Considering obtaining a CDL with Prime

1-3 are true.......they pay layover and detention.....they have company trucks....you complete 50,000 miles with a trainer and u will make .30cpm as company..do it an extra 20,000 get .34cpm.......during trainin u make .12 cpm....or 600 a week whatever is greater

 

As a company driver I've never gotten detention. Of course, I've never really gotten screwed at a shipper or receiver, yet. You will receive a fuel mileage bonus on a scale that starts at 6.75 mpg. That is a minimum and you will be expected to keep it over 7.0. Also, you get $20 for extra stops and $50 for running a placarded haz-mat load.

Training is pretty much all on the road. 4 day orientation would most likely be at Springfield terminal.

 

Prime is a GREAT company to work for, see my posting on Prime orientation 2010.

 

I drove on the company side for nearly 3 years - never once was I approached about leasing. That's totally up to you. My standing suggestion is for a new driver to spend a year at least (more is better) learning how to drive the truck efficiently, learning about trucking, and especially - learning how to run a business before even thinking about a truck lease.

Signed my first lease this summer, and have been doing very well since.

What Empton said about extra pay. On the company side you can get some money for unloading or assisting unloading your trailer - IMO, its not worth the trouble. You're better off taking a nap. Never got a cent in detention either - although the company does agressively pursue detention for lease drivers. You MAY get some extra pay from your FM for some things - but that is totally up to him/her, there's no company policy on that.