Leasing at Prime

Yes, a few days ago my DEF injector became clogged and almost shut me down. At first the check engine light came on with the code for the DEF injector. After I stopped at TA Cheyenne with the intention to push to SLC, the little yellow DEF light on the fuel gauge started blinking. That is the yellow/red light of Derate that will slow you down alot (the EPA requires this, although the truck could run normal in this condition) I was told to go directly to the frightliner dealer and park. Got repowered and repaired within 12 hours. (stopped in at 0200, shop opened at 0700, truck in the shop at 1030 and out at 1230) and was covered by the warranty.

Back in September, the Detroit Diesel guy showed up at the Sprimo yard looking for trucks to software update. He told me that the DEF system was programmed wrong and was injecting during the regen period that was clogging up the DEF injector. The software update was supposed to fix this, but with 90k miles already, I was doomed to have this happen. Now that the software update is installed, my DEF injector should be working properly.

WARNING WARNING WARNING - many people have been losing their DEF pumps. The DEF pumps are air operated and can be destroyed by moisture in the compressed air. YOU MUST MUST MUST drain your air tanks daily. Failure to do so WILL destroy your DEF pump, and the warranty could be voided for that part if you fail to drain your air tanks daily.

 

You go thru this for 800 per week, why as a company driver I make far more than 800 per week and I'm home every night. My average week is in the neighborhood of 1100 per week.

 

What is a good suggestion for purchasing fuel. Fill up and put in per trip whats needed. Also what is a ballpark of the % paid to the truck. Meaning how much is avg if there is such a thing does prime charge to move frieght inwhich the driver gets 72% of.

 

While company pay has gone up .02/mile have you seen rate increases or are you still averaging "$1100 per week cash flow" leasing? (you stated this in your first post)

I get the whole point of paying yourself a salary from that $1100 and leaving the remainder for the company to operate on lean times or hopefully to grow. (I saw you mention that you were buying a truck, or had a down payment... so growing in your case)

I have a couple questions, that maybe you covered and I missed them. Im bearing in mind you said average, so it could be higher or lower per week and maybe the entire average has changed depending on how business has been for you.

Is that $1100 average after taxes?

Are there any employee (you) benefits for yourself before getting that $1100 average? Like health insurance, dental, retirement etc or is that post "cash flow?"

Politics aside, assuming Obamacare is here to stay, what does that mean for your business and if you dont have coverage? do you know how much or what to get? Has Prime or your accountant said anything? I say accountant because I understand its the IRS that will be enforcing the mandate.

Please dont take this as being critical. Im considering Leasing, but right now Im taking home on average about a $1k a week as a Prime company driver after subtracting the top tiered health insurance (there are two plans), dental, vison, life and me putting in 10 percent into a matching 401k.

I find it hard to make a leap if I have to give that all up for what seems like more headaches, and uncertainty. For a little more freedom in a questionable economy.

Home time is a ridiculous reason to make the leap. 4 days off is fine, I wish it was more. Yes, Im not being payed. On the other hand, a lease operator has it worse. They aren't generating revenue and those weekly fixed cost charges arent going anywhere. So every day at home is roughly costing the lease guy his fixed costs divided by 7. Ive been lurking for a while and I see that you dont go home much.

 

I cant speak for Prime L/O's but when I have to buy health insurance its going to hurt. Of course there is suppose to be a tax break for those within a certain income level so Im not sure how that will affect me. As for hometime,I personally take my hometime on weekends and when I come to Prime I intend the same. Every other weekend at home is still better on your bottom line imho than takin four days at one time because you dont have that week where you havent been on the road for the majority of the week (which puts a big dent in your settlement). Weekends are typically slower than weekdays as far as freight goes as well,at least on the flat side. Where Im currently leased I take a load home most weekends that delivers monday. Whether that will happen at Prime is hard to say. Ive gotten conflicting answers on that.

 

Ive been with Prime for 3 years. Good luck on that every other weekend deal. There may be a rare instance of a dedicated route, but it probably aint gonna happen... lease or company.

Brace yourself for disappointment and it won't be bad of a let down.

Just because you live in MO doesn't make it easier. You be in line with all the other Flatbed trucks that need loads to get near, thru or to the terminal for any of a million reasons like repairs, students, trainees etc.

 

You know I hear that all the time from you lease guys,what I have yet to figure is why you still have the company driver mindset. I dont intend to ask if I can go home,as an independent contractor I will dictate my hometime,not ask. I also will not be in Missouri much longer,hence one of the reasons Im considering a change.