PRIME NEWBIES~Any comments from orientation?

Thanks ironpony. That makes much more sense now. It looks like I'm not leaving out as when I thought I was. I guess I have to fight with DOT for a vision exemption now. Hopefully that won't take too long.

 

hey does anybody know what the hometime is for the tanker side in live in the northeast? im trying to deside if i should get into this life style or go be a autotech. Got married last year, and i need my two year otr before i can get on with a gas company local. thanks

 

The company-side hometime policy is 3 weeks between hometime requests, for 4 days at a time max. That certainly covers the reefer and flatbed divisions, and I haven't heard anything different from the tanker side. Keep in mind I pull a reefer...

 

I would wait a bit before signing up with an outside school or company, Prime training is worth waiting for, if only for the fact of not being stuck with a huge tuition bill. Illinois is a great place to be from while working with Prime, I typically run through there once a week or so.... The winter months tend to be tight on instructors it seems, road conditions can be a bit tense. I get a bit nervous myself with students driving in the snow and ice, and this winter I seem to be in the middle of every storm that has came through. Be Patient, but be persistent.

 

i already have a cdl with 8 months driving. local . so you would advise not to change jobs. and stay with trucking.

 

Thank you for the advice. Prime is my number one choice and so if I must wait then so be it.

 

I'm leaving for SPRIMO Sunday. Just wondering what the chances are of making more than the $600 guarenteed pay while in training? Is the freight there right now to get the miles, or would I be better off assuming I'll only make the $600 a week which is probably only going to be around $460 take home.

 

Plan on the $600 until later in the spring when produce starts to pick up. From after the holidays until then, freight is at the low cycle for the year - although its been busier with better rates than usual - at least for me.

This is something you should keep in mind - freight isn't constant throughout the year. There is a cycle to it. You should put away some money to deal with January through mid-March every year just in case it really does get slow.

 

Thanks for the feedback. That is going to have to be a bit of an adjustment. Although it is more than the other companies pay, it still isn't all that much.

 

DH did his 60,000 miles in 16 weeks with Prime. The first 5 weeks were at $500/wk (or .10 cpm if over 5000 miles), then it was $600/wk (or .12 cpm if over 5000 miles). Here is what his miles were and his take home (he claims married 0 on withholdings)

Pay date ~Miles ~ Gross Pay ~ Actual Chk Amt
07/22/10 ~1743.00~ 134.21 ~$85.73
07/29/10 ~2723.00 ~ 500 ~$325.30
08/05/10 ~6279.00 ~627.9 ~$492.20
08/12/10 ~3498.00 ~500 ~$432.20
08/19/10 ~6237.00 ~623.7 ~$462.17
08/26/10 ~2029.00 ~600 ~$564.07
09/02/10 ~3337.00 ~ 600 ~$524.08
09/09/10 ~4680.00 ~600 ~$569.61
09/16/10 ~4314.00 ~600 ~$564.08
09/23/10 ~3420.00 ~ 600 ~$548.02
09/30/10 ~3271.00 ~600 ~$567.27
10/07/10 ~2494.00 ~600 ~$544.08
10/14/10 ~3732.00 ~600 ~$569.82
10/21/10 ~4045.00 ~600 ~$595.53
10/28/10 ~4084.00 ~600 ~$556.36
11/04/10 ~4108.00 ~600 ~$623.06

Keep in mind, the first 5 weeks we had the cost of the passport and TWIX card coming out. The first week out he took a $150 advance to keep the electric and water on at home. Other than that, DH took 4 advances during the entire training - each at $40. He had a bag full of hormel meals and really did not eat in the truckstops but one meal a week, and that was usually breakfast.
Because he "trained" himself while in training, he still eats in his truck, which saves even more money now. He is starting trainer class (is that what it is called??) on the 25th, and one thing he will be sharing with the trainee is how to save money by eating on the truck. We have even discussed making the offer to the trainee to split the cost of groceries and cooking for two on the truck.
It was tight, but workable. Now he is making normal pay, and it is getting better each week.
Hope this helps future Prime Trainees plan for what is to be expected.