The Good, The Bad, The Ugly: Prime Inc.

[Big Tex]

Hey all, I've been a lurker on these forums for a few months now, and it seems almost every other thread is about either Swift or Pumpkin. I am looking to get my CDL through one of the companies and go OTR but can't decide on one.

I would only really consider Swift as a last resort, I have no tickets in 4 years, no DUI, never been arrested, etc. So I am pretty sure I won't have to sign my life away to them.

Pumpkin seems like a much better choice, except for a couple of things. If you train in Dallas, you have to sign an 18 month contract; no thanks. Also, can you really learn to be a safe driver in that short of a training program?

So on to my main question. I've been looking at Prime's RTC division for some time now and from what I've seen looks decent, but there simply aren't enough threads on here to get a "driver's eye perspective" on the company. The company promises that you'll be averaging 3200 miles per week, that seems a little fishy to me, seeing as CFI and Pumpkin only average 2500-2800 mpw.

Their training pay is 500 per week, same as SNI, but they keep you in training for 60,000 miles or more, that seems a little long to me. Once you finish training though, they start you at .30 cpm and move you up to .34 in fairly short order. Couple that with 3200 mpw average and thats decent earnings for a rookie driver.

I am well aware of the ugly side of Prime: the Fleece Purchase. I know to avoid it like the black death itself. I wouldn't sign a F/P if they strapped me down and held a gun to my head, so no worries there. The idea of paying 750 per week plus expenses for a truck that I will never own really doesn't appeal to me, I am shocked that anyone would sign something like that.

Has anyone here driven for Prime as a company driver? If so I would like to hear about your experiences there. Is a 3200 mpw average realistic, or is the recruiter spewing BS? Anyone else who has good or bad to say about Prime (RTC), I'd like to hear from you too.

Thanks,

May God have mercy on your soul...

[mikey4069]

rtc rocor transportation company ?

May God have mercy on your soul...

Wow what an insightful post!

[Big Tex]

May God have mercy on your soul...

How so? I am only giving Prime a nice long look, haven't made a commitment to anyone as of now; so if you know something about them that would make me run like hell from them, please let me know what it is.

rtc rocor transportation company ?

Yeah, it was Rocor before Prime bought them in 02'

[mikey4069]

Well rocor was my first and that was a bad choice . I think prime uses rocor's fleese contract now.

[Karnajj]

You must not have lurked around here very long otherwise you would already know that Prime is nothing but a ripoff. There is no new info, they haven't seen the light and repented, no point in posting anything else about them.

[mikey4069]

Well i only make comments about company's that I have worked for In the past. except swift i like to poke fun at them. Ive worked for rocor but not prime but i think there about the same rocor was a bad company and i hope they go down the same path rocor did . :twisted: out of business . :evil:

[evertruckerr]

My advise, pay for your own schooling through a PTDI approved school only and then drive with Crete.

If paying for your own is not a option, check out TMC (flat bed) or Roehl.

Both of these companies are going to treat you much better than Pumkin or God forbid, Swift.

Best of luck

[kips41]

Prime and Swift..........run Forrest run.......sorry but run as fast as you can from those two.

Call KLLM they have a company sponsored training program which is located in Bastrop, LA and ran thru a 3rd party. They are alot better than the companies that you have been looking at. Their number is 800-925-1000 and ask for recruiting.

Seriously call as many companies as you can an ask about training, many of them have programs, they just don't advertise as much as others because they don't want every wanna be driver calling.

Good luck...remember that about 90% of what other drivers tell you is BS......

[mikey4069]

Prime and Swift..........run Forrest run.......sorry but run as fast as you can from those two.

Call KLLM they have a company sponsored training program which is located in Bastrop, LA and ran thru a 3rd party. They are alot better than the companies that you have been looking at. Their number is 800-925-1000 and ask for recruiting.

Seriously call as many companies as you can an ask about training, many of them have programs, they just don't advertise as much as others because they don't want every wanna be driver calling.

Good luck...remember that about 90% of what other drivers tell you is BS......

truck drivers bs ?????

[yoopr]

but there simply aren't enough threads on here to get a "driver's eye perspective" on the company.

There's ALOT of Threads on here about Prime-Go to the top and use the Search feature.

[century451]

Primes company driver division is like driving for any other company division. You will get just about all the miles you can legally run and you will run legal. The trucks are governed at 65. Everything is on Primes dime so its a lot different then the lease division and the pay is competitive with other carriers.

[mikey4069]

This is my personal opinion is that you would be better off at swift than prime. now i never have worked for either company . :shock: