Time for Prime.....

It has been kinda crazy this week. Started off running from Saratoga Spgs. NY to The Rock, GA...$1343.52...160 DH..1038 paid...$1.12mi CHEAP!..Yep, that's the name of the town....Got a big rock standing on end right as you come into town.....it was raining like crazy when we got into town....so we didn't get a chance to do any exploring.....Got emptied out...FltMgr sends me a msg wondering if I can re-power a load going to NC for the next AM...58 DH...385 mi...$710...$1.60mi...I said SURE!! Tell my man that we need to get thru the house to pick up our new Healthcare Medical Cards.....Not a Problem...Get empty....New load comes in....10 mi DH! 960 mi....Clayton, NC to Clarksville, AR $1240.07...$1.28mi... On our way now to Carthage, MO....then on to Olney, IL....167DH....393 paid....$680.24....$1.21mi.....Not one of my best weeks.....but...Still...$1.30 average...And enjoyed the week with my wife......and considering where we've emptied and loaded....it's about average for those areas.... We'll see what next week holds. Mama says she will be ready by her birthday to take her tests....Soooo....we should be getting team runs by the end of the month....Instead of these singles!

 

Well.....SHE PASSED!! So, now the situation will change. We will go from single driver loads and money....to team loads....AND MONEY! But, not til' Thursday....since her Birthday is tomorrow! Figured I'd send her to the spa and let her get rid of some of that stress that she's been under.....having to listen to me... I will say one thing....The testers that they have here are tough.... They expect a lot...and they don't cut any corners when it comes to the CDL tests. I'm glad I didn't have to go through this when I started driving 17 years ago. I'll be sure and update so the naysayers can call me a liar.....(privately, I'm sure)....

Oh...if anybody has been wondering how they are treating the guy that paid off his truck in 3 years.....and leased back on....I had a chance to talk to him for about an hour today while my wife was doing her testing.....He said that he was pleasantly surprised at how well they have treated him since he became an O/O instead of a Lease operator...... 72%...no truck payment.....no trailer payment.....and 460k left on his warranty..... Needless to say he was doing a lot of smilin'..... See you on the big road!

Also.... if you see a Prime truck with S & L trucking on the side....come on over and say hi! We'll buy you a cup...or 2! Have a good week, all.

 

Congratulations!!!

 

Thanks, Doc. She worked her butt off....I'm very proud of her. I know one thing...... Anyone who gets their liscense from these guys..... They've earned it!

 

Steve & Lo

I have been reading your storys for awhile now, I am new to the Forum. Researching O/O jobs have CDL Class A with all Endoresments been driving for the past 7 years for a transport company, not real happy. I have few questions if you do not mind answering?

 

I haven't heard 2 much about Prime.When I was in CDL school the company was mentioned a few times but knowone said wether it was a good company or a bad company.

 

My son is at their training school right now. So far he likes it. We know several drivers and they love driving for them they all make money good money. Prime had their problems in the past but seem to have them worked out. Their saftey ratings is considerably better then it was just a couple years ago. Their primarily a lease or owner operator company although they have been increasing their fleet of company trucks considerably over the last couple years. Training program is a long one but you make minimum $600 week guaranteed and that's a good thing coming into winter because freight slows down at most companies. Hopefully that helps. I'll be joining my son there around Nov 13th.

 

I'm a newbie and I have a question.

Is this a lease purchase program? I see people refer to those as "fleece" purchase programs a lot and how they are just a scam run by mega companies etc....., and yet as far as I can see you are doing ok. Am I missing something here? Are you going to own your truck when you are done with the lease? Why do I hear some people have to make a payment to purchase their truck when done and yet your getting a bonus from prime when done?

I'm asking because I'm looking at this as a possible future for myself. I actually see this industry as having many options and I am trying to explore them all. I'm 30 and I'd like to be able to buy a house someday and support a family while being able to "run my own show" so to speak.

Thanks for the good thread,
Kevo

 

Ghettofab75 2 answer your question above u should NEVER I mean NEVER do a lease purchase 4 ANY of these companies!!!! It is all a big scam!! my dad's best friend has been driving rigs over the road 4 the past 50 years. He told me that alot of these companies try to PRESSURE u into taking the lease purchase agreement 2 make MORE money for them and NOT U!!!!!!
I will try 2 break it down 4 u the best I can.Please bear with me because I am trying 2 go by what my old man's best friend told me. Lets say u do a lease purchase agreement 4 a company.And lets say it is one of the LARGER companies.U sign the lease purchase agreement and they give u a truck.Meanwhile your truck payment is going 2 be about $750 a week.NOT a month a WEEK.OK now u thing you r HOT STUFF because u get the ILLUSION that u r a OWNER OPERATOR.Ok here is when the shystey part comes in 2 play.Lets say when u were a company driver u were averaging about 2000 to 3000 or more miles per week.When u r a lease purchase OWNER OPERATOR your milage is cut down by half or more than half of the mile you WERE getting as a COMPANY DRIVER. U finally figure this out and u r NOT being paid as much as u were because your milage is cut WAY down.NOW u r UP A (YOU KNOW WHAT) creek without any paddles!!!!! U have MOUNTING BILLS at home including RENT OR if u r a home owner MORTGAGE payments CAR payments (IF U HAVE ANY) UTILITIES AND car insurance IF u have a car NOW this is ALL due EXCLUDING your truck lease payment which REMEMBER is about $750 a week EXCLUDING your truck insurance.U R making less money and U can't make your truck payment.THEN the company u did this agreement with will REPO your truck and U will end up being FURTHER in DEPT and that U will be FORCED into being a company driver STILL in DEPT and now have a REPO on your record to make it VERY DIFFICULT 2 go 2 another company.They know they have GOT U WHERE THEY WANT U now!!!That is why I would NEVER EVER NEVER EVER do a LEASE PURCHASE with ANY company