New to Prime INC - What to expect (Springfield edition)

hollywoodmd · Apr 3, 2014

Hollywood68 said: ↑

Okay, I've been reading through this Prime thread and I have never seen so much misinformation so I'm giving a real deal account of what I know about Prime. I can just picture these trainers looking over their glasses and being all stern: "Don't lie. They'll find out." Give me a break. For all you rookies looking at Prime, it absolutely is a great company, in my opinion. I had 12 years OTR experience when I came to Prime so I can't speak to their training. I only went through the 4 day orientation. On my first day, one of the PSD (we called them "pre-school drivers") asked if I was a B or A seat. I had no idea what he was talking about. He had to explain it, which was funny. Also, my take on Prime is from a flatbedders point of view. I've pulled flats for 18 years and I've never been hooked to a van, reefer or tank. You have to work a little harder at flatbedding but you do make more money and I enjoy the physical exertion.
Here's the deal on being "accepted": Prime needs a steady stream of drivers badly, like all OTR companies. If Prime buys you a ticket on the dog and you pass the DOT physical, you're in, unless you just royally screw up while you're in Springfield. Prime is not checking criminal background. They're just not. I can attest to it. They would have trouble keeping 5500 drivers if they checked everyone's background. For experienced drivers, they check your driving references to make sure you do have experience and you are a safe driver. But they aren't checking your criminal background. Prime relies on Mr. Security Buzzcut to scare people in to leaving voluntarily by making them believe he's checking background. They'll even fingerprint you at orientation. It's very comical. "Liars, cheats and thieves. We don't need these." You'll hear it non-stop on the first day or two of orientation. It's a scare tactic. Nothing more. Then, if someone did get scared and bow out, and they were experienced drivers, Wil-Trans would pick them up right at the hotel and put them on with them, pulling Prime's freight.
All that aside, Prime is a great company. I'm a L/O and it has been a great experience. My relationship with my dispatcher (Prime calls them Fleet Managers but they're dispatchers) goes like this: I send an MT call, he sends a load. I pick up, send a Loaded call and haul ##### across the country to deliver. I send an arrival call, unload, send an MT call and he sends a load. That's it. We NEVER talk. I work my rear off because that's how I operate. When I'm ready to get some home time, I send him this QC: "Get me home." He does. He takes care of me because I take care of him. Remember, your FM is on commission, like a salesman. If you're turning and burning, you're making him/her money. You're his golden goose. By the same token, you need to take care of him by NEVER EVER being late for a pickup or delivery. Also, silence is consent. If your FM gives you dog $h1t loads and you put up with it, he'll think you're okay with it. Every FM has a lackey to take care of crap loads. I take some because sometimes you just gotta. But if you get too many "non-profit" loads you gotta say, "Dude, I need some gross here." (L/Os are on % gross. Miles don't mean squat to us.) A good FM will quickly learn your habits and work ethic and he or she will maximize that. I'm a flatbedder so I'm use to working hard and having a good work ethic (not saying van/reefer/tank yankers don't work hard). My FM keeps me on a very very tight schedule and he pre-plans me well. It's very profitable for us both.
I can remember my first week out with Prime. I picked out a truck and did my lease on the last day of orientation. You're not suppose to do that until day 5 or the weekend, but trucks set up for flatbed are few and far between so I shuttled over to the Millennium during lunch on day 4 and took care of business. One of my flatbed buddies sat for a few days waiting on a truck rigged for flatbed. I'm a hustler. He's not. Anyway, the following day, my first official week began. I re-powered a load from SprMO, delivered in Lexington TN, picked up in Murray KY, delivered in Decatur IL, picked up Charleston IL, delivered in Austin TX, picked up in Cameron TX, delivered in Richland WA, picked up in Kennwick, delivered to Caruthersville MO and then dead headed home for a couple of days. At that time there was a L/O program where Prime guaranteed you $1200 a week for 4 weeks as a "quick start". I didn't need it. I cleared $2700 off something like $7400 gross on my first check. Granted, I had a 9 day first week so that helped. I haven't done that every week for the past several years, but I've done it several times. The money is there if you're willing to work for it. I have no complaints with Prime, but I'm not a trouble maker either. I mind my own business and work. I sit my butt in the seat for 11 hours each day when the miles are in front of me and try to run max speed the whole time. When I can, I chain/strap and tarp before I start my 14. I don't sit around truck stops. I fuel and get out and I try to time it where I need fuel in the evening at the end of my 14 so I can fuel off duty and park. Yeah, I'm cheating but I've never failed an inspection or a "log look" and I've never had a recordable. I've never had a complaint from a receiver (that I know about). My one weakness is that I require a shower each morning no matter what and I tend to plan my stops around being able to do that. I get up at 5:AM, coffee up, shower, check my load, pre-trip and get the wheels turning. I go on duty just long enough to get the wheels turning and let the QC switch me to driving. I've been known to arrive at a delivery and found myself behind 10 other trucks and sweet talked myself to the front of the line. I've paid receiving supervisors to bump me up on the list. I've bought a case of beer for a crane operator to unload me first. As I said, I'm a hustler and it shows on my paycheck. I think Prime is a great company. I'm on my third lease and I'm happy with them.
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hey hollywood68 im starting orientation on 23rd have cdl going for flatbeds was a carpenter for 20 years so hard work is my middle name i got a few questions for you when you came to prime did you bring your own traps/straps and so on or did you have to buy from them.it sounds like you got a good fm i hope i get one like that. i to like shower in morning rise and grind for the day your post had some good info i hope i can move and shake like you. what kind of loads do you haul.what % of loads do you tarp.about how long does it take to trap i know diff loads diff time but a average i know im new so i wont be as fast but something to shoot for. thanks for any info you can give me

