My Prime PSD Experience

Just sent another you another one.

I can deal with newbies getting decent pay and loads. Not a problem. The slap in the face didn't even come from Prime at first. It came from Henderson management. The president of the company, a GREAT guy named Josh Kaburick. That spineless coward didn't even give we owner-operators a heads up. I found out from a shipper. I didn't believe it until I get back to the home terminal and there's a Prime truck sitting at the yard. Imagine the surprise of all the drivers at the yard. The second slap was when Henderson started being a training company. When John Kaburick ran the show, no less than 2 years experience and a nearly perfect driving record got you in the door. Prime's slap in the face came with the sudden change in dispatchers. Here, work with a guy who has zero experience running owner-operators. It was one thing after another.

Jason, I think you're expecting corporations to care about personal matters a lot more than you should. They're businesses. They exist to make a profit. Rarely will they announce their plans ahead of time and almost never will they put personal feelings of any sort before profits. You might expect that from a charity, a church, or a hospital but not most for-profit corporations.

It's quite likely that Prime bought Henderson to get the freight contracts they have. That's why most large companies buy smaller companies. It gives them instant access to a whole new bundle of freight.

I can understand you're disappointed that things have changed. Anyone would be if they liked the way things were. But don't take it so personally. You weren't betrayed. Your company was bought out because it was to their financial advantage to sell. You can't blame anyone for that. That's why businesses exist - to make money. I doubt you ask around for everyone's personal feelings on matters before you make a business decision that benefits you.

If you found better reliability with a Cummins over a Detroit would you ask for Detroit's permission to change?

If you found better fuel mileage with an Allison Automatic over an Eaton Fuller 10 speed I doubt you'd ask Eaton Fuller's feelings on the matter before you went to Allison.

If Pilot gave you better fuel prices than T/A would you stick with T/A so they wouldn't be upset?

Business is business. That's how it goes.

Rain, all of my pre-planning and such will hopefully lead me to Prime. I'm intending on applying for the CDL training in the early spring (provided I meet a few personal goals for studying, supply acquisition, weight loss, etc.) Thank you for updating how it's been going. I'm hoping you do so in the future. It really helps people like myself that have no idea what they're in for, and a woman's perspective is helpful as well.

Despite some of the negatives I've read in this post, I do believe that any job, no matter the industry, will have it's plusses and minuses. Sometimes things won't go the way we plan, but the key to happiness and success in life is learning to roll with the punches. I think you have to try to find the positive side of all situations, be willing to learn from mistakes, and just keep working as hard as you can. No job is perfect. Some unfortunate (but isolated) instances can occur, of course. But any job is what you make it. Grass that is always greener on the other side just means you need to water your own lawn more often.

Good luck, and keep us updated on your progress and how training goes!

That's the thing of it. Pime didn't get the contracts they were after. The original owner's son, Brian Henderson took those with him when he left. Honestly though, it's done and over with. Yeah, it ****ed me off, along with most of the company and owner-operators within Henderson and most of us are gone now because of it. Just makes me wonder is all. Earl and John put blood sweat and tears into the company, Josh turns it into an atm. Kids...glad I don't have any.

What I will say positive for Prime, They have decent driver facilities at at least the Salt Lake terminal. Never been to the Springfield one. By it plenty, but never in it. Couldn't be worse than C.R.England's joke of a home terminal. What a nightmare it is. 8 to a room minimum. Insane.

Now have driven about 1400 miles and my trainer is great!!!! He let's me drive most of the time and we stop for bathroom breaks frequently...have been early and taken showers every day. He is funny and does not get frustrated with me. He loves trashing. ..you can tell . I did meet a CREEP of a trainer and two male trainers asked me to report him....he gives them a bad name. target than just report the one trainer. ...I also gave props to the good one. But so far this has been a great experience..... warning though. ..the midwest is so cheap that it is like shopping at outlet stores everyday. ..I got sneakers and boots for $50 less than at home!

I'm shocked the truck stops are cleaner than I expected

still suck at backing. ...but only been driving four days. I'm very comfortable on the highways...love driving at night. ..am great at upshifting..need to work on downshifting...but getting there. ...I think it is a lot different than the simulators. ..the RPMs are different.. know my pretrip well. .and am confident by test time I will be totally ready

Congrats...Prime is a great place to start your Trucking Career

Ken C.

I've been to the Henderson yard in caseyville plenty on times and haven't had any issues. As Daniel B said a lot of drivers who are mad about the pay that rookies receive when they upgrade, sorry rob is willing to compensate is on a decent pay scale. As said prime has their issues but I feel the good outweighs the bad. As far as the issue with the load delivery dates being an issue, that's as simple as notifying dispatch upon leaving 01 that the appt time ain't gonna happen. Communication goes a long way and will help cover yourself. Many times the 01 had made me late to 90 but I told dispatch and it didn't affect me. Also to my understanding Henderson, O&S, Wil-Trans , Jim Palmer weren't bought by prime. It was more so those companies partnering up with prime. So those companies drivers still pay their original company for their truck payments or drive their companies trucks. Only equipment bring used mutually is trailers although it seems Henderson is getting rid of their trailers. To rainy d just keep giving it your best, eventually the backing will come more naturally. Remember people learn at different paces, I'm glad that overall everything is going good for you.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.

Wil-Trans:

Darrel Wilson bought his first tractor in 1980 at age 20, but, being too young to meet OTR age requirements, he leased the truck out and hired a driver.

Through growth and acquisition, Wil-Trans now employs over 200 drivers, and has a long-standing partnership with Prime, Inc. to haul their refrigerated freight. The family of businesses also includes Jim Palmer Trucking and O & S Trucking.

Thanks people :) tackled eagle Mt in TN and some really hairy situations...I've alley docked a few times. ..getting better.

Some people asked me to keep updating for those considering school. ...try it. The first night I was nervous on the hi way and telling my trainer "I'm scared of the big scary trucks next to me"....now I'm a big scary truck and the rest can kiss my German @$$ lol. Have 2000 miles my first week. .and never drove stick before. I'm doing it and so can you. I think I will test around Oct 15th...by then I'm sure I'll pass. Could probably pass now but want to be certain.

Again thanks to all of you for your help and encouragement.