Did Prime get slowed down to double nickels?

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by TruckRunner, Apr 27, 2018.

  1. UsualSuspect

    UsualSuspect Road Train Member

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    I left there a few months ago, was company, and you do sign a paper stating you need to average 8.0. I still ran it at 62, which was the top for the governor, and during the winter averaged 7.1, but I run out west. I still was paid fuel bonus on every mile, and had 1 week my average was 6.2, no one ever said a word, when I called and asked about it, I was told not to worry about it since I was almost always at max gross and running the mountains. I am not sure if they use it to terminate those who need to go as they are borderline on being able to drive.
     
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  3. truadvocate

    truadvocate Light Load Member

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    No. They don't terminate for that.

    You just get fewer miles and decide to go elsewhere.
     
  4. AlBig

    AlBig Light Load Member

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    They did give you good training
     
  5. AlBig

    AlBig Light Load Member

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    It's not relaxing IT'S road block get life and get better track
     
  6. UsualSuspect

    UsualSuspect Road Train Member

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    You would be surprised at the number of trucks and 4 wheelers driving 55 or slower, you just notice Prime trucks because there are so many of them compared to mom and pops, and you probably pass the same one more than once a day. I also noticed I would get passed by a truck, then a few hours later passed again by the same truck, and this would repeat all day long. I always wondered if the other drivers noticed they were passing the same truck a few times a day. Apparently they stop more, so how relaxing could it be?
     
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  7. Hoofbeats

    Hoofbeats Road Train Member

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    It's quite relaxing being able to do the speed limit out west. I don't have to try to pee in a bottle while driving down the road. I don't have to use my pee hands to feed my face behind the steering wheel while going down the road.

    When nature calls,I'm able to use the facilities at a rest area or truck stop like a human being. When I get hungry, I stop at a place where I can sit down and be served a halfway decent meal.
     
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  8. UsualSuspect

    UsualSuspect Road Train Member

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    I always stopped every few hours, never used a pee bottle, and will usually grab a rest area bench if the weather is good for a meal as I don't buy truck stop food, make my own. I don't remember ever resetting my clock at Prime, always ran recaps, did 2,500 to 3,000 miles a week. Since being in an ungoverned truck, I usually go the speed limit, but notice the only difference is a few more miles a day, but the monthly is about the same, and since I am not paying for fuel it doesn't bother me that I went from being around 8 this time of year, down to 6. The difference in fuel cost, 120,000 miles /8 = 15,000 gal x 2.95 = $44,250, and I get 6 now, so 120,000 miles /6 = 20,000 gal x $2.95 = $59,000. It cost $14,750 more in fuel, and I am still averaging the same number of miles per week, between 2,500 and 3,000.
     
    Last edited: Apr 29, 2018
  9. Hoofbeats

    Hoofbeats Road Train Member

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    I do that many in a week.
     
  10. UsualSuspect

    UsualSuspect Road Train Member

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    I fixed it, it is a week.
     
  11. Long FLD

    Long FLD Road Train Member

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    About the only time I drive fast is Thursday or Friday when I’m done for the week.
     
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  12. skellr

    skellr Road Train Member

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    I don't think you can really say faster is better or slow is better. It depends on where you are going, or if you have a set appointment, or what kind of traffic is around.

    Sure, you can drive fast and get an extra load but how much does it cost? Not just the cost of fuel and extra wear, but the stress of needing to "go faster" to get it done. The left lanes(s) are always plugged with someone in their own little world. Over and over someone is going to be in the way when you want to go fast. It has a cumulative effect that will wear you down. What is the cost of that? How much did that extra load make and was it really worth that much work? Like the bull on the hill.

    I was a Company Driver for Prime for a bit. :D Surprisingly, traffic flowed around me the best when I ran 55, especially on two lane roads. Yes, two lane "skinny" roads. People could pass much easier and go on down the road. when you bump it up to 62 then there would be a bunch, 6-8, that would line up behind and spending much more time in a undesirable situation because it was harder to pass.

    If people driving 55 if causing you so much trouble then maybe you need to look further ahead... Don't blow a gasket when you run into that old RV doing 45 or the farmer doing 40.
     
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