ask your questions about prime inc here

The way I used to work it I would stay out 4-5 weeks, then work it to where I was around where I called home for 5-7 days. I might have to pick up, or deliver a load locally for that extra day or 2 but it usually was worth it. That was not with Prime, but I imagine they would be about the same.

 

You know if you going to stay out that long and you don't have a safe place to park the truck. Then why don't you just rent a safe place to park the truck. Some storage units have spaces they rent for rv's, it would have to be a gated facility, with cameras. Some of them even have security guards, or watch dogs they use a night. You'd have to clear the idea, and probably the particular facility with prime first, but I don't see why it wouldn't work as long as you choose one with a higher level of security. You could find a particular storage facility first, get a price, and list of their security measures. When you call recruiting if Prime doesn't have option already set up for your situation such drop yard you can use, and I'd be surprised if they didn't, then you have an option you can suggest. Then you ask recruiting if prime will pay all or even some the storage bill, which they might and they might not but its worth asking. Its hard to say what Swift is paying currently but it used to be when I got into this that the pay difference between Swift and Prime was very significant Swift being less pay. I'm aware that Swift has fairly recently restructured its pay for new hires, and Prime has raised its starting pay as well. Swift has gone to a sliding pay scale which makes it fairly hard to figure out how many cpm drivers actually average but from looking at their pay scale I would guess their new actually average about 35-36cpm before any other incentive pay that Swift probably offers(and Prime does offer) such as detention layover etc. Does Swift offer a fuel bonus idk, here can expect 2-3cpm fuel bonus average though out the year which adds up to around $3000/yr btw. Basically what I'm getting at is there is still a large pay difference between Swift and us. I have no personal experience with them but Swift does however seem to be a good company they many drivers over there that seem pretty happy, prime is also a good company. Now you made reference to being out six months at at time which I also take very limited hometime, you couple that with eliminating a lot of personal expenses such as rent you don't need to pay anymore when you're gone that much and you can do very well out here. 4yrs ago when I started this my bank account looked like this 0.XX cents and my debut $ X, XXX.00 and now the bank account $ XXX, XXX.00 and the debt 0.XX cents. I've learned to only take advise from people who are in a place in life that I want to aspire to. The pay difference between swift and prime maybe $10, 000-$12, 000/yr maybe more maybe less hard for me to say with that sliding payscale they have but there is a difference. If it were me I would go with a good company, that pays as much as I can get when your out here otr you're, away from home and youre giving up your life to a trucking company your time is valuable and your life is valuable get a much as you can for it don't sell it cheap, but above all else do what makes YOU happy. I don't think I would I drive home from salt lake either but if you have to jump though a hurdle and get creative on figuring out safe parking for a truck in exchange for more money then do it. Good luck.

 

Ya if i could pick I would want to go with Prime Inc just for the fact that I hear Swift does not have APU. I know that Prime Inc use APU in the trucks and with the whole idling laws don't want to go jail over that.

 

I have pulled flats, dry box's and refers, and honestly I have always stayed busier and made more money in refrigerated.

 

I'd take lethal injections over Swift.

 

Jail? No.

Fine? Yes.

 

Just curious what the company driver rate is? I heard they raised it recently.

 

Believe it's 43 cpm for company solo (38 + 5 cpm for lightweight tractor).