(New) Prime Inc. Springfield Mo.

there is money still to be made...just got to know who to be a business man and know how to run your own business

 

can u give more info. on scanning from your truck and transflo-ing.



tia bigray

 

Jugg,
I agree with you and he will learn OR NOT.

Their ia still money to be made in this industry even with the competition fuel costs maint. etc. Manageing properlythe truck as a business and respecting it as a business a good living can be made. The problem for many people is they don't know how to manage, prepare and make hard decissions for the benefit of the truck(business) that are necessary to be successful. This all Stems from too high expectations, lack of money management and not being able to make sacrifices for the overall good.

Just my few words or not.......................

 

I've been with Prime for 7 years. The past 5 have been teaming with my wife.
Prime's my 4th company including a stint as an owner/operator in Southern California with Desert Coastal.
True, if you have young children and are keeping a home somewhere, it's not easy. You can spend alot of time on the road. However, if you're young and don't have a ton of attachments, Prime's the place to be. If I had started driving here when I got into the industry, I'd be retired.
As it is, last year my wife and I paid off our home last year with the EOL Bonus. We're averaging 5500 miles a week.. Some better than others sure, but we'll pay off our second home and attached shop this year. We're got plenty of toys to keep us busy so now it's just adding to the account for retirement.
I couldn't ask for more in a company. No, we don't have young children at home. I'm 50 and she's 46. We do have a grand son though and that gets a little tough at times. When she decides to go home for a bit to be Grandma, I go home for a couple days then come back out as an instructor or trainer. And those times are getting fewer and more far between. I like being by myself more and more the older I get.
Word to the wise for anyone here at Prime now or just getting started.....start your emergency fund! It's a lifesavior.

 

Does Prime have a training program for people without a CDL? Hows their training? How much do they pay per mile? Are they taking on no guys? I'm in AZ if it matters. Do new guys get the miles L/O or O/O's do? Thanks.

 

Sorry it took a while to get bqack to you. Prime does have a training program for those without a CDL and with no experience. I'm not sure what the pay is per mile, but give me a day or so and I'll look it up and get updated information to you.
Prime's definately taking on new people, seems like the need for drivers is always growing. Not only that, but face it, there's alot of folks that just aren't cut out for this kind of life. It's not easy, but to me, it's well worth it.
One thing about CDL instruction and training in general. Prime's program is about the best in the industry. A new driver will go out in the real world with a qualified CDL instructor. With in just a few short weeks, and some as short as 2 weeks that man will return to the main terminal in Springfield for the CDL exam and from there be either paired with a trainor or back with his instructor to fulfill his required mileage. The last student I took from CDL exam to completed mileage was alittle over 9 weeks. 2 weeks for the exam instruction and just over 7 weeks to complete 75,000 miles. That mileage requirement has changed a couple of times since the program started and I'm not sure what it is right now.
What I wanted to tell you was that just like anyplace else, there''s good and there's not so good. Some instructors are the top of the line and some leave alittle to be desired. If you decide to come to Prime, and you happen to have an instructor that you don't feel is doing you right or there's some other problem, don't get a case of the red ### and walk off. There's always other instructors and they can get you paired up with someone else. The thing to remember, like I tell my students when I have them, don't ever let a BS personality problem get in the way of your career. Prime's got WAY to much to offer for something like that.
New drivers getting miles? Yep! There's plenty of miles to go around. And here's why in a quick nutshell. Primes system is based on you running as many safe, legal miles as you can. It's how your dispatcher or fleet manager get paid. Your performance reflects on him so it's to his benefit to keep you running. The other reason the miles are there is people in general. I'm an old fart. I got my fooling around done many years ago and this late in life, along with the way I was raised just keeps me working. I don't stop in the truck stops to play, I don't mess with the casinos. I pick up loads and deliver them on time. (And that's the key) On time work and most importantly, safe work, will always get you miles and keep you running.
Again, I think Prime's training program is the best in the industry. Instead of alot of class room time and if you're lucks, drive time shared with 5 or 6 other drivers, you're in a truck with a trainor dedicated to you and you alone. You're learning, while earning, picking up and delivering real loads in the real world. And there's no better way to learn.
And don't sweat being in Arizona. Prime'll get you to a terminal for training.
I don't get a chance to log on here as much as I'd like, but I will find out about the pay for you unless someone comes up with it sooner.
Take care and I hope to see you on the road!

 

Higgins, just wanted to put in my two cents worth.
I was an owner operator for a time leased on to Desert Coastal out of Fontana. I too thought it would be the best to buy and old truck, make sure it was sound and lease on to a company that would keep me going and keep the cadh flowing.
My first load out of the yd to Denver.....the truck blew up on Glorieta Pass outside Santa Fe, New Mexico. Before I had 2000 miles under my best I was stuck with a $6,500.00 bill for an inframe. Seemed like luck was my worst enemy. I made it through that one only to have an alternator go, then a started and before I knew it I was back in debt up to my eyeballs.
I count my blessings I got started with Prime's leasing program not to long after that.

 

Hey Slick50,

I hope it's going good with ya.
Great story I'm dreeeeeam'n of a Frieghtliner already and I don't even have a CDL yet. The fuel prices keep screw'n up my dream'n. I keep remembering the news saying truckers r lossing their trucks because of the high cost of fuel.
U've said that it costs $1750 a mo for the truck & ins. How much do u have to put away each month for other costs, fuel, maint.,tires, oil, repair's, etc. U get fuel at a special price from prime? And Prime doesn't charge u per wk for the trailer?
I don't get the part about were Prime frieght & trailers getting 72% of the gross. I thought you'r getting mileage at $1.40. They must have two programs then a percentage & mileage program then, right?
When u say you get 6 + miles, what speeds r u driv'n? R any of the new trucks gett'n better? U get as many miles as u want. Remarkable. Why r other drivers, at other companies, saying they r'nt getting enough miles? One last question, do you have to unload; what would u advise to haul, Van, flatebed, tanker, ect.
Thanks.

 

Prime would give me 3- 4000 miles a wk if I wanted. Whats the max a person can legally drive a week any way? 11 hrs x 60 mph = 660 miles a day x 6 das, u can get 3960 mi. What r they paying a new driver per mile? I have no CDL. Why don't others get with Prime? I recall they were like a low level outfit, is that why? They still have that image so people don't seek them out? Thanks

 

No offence mannmk7 but, 11x66=726.................so 6x726=4356