My Prime INC Experience. (A Running Log)

I can help you w/ these: 1) the eco49 is the lightweight trailer. The lightweight trucks are smaller yes, but hubs found the 5cpm bonus quite easy to live with. 2) ALL of the trucks have APUs. If you happen to get a new truck, you will get an appointment for the APU install, if the APU shop is behind.

 

Does Prime run out of the LA/Ventura Area of Cali? Also how hard is it to get in as a newbie (no experience, just out of CDL training)?

 

Yes, we run out of SoCal. We have a our floral division which has a yard in Oxnard. However, most floral loads are team freight. Ive visited family in CA and I have no problem getting there when I want to go.

You could run western 11 regional or 48 OTR. As a solo you wont find yourself running much CA unless you are heading home or leaving the house. So if you decide you want to go home every 3 or 4 weeks, then you can count on running CA every 3 or 4 weeks.

Thats not to say you cant get out there randomly without going home, its just that they try to send the teams in to CA because most of the freight we haul out is team freight.

Getting on as a CDL holder with no experience is only a bit harder in that you must be within 6 weeks of graduating from CDL school. Anything more than that and they are probably going to want you to get experience elsewhere for 6-8 months before applying to Prime. I say probably because the hiring criteria changes from time to time. This requirement is so that they get you with CDL school fresh in your head, and whatever skills that you have are very minimal from school and they will deteriorate the longer you are out of school.

You would do 40k team miles. Primarily to show you how to operate within the company and how to conduct business. Second to polish your driving skills, and get more seat time driving the various situations before they turn you loose in your own truck.

 

JB What do you mean fenagle a greater solo paycheck? I was told .36 with a .05 add on for the eco49 trailer with smaller truck to total .41 mile and that is solo pay. After training is over etc. You advice is really appreciated.

 

I have read your postings and Prime looks like a good company. I am trying to get back into trucking after 5 years off the road. If I can't find a local company to give me an opportunity to drive for, then I am willing to go back in as a student with the right company. Questions are:

1. Is all training for students done in Springfield, MO?

2. I have my class "A" cdl with "X" endorsement and a TWIC card and want to drive tankers, will training as a student be as a refer driver?

3. Once I complete training as a student, is there an option to train with a tanker driver?

4. I have seen mention of lightweight trucks. What type of trucks are these (Freightliner, Peterbilts, etc.) and why would they allow trainers to drive a smaller truck if that trainer takes on students, if that is the case?

5. I have been to the Prime website and it does not mention terminal locations. Do you know if Texas has a terminal?

There are other questions, but for now if you could give me some info, I would appreciate it.

Thanks

 

There is no sharing of the team bonus with the trainee. As a company driver trainer, 100% of the team bonus has always come to me. Now Fuel bonus to the trainee, is 1/4 of the bonus paid to the truck.

Also, Im not aware of any trainee getting a fuel bonus (even a 1/4) while training with a Lease Op trainer. And certainly not any team bonus.

You wanna check your training settlements from TNT and see if you ever collected a team bonus?

 

Thanks to anyone that can help us with these questions.

 

Questions are answered in bold above

 

hey jimmy bones im signing up with prime so far from wut i see they already want to set me up for the orientation for cdl training my questions are which are the main places u drive too and any advice on altitude sickness in colorado thats wut really has me creeped out and worried any advice will help brother and wut does a basic run look like wen working with prime i just wanna know wut im looking at im green as grass and any tips and advice will help