My Prime INC Experience. (A Running Log)

do not do lease....745 bucks a week is what they where charging me back in 04. I also think that the lease company is owned buy Prime inc. but that's just a suspicion not a confirmed fact. tire fund, this and that....nickle and dime you to death....nothing left to take home, just enough to make it till next pay check. I think I was bringing home $500 a week, and was home 2 days the whole year I worked there. got tired of it, almost gave up on truck driving all together.only reason I stayed so long was so that I wouldn't have to pay for the "school" and to get at least 1 year exp. under my belt for the resume. Got out as soon as I could. I mean really, I could have made $500 a week working in my home town at a non-truck driving job, and been home with my NEW wife at the time every night.Talk about a rough first year of marriage lol. Anyway, it may be different now, for your sake, I hope it is.

 

Success is owned by Rob Low. It IS a confirmed fact...

 

...and what's the problem with that?

 

LOL just more money for him and probably a good move on his part.

 

Workin' for an outfit that makes a pile o' money is much preferable to workin' for an outfit that is always running red.

The guys at Arrow found out about that the hard way...

 

I was under the impression they would hold clases on the material. The frst couple days your doing all the paperwork, physicals, doc checkup, drug test, etc and it will take the entire first day. I ended up studydying all night the first two days. You have to take 3 tests total, combination, air brakes and general. Theyre 3 seperate tests and you can take eachone twice a day for 3 days . If you cant pass by the third day you go home. I passed all mine on the first try. Get your permit before you go. It will save you a lot of time and headache when you get there.

Its a pretty good system. Everything is taken care of for you.

 

So that's how they can pay you more than the rest, because they will just get their money right back in the form of a lease payment from you. It's just another way companies like Prime screw the driver. I would bet that the payment to lease a truck from a third party like Ryder or Pensky or even Pak-Lease would be less costly. I don't know for a fact, but i have a sneaking suspicion that it is. However this is not an option as far as I know, if you want to be a lease operator for Prime. I guess at that point you would be an o/o, but I don't think even that would be an option as an o/o at Prime. Plus as I understand it, Prime keeps all the good paying loads for their company drivers who get paid differently, and less, than the o/o. which leaves the o/o's with loads that don't have any meat left on the bone. This is just from my exp. back in 04 and is mostly speculation, However, I have spoken with several Prime drivers since then and from what I hear its the same "not making much take home" and "Haven't been home in forever". I really do hope it's not like that anymore, Honestly.

 

All of the drivers I have talked to, including my trainer recomend leasing. Havent heard a single complaint and most pay 900-1000 a week. Im not sure which route ill take just yet.

 

Daycab doesn't know anything about Prime. Ignore him, all he wants to do is complain and talk about a company he knows nothing about.

That being said, you ought avoid leasing, at least for a while, as pretty much everybody will tell you. I make just as much as that number you quoted as a company driver- and I don't have all the headaches.

 

Yea im leaning towards staying company just get get some experience under my belt first.