Prime - Good or Bad?

[r311music]

Well I'm getting real close to bailing the airline industry. I'm sure many of you probably have seen the news lately and this industry is not looking good, especially for a young guy like me with a long future ahead of him. (I'm 21)

Anyways, I recently applied to prime when I was bored one day. Well two days ago I got a call from the recruiter saying I was accepted into their training program. So of course I told her I would get back to her in a few days after I do some more research and talk about it with some of my family. My family is cool with it, so now it's on me. I can find a lot of information on the lease/op side of prime, but I'm more interested in the actual training and then being a company driver.

Any input on prime and their training and company drivers would be greatly appreciated. I am also open to any other trucking companies. I don't necessarily need free training, as I can afford it on my own, but it would make life a lot easier for me right now.

[BigDawg]

here is a forum set up by a prime driver hope it helps ya some,of course Prime is not for every one if that is where u decide to go with stay on the company side.That way u won't get Fleased in there Lease good luck to ya

www.primedrivers.net also try this site www.fleetdirectory.com

[Flashmann]

One thing I can tell you,you may not see elsewhere:

They start a new class every week,tuesday as I recall,of roughly 25 new recruits.By thursday,when you begin testing for the CDL permit,your class likely will have been weeded down to a dozen or so.There are always a few who wash out from failing the drug screens,high blood pressure.One or two may decide it's not for them and leave before they're commited to a year.Then there are the couple of duds that are just too thick skulled to pass the written test.They test thursday and friday.In most cases,those unable to pass by friday afternoon are sent home.

Once getting your permit,you go out for a few weeks with an instructor,then return to Springfield to test out for your CDL and wait on a trainer.By the time I got that far along there were just 3 of us left.Now,two years later,NONE of us are still there,and haven't been for over a year....

[countryhorseman]

Question: Are you on the customer service side of the Airline industry or in maintenance?

If you are on the maintenance/mechanical side - STAY There! You may have to find a better carrier, or even a military sub-contractor, but stay in that field. There will be planes flying!

If you are in customer service, well, maybe truck driving is a route, but not your only option! Things are not much better on the trucking side, than they are on the airline side!

If I had not been so dense at your age, and gone through and gotten my airframe certification, I would be able to retire! Oh well!

Well I'm getting real close to bailing the airline industry. I'm sure many of you probably have seen the news lately and this industry is not looking good, especially for a young guy like me with a long future ahead of him. (I'm 21)

Anyways, I recently applied to prime when I was bored one day. Well two days ago I got a call from the recruiter saying I was accepted into their training program. So of course I told her I would get back to her in a few days after I do some more research and talk about it with some of my family. My family is cool with it, so now it's on me. I can find a lot of information on the lease/op side of prime, but I'm more interested in the actual training and then being a company driver.

Any input on prime and their training and company drivers would be greatly appreciated. I am also open to any other trucking companies. I don't necessarily need free training, as I can afford it on my own, but it would make life a lot easier for me right now.

[mikey4069]

You are better off starting at swift than prime . My first trucking job was rocor witch was bought up by prime and the both sucked :twisted:

[ohio joe]

Hey r311 u really need to give it good thought! r u home sleepin in ur own bed? do u want to miss family gatherings? do u mind being alone in different states? Lastly keep in mind u r obligated to stay w/Prime Inc. 4 1yr. or u will leave and they will mark ur DAC w/ no 4 rehire or put something worse on it ! That will haunt u as long as u r trying to get into trucking and could even hurt ur Credit if u did not pay them back!! JUST SOME FYI! FOR U!! :shock:

[TomB985]

and if "u" would take a bit of time to spell out your sentences...people would have an easier time understanding you.....

[kc0iv]

Hey r311 u really need to give it good thought! r u home sleepin in ur own bed? do u want to miss family gatherings? do u mind being alone in different states? Lastly keep in mind u r obligated to stay w/Prime Inc. 4 1yr. or u will leave and they will mark ur DAC w/ no 4 rehire or put something worse on it ! That will haunt u as long as u r trying to get into trucking and could even hurt ur Credit if u did not pay them back!! JUST SOME FYI! FOR U!! :shock:

Why shouldn't the ding your Credit if you don't pay the loan? Last time I check the employee signed a contract to repay the loan.

kc0iv

[ohio joe]

THANKS SUPER TRUCKER AND SENIOR TRUCKER!!!!! :shock: U GUYS R WUNDERFUL!!!!!!!!! :?:

[CrazyTulip]

I did the training through Prime and it was good. Wise decision on your part to go company. We did the lease and that was BAD. As a company they're OK, great terminal, but don't let them talk you into leasing.

There are other companies out there that train, so you might want to look around a bit. I personally wouldn't go to Swift as I've heard sooo many bad things about it (don't have personal experience with them though - I have to be honest about that).

Good luck to you!

[Evinrude]

[quote="CrazyTulip"]I did the training through Prime and it was good. Wise decision on your part to go company. We did the lease and that was BAD.

Can I ask why did you lease? What was there selling point? How much more did you think you can make?

My thought is, If the lease is good for the trucker the company wouldn't give it to you.

[CrazyTulip]

[quote="Evinrude"]

I did the training through Prime and it was good. Wise decision on your part to go company. We did the lease and that was BAD.

