Comments By Mark P.

So I finally got dispatched back to Prime in Springfield after running a load from Idaho to New York and then from New York to Kansas City. Now at the Campus Inn and scheduled to take a safety class tomorrow morning. And have been assigned a new (to me not to Prime) tractor. An International this time... Let you know what I think of it. So if any of you are in Springfield let me know!

I enjoyed my International when I drove @ swift.. I found it had a lot more room then the Volvo/Frieghtliner. My personal opinion...

Enjoy your rest.

Thanks! I have not driven one of the Volvos so can't comment there. I do find the International interior suits me better - dash layout, storage, etc. In fact like the exterior styling over the Cascadia as well. Just preference. This one has the Navistar motor and not the Maxxforce. I will see how it goes once I am pulling trailers with it.

So I finally got dispatched back to Prime in Springfield after running a load from Idaho to New York and then from New York to Kansas City. Now at the Campus Inn and scheduled to take a safety class tomorrow morning. And have been assigned a new (to me not to Prime) tractor. An International this time... Let you know what I think of it. So if any of you are in Springfield let me know!

Put down the salt shaker and grab the pepper sauce. Made a surprising difference for me.

I have always made a point of checking with store management in person at any Wal Mart where I parked overnight and certainly folllowed all of the rules of truck parking etiquette. But there will always be those rude ones. I am lucky to have a sympathetic Lowes manager at the store near my house so I always have a parking spot if I pass thru my home town with a load. Especially since the closest truck stop is 40 something miles from my house.

Mark, it might not be what you're thinking. It could be that Prime has had a lot of their equipment vandalized while parked at Walmart. I don't know what's going on but there could be a lot of different reasons. I remember Daniel B having his trailer "tagged" with spray paint while parked at a Walmart.

Guess I should elaborate that the message included the fact that a driver had been issued several hundred Dollars to get his truck out of impound. But good info - guess I have been lucky and only parked in relatively crime free areas.

There are some WMs because of local ordinances that prohibit overnight truck parking and also may have noise ordinances. Even though I run Walmart Deficated, I always inform the manager on duty that I am breaking in his lot.

Arg! I meant "dedicated". Auto fill, I hate it. Sorry, OMG! I will crawl into the closest hole now...

Really glad I didn't have a mouthful of food when I read that. I will never be able to look at a dedicated route the same way again.

Mark, it might not be what you're thinking. It could be that Prime has had a lot of their equipment vandalized while parked at Walmart. I don't know what's going on but there could be a lot of different reasons. I remember Daniel B having his trailer "tagged" with spray paint while parked at a Walmart.

Guess I should elaborate that the message included the fact that a driver had been issued several hundred Dollars to get his truck out of impound. But good info - guess I have been lucky and only parked in relatively crime free areas.

Got a message on Qualcomm yesterday that no Prime trucks were allowed to park overnight in Wal Mart store parking lots effective immediately. Has anyone driving for other carriers heard anything similar? Or did Prime do something so awful that they were singled out...?

Yes. I generally end up with a drop within 50 miles of home and bobtail to my driveway off duty.

I leave for training at the end of this month. I'm sure I'll be posting more when I start. As if know I have a few questions for anyone that works with them.

1. How does home time work, I know they give you 1 day per week and you can go home for 4 days max. But when you go home do they try and give you a drop off near where you live and also do you get paid the miles it takes you to drive home?

2.When you first start training and orientation, and you complete the first 2-4weeks of non-paid training. When will you be allowed your first home time. Is it after you complete your 2-3 months of paid training and become a solo driver?

Thanks in advance! Really looking forward to starting. Going to start reading up on study guides ASAP.

Hi Brian... Generally you get assigned a load as near as possible to your hometown and a place to drop the trailer. If you can park the truck at home so much the better. In the TNT phase home time really depends on your instructor's schedule. I got lucky and had a week at home during TNT since my instructor already had a family vacation planned. But you should plan on being out at least 6 weeks at first unless you have an instructor who is willing to drop you off near home before he takes a break. Odds are that won't happen since he gets more money more quickly for getting you trained and upgraded ASAP. Good luck!

Hi folks... Back in phone territory again in South Bend IN. Still no word anything to be done by Prime as far as action or even getting the truck through Springfield for repair. Got a 2500 mile load as my next assignment so I am guessing I am not high on the priority list. I will have to get through Springfield before the 31st for permits etc so if anything more develops I will pass it along....