New Prime, Inc. - Springfield, Mo.?

Personaly I believe anyone can be an O/O if they can drive a truck, and they are capible of keeping track of there paper work/money. The only difference between being a company driver, and O/O or lease is freedom of choice. Oh by all means, lets not forget the expence of getting your own authority, tags, permits and repairs. It's enough to drive anyone back to being a company driver. Owning your own truck out right would be better than leasing any day of the week. The trucks from Prime are beautiful trucks, equip. with some extras that companies don't provide. You can even have extras added to the extras, if you pay extra. The truth be known it's all for show! Not one of those things will make you as the driver, not one red cent more at Prime leasing than what you can make at any other company, driving a company truck that doesn't cost you a cent in the long run. It will on the other hand make Mr. Robert Lowe the owner of Prime a little richer for each new driver who comes there and leases from them. No one has mentioned the fact that you can end up owing the IRS money since they don't take out taxes on you they 1099 you. That's what ended up happening with us, after 2 years at prime. We were audited and they disallowed half of our deductions, in the end we owe almost $10,000 in taxes.
Personaly I liked driving for Prime, I just didn't like the way they did us. The dispatcher and I had a beef and he would not let us get the miles we needed/ revenue to make a decent paycheck and our bills started falling behind at home and then when we couldn't pay our bills at all, it was time to leave. If you are an a#$ kisser then Prime is the company to be with, but if you speak your mind stay away! I am not kissing a#$ for no one. I speak my mind quite freely, that's why our dispatcher did us the way he did. When I told him that if he couldn't handle the job of dispatching our truck correctly, that he should step down and let a real MAN handle the job, the FIGHT was on! We were LITERILY fighting for our lives. We even went to Robert Lowe (after following the chain of command ladder) about the problems with the dispatcher, we asked for a new dispatcher and was denied that right. There was nothing that could be done, but quit and go somewhere else to make a paycheck. A family can not live on LOVE alone. In conclution, all I can say about Prime is beauty is only skin deep, and ugly holds it's own. A wise man will stay clear of them!

 

I keep reading these bad remarks about Prime but they tend to only come from the same people. I run for prime and could not imagine there being a better company or making better $$$. Trust me, if someone failed it was their own fault and not Primes! There is another link through ask an o/o called "Time for Prime" that you all are welcome to come to and ask real questions to real Prime drivers if you want.

Be good and be safe
Glenn
Prime 67133

 

Just a quick addition:
1. You can get out of your lease anytime you want
2. Prime does not own the lease company. It is not part of the company
3. I can leave my DM whenever I want to but would never want to.
4. You do not have to brown nose or kiss ### if you are good enough to demand respect and you deserve to receive it. Of course there are those who dont deserve it.

 

SEMI RETIRED do you run refer? Also where are most of your runs? East coast? Do you get coast to coast loads? A while back I almost went to Prime and I didnt know if I wanted to be stuck on the east coast all the time, plus I was hearing from different drivers that west coast freight doesnt pay as much as on the east coast. I decided against it, I didnt want to start with a company and not be sure it was right for me. THX

 

Knighton5 First of all you are already in a good spot when you are thinking about moving but do not want to make a rash decision. Try to make it a goal to never make an educated decision that is not based on an educated thought. Everyone needs to choose a company based on his or her own needs and then stay there and make that company part of you. Help it to grow as it helps you to grow.

My runs are based on the need. I stay in the Northeast a lot due to the $$$. But I rad a 2 week fedex out in Denver for Christmas and have been out that way many times. Ive also been to Tampa and to Dallas/Fortworth.
What you need to do when you are at orientation with any company that you choose is to sit down with the DM and tell him or her what you expect out of a DM by telling them what your goals are as well as setting out a business plan and then following it. Tell them that they do not need to change what they do for you but if they do not see eye to eye with your plan then you need to interview the next DM. You are the boss of your own sucess and it is up to you to make sure that you market your own self and to push yourself as the product. If it is not selling then pull the product, (Yourself)
The west does not pay the same as the east and as soon as you hit KS you are pulling up hill the entire way so you use more fuel. But if you go west and then back east it will even out. Again this is all part of your business plan and you have to stick to it. Make a 2 year goal in your head and shoot for it. It will keep you inspired if you have something to work for. If you can trust your DM then he will have to give you crap loads to get ou to better ground for the big fish. My DM is Cody Foster and he is great..

Be good and be safe
Glenn
Prime 67133

 

I also was with Arrow and they were a good company and are even better now is what I hear. I am with Prime and love it! I will run about the same as you because they do let you have what you want and you only slow down if you yourself pull on the reigns

 

I am guessing most of these posts are aimed toward o/o--can anyone say how well the company drivers do? Do solo company drivers actually run 48 states? I have heard lots of good things here about prime and just researching here. Being from the east coast--i really dont wish to be stuck up north all the time. So I am just inquiring if i will be able to go all over? I know they dont start off paying all that great but if you can get the miles and are happy it will be well worth it. Thanks for the info guys! Good luck and Be safe!

 

As a company driver you do not have the freedom as you know to do anything that you want to do. You can not refuse loads and you go where you are told to go.You will find that there are not a lot of company drivers to ask questions to because you pretty much double you check on the other side and have freedom of choice. You will more than likely run all the states though and will run pretty good. If you can run hard you will do ok. But if you have 2 years you may be able to find a driving career closer to home that gets you home on weekends for the same amount of $$$. You may want to check on dedicated runs as well that give you the ability to budget on a weekly basis instead of not knowing what you will bring in. If you have any questions we are glad to help. I post over on Time for Prime as well under ask an o/o.

Be good and be safe
Glenn
Prime 67133

 

I appreciate the info there. I was just curious as to the company drivers. I am looking into several different company's and this forum has helped me a lot. Its really amazing what you find out on here. I would love to be an O/O but just not ready to get in over my head just yet--if you know what i mean. Thanks again! Good luck and Be safe!

 

Sounds like you have a good head on you. My suggestion is to get a year behind you and then see if the road is for you in the first place and learn to understand the business of trucking as much as you can. Knowledge truly is power and can help you to make a decision based on an educated thought. I wish the best for you. Good luck and God bless

Be good and be safe
Glenn
Prime 67133