to more harshly reviewed than those companies who do not take new drivers. most of that is due to the fact that most drivers come into the industry have a lot of misconceptions and romantic ideas that they received from trucking school, trucking companies, media, and even experienced driver. Once the new driver is out here on the road those misconceptions and ideas are quickly shattered and the easiest one to blame is the company.

    There are some companies out here that I have no idea how they even stay in business and there are some excellent ones too you just have ask questions and read threads to come up with your own opinion.

    With all that said I personally would quit driving altogether before I went to work for Prime. I'm sure there are a lot of drivers that have made a home at Prime, but there are some people who make living on the street a home that doesn't mean I want too.
     
  5. Chucktaylor

    Chucktaylor Road Train Member

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    Do you really believe the BS you spew.

    Congresstional hearings? Just blew your credibility with that claim. Proves you just regurgitate rumors and truck stop gossip.

    ask OOIDA about their lawsuit. Haven't won one against Prime yet. Maybe they can tell you how much of your dues went to pay the Prime's legal bills (yep theu lost that judgement to). That's not a rumor, you can look that one up.
     
  6. JNaum

    JNaum Light Load Member

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    Aug 12, 2012
    Dyersburg, TN
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    O wow thanks CDL for that info did not know that. Also I am looking at Maverick they seem like my better choice.
     
  7. silenteagle

    silenteagle Road Train Member

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    If you are dumb enough to believe that crap that CDL1968 posted then you might not be a good Prime candidate. I was an instructor for the Army and in the Army and I can tell you that Prime has one of the best training programs in the industry. Have you checked out this thread?
    http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...27-new-prime-inc-what-expect-springfield.html

    Not a word of what CDL1968 posted is true. Sure, plenty of people fail out of the industry and need someone to blame... I have met plenty of people here who are great drivers with millions of miles. I have become a successful Owner Operator at Prime and have trained 4 people who are successfully driving their own lightweight trucks (company drivers I might add)

    Let me emphasize this: Nobody at Prime will try to pressure you or talk you into leasing a truck. You do not have to purchase or lease a truck once you finish your training. It's an option, but most of us here recommend that you go company first.

    I guess you have two sides to a story, now it's up to you to do your homework and make up your mind......
     
    Rumblestrip Thanks this.
  8. silenteagle

    silenteagle Road Train Member

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    Ozark, MO
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    How do you say that you "have to take a small truck" to make money at Prime? Prime's starting pay is well above the CPM that you quoted, even without the lightweight bonus. Please don't post BS if you don't know what the H E double hockey sticks you are talking about!
     
  9. JNaum

    JNaum Light Load Member

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    Aug 12, 2012
    Dyersburg, TN
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    even trucking forums have trolls lol, but anyway, i heard that they pressure to be a owner op or a lease op. Which I am only 22 and I do not need my own truck at the moment lol
     
  10. silenteagle

    silenteagle Road Train Member

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    You heard completely wrong. The do not pressure anyone to lease a truck. The people that do the orientation and upgrade don't even ask. If you don't specify, they will automatically put you in the company upgrade classes. It is up to you to identify yourself before they will move you to the lease classes.
     
    da1 Thanks this.
  11. Rumblestrip

    Rumblestrip Light Load Member

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    May 20, 2010
    Rogers, Arkansas
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    I am going to Prime on the 28th of May. I have done abundant research and have found them to be the best "fit" for me. I have talked to several drivers and have asked about pressure to lease, they have all told me that Prime does not pressure anyone to lease. You can "hear" a lot, but consider the source. Talk to some Prime drivers and find out the real skinny.
     
    silenteagle and Freckles Thank this.
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