ask your questions about prime inc here

We do a ton of business in Cali... mostly north of your area a bit. Lots of loads go into Riverside, and we load produce going out. You won't have a bit of problem getting back for home time.

 

Wondering about what the average length of haul for OTR reefer loads is, I see a lot of you guys in the meat plants, I live in the north east(upstate NY) so heading there with meat loads doesn't sound like a problem.. How are they about running legal, do they coerce drivers into fudging Elogs ( like my company does, ie , logging sleeper while truck it being repaired), and even schedule enough time on the load to compensate for traffic/ winter weather/ HOS/etc? ( I'm not looking to sit in truck stops playing the cherry master machines all the time, but being able to get adequate rest helps so I don't get myself or anyone else killed)? Is dispatch for OTR mainly out of Springfield, or is it in the terminal nearest to where the driver lives, how supportive to drivers is the dispatch staff, and how well does the company communicate between terminals, dispatchers, and drivers?


Also I'm curious about the orientation for experienced drivers... Are the procedures/ company policies well described or is it a lot of vague info, and how long is it, how are the accommodations and overall attitude of the company towards experienced applicants? FYI , I have 18 years experience, no wrecks,tickets, arrests or even a criminal history but have yet to re-aquire the hazmat endorsement or twic card.

 

Depends. In the NE, the runs are shorter, 200-500 miles. We have much longer runs for teams as well... Washington state with apples for Florida, say. You need to talk to your FM about what you want to be doing.

The loads are nominally dispatched at 50 mph. That doesn't always work because this IS trucking. It's up to you to tell a dispatcher to stuff it. That being said, there is very little tolerance for running illegally at Prime.

No. It's up to you how you will go about logging your non-line 3 activities. Dispatch has no access to the elog database, and the logs department is independent from the operations side. OTOH, if you're in the sleeper while the truck is being repaired, I'd be logging sleeper berth. Your logs are for you to manage, and how you go about using/conserving your 70 is up to you.

Yep, they add to the schedule during winter, but dealing with traffic is something they expect you to do. If you have problems with making an appointment, you need to communicate that with dispatch as early as possible so you and they can come up with a plan. Being a larger carrier, it's easier to do repowers. I've never been coerced into running in bad weather (that's illegal BTW) and Prime will reschedule appointments when they can't get a repower worked out. OTOH, all we really have to differentiate us from the other carriers is our service, so on time is very important here.

Springfield is our largest terminal, so the largest proportion of us are dispatched out of there. Living up in the NE, you'd probably be dispatched out of Pittston PA. We also have dispatch offices in Salt Lake City, and Denver.

Your primary Fleet Manager is your business partner whether you are company or lease. It pays to have a good relationship with him/her. I've had 4 FMs at Prime, and each one of them have been very professional, and have done a great job dispatching me. Night/weekend stand-in's are hit or miss. If I've had a problem about running legally it's been with them. Stand up for what you know to be right and legal, and I've never had a problem with that.

Pretty well. You do have to stay on top of things to make sure it all happens the way it needs to.

It's organized chaos, but how you deal with that is part of their evaluation of you. Things are pretty well described from my memory of it... it's been awhile. You do need to ask questions, and be ON TIME EVERYWHERE!

3 days for you, then its off to get a truck.

In Springfield, Prime owns an old Howard Johnson's that has been completely remodled... it's good. Food is cafeteria style there, but there's an excellent grill in the main terminal, which is a really nice facility. Orientation at SLC or Pittston has you in a nearby motel.

Everyone is valued. Do your job with a minimum of drama, safe, on-time and legal... and you'll get everyone's respect here.

 

Hey ironpony I've been considering comming out of the local scene of truck driving, and I'm considering PRIME very seriously. If I may ask, what is the average bring home after all the payments. If you ever pick up at night at maxwell house in Jacksonville just ask for me and I'll get you some free coffee. Thx

 

So I talked to a Prime recruiter today. Its very entertaining knowing more about their company then they do. Thank you TTR and hours of reading the Prime information threads. I was curious though.. My initial plan was to go to CDL school on my own dime here at home but the recruiter pushed for Prime's school (for obvious reasons) but raised a couple good points. So I was curious what opinions you guys had on the pros and cons of Prime school vs. Private school. Also when I told him I live in southern California he immediately said that reefer would probably work best for me.. Then when I said I was interested in flatbed he said yeah you can do that also... Is there a reason why he would push reefer? From what I have read flatbed is pretty good with you guys and I know all that is involved with it.. Just looking for opinions. Thanks guys.

 

Haul alot of produce out of CA.
As far as the school goes, is up to you, If you go with Prime then you will have a 1 yr obligation or you have to pay them back. If you go to a private school then you have to pay for it, unless you can get grants etc. If you go with Prime then you will actually be drive a truck within a week after getting to oreintation, within 4 weeks, you will actually have 75 hours min of real driving time, BEFORE you get your CDL. If you go with a school, then I don't think they can match that.

If you go with a school, then you will still have to do 30K miles after you come to Prime with a TNT trainer, if you go with Prime, you still will have to do the 30K of miles after PSD.

 

That makes sense. So are there any reasons I wouldn't want to do flatbed living out of Southern California? I am leaning heavily towards it because I have been doing similar work for the past 9 years. Strangely enough I enjoy doing that stuff. I have been a tow truck driver for 9 years now. And even though I do light and medium duty stuff. I have run with the 35ton wrecker and landolls so I know what I am getting myself into. But i can't remember ever seeing a Prime flatbed truck in my area...

 

Don't know if they run much freight out of South CA, here in NV I see them occasionally mostly running north south. Plus it does not pay as well as running reefer if you go company.

 

Yeah I know. .38 instead of, .42 for driving the light trucks. Lol I'm a big man though.. I require a big man's truck.. Kidding. But yeah honestly the first two years of truck I consider to be setting myself up for the rest of my career. So if I have to make a little less but put myself on the path I want I'm ok with that.

 

I think it may be more like .36, but not sure, best to check with a recruiter