Leaving Prime

Discussion in 'Prime' started by dogchimp, Jan 27, 2014.

  1. superpet39

    superpet39 Road Train Member

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    Jan 27, 2013
    Bay Area California
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    you know what- youre right, i should have stated only from my experience in CA, where i know it would suffice..... I'll say it until im blue in the face: it takes a "certain type of individual" to succeed at OTR, I for one know that it isn't for me (even though more than likely will have to do it when the time comes due to terrible choices i've made) this is why I take my hat off, and hold OTR drivers in a different light than myself because all I know is local...................................... Since the OP said he wanted to QUIT due to the problems he was having, I wanted to make sure he knew that he had OPTIONS before he made such a drastic decision..... alot of people that start out believe (or are led to believe) that OTR IS THE ONLY WAY TO GET EMPLOYED STARTING OUT: which just isnt true- here in Ca.

    But maybe its different in different states, i can only go by what i personally know here in CA.
     
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  3. Ribeye

    Ribeye Light Load Member

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    Jan 4, 2012
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    [​IMG] Originally Posted by Ribeye [​IMG]
    Well, trucking may not be so great anymore, depends on your perspective. Still money to be made. But whether u can live more cheaply than in a truck, I'm not so sure. If you're a co. driver, then it is the cheapest way. No rent to pay, shop at Walmart, stay busy with a good co., bank your money. I did that for 1 yr. when I started. The pay rate back then was like .18-.19 cents a mile, so guys nowadays need to wake up and smell the coffee. I saved most of my money, always planned to get my own truck. Ever since that first year, always been an o/o, later went independent. Probably the best advice is don't lease a truck through a co., just worked better for me anyways. I could leave when the time was right. Also, today with the internet, why can't you find a partner/dates online in your hometown/anywhere? Guys have it so easy today, I wish I was 23 again. Good luck.
    --------------------------------

    White Dog -----
    He said he wants a life. He doesn't want to live in a truck. Worked for you....but you're not him.
    You feel you did the right thing for you----doesn't mean everyone is gonna agree with you.
    Living in a truck, in a Wal-Mart parking lot is the exact OPPOSITE of what the OP is talking about.
    -----------------------------

    Like I said, I saved for one yr. to buy my own equipment, not thru a leasing trk co. like Prime. I didn't say I live in the truck and always park at walmarts, but its a way to save money for sure, as long as your lease co. is keeping you busy with good-paying freight. I got a life, a house, got married along the way, and get home most every roundtrip. I thought Chimpdog made it sound like money was the over-riding issue, so I said it is possible to make it work. Is it easy, of course not. It's pretty obvious OTR is not for everybody either. So if money is the issue, I'd take OTR, but you need to work hard, lease to the right carriers. Sometimes people give up when the going gets tough, ya know. Just trying to be encouraging to chimpdog, as he has already gone thru the hoops to become a business-owner. Thats not easy, so why give that up now. How about you White dog, are you an o/o or co. driver?
     
  4. ironpony

    ironpony Road Train Member

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    Sep 23, 2007
    Ask my GPS...
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    The OP is a company driver, he'd be getting 42-cpm at this point.
     
  5. dogchimp

    dogchimp Medium Load Member

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    Jan 31, 2013
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    Thanks ip, I've been in Canada so no internet, like I said if I lived in any other area of the country then Chicago I would consider going local, hell I even have an in at 3 companies out of elmhurst, but they all require you to drive downtown Chicago on the streets, everyday, and they pay crap
     
  6. Danfromwindsor

    Danfromwindsor Road Train Member

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    Have you thought about a regional carrier? Speaking from experience you are in a great area for Maverick flatbed. They have a yard in Gary. You'd be home the vast majority of weekends there and their company pay is comparable to Primes and great equipment. Prime has the dedicated in Olney also for reefers.
     
  7. Vegas Reaper

    Vegas Reaper Light Load Member

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    Sep 5, 2011
    Las Vegas, NV
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    honestly bubba I would hang in there and make money and get experience now and get out later. youre young and have time, I made the mistake of not sticking to my plan back in 97 when I started driving was to go 5 years and put all my money in savings and start my own business in my late 20s and walk away from trucking at that point. Instead I went out on the road for a short bit, got frustrated, came back home and found a low paying class B job, paid rent, had bills, met my now ex-wife and raised her kid, worked my but off at 3 jobs to make ends meet, and now years later and 2 marriages into my sidetracked plan, not a day goes by that I say what if...... I had stuck to my plan back then in my early 20s and made better choices. it is possible to just hang in the truck for a while and bank your money, theres plenty of regional opps even at prime. Before you walk away from trucking just consider the effort you already put out to get this far and to maybe hang in there for a while and who knows? pay cash for a house one day, save a lot of money, then when youre ready and financially prepared you can chase tail and worry about having kids and getting a divorce. make your money now and stay out of debt and the later years will be easier hopefully.
     
  8. superpet39

    superpet39 Road Train Member

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    Jan 27, 2013
    Bay Area California
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    couldn't have said it better myself
     
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