Question:
Hey guys. I'm thinking about a career in the trucking industry. I've been looking into it for quite awhile. Normally, I could do like some of the other guys that I've seen post in this group talking of Swift, or Rhoel, or Schneider. Unfortunately, I'm what would be called a Mid-Career transition. I'm currently a police officer with a family. I would eventually like to start my own trucking company, but first I have to learn to walk before I can run. I've been studying Prime. I was wondering if someone could tell me about them. I've seen a few of their trucks around, but don't know much about them, except what I can see on the Internet. They seem to have a good deal. They'll train you(I already have a CDL Permit), pay you during your training, and all you have to do is stay with them for a year. They'll allow you to become an O/O after 4 to 6 months. I have no trucking experience. I have the capital and business know how to start my own company from scratch, but I am uninsurable because of lack of experience, and since I haven't worked in the industry the chances of failure would be high. If prime isn't it, then who? I would appreciate any guidance that you guys could give me.
J. Clark

Answer:
Prime will "allow" you to become an o/o. What they will do is sucker you into their lease/purchase program. Do not, do not, do not be fooled by any of the lease/purchase programs offered out there by many of the companies. They are designed only to benefit the carrier. Most drivers who try them will go broke.
I would suggest you work somewhere as a company driver while you decide if trucking is really what you want to do. With your lack of experience, you will be limited as to who you work for.
Daytripper
Sometimes you have to dig through a lot horsesh#t to find the pony.

Answer:
The only problem with being a company driver is pay. I'm fairly certain that this is what I want to do. I've rode once with a guy to California and back from Atlanta. It was a lot of fun, I can see how it could get boring, but so can my job now. I drive around for 8 hours a day. Somedays I'm busy others I'm not.
I have some capital that could get me through the training period, but as far as making $30,000 for a year, by the end of the year I would be out of money. I don't have an outrageous lifestyle, but I have a house note, car note etc. If I was 21 again, a company driver situation would be perfect. I appreciate your input daytripper. Also, I realize that the lease program is a rip off.
J. Clark

Answer:
Well use the search feature of trucknet.
Type in PRIME and start reading.
Also read the posts by PRIMERBOY he is a hoot.

Answer:
I'll try that, Thanks.
J. Clark

Answer:
Prime will not allow you to be an O/O. You will be a suckered lease operator running under their control and rules. Being broke and deep in debt comes to mind also.
Hit the search and type in Prime. Lots of good info there.
Good Luck and keep looking. You are the same as many who have gotten or almost been suckered into their deal. Swift would be better.
"There is just something about fresh winter snow and a river. The day is bright even if it is cloudy, the water is friendly even if it is cold and the fish are there even if they are not biting."
Member: Happy Dweller Society
Team Driver Division

Answer:
Okay, just what i've read in the past hour or so makes Prime doesn't seem like a good deal. Let me put out there what I need, and maybe someone will be able to assist me.
I currently make about $55,000.00 a year. I can stand up to a $10,000 a year pay cut. I want to, after a year have my own authority and pull my own loads. I've been investigating trucking for about 6 months now, and am 99% sure that this is what I want to do. My family is behind me. I have a CDL Permit, but have never driven anything on 18 wheels. The closest that I've come is a 48 passenger bus when I was in the Military, and a deuce and a half with a trailer. I am willing to spend however much time it takes to learn the industry enough to run my own company. Any help would be appreciated.
J. Clark

Answer:
how many times does everyone have to ask about this stupid company. New Guys, if read the boards from a few weeks back you will see the same thing about Prime. basically they will screw you over so bad you will end up owning them money in the end.
PRIME DRIVERS ARE:
Pathetic
Retarded
Idiotic
Morons
Enough said
Hey, if life throws you a curve ball, try and take a swing at it. Who knows what might happen

