Leasing at Prime

Well, I just wanted to say thanks for all the info and advice from everyone here on this thread. I finally made the move here to Prime. Just picked out my truck and signed all paperwork today. I get my cb installed in the morning and then I should be ready to roll!

 

Install u r self and save $45...

 

Seriously. I have the star bits to do it if you need to use them.

 

I have the star bit as well. My cb is a old galaxy 44v. Its huge and the mic comes out from the side so they had to do some modifications to make it fit. Trust me well worth the 45 bucks!

 

Hey IP what would you say on average is your wait time loading and unloading at customers? is prime good at paying detention to the l/p guys? what's the rate? Thanks.

 

Do Lease Operators Have To Pay Quarterly Taxes As Well As Owner Ops?

 

Going to prime on monday to take the lease class,going to take this opportunity to apologies to iron pony for some stuff that i said in the past, i feel ready,already spoke to a FM on the lease side,so i already have a good FM a moneymaker,if i dont like the lease my company FM would take me back,money in the bank good FM,TNT trainer i think is a go.😎😎😎

 

Ok, Since I trifected, I haven't posted anything...so here's the update.

I leased immediately after upgrading on December 27 2013. I felt that I could do this because I have been a business owner and a fleet manager for a charter bus company. In a nutshell---NO REGRETS. I was undecided until the very last minute and decided to bite the bullet. I believed that if I could be self employed in Spain, not understanding the bureacracy there, then trucking in the US should be easier.

I have never been in the hole since the first check, not even after taking a two sets of 4 days of hometime. I drive a T680, average anywhere from 8.1 to 9.27 mpg, (I run between 56 and 61 mph) and yes I have the records to back it up. I run solo with my chocolate labrador Kika, and an occasional family member. My lowest settlement check was $19.47, AFTER deducting for the equipment that was installed (fridge, side box, chains, load locks, and other stuff bought at the company store), e-fund of $250.00, fuel, tractor payment and et cetera. My highest settlement was $2318.00, again after all the above. I have had seven weeks above $1,600, but the average has been $1100. I don't consider this too bad for a rookie.

I do turn down loads when they are not in my favor, especially at Gloucester Terminal in Jersey. I threatened to park my truck for a week rather than accept a load that was paying half of the original load, which was cancelled when I arrived. Within 30 minutes my fleet manager had another load that was paying $2.83 a mile to ME; on the return I was paid $1.81 to NJ. I do not hesitate to ask for layover pay, like last wednesday when i picked up a defective trailer. I lost one full day of dispatch at TA and at Phil's county line repair in michigan having repairs done because the previous driver did not note the brakes, mud flaps, faulty air lines...... Again, I have all my records and settlement statements to back it up.

Regarding settlement statements; I believe all LO's should understand every single line of every single page. I have caught 6 errors since January, all in my favor totalling just under $1,000.00. Your fleet manager and payroll manager can take the time out to explain each line. I did not hesitate to call or email either when I discovered a discrepency, or had a general question.

I buy fuel on network, pay attention to discounts, don't take advances unless I know I need to pay a toll that is not on EZ pass. I use GPS routing and then compare to the macro 27 and reconcile the difference. I avoid routing over hills, if possible. If not, then I suck it up and accept reduced mpg figures. Anything that is not truck related, I pay for out of my own pocket. So far my profit has averaged 53 cents per mile in the first quarter. After deducting for my Q1 tax payment, I have netted over 8k.

I'm not posting this to paint a rosy picture. This has been my reality, and I realize your results will vastly differ. Any questions, feel free to shoot me a PM. I drive 940060.