Prime: Orientation and Training?

Watkins-Shepard is a pretty good outfit. I was referring to a previous post by the LT... he mentioned Swift, Stevens and Covenant. All three of those companies are on the bottom of anybodies list who works out here. Mostly due to the pressure they put on their drivers to perform in adverse conditions, and potentially run illegally to make appointments. That being said, I do know drivers at all three who are happy with their situations - I also compare what they say to what I know is true about Prime, and can say that I have a much better deal here.

Stevens in particular is known for the fianancial penalites they impose on you if you leave before paying off your school tuition, and the charges they level against failed lease ops.

As far as being a company driver for Prime, I'm very familiar with the lease program here... keep looking at it myself. I haven't jumped mostly because I can't make the numbers work for running solo at this time - like everyone, we are dealing with depressed freight rates vs even as late as the 3rd quarter last year. Most people who fail leasing at Prime do so because they approach the deal like they were a company driver - YOU CAN'T DO THAT WITH ANY LEASE PROGRAM. Either you treat it as a small business, or you will fail. When I talk to former Prime LOs who have a problem with it, you generally find they treat their settlement checks like a paycheck, run as fast as they can (maximizing one of the most easily controllable costs) and have no cushion for dealing with unexpected maintenance costs. Then they go out and trash talk Prime for their own shortcomings.

 

Okay, we're pretty much of the same mind then. I wasn't aware of the financial penalties at Stevens, I guess my buddies there haven't screwed up bad enough yet. As far as people badmouthing some companies about their lease programs, I agree with you 100%. I find most of the people who badmouth their former company because they couldn't make a lease work don't understand the first thing about running a business. Just because their check says $1000 doesn't mean they made that much and get to go buy a new big screen. Then next week when their truck need 2 tires, instead of writing a check (that is an expense of doing business and therefore tax deductible) and hitting the road to make more money, they will be sitting at home watching their new tv and badmouthing their company.

Thanks for your input, I appreciate it.

 

What he said.

I keep 2 separate bank accounts. One for all my incoming settlements, and my personal account. On the 25th of each month, there is a $2000 transfer from the settlement account to the personal account, and that is my "salary" for the month. Everything else sits in the settlement account gaining interest, and is there to cover me in case I have an emergency and can't run for a few weeks, or if I get a crappy couple of weeks I don't end up in a bad situation.

 

Hey U2, just want to say thanks for your posts. I sent my app into prime a few days ago. I'm eager to get going, but a little worried also. As soon as i hit the 50 posts mark, i will PM you. I have a few questions about prime and want to know what to expect. Thanks again for your posts and stay safe!!

 

What day(s) of the week is usually day one when you show up for CDL instruction? Is it a different day of the week if you're already licensed and going straight to the training phase? From what I can glean, they have you come to Springfield on Tuesday and your first day when you fill out paperwork, take the drug screen and the physical is Wednesday of each week.

If I have that wrong please let me know.

 

Tuesday for students. Paperwork, drug screen, physical. Wednesday, take permit tests, get permit at DMV. Thursday, classes and get Prime ID, start matching with instructors. Friday is pad day. They have other groups starting on Monday and Wednesday

 

Don't do it man! Prime drivers (or the one that I had) log illegally and put you at risk in many different ways that I could tell you about. Why do you think they put 50 thru orientation every week(Can you say REVOLVING DOOR?). They also keep you out 7-8 weeks at a time. There is no choice there. It may be for you if you like living in a tiny almost jail cell every day for 60 days straight but it's not for most and as I said they will put you at risk in many ways!! Don't do it!!

 

Thank you for that!!! Bill (the lease operator without a paycheck for 13 weeks straight now) just got told by his dispatcher to basically not take his 10 hour breaks and just keep moving. Let's see...run even MORE illegally, and instead of sleeping after driving all night, just drive some more, hope you don't kill someone or yourself-for the rates Prime is charging for freight? I don't think so.

 

With all due respect to you and to Brtusk or however its spelled-you are entitled to your opinions and to hop on here and gripe all you want. If your significant other, whom I assume is named Bill, is being asked or even ordered by his FM to run illegally and he does it, then it's HE who is violating both company policy and FEDERAL LAW. He is also not too smart if he's allowing his FM to dictate that he falsify logs, run all day and night, and not take the Federally mandated breaks. When he gets caught (not if), he will go down in a ball of flames (and maybe even to jail) and his FM will still be employed.

As for you Brtusk (sp?)......I've read your posts. I know you are not happy with the way you were treated. I know you think you were forced to run illegally. I'm sorry you got a crappy instructor/trainer and I wish the industry and the big companies would do something about it. Having said that, if you had a safety issue, just as with "Bill", then you should be talking to safety about it instead of doing exactly (and illegally) as you have been told to do by your FM/TRAINER/INSTRUCTOR.

People who have a bad experience like you two have should report it. It is exactly because you DID NOT REPORT IT that this type of treatment perpetuates. If, for every time you post how disgruntled you are you would also make a call to safety or company management, the bad apples would all get weeded out. They can't do anything about it when they have neither a name nor a report. Maybe if "Bill" reported this issue, as well as everyone else on that FM's board, that FM would be out of a job. I would not and will not tolerate being told to commit a felony and sit idly by complaining on the internet. Your gripe would be better heard by his superiors.

Again, Brtusk, I'm sorry you have a bad taste in your mouth about Prime. The simple truth is that not everyone is cut out to be an OTR truckdriver. You complain about being in "jail cell" for weeks at a time. Sounds to me like maybe you're not cut out for the job. Maybe you would be happier behind a desk somewhere. Not everybody agrees with you that being out on the road for weeks at a stretch is the hell you make it out to be. Some of us actually enjoy it as a matter of fact. While I appreciate ALL info, I think we're pretty clear how you feel.

 

Then you obviously cant follow instructions. They state it over and over that first week... If you see something dangerous, report it, notify safety... worst case just plain get off the truck and Prime will come get you.

Heard about a student turn in an instructor for Booze on the truck a few months back. Security and the State Police were waiting for them as they pulled into the terminal. Instructor had no clue as the student reported him over the phone.

If you got a cell phone, then you can report anything... or ask questions about anything you feel the instructor is saying that doesnt ring true.

Ive always been able to go home when I want to (within reason... by this I cant expect to be home every other week... generally 3-4 weeks)

First off, I have never had a FM suggest I run illeagly... second, if they did I would ask them to convey that over the QC....which they wont do. Third I would notify the safety dept.

There are some of us who have paperless logs... its impossible to log illegal with them. Those that are still on paper, choose to do so at their own risk... Prime isnt looking over their shoulders, but does expect them to log legal... Especially company drivers, citations and shutdowns can get you canned.