Specific Questions For Prime Drivers

Most of the Lightweights are Freightliner Casscadia's 48" sleeper or International Prostars with a 56" sleeper...I had a Purple Freightliner LW when I first started out and it almost had enough room...I had a 28" TV mounted to the wall, a 2.7 cubic ft fridge and microwave strapped into the passenger seat area plus a 3 drawer cabinet thingy from Walmart so there is plenty of room for everything except to move around. Above the bed there is a upper cabinet which has 2 doors and a center pocket for storage plus the under bunk area is pretty much the same size as my condo's.. Daniel posted a series of pic's when he had a LW truck...It was a Pinkle, maybe he will post the link for you....;)

Welcome to Prime

Ken C.

I'm currently in a international lightweight and it has ample room for me and comes with the wraparound dash curtains which is nice for opening the space up a little. I don't carry much with me though. Clothes some canned food and snacks. No fridge but planning on getting a little micro cooler and a lunchbox heater.

I've had both the freightliner lw and the international prostar. Both lw trucks have the window curtains as well as sleeper curtains. International does have better storage, but I prefer the freightliner storage under bunk (international has a cut out from the front so air vents are recessed and can't store much in that area without blocking vents.) Solo drivers run more east coast and Midwest with the occasional western run but figure moreso east and Midwest. A lot of people I know have asked at truck assignment for a full size and have gotten handed keys without issue, but that is a 5cpm pay cut. When they ask what your wanting you could always say that you would love a purple truck if they have any. Purple was the owners mother's favorite color, so you'll see plenty of it in the terminals and fleet. As said when you get your truck, you will get a check list to look over the truck, do it thoroughly so you aren't blamed for existing damage and if it needs repairs they will get it into the shop. Then let dispatcher know when you're ready for dispatch. As Daniel b. said the day you arrive and the day you leave don't count against you, so you will have your full 4 days home. I wouldn't expect too many loads past the house in between hometime though, I can count on one hand how many times I've gone past my hometown with a load.

Alright, I'll come out of the shadows for this one.

3: Absolutely do not go on the NE dedicated. That's the dumbiest thing you can do. You'll be OTR and your dispatcher will probably be based out of Springfield but there's a small chance you'll be based out of Pittston. It doesn't really matter though where your dispatcher is from. You'll be all 48 states unless you hope on that NE dedicated which it doesn't sound like you will.

May I ask why that is? I was personaly thinking of doing the wallmart dedicated zor anything NE related?

You'll learn quickly that the north east in a big truck can be strenuous at times. Lack of parking, heavy traffic, rough winters, rough roads, tighter road network. Tolls aren't an issue since prime uses ez pass. Some guys love Walmart dedicated, I personally don't care for it because it's a lot of waiting. The back room employees can't open the door to let you in, management has to come let you in. Even with calling into the store and knocking on the back door, expect to wait for a while. Some stores are better than others, but the managers aren't going to make you priority.

You'll learn quickly that the north east in a big truck can be strenuous at times. Lack of parking, heavy traffic, rough winters, rough roads, tighter road network. Tolls aren't an issue since prime uses ez pass. Some guys love Walmart dedicated, I personally don't care for it because it's a lot of waiting. The back room employees can't open the door to let you in, management has to come let you in. Even with calling into the store and knocking on the back door, expect to wait for a while. Some stores are better than others, but the managers aren't going to make you priority.

I got asked yesterday if I was interested in NE regional

Thanks for all the information guys. I've heard of people fastening things to the interior and I was wondering how that can happen. I do my own home renovations so I'm handy with tools and building shelves and such, but how do you secure something to the floor/walls of the truck? I've pretty sure many things need to be lashed down, but there has to be an anchor point somewhere.

I will add something to this thread, when I was a company driver I was dispatched out of the Pittston yard. At that time, most of the fleet managers there had 1 priority, the NE. I had to really fight to get loads that kept me out of the NE. Don't know if that is still true, but something to be aware of.

Like you, I live in VA. So they try to get you to stay as close to the NE as they can. Just be firm about not wanting to be kept up in the NE.

As has been pointed out, the parking/roads/traffic can really wear on you.

Ernie

I will add something to this thread, when I was a company driver I was dispatched out of the Pittston yard. At that time, most of the fleet managers there had 1 priority, the NE. I had to really fight to get loads that kept me out of the NE. Don't know if that is still true, but something to be aware of.

Like you, I live in VA. So they try to get you to stay as close to the NE as they can. Just be firm about not wanting to be kept up in the NE.

As has been pointed out, the parking/roads/traffic can really wear on you.

Ernie

I'm 30 mins from pulling into Springfield to start my school and now I feel like I am going to have added pressure to go NE. Not cool.

I will add something to this thread, when I was a company driver I was dispatched out of the Pittston yard. At that time, most of the fleet managers there had 1 priority, the NE. I had to really fight to get loads that kept me out of the NE. Don't know if that is still true, but something to be aware of.

Like you, I live in VA. So they try to get you to stay as close to the NE as they can. Just be firm about not wanting to be kept up in the NE.

As has been pointed out, the parking/roads/traffic can really wear on you.

Ernie

I'm 30 mins from pulling into Springfield to start my school and now I feel like I am going to have added pressure to go NE. Not cool.

Best possible solution to that problem is to try your best to get a Fleet Manager (FM) based in Springfield if you can when it's time to upgrade to a Solo driver.

Ernie