Prime No Lease For Me, Problem?

Do the 384's have the aero package for better fuel econ? I'm thinking they look like the new Wally World trucks?

 

They're a mid-deck with a fairing on top. The Freightliner version is a Columbia, and we have an International too. All set up the same...

 

I thought somewhere on the yard this week when I was in I saw a Cascadia lightweight as well.

 

Always sound advice!

 

I wish I could be that regular, but that's probably another conversation... lol

 

Are they cutting the power in these tractors as well? I would think a lightweight tractor would be nice if you are running shorter runs where you are home fairly often, but would suck for an OTR company driver who is out for weeks.

I mean, does it really pay you any better as a driver if the company is able to pack 2000 more pounds in the trailer at the expense of you being able to turn around in your cab, let alone bring your wife with you on occasion??

The worst thing is once one big carrier does this #### everyone else will jump on the bandwagon. And the O/O's will take it in the ### if they can't compete for the same ultra-heavy loads so.... yeah....

 

Extra seat. Don't need it. Sun visor, knob on gear shift, extra weight. Steering wheel, too heavy. Pair of vise grips in their place less weight. Fuel tank 50 gallon...

 

Speaking of gear shifts, what transmissions is Prime running now???

I have to admit that as my knees age the idea of an autoshift is very appealing to me.

 

Not sure if they are cutting the power to the lightweights, but they certainly are for the regular trucks. And from what I hear, the lightweights can't pulls hills for the life of them. Smaller trucks = smaller engines.

As far as getting extra pay, I guess you can say we are paid indirectly. The lighter trucks are for a fact landing us more business. So it might not be entirely tangible, but it could be the difference of getting a load or sitting.

Prime is still running Eaton Fuller 10 speed manual transmissions in all, or nearly all of their trucks from what I understand. I haven't seen or heard of anybody running an automatic. Since the automatic transmissions weigh more, I wouldn't expect Prime to switch over anytime in the foreseeable future.

I agree with you though. If Prime starts taking market share from the competition as a direct result of these lightweight trucks, the competition will follow suit and start switching over to lightweight trucks. The domino effect will not be good for anybody but the shippers.

 

I had a chance to kick the tires of the 384. At it has a cummins ism motor. Ithink it's specs are rated at 410 hp I'm not sure of the torque