Comments By MidnightCowboy

When your new you have to prove yourself with your DM. I would guess 2000-2500. I've been with Prime a little over 4 months and been getting around 3000 miles a week. That's just my personal experience.

Hi Chris. Thinking about going with Prime. Are you doing the LW's? Are they moving you West much or a lot of NorthEast runs? Thanks

Perfect! Thank you Brett!

Thanks RT. For those willing to take a peek, the KY page is 5-9.

As I am studying for my CDL permit, I've noticed a few High Road answers in direct conflict with my own states CDL manual. For example, the total stopping distance of over 450 feet in my state manual v over 300 feet in the High Road for a vehicle with air brakes assuming 55 mph, avg. driver, dry pavement, good traction. I live in KY. Just want to answer correctly on these questions. Thanks

Thomas, you nailed it. The pay per mile is only one piece of the puzzle. And every company has unique systems in place like sliding scales based on length of haul or region of the country, extra stop pay, fuel bonus pay, and things like that.

What you want to do when comparing pay scales is make sure you're comparing companies with the same type of freight. It's hard to compare dry van to refrigerated to flatbed when there are so many factors involved in each one. Are you getting paid to load/unload? Are you getting paid to put on tarps and chains? Are you getting detention pay at the customers? Are you getting extra stop pay on LTL-style runs? You really want to figure out what type of freight you want to haul and then compare pay packages within that realm.

I have been getting 33 CPM but my runs are all 600-1200 Mile average and have been getting 3000-3500 Miles a week consistently.

Man, let me tell ya.....half the drivers in the country would take those numbers in a heartbeat....especially as a rookie at a dry van company in March when things tend to be slow. If you're getting those kind of miles and runs then the people at your company really, really like you. You must be doing an awesome job or they'd never keep you rolling like that. To be honest, I would keep my eyes open for better opportunities but I would have to be real darn certain I was making the right move before leaving those numbers behind. Because you're not going to beat those numbers - not the mileage figures anyhow. You're already bumping up against your Logbook pretty regularly as it is I'm sure. So the only way you're going to find a better job is to get better mileage pay and continue to get the maximum mileage you can run legally. It's out there. It can be done. But I can assure you that a lot of drivers jump for greener pastures and regret it. You're in a great position so be very careful about where you go.

The one company I can say off the top of my head might give you a shot at maximum mileage, better pay, and better equipment is Prime Inc. But be aware of two things - you're going to be pulling a reefer and you're going to be in a lightweight truck. That means you're going to be dealing with grocery warehouses all the time and you'll be in a truck with a lot less room than you're used to. But you'd be up above 40 CPM and I know for a fact they'll get you 3,000 miles per week if you can handle it, which it sounds like you can. I've never worked for Prime and I have no incentive to mention them to you. The only reason I know as much as I do about them is because we've had so many of our regular forum members work there over the past few years and in fact a few of them currently do. So I know they turn the miles and make good money.

Prime certainly isn't the only good opportunity out there but it's one I'm confident about and I wanted to be able to give you at least one company name for consideration.

Thanks for the info. I'm always interested in hearing as much as possible about Prime. Now I'm wondering what's the deal with grocery warehouses? I've heard nearly all runs are 'hard' meet times. Anything else?

Short of the typical smoker v. Non smoker preference, is there any selection process and will companies even consider trainer/trainee preferences. Do most companies just pull names out of a hat?

Let me start by saying none of this has sunk in yet.

I am now a member of the Averitt Express On Tour Logistics team (OTL), which means, I will be going out on tour with bands, artists and production companies as a member of the crew. Of course, I will be driving their gear from venue to venue throughout the whole tour. I will also be driving for production companies (think NFL, one event concerts...etc.) from now on (with some truck load runs to fill in the gaps).

I was picked along with a few others out of a countless many of drivers and put through an extensive background check, interview and class which was completed today. I can`t even begin to put to words what this means to me. I am so excited, confused (why me?) and over all, blessed. Here is the kicker... I inquired about it on Wednesday, was invited to attend yesterday (reason for the immediate hazmat testing), and completed an interview and class today which sealed the deal. I have no idea why they chose me, (who? me?) but, they seemed to know all about who I am and (of course) what my year of driving has been like. Today was surreal to say the least, I mean, this a huge deal. I hadn`t met these folks until today yet they were treating me as if I was already a member of the group. Hell, my interview was only about 3 minutes long. Weird.

A big thank you to everyone who has supported and helped me on this site, seriously, thank you.

Congratulations! Have you been driving many years? Sounds like an awesome opportunity.

I am just thinking about being safe, i am honestly kinda surprised they allow for 11 hours of drive time.

As a rookie, you'll probably start out doing 3-4 hrs a day with your trainer and each day slowly increase those hrs. My first day I did 8, next day was 9 and thrid day was 10.5.. I love to drove and once you get out on the road, its easy and time starts to fly. Sometimes it goes slow, but it happens.

just hope i get a good trainer :D

Well if you ever get a trainer that makes you feel unsafe or you feel isn't giving enough time to practice (as that's basically what your doing is practicing) then a phone call to your trainers DM and safety department will get you to a new trainer. There are trainers that just do it for money and those that do it for the benefit of getting safe drivers out.

I guess it would be a quiet ride back to the terminal.

If you go into Prime already having your CDL-A license, then your training time is reduced. You will only have to do 40,000 miles (which will take about 2 1/2 months or so). Also the training guarantee has been changed from $600/wk to $700/wk just recently.

I went through the training program at Prime, was a trainer as well.

I still have friends there that are instructors/trainers so have been kept up to date as far as pay/time/miles requirements.

Any other questions, I will do my best to help if I can.

Ernie

I spoke with a Springfield recruiter at Prime a few days ago and asked her about the $700 TNT training pay that I heard Daniel and others mention. She said 'right now it is 500 and 600' leaving me with the impression that it may be changing upward soon. I am wondering if Prime has only told their employees for now.

I know the rule is no more then 11 hours a day but do you guys hit that most every day??

I am wondering that as well. Driving just 5 days a week yields 2750 miles a week at a very conservative 50 mph. 6 days equals 3300.