Prime Miles

Just curious what the current Prime drivers are getting average for miles each week? Anyone here work in the flatbed or tanker side? Any idea what those guys are averaging per week? I found a website saying that it was 2500 to 3000 for all divisions but that wasn't on the Prime site so I am reluctant to believe that. When I use the link to Prime's site from that one it shows average pay per week but that wasn't by division. Doing the math based on the rates the recruiter gave me that puts it at 2200 to 2700/wk. Sound closer?

I am really interested in the flatbed side because it would get me out of the truck and moving around. I've spent the last 7 years flying a desk for the Air Force and miss the physical activity required of me when I actively worked aircraft maintenance. I am also considering tanker for the experience to get on with some of the local crude hauling companies in my home town.

Thanks

My flatbed instructor and trainer both told me that they average up near 3k per week when they are solo. Both have told me that 2500 per week is good for a minimum mile estimate if you're trying to not over-project your potential income. Everything I've seen and been told suggest the miles are plentiful if you run properly.

I'm a flatbedder with Prime. Since I went solo, I've averaged around 2400 - 2500 per week when I didn't take home time. I'll have 2700 tomorrow when I deliver and another day to get some more miles for the week. Counting home time weeks, including a week off at Christmas, it comes out to about 1900 per week. Freight is slow this time of year, everyone's telling me that it will pick up significantly in a month or so.

Anyone we speak with that runs for Prime seems to get great miles. I know Daniel B. runs for them and he's running hard pretty much all the time. In fact, we have several people here that work at Prime and nobody ever complains about getting miles. They'll run ya if you can handle it.

Thanks for the replies. That's exactly what I'm trying to do, project potential income. I know that I'm not going to come out of the gate banging out 3000 mile weeks but it is nice to know that it is possible to get there in time. I will start CDL school in a couple of weeks so I look to be starting somewhere in late March. I haven't decided on one company yet but Prime has definitely earned a hard look from me as of late.

Bud, how long have you been solo? For the flatbed division, I read that Prime requires that the drivers purchase some equipment. About what does that total out to? I wish I could have done that same with some of the chuckle heads that have worked for my unit. Maybe then they would take better care of it. I think some of these guys could tear up an anvil with a plastic hammer.

Bud, how long have you been solo? For the flatbed division, I read that Prime requires that the drivers purchase some equipment. About what does that total out to? I wish I could have done that same with some of the chuckle heads that have worked for my unit. Maybe then they would take better care of it. I think some of these guys could tear up an anvil with a plastic hammer.

I've only been solo for 2 months. Equipment is around $3500, about $82 per week for around 9 months. If you decide to leave flatbed, or the company altogether, they'll buy it back. I didn't know about it till I was in training (didn't think to ask), and a lot of other companies don't do that from what I hear. Definitely worth factoring into your decision.

I'm happy with Prime, but I think TMC, Melton, and Roehl are worth a look if you want to do flatbed. I've heard Roehl pays more per mile, and TMC definitely has nice equipment and good training, and their percentage pay works out to more than I'm making. Not sure what Melton pays, but the drivers I've talked to seem to like them.

Definitely looking those as well as McElroy. TMC was my number one until the recruiter told me that they had changed their hiring area a few months back and I am outside of it. She said to go ahead and submit an application. Said my military background may help them to overlook the hiring map. I just want to have as much info as I can to make an informed decision.

Thanks!

Is anyone here working the tanker side? Curious what those guys are getting in miles.

Still trying to decide between tanker and flats. Living here in west Texas there are lots of tanker jobs, I just need to get some experience. I have applications in with Melton and A&R Logistics right now. I have already done the phone interview with Melton. Melton actually pays 39 cents/mi now. Their equipment seems on par with Prime and they can run a whopping 3 miles per hour faster than Prime!

The school I am attending prefers we send applications through them (I think it is a requirement from the Texas Workforce Commission or something). I'm considering submitting on to Prime on my own and just giving the school the paper copy they gave me.

I am just about through with the High Road program. Still have logbook left. My school spent about 15 minutes going over logging and showed us a 15 minute video. Guess I'm ready right?

Is anyone here working the tanker side? Curious what those guys are getting in miles.

Still trying to decide between tanker and flats. Living here in west Texas there are lots of tanker jobs, I just need to get some experience. I have applications in with Melton and A&R Logistics right now. I have already done the phone interview with Melton. Melton actually pays 39 cents/mi now. Their equipment seems on par with Prime and they can run a whopping 3 miles per hour faster than Prime!

The school I am attending prefers we send applications through them (I think it is a requirement from the Texas Workforce Commission or something). I'm considering submitting on to Prime on my own and just giving the school the paper copy they gave me.

I am just about through with the High Road program. Still have logbook left. My school spent about 15 minutes going over logging and showed us a 15 minute video. Guess I'm ready right?

I think the reason they don't spend a while lot of time on log books is because the majority of companies out there all run e logs. They want you to know how to fill out paper logs which really isn't that hard to do. Paper logs can get confusing if you run outlaw log books but if you keep everything legal, you'll be fine.

Greg, I don't know what the Prime tanker guys are getting for miles, but I do know it's all food grade and most of their runs are east of Missouri, which might make it a little harder to get back to Texas for home time. They're growing the tanker division pretty fast, though, so that might change as they get more west coast runs. Try asking a recruiter there if you can run tanker with a home base in west Texas to see what they say.

One nice thing about tanker is that a lot of their shippers and receivers have a place to park, with showers and other amenities. Plus, free chocolate when you go to Hershey's...or so I've heard.