Can I ask why did you lease? What was there selling point? How much more did you think you can make?

My thought is, If the lease is good for the trucker the company wouldn't give it to you.

My husband was a solo driver and I wanted to get my CDL. However we didn't have the money to shell out for a CDL-school, we did some research and found out he could drive for Prime, get his CDL-instructor certification and train me for free.
He (hubby) thought it'd be good to go lease as we have some friends that were and are doing pretty good with them. They have one and the same fleet manager. We ended up getting another. I know people will say it was us and that's why we failed; well whatever go ahead I don't care anymore about that.
They never really tried selling you into leasing, they will just tell you what their good drivers make and a lot of people walk into it.
We never thought of getting rich because that ain't going to happen.
We did good the first few months and then it went downhill really fast. Prime pays you 72% of what the load pays plus some fuel surcharge. After that you have the weekly pay of the lease which was $822 the first year then it went down to $721 I believe (don't have the paperwork at hand). They also take a few pennies per mile for tire fund, permits etc. So your total fixed cost per week will be somewhere around $1100 for a truck you'll never own. So it wasn't smart on our part is all I was saying

[r311music]

Thanks for all the input so far.

Now would it be smarter to just complete a local CDL training class and then just start applying to all the entry level OTR carriers?

[CrazyTulip]

Thanks for all the input so far.

Now would it be smarter to just complete a local CDL training class and then just start applying to all the entry level OTR carriers?

It's all about what you want. Call around to local schools (but also check if they are good) and companies who train and see what the prices are. Maybe going through a company like e.g. Schneider would be cheaper than a school and you get more direct 'hands-on' training, but like I said, do some research!

[BigWheels]

In Real Estate, it's all about: Location, Location, Location.

In obtaining a CMV CDL, it's all about: Research, Research, Research.

Know what you want (at least what you think you want), research the bejeebers out of it, then make a decision. Time will tell how you did.

If you want to drive a big-rig and go OTR, pick a good school (research), pay for it yourself (appears you can), and get out there!

Best!

[BMiller]

Prime is just another bottom feeding company. A few years ago I spent 1/2 a day at their Springfield,MO yard looking over their lease agreement and talking to drivers. It was somewhat amazing to me that they actually get people to sign that agreement. It was so heavily weighted in their favor. You miss running a few days and you could end up in a financial hole you would play hell getting out of. The so called lease completion incentive was nothing more than them returning your maintenance escrow money. Yet they played it up like it was some kind of bonus. Cookie cutter econobox trucks, high lease payments, risky terms. Definitely wasn't for me.

Everybody has to start somewhere, but there are other places to get started in this business. Where you choose to get your start will affect you for years to come. Do your research. Be patient. Choose wisely.

[Kurbski]

Thanks for all the input so far.

Now would it be smarter to just complete a local CDL training class and then just start applying to all the entry level OTR carriers?

I am in the same boat and looking at my options.What has helped me understand this industry is actually calling,visiting and spending time with drivers. Make your own decisons. What some don't like or care for, might interest you. Alot of opinions are exactly that. Especially when they originate from someone never employed by a company they are flaming.

SNI has great training, and you are assigned to a "TE" (training engineer)who sharpens your skills. Then your obligated for 1.5 yrs.

CFI/Conway TL will send you to school,You pay arounf $1000. They have some really nice drivers working there and "finishers" who sharpen your skills.Then after you pull your first load. Your obligation is complete.

Prime will hire you without a cdl, pay you 600 a week and train you for the cdl skills test and then you will spend 60,00 miles with a trainer. Take your test and become an "A" seat driver.

It all depends on what you want and how comfortable you are with your skills.

These are just a few of the many options available to you. Make a well thought out plan as you will need to stay employed for 1 yr and not job hop. It also depends on what type of freight you are interested in. They all have their pro's and con's.Reefers wait, tankers surge, flatbeds tarp and work harder. IMO, This is a great industry for a 2nd career.

[CrazyTulip]

Prime is just another bottom feeding company. A few years ago I spent 1/2 a day at their Springfield,MO yard looking over their lease agreement and talking to drivers. It was somewhat amazing to me that they actually get people to sign that agreement. It was so heavily weighted in their favor. You miss running a few days and you could end up in a financial hole you would play hell getting out of. The so called lease completion incentive was nothing more than them returning your maintenance escrow money. Yet they played it up like it was some kind of bonus. Cookie cutter econobox trucks, high lease payments, risky terms. Definitely wasn't for me.

Everybody has to start somewhere, but there are other places to get started in this business. Where you choose to get your start will affect you for years to come. Do your research. Be patient. Choose wisely.

Yes you're right about the lease option but I was giving advise to go company - as a company driver you can do OK to get started and sit out your first year. Then at least you have a base, more knowledge on the industry and can make a better decision from there.

[ohio joe]

STAY AWAY FROM THE AS**##*** HOLES THEY R CRAP!!!!! :shock:

[CrazyTulip]

STAY AWAY FROM THE AS**##*** HOLES THEY R CRAP!!!!! :shock:

Would you like to explain yourself in more detail other than just that sentence which gives the man no info at all??