Help, I Don't think I Understand Prime Training Pay

If only payroll were so concise!

 

Yeah, well, $600/week is more than what JCW was making as an auto mechanic. With 20+ years experience, certified out the wazoo. I'll be honest, the $600 guarantee, AND the higher wages after training is why we chose Prime. This week, with all the accessorial stuff he's gotten paid, he made 40.6 cpm and 8 cpm per diem. Not too shabby. We BANKED more than an average paycheck pre-trucking. AND we now have medical/dental insurance, etc.

People can poo-poo all they want. We are a one income family. He loves his job. His stress level is WAY down. He's not constantly angry anymore (not that he was angry at us, just his previous job situation). Yes, he misses us, and we miss him. But you know what? He's not stressing himself into an early grave. I'd miss him a lot more then.

 

So how does the perdiem work?

 

I'd have to hung up statements for his training, but now that he's solo, 8 cpm of his 38 cpm total is per diem. That 8 cpm is exempt from tax withholding. It's great for the company, as they get to pay less matching funds to SSI and FICA, etc. Can be good or bad for the driver depending on your personal tax situation.

I seem to remember 1.9 cpm or 2.2 cpm during training.

 

12cpm if you and you partner run 5000 miles thats $600 gross....

Thats alot of miles for $600 gross...

 

Your point? Schneider, Swift, CRE, et. al. All pay around 1/2 that for the same distance....

 

6cpm? Where do I sign up?

 

That's what a TRAINEE gets paid. Its a guaranteed wage, assuming the individual is available for dispatch.

What U2 said for company-side trainers. On the lease side, you just get the trainees pay (FICA, etc) deducted from your settlement. Lease ops are paid a percentage of linehaul, fuel surcharge, etc.

 

LOL! JCW completed his 40k in 3 months, and now earns much better than 12cpm. TYVM. Like I said he BANKED more than his gross earnings as a mechanic this week. We've had a couple of hiccups (exploding hot water heater coupled w/ holiday w/ crappy load timing). But by and large, we are happy where we are. Didn't see the hot water explosion coming, but it came just as he turned in a 3700 mile week (some carryover included there), so I just made THAT check last me 2 weeks. Given that he averages over 40 cpm, as a rookie driver, we'll take that to the bank.

And now I can take the kids to the doctor when they need to go. (Please, tho, no more ankle breaks or bi-lateral 3rd degree sprains. I don't think my heart can take it.) I can take them to the dentist without wondering how long we'll be eating ramen morning, noon and night. People question our decisions. All I can say, is WE know our situation better than any of you. And we made the right decisions for US.

 

CRE pays .12 cents a mile for a Phase 2 trainee(if the person decides to go Phase 2)