Time for Prime.....

Thanks for the info MM will try to work around it if I can, I just won't mention my injury anymore. Did the surgeory work on your back or was it a waste of your time?
S&L Freedom is what I have been looking for for a very long time personally that time is when I am behind the wheel, is it possiable to see a different doctor and get something that says no medical restrictions. Yes they were good benfits were is the key word I don't really use them anyway (knock on wood) but enlite of what has happened and the BS I have to go through has opened my eyes. UPS has taught me alot and I will take that with where ever I drive, Let me know if you know of any ways around the medical restrictions I appreicate all the advice from you and MM Thanks

 

Does Prime have a fuel purchase discount price for it's lease operators? Also wondering what hidden fees are there that a recruiter isn't going to tell me? Just asking as I haven't run the road in almost twenty years. Have been running end dumps here for awhile and the bottom has fallen out. My wife is going to get her CDL in June and we are looking into running team. However my "no recent OTR in the last five years" is killing me, and we also have a dog we will not leave at home. So looking at other options yo get "recent experience?

Thanks

 

On 6/30/08 I went to the Kingman truck stop, the T/A. I walked up to a Prime driver filling up on the island. I told him I was interested in driving but I don't have a cdl. He told me he's been driving 3 yrs with Prime and he love's it. He said let me show you what I did this last week, he couldn't because the truck was under the canopy. He said let me finish my fill up and pull up. He pulled up, then pulled out a small laptop thing connected to a curley que cord, and showed me revenue for the week of about $7,500.00. He told me about $4,000.00 was fuel, $3,500.00 was his, but he pulled out $1,000.00 cash; which left him with $2,500.

He started out as a student, then company driver for 3mos, then lease, after 3 yrs. he bought the truck. He'll drive anywhere but won't take crappy load's.

The driver also said don't listen to others just get out there a drive. I have read stuf like his.

WELL, now I'm reading your comment about making $142.00 a week. I have read other post simular to yours.

I JUST can't figure out whats going on.

Can you or anyone else shead some more light on these points.

Thanks

P.S. 2 weeks ago a Prime driver retireing said he wouldn't recommend Prime and gave me another name. He came from a company that was bought out by Prime.

 

Everything has its pros and cons truth is if the wheels aren't rollin well neither is the money. I believe most people that complain about not making money are the one's that don't go certain places with hills or seriuos traffic. If you have FM you need to work together take the good with the bad, but don't just sit there turning down load after load until you get what you believe you deserve. Don't let negative people detour you in what you want do go out there put your best effort into it from pickup to dropoff and it will payoff, run rite run smart and you can make money.

 

Ya, what your saying is, the sense I'm getting from the drivers make'n it. What I'm pick'n up on is that if you wanta make it take the loads forgeta about home and go. When I was talk'n to the driver I said to him, "What your telling me is not to stress out the dispatcher, so he can call you more often".

I hope this makes sense.

 

I think what he's saying is that the doodie run pays better than no run at all with the added benefit of, you just helped the dispatcher out, now who's getting the gravy run next week?

business is not about the highest average dollar per mile earned.

its about the most money socked into your personal account at the end of the year.

 

Well. There I go. I guess I'm getting it. When I first started here, at this website, I was looking for the most miles. Then I found out the new guy may not get the miles because he needs to learn the ropes, get experiance. Then I dicovered you need to be flexible and help the company, dispatcher, when you can. Then I reflected on many of the things said on this web page; and realized I may be looking at this like I'M THE BOSS, as I believe to many people do. Then I thought the boss hires you and pays you to help the company out the best you can. Unfortunantely we can't always get were we want to go, and we have to go were the loads are going. It could take many many weeks to get back home. Aha,ha,aha,ha,ha. I got it by Jobe..... I think.

 

That's right you scratch my back I scratch your back, sometimes the load doesn't pay so good but then other times it pays good and sometimes real good. Just keep me moving because my bank account isn't going to look better by me sitting still. Then again I am not helping pay to move the load that just wouldn't be good business sense.

 

It's gotta cost $1.00 a mile for fuel. That leaves you with .55 for ins, truck payments, etc. How much does that leave you with? Does'nt seem like much left over?

 

And that is the whole point!

Most of the fellas that are lease ops DO NOT carry insurance. No medical, No dental, No vision, No disability, No life Insurance, No money set aside for retirement, no money set aside for sick days, personal days, holidays, or vacations.

The sad truth that most will never tell you is that they are literally living in that truck. They CANNOT afford to take time off. Those truck payments do not stop. You have fixed expenses every week to cover BEFORE you ever get a red cent to yourself.

Team driving affords more revenue producing miles and training newbies also permits the owner to turn more miles legally. Solo lease operators learn very quickly to (shall we say) "adjust" their logbooks as needed to turn the miles.

Start calculating what normal business expenses are to run a truck today and to turn a profit. The revenue per mile needed will be around 2.00 a mile. This covers taxes, insurances, fuel, plates, permits, wages, retirement, maintance funds, etc.

Now take a look at what Prime offers their lease drivers for compensation.
The next time one of these Prime guys wants to relate how they are making big money ask them about their benefits and what they cost. Ask them about their retirement account. Ask them how many days they are on the road at a time. Now ask them if they are paying their quarterly taxes.

I bet you they will either not answer or if they do they will say they do not have insurance at all. In some cases they may have medical coverage through their spouse who has insurance through their company.

Its not rocket science. Do the math fellas.