Question for prime drivers

Sorry Chuck, long day, I should have went a little deeper

 

One of the guys who was posting here last year was a PSDer who had moved into TNT. He wanted to jump over to this guy's deal, and was ready to go. Management told him flat out that he would be responsible for the entire tution if he did that.

 

I've seen this guys trucks. Also seen him out on the pad. Not sure if I've ever spoken with him though

 

No. Each page has it's own topic and the OP is forgotten unless it is about seamonkeys.

 

<Facepalm smack to my face>

thats fine for someone hired by Prime. That person committed to Prime

at no time did this op say he was going with Prime.

He's talking about working for this guy who contracts his drivers to Prime.

He certainly can be PSD'd and trained by an employee of this guys company that is PSD instructor and or TNT certified by Prime. There is an arrangement for these things. Just like discounts, freight network, access & use of Prime facilities. Etc

 

I think the point, Chucktaylor, isn't that the OP can't hire on with this guy, but rather he needs to really do his homework since it's not quite as straight-forward as it might seem. Just off of the top of my head: One is the issue with getting his CDL via this guy - not that he can't, but there can be issues with tuition reimbursement. For at least one poster on this site, it was - whether you like it or not. Another one is health insurance. Whether it's available through this guy - or whether he'd have to go through one of the new state insurance purchasing deals, and what the different costs might be. Healthcare reform is an issue now.

Yup, nice to have a 5-year-old truck handed to you for $1. What are you going to do with it? On day one of "it's your truck" you're not leasing it onto Prime under the current policies. Got a plan for it? Hope he has the money put away that's necessary to actually run it without bankrupting himself.

 

No, I get the point. You cant be wrong.

 

You aren't "given" a brand-new truck. You drive this guy's truck as a company driver for five years. After he's completely depriciated it, you get it for $1. You get no tax advantage in a purchase of $1, you're getting a 5-year old truck with a lot of miles on it. And you'd better do some research into what it takes to run a truck, because you need a lot of money behind you to make it work. In a lot of ways that's a deal - if the truck is mechanically sound, and you don't need to sink a lot of money in it in the near term to keep it running.

 

I've considered buying my company truck outright after Prime retires it. I'm at 321.000 miles with no major issues and expect to get her over 600,000 before turning her in. I've averaged 8.5 MPG minus APU usage, which comes to about .38/ mile disregarding IFTA. I am concerned about the reliability of the DD15 and Prime's lack of concern over long term maintenance. Also, I'm not thrilled with the 3.36 gear ratio combined with a 10 speed. Much rather have a 13 speed, but I can't complain about the MPG. I do know how to drive this truck efficiently. I realize I'll probably need an overhead and air dryer work and a DPF overhaul. Figure I can negotiate some of that into the purchase price. Anybody have any thoughts on my projections? I'm thinking $40,000 cash for the truck and leasing on to a company like Landstar. Any input would be greatly appreciated.