Time for Prime.....

Okay prime guys what about what jlkklj777 says? Can you shead light on his points?

The way I see it is that you will have to make the $2.00 a mile that jlkklj777 mentions plus money for your pay, say at least what top company drivers make, around $.42 a mile. And sense you own your own truck you should get more, atleast $.52 a mile for a total of $2.52 a mile. That $1.72 a mile for the long runs still doesn't seem to cut it.


Could it be that if prime guys talk up the company because they get paid for people who sign up with Prime? Hemmmm.

On another point. I believe that the shipper or receiver should pay for the fuel right off the top. The trucking companies could charge just to move the products and forget worrying about the fuel. PUT THE WORRY ON THE SHIPPERS. I read somewhere they do this. I just can't remember were I read it. I think I ran across it when reading about Cananda.

 

Well, it looks like Jlkkl is up to his normal antics. Spewing the same garbage about how "owner operators CAN'T make any money, have no insurance, live in a truck, and don't pay taxes". I feel sorry for you guys that have to deal with him in this thread now. All you need to do is show how his numbers are so terribly flawed and prove him wrong and he will disappear and move on to trolling another thread.

 

I thought you and I agreed your numbers were not comparable to a "lease operation."

In our first encounter on this topic you showed some figures that disagreed with mine. You also stated workers comp was NOT required. Of course that depends on the state you are referring to and you failed to mention your "alternative" insurance has a 100,000.00 limit.

I stand by my statements and conclusions. This thread was regarding Prime specifically and their LEASE program. There are far more drivers that have failed in these lease programs than have succeeded (including Prime). I have found this to be the case in every forum I am a member of. There are several that have also chimed in here on this forum specifically bashing Prime and why.

You would be surprised at how many former lease operators have thrown in the towel because they were making less money than their company driver counter parts and do not in fact have any insurance. These drivers have, in some cases, even lost their homes due to bad lease programs. This is not just at Prime it is happening at EVERY Lease program I have checked in to (making less money than company drivers not necessarily losing their house that is).

You and I also disagreed about the necessity of medical insurance and you suggested the cost should not be listed under the business side of the expenses. By listing it on the business side the cost is 100% deductible.

How a veteran businessman such as yourself would choose to ignore the plight of the wannabe lease operator when they ask for inside information on these programs is truly sad. Lease operators that enter into these programs usually do so without;
1. Reading the contract entirely and understanding it.
2. Employing an attorney to read the contract prior to signing.
3. Leasing company equipment from the same entity they will haul for.

I know you are an astute businessman Eskimo. Please offer your wisdom and insight with current numbers. Please be sure to include that lease payment at (I believe the Prime lease is) 750.00 per WEEK. Then factor in all the additional charges including fuel, workers comp, bobtail insurance, over mileage penalty, and driver wages.

I am reasonably sure you would not pull any freight for 1.35 per mile or even 1.75 per mile. This is the range these lease ops seem to be earning. I do not know if these guys are even factoring in their unproductive miles or lost fuel due to idling.

I understand the desire to run their own truck and have more say in what they do and how they do it. Unfortunately the cost of these Lease programs far outweighs the benefits, in my opinion.

Tearing me down serves no purpose. Refute my information with yours and let the readers decide who is the more candid. I offer my insights in the hopes that drivers will not fall victim to these predatory outfits. The truth is the companies that are offering lease programs and lease purchase programs are making all kinds of money off of the backs of these lease operators and leaving them with scraps.

On a side note; I believe the owner of Lockdown is trying to sell his truck too come to think of it. If I remember right him and I had a heated discussion about profitability as a lease op and he was so thrilled with being leased on with (I think) Willis Shaw. Turns out he decided he had enough of trucking and is going back to full time police work in the Sheriffs Department. Willis Shaw screwed him too often apparently.

He disagreed with me too and called me a liar about not only my viewpoints but also my experience. I am still trucking and he isn't. Remember he OWNED his truck outright and couldn't keep going either.

Oh by the way I think he is selling his truck for 60 grand if anyone is interested.

 

You can legally log that, once your out west you can log 800 miles a day. I use to run more than that as a single and was able to log it "legal"

 

The miles seem to be alot for 7 days based on what most people report. It seems one would have to be drive'n 70 miles an hour part of the time in order to make 4000 plus miles. I'm not saying I don't believe it I would just like to know how it panned out.

Oh and if your going to fast your loosing on fuel. How does this balance out, or does it?

 

How about 4700 in 5 days?

 

Use to do a Trenton n.j to San jose ca. for Nortel back in my Van line days. Leave at noon friday and dlvr ca. 8 monday morn. Dont think it was legal though but it paid 2.60 for me to do it.

 

If I remember correctly Steve was making about 6.25 mpg for his fuel average. He is hauling heavy loads primarily and that seems to be a fair estimate based on the weight and terrain he is traveling through.

Steve is a runner. Of that I have no doubt. Wether his wife is on the truck or not he is turning the miles. For others reading this thread remember also reefer freight has many delays at customers. Loading and unloading typically takes more than 2 hours on each end. Pre-cooling also takes time as well as washing out a trailer.

For Steve to turn 4000 plus miles a week he is running 7 days a week. I will not get into the legality or HOS rules or qualcomm matching or disputing his account on his written logs. Not sure how much time he is getting off each week either. I suspect he is running 3 to 4 weeks at a time before going home but maybe I am incorrect and he is able to "swing thru" under a load every week. Only he knows.

The concern I have is that others will read about how well Steve is doing without looking at the whole picture.

The whole picture includes an additional 7.5% tax (social security and medicare) on top of his normal 7.5%. Hiring his spouse may require workers comp insurance. Collision and bobtail, disability, life, and medical insurances which are normally included for company drivers fall squarely on the shoulders of the lease operator. Not to mention if that lease operator gets sick, injured, or takes some time off, he will have to still make those fixed weekly payments.

If he sets aside money for personal time off then he will have to also factor in money to cover those fixed expenses he still is obligated to pay. Of course he will never own the truck he is driving either so he will always have a truck payment.

Steve knows these things and by bringing his wife on board he has taken advantage of a second logbook and having a "team designation" will put them in line for better, longer runs in general.

Good luck Steve. I hope you do not burn out.