Easy Steamer · Apr 3, 2014

cwc said: ↑

I need to hook up with your fm. that was at prime right?
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Yep. It's not a routine thing, 4 to 5 is the norm, but if you need the time you can get it and not have to turn in your truck

Shepard_Garrus · Apr 6, 2014

I applied with Prime and was approved to be a PSD but I'm a little confused/worried about something. I live in Maryland and if I go through a student driver program and get my CDL in Missouri, Maryland will not accept it and will make me start over by getting my learners permit in Maryland and then having to take my skills test in Maryland. Apparently the CDL I would get in Missouri would be temporary and Maryland doesnt accept temporary CDL's from other states. Basically Maryland wants you too have to pay $4,000-$5,000 to go to one of their 2 week training mill programs in the state. Swift, CR England, Knight and US express all refused to even talk to me because I'm from Maryland. The recruiter with Prime told me that I should get my Class A learners in Maryland before I go for orientation(which I wanted to do anyway) and then I would be able to use a prime truck to take my test in Maryland, I'm assuming with my trainer and his truck. I'm thinking with a company that is all over the 48 this doesn't seem to unreasonable but part of me is thinking my recruiter is just blowing smoke up my ### to get her commision. Anyone have any input on this?

FullMetalJacket · Apr 6, 2014

No worries. Everyone from IL has to do this, too. Happens all the time.

Shepard_Garrus · Apr 6, 2014

Thank you. I wont be able to start orientation until June so that was going to be on the back of my mind for two months.

Shepard_Garrus · Apr 6, 2014

I'm looking at buying the Rand Mcnally motor carriers road atlas and possibly a truck specific gps to go along with. Is this something I should have when I leave for orientation or would it be best to wait to purchase these thing once I'm through with the TNT phase and out on my own?

Chucktaylor · Apr 6, 2014

Shepard_Garrus said: ↑

I'm looking at buying the Rand Mcnally motor carriers road atlas and possibly a truck specific gps to go along with. Is this something I should have when I leave for orientation or would it be best to wait to purchase these thing once I'm through with the TNT phase and out on my own?
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Just wait.

hollywoodmd · Apr 7, 2014

Question for flatbeder;s I know you have to buy equipment how much is it and do you have to get all new or can you start with used .can you start with bear min and buy as you go. My father has a lot of stuff left after he retired he said he would give to me.any info would be great

ironpony · Apr 7, 2014

Ask your questions once on one thread please.

rsist34 · Apr 7, 2014

So how long does it take to get an instructor? Been on thre pad for 8 hours a day for the last three days

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