Marten or Prime? If only these two?

Discussion in 'Marten' started by TampaTraveler, Sep 27, 2014.

  1. TampaTraveler

    TampaTraveler Bobtail Member

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    Feb 28, 2014
    Tampa, FL
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    I'm debating between marten and prime which would you prefer and why?

    Thanks in advance!!
     
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  3. 201

    201 Road Train Member

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    Apr 16, 2014
    high plains colorado
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    Hi Tampa, that's a toughie. Kind of like Mountain Dew or Mellow Yellow. I used to think Marten was a better company, but a while back, someone wrote in about how Marten screwed them over , and fired them for a seemingly minor deal. I don't know enough about Prime, but seems to be the butt of a lot of jokes. I'd still lean towards Marten, being from Wis. I knew some people that drove for them, and they were happy. Good luck.
     
  4. precisionpower

    precisionpower Light Load Member

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    oshkosh wi
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    Marten trucks are fast compared to Prime, So i know where i'd go
     
  5. Vintage

    Vintage Light Load Member

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    Mar 16, 2013
    Sea to Shining Sea
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    I have a couple friends who work for prime and they seem to be doing alright.
     
    Last edited: Sep 27, 2014
  6. PChase

    PChase Road Train Member

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    If you want to go to a company based ONLY on how fast their trucks are then you need to rethought your think process.
     
  7. TampaTraveler

    TampaTraveler Bobtail Member

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    Feb 28, 2014
    Tampa, FL
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    Speed of a truck is not my main focus and yes read a few things about Marten, these companies can not make everyone happy. Thanks soo much for your help I really appreciate it ;
     
  8. skibum_63

    skibum_63 Road Train Member

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    Oct 12, 2007
    somewhere, USA
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    marten cons
    Forced perdeim and they then charge you 2-3 cents per mile as a administrative fee .
    You will see lots of rail yards. They put a large portion of their otr loads on the rail, even though some customers don't want thier loads on the train.
    They have gone the regional Business route.
    But beware, they will take a east coast regional driver and strand him on the west coast or a west coast driver on the east coast, then tell each, they cant get back to where they belong, cause there is no loads. Ah it's on the trains.
    Home time, they used to have a 50.00 per day missed home time pay, 50.00 a day, if you were late getting home. They did away with that, and tell you, we have no loads to get you home. It's on the train.
    Be ready to be MICROMANAGED. If your not rolling 1 min. after your 10 hr break is up, your phone is ringing.
    Oh and don't damage any of the equipment, Randy Marten will scribble a hand written not and mail it to you , thank you for costing him money.
    And they do have a social media policy , that forbid your from saying anything negative about them on any social media outlet. To do so, will result in your termination.

    If a mega carrier believes they are so great, then what do they have to worry about, when a employee voices their opinion. Last i heard,
    We have the right of Freedom of speech in this country.


    Prime cons.
    55-58 mph trucks. I see Crete passing them all the time now. Even Swift and Central.
    Ya that make more cents per mile, by come on, do you want to drive a 55 mph truck, and always get told your a slow ### prime truck, get off the road.?
    Here tell they get 3 days to go 800 miles. So it sounds like your sitting a lot.
    You need to think about staying away from the mega carriers and look at those companies with less than a thousands trucks.
    I drive for a small 300 truck FAMILY OWNED / OPERATED , where they know me by name and face. And i don't have to wait for a door to be unlocked, or put my ear up against bullet proof glass to hear what the person on the other side is saying. I can walk in , sit down next to my dispatcher, or even the owner, and start talking to them.
     
    bnpcamaro and TampaTraveler Thank this.
  9. PChase

    PChase Road Train Member

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    If you have never driven for prime then don't go making mid informed posts about them. Oh sure you may think you "know" about them but all you do know is obviously based on; 2nd, 3rd, 13th, 2574th or 368578642nd hand conversation.
     
  10. Scooter15801

    Scooter15801 Bobtail Member

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    Apr 3, 2013
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    Micro managed where? I've been with Marten over 4 years now and my phone doesn't ring when my 10 hrs break is up. I drive according to my delivery appointment to where I'm there 1 hr early.
    Yes the per diem is charged at 3 cpm but i claim my per diem at the end of year anyways.
    All long loads on rail? Highly unlikely because I see the west cost every month and I live in Pennsylvania and I do get home on time every time. My monthly mileage average is 12,000 so I don't sit alot. That shorter load may put you in position for a longer load. But you complainers think every load has to be 2000 miles.

    With any company it all depends on what your needs are. No company is perfect and once you find the company that suits you and how you drive you'll be happy there.
     
  11. purpleprime

    purpleprime Medium Load Member

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    May 30, 2013
    spickard, mo
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    I know nothing about marten so I won't say anything about them .. Prime has lightweight trucks for company drivers the recruiters will tell you that is an option take a lightweight truck we give you more money that is mostly false if your a company driver you will be in a lightweight there is some exceptions to that some very large guys have gotten into full size trucks because they couldn't comfortably sleep in a lightweight . prime company trucks are governed at 62 not 58 or 55 most prime trucks will run 55 to 58 that is their choice because prime offers a very nice fuel bonus . they have some of the best and well kept equipment on the roads today and I would say one of the fastest growing fleets taking over the world one 55mph truck at a time .
     
    bigkev1115 Thanks this.
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