Prime Inc School

No, you get paid all through training. Once you are a "B" seat you will be teaming with your trainer. Before that, there is training pay. Not sure what that is now, but several years ago when I went through the program it was about $500 a week as I recall... and remember, this was 2003. So... I am sure it is more now. Ask your recruiter. I found the ones at Prime to actually be straight up.

 

Not exactly. There is the instruction phase and the training phase.

Instruction Phase is a little less than a week at the Terminal to get your CDL permit, then a minnimum of 100 hours driving over the road with the instructor (3-4 weeks) When you drive, the instructor is sitting right next to you. You are given a loan of $240 per week to live off of while on the road that is paid back at $25 per week. Its a loan you dont have to take.

After testing and getting the actual CDL then you go to the training phase. Where you run team with your trainer for 60k or 80k. These miles include your trainers driving miles. At 60k you can go solo company at .30/mile and then raised to .34 after 20k solo miles (80k) and then you can lease. OR, stick with the trainer and get that last 20k faster and then you can still go company or lease.

Pay during training phase is .12/dispatched mile or $600/ week...whichever is greater as long as you are available the entire 7 days. Example of not being available is if you go to your home. If you your trainer decides to take a few days at home, you still get your $600 min if you are on that truck and not at your home.

Price tag for school is around 3k... if you quit before 6 months, after 6 it is cut in half and after a year you are free and clear.

 

I would like to add a question to this thread. I am a little confused on the difference between getting your CDL thru a company school vice a truck driving school. Have heard that if you get your CDL thru a Company that you dont get a certificate, but , if you get it thru a SCHOOL you get a CDL AND a certificate. Is this true??
Thanks for your knowledge, in advance

 

I went threw a out side school in CT, and received a certificate and my CDL. The difference with the certificate, is that some schools like the one I went to you get 3 college credits. I have told that these are the schools you want to go with as most companies look for this. Now my school was for 8 weeks M-F 7am to 5pm everyday including rain or snow. It also give me the choice to go back there anytime I want after I get my CDL for refresher course if I need say for being out of the industry for any length of time and it doesn't cost me any extra..

 

I am steering my sister's boyfriend towards Prime. Simply because of the costs and Real-Time training. The kid will learn so much more in a real experience then could ever be learned obtaining his CDL through a school. He can stick it out for a year there, and do it easier then going with a Swift.

 

Most are lease; but DO NOT do that until you have driven company and understand what running you own business is all about. Here are some minimum guidelines: 6.5mpg average all miles, average 1.50 mile loaded, average 3,000 miles a week, average 140,000 miles a year. This minimum will give you a gross of $210,000 (subtract fuel 21,538 gal # $2.50 gal $53,846) =$156,154. Subtract lease (weekly operating expenses) $900 (x52) = $46,800. Now you have $109,354. Pretty good huh? Don't be fooled. You have to pay twice in taxes as what you did as an employee (because now you are a business owner).
What happens if you only get 6mpg? or only get $1.25 a mile? You get the picture? Know your numbers inside out, before you lease (your FM can help you with it when you run company as to what you would have made if you had been a lease op).
If and when you do lease, YOU MUST (my advice) complete the lease. To do otherwise is to leave lots of your money at Prime. I have completed a lease (used my lease bonus $7,500 and some savings $5,000) and bought a new truck; leased it back to Prime. But now my weekly expenses are only $550.
This has allowed my to now take my truck and go to another company (that only takes O/Os) and get home every week if I want and still make good money. Life is what you make it.

 

Based on my personal calculations: about $15,000 to $20,000 more a year (using the guidelines already mentioned). But, there is more risk (of course) if you are willing to take it. That is why I viewed Prime as a means to an end (O/O), not an end unto itself. But many, many lease ops are on their second, third, fourth, lease. Some have more than 15 years at Prime (can that happen if Prime just screws drivers?). The deal at Prime is that it is a business (just like an O/O). I've heard it phrased "O/O lite". All the bills (and taxes) are paid by you, they will help you, but not hold your hand. Some husband and wife teams live in the truck (no house or kids or bills) and run for the lease term (3 or 4 years), save their money (which would be considerable after 4 years), then pay cash for house/land/car, then do something else.