PLEASE HELP start with PRIME INC or Knight?? suggestions

i'd take a prime lightweight over one of those tiny pete's... You can't even stand up in them.

 

I hear people dog those lightweight pro stars, but those coffin sleeper Pete's look pretty cramped.

 

I realise that you are a good example of "Anyone can make a good situation for themselves anywhere - it depends on the individual", but I'll have to pass on this from the brother-in-law.

He FM rang him and asked him when he was ready to "Come in and UPGRADE".
B-I-L says "UPGRADE - Is that where I get my own truck?"
FM - "Yes! We'll lease you a nice new truck"
B-I-L - "No, I don't want to lease a truck"
FM - "Well, we don't have any company trucks available - apart from the lightweight trucks"

The B-I-L had talked to company drivers, who said they were not getting a lot of miles - 1200-2400 or so each week. So he's decided to stay teaming with a lease operator. The kid has less experience than the B-I-L, but they've worked an arrangement. Prime pays B-I-L 32cpm split, and the L/O kid pays him $200 cash.

Not the ideal arrangement, as B-I-L wants to buy a house soon, and the cash won't reflect on the W2, nor the per diem, but the L/O wants to stay out and run, and he's getting in 6000 miles teaming.

So, yes - they do gently nudge you towrd leasing, B-I-L has said that right from the start that it's an ever present, and often presented option.

I'm not going to descend into name calling and bickering over L/P programs, but I just wanted that one out there, because it's not just a truck stop rumour, nor a forum rumour.

From visiting the terminal, it's pretty obvious from the complex that whatever the business model is , exactly, it's working very well for them.

 

Well said Blair, preach it brother. I'd be happy with $100k a year and a dispatcher in some double wide trailer somewhere. These megas just seem to be flaunting it. LS is no different. They are taking a %35 cut and have all these offices and campuses and headquarters. All the staff you could imagine with made up jobs and think tank groups. All these big companies started out knowing what it takes to build and grow, then a huge disconnect begins to take place. I like LS for what it is, a half way point between company slave cough cough Prime and Knight, and independence with your own authority, but I'd be happier with more money in my pocket and a gravel lot for when I have to stop by a LS office.

Ok ok rant over.


OP. Final thoughts. If I were narrowing down companies. Prime and Knight would probably be the first ones scratched off the list. Schneider has a tanker division, and after six months with them you can get on the dry van choice boards. Lots of tanker companies out there hiring students now too. Better pay and customers. When I used to run reefer I was treated like an untouchable, like some third class citizen. You'd walk into the warehouse to find yourself in a cage with a window to approach. The person in the window wouldn't look at you or acknowledge you most times. Finally they'd grab your paperwork like they were doing you a favor.... Ok ok rant over.

OP. Good luck with your decision. Wisdom comes from taking the knowledge of others. Unfortunately I wasn't listening and did reefer for a year. Glad that's over.

 

Considering Prime is still growing, I wouldn't say having a few fancy terminals is hurting them at all... Even if their HQ was two double wides on a grass lot, they still wouldn't be paying their drivers any more.

Plus, lets be real, rich people don't spend their own money. I'm sure Robert Low got a good deal from Springfield or the state of Missouri.

 

Yea don't volunteer that you worked illegally.

 

Lol, yeah, probably wouldn't translate to more pay, but a guy can dream...

 

Yeah, just put unemployed. I hear that a lot from Prime applicants with employment gaps. Prime wanting affidavits and notorized docs you weren't in Lybia with the terrorists. Odds are your next choice won't even care. Consider it a blessing your not stuck in a truck with a trainer for 2-3 months. After two weeks you'll be ready for solo.

But I'm warning you, stay away from those trucking company schools.