Prime Inc driver thread

Thanks for the replies so far...

I hear so much bad about pretty much ALL the companies out there, but mostly about the companies that hire drivers right out of school.

I spent 20 years in the military and all I really want to do is work hard for my money, work legally and safe, and not have a dispatcher breathing down my neck to do work that is impossible to accomplish without cooking my books.

How is Prime in this area? In regards to Werner, England, Swift, and TMC, etc., I haven't heard too much talk about Prime in the area of "sly underhanded BS" like I hear a lot about these other career starters.

What's your take on Prime's true corporate culture? PM me if you want to keep it private.

Thanks for your info!!

 

... also,

Prime does not let you take the truck home?

How does that work, does someone have to come pick me up at wherever it is I drop the truck? How far away from home could that be?

What's Prime's policy on this?

 

You can take the truck home, as long as it is legally permissable to park in your neighboorhood.

Some people who live in crappy towns with tractor laws find a local business that will alow them to park their tractor.

When I visit my parents, their city doesnt allow tractors in certain neighboorhoods unless conducting business. the local Safeway doesnt mind me parking in the huge lot behind their store.

At home in Washington I park on the street in front of my house.
In Virginia, I park at the entrance of the neigboorhood and I am joined by a FedEx driver on occasion that lives there too.

 

Interesting, guess I'll have to look into this. Who do you call to find out if you can park a truck in your driveway, the police department, DMV?

 

The police might know, you could try zoning or the neighborhood association.

 

I posted this above...

Anyone brave enough to answer this truthfully so I can make an employment decision?

thanks...

 

Prime has never told me to run illegally. Yup, they sometimes ask you if you can make a run that you can't... and I've told them I can't make it. No reprocussions. I've told them that weather conditions were such that it wasn't safe to drive - we have a "Captain of the Ship" policy here, you're the captain - and I shut it down with no reprocussions. I've told them to stick it when it comes to trailers that aren't legal to run, loads that are too heavy, and loads that are completely unprofitable for me as a lease operator to run - no reprocussions.

That being said, my Fleet Managers have always been straight up with me, and when they ask me to take care of something that needs to be done that I can legally do - I'll do it. That generally has paid off for me well too. I treat them with respect, they treat me with respect.

As far as a dispatcher "breathing down your neck" - if you run your loads in a way that consistantly gets them there legally, safely and on-time - you're not going to have that kind of problem. Occasionally I've had a weekend or night guy think he's doing his job by calling me up while I'm asleep - but that's just a newb thinking he's doing his job. If you are consistantly late, can't run the truck economically, provide poor service, are a ticket magnet, get put out of service... yup, you won't last long. Doesn't take a doctorate in life to figure that one out.

BTW... while I was on the company side, I never had anyone try to pressure me into leasing or training. I never heard one word about it. Also, it's my observation that we were kept running better during the economic downturn than many other carriers. The equipment is well-kept, and generally very new compared to other fleets.

That being said, this carrier may work for you, and again, it may not. There are drivers around who have pulled for Prime, and will tell you this is the worst of the worst - I haven't seen that myself, and there are plenty of other folks who post here who will tell you that Prime works for them too.

 

Thanks for being straight-up, Ironpony.

Do they treat you differently as a lease operator... more respect or more of the "captain of the ship" mentality or is it about the same? (side note: do you really make that much more money at the end of the year as a lease operator? Has it been a good gig for you in the long run? Pros and Cons?)

I know there is a certain amount of me having to pay my dues as a new guy and I can understand that... it goes that way in any career change. I also know that I'm almost 40 and I bring upper management experience to the table. Getting out of the military... I'm tired of managing large groups of people and trucking just sounds wonderful at this point.

bottom line, I want to run professional and clean, but I will bend over backwards to ensure I complete my mission every time... the military creates this drive in all its career folks over time and it's something I admire. I want my company to give me that opportunity. Prime so far has me hooked.

thanks, again bro, for being frank. Try to expound on the lease option a little if you have the time.

 

Same treatment on both sides of the table - BTW... much of that is required by federal law. I've liked it both ways... I'll let you know about how the lease side is working out once I've had a chance to look at it, at the one year point. That's a couple of weeks from now...

 

Will prime hire with no employment history for a few years (been staying with family taking care of a troubled teen) been a single dad since he was born, he's now 18 and out of the house and I'm itching to get to work! I had heard some say they needed to build up an employment history first, I have been working with my family doing ebay selling, which is how I've been living lately, but not sure how that would work for employment history.

The other possible downside is a fender non-bender on my driving history that will be off in August (or Sept, not sure how that works exactly, accident was in August of 08 ) No damage, no ticket, but the guy reported it to his insurance after we exchanged info and he said he wasn't going to, hoping to get free chiropractic care out of it, and never heard anything from it again, till my insurance company mentioned it.

Other than that, I'm good.

Any ideas? Other options, looking to train and get my CDL (i can get the permit anytime, I believe as I've passed every online practice test easily.) But I can't afford the schooling.

Oh, and I don't care how much I make really. It's gotta be better than the approx 700 a month I'm making now and even if it's around the same, I'll deal while I learn

Roehl said they weren't hiring in Northern Minnesota because they don't get runs up here that often, I told him I don't care about home time but he said I'd have to move to the Twin Cities before they'd look at hiring me. :/ Though I suppose I could have a friend let me "live with them" And just drive down if I got accepted, if need be. I'd much rather take my home time in the cities anywhere as that's where most of my friends are anyway.