Answer:
Originally posted by jclarkcp:
Okay, just what i've read in the past hour or so makes Prime doesn't seem like a good deal. Let me put out there what I need, and maybe someone will be able to assist me.
I currently make about $55,000.00 a year. I can stand up to a $10,000 a year pay cut. I want to, after a year have my own authority and pull my own loads. I've been investigating trucking for about 6 months now, and am 99% sure that this is what I want to do. My family is behind me. I have a CDL Permit, but have never driven anything on 18 wheels. The closest that I've come is a 48 passenger bus when I was in the Military, and a deuce and a half with a trailer. I am willing to spend however much time it takes to learn the industry enough to run my own company. Any help would be appreciated.
J. Clark
Dude with Prime don't worry about a $10,000 pay cut, they wont pay you period. Also, most newbies like myself will make a max. of $35,000 to $40,000 a year in this industry
Hey, if life throws you a curve ball, try and take a swing at it. Who knows what might happen

Answer:
I could probably handle $40,000. But these companies are talking $28,000 to $30,000 then after 5 or 6 years maybe $38,000 toi $40,000. I know that I'm asking a lot, but I have to be able to survive. If anyone has any suggestions, I'm open. I'm not afraid of long hours or hard work.
J. Clark

Answer:
If you are needing to gross $40,000 a year then you need to look somewhere else. Trucking is not going to provide that to you starting out, and very few will honestly see even $40k a year anytime in the first 3 years or so.
Also as far as your comment goes about getting your own authority, your own truck etc in a year. Forget it. In a year, assuming you do enter the trucking world, you are still going to be trying to figure out the difference between a glad hand and a 5th wheel and will definately not be ready for the challenges of being a successful O/O let alone someone who is his own company.
The trucking game has several levels to it and there is a lot to learn at each level before advancing to the next.
The levels are
Company driver
Owner/Operater
Small fleet owner, or Owner Operator with 1 truck and own authority.
I will always be a mutter trucker at heart.
Answer:
Sorry to be the one to break this to you, But from what ive heard you will NOT make near 40,000 your first year. Your range will be 26,000-30,000 and only 30,000 if your lucky..Hiting 33,000 to POSSIBLY 35,000 will mean you will stay out and run your tail off just about all year. You say you have a family, so my advice might be to rethink this abit. Maybe go about opening up your trucking bussiness someother way(not sure how). Or Possibly open up a police bussiness? Sercuity bussiness? Something along those lines.....But if Trucking is what you want, Just dont expect 40-45,000 your first year, thats nearly if not completely impossible.
I know some of you are thinking, "What does he know?" He isnt in the bussiness yet. Thats right, But i believe i have learned this much already, Atleast from what everyone says on here and truckers ive spoken with.

Answer:
I appreciate everyone's input. I'm just researching. Trying to figure out what the best approach to the business would be. I'm going to research around and look some more. Further input would be appreciated.
J. Clark

Answer:
"how many times does everyone have to ask about this stupid company" As many times as they want to. I know your not exactly new here (close) but you are brand new to trucking. Just like you when you first started visiting here he asked about a company he knew nothing about. Just like you he asked questions that have been asked 100 times before. No big deal. You can also leave your cutesy little saying about Prime drivers at home. Most have been suckered into a lease. Most don't have access to an internet site like this either. Primes offer is more than tempting. It seems downright fantastic to a newbie. So before you start putting down the drivers themselves remember just like you they don't know a thing about trucking. All they know is what some BS recruiter has told them.
jclarkcp if you really want to learn the business from an owners point of view. Hire on with a very small company. Mom and pop places often run their drivers like owners. You'll talk to their customers and brokers. If you keep a good ledger you can also see exactly what it cost and takes to run a truck. You can learn more about the business in a year with a small company than you will in 10 years with a big company. You will also make more money but have to sacrifice benefits with most of them. many don't like the small places because they will definatly work you harder. But, if it is a temporary deal to gain knowledge it can boost you right along. You'll most likely need schooling but sometimes not. These small companies are out there and quite abundant. You'll have to do some serious looking to find one that will take you as a new driver.
I dont agree with most when it comes to owning a truck. It can be done and be profitable but it's not easy. Just like driving if you approach it correctly it won't take 100 years to learn how. If it were me and it may be one day. I would buy a twin screw tractor with a back window and an end dump trailer to haul dirt, rocks, sand and whatever else locally. An owner i know down here started 3 years ago with one TT end dump that he drove. He now owns 14 of them and isn't living poorly. I know the guy personally and can say it was n't easy. He knew very little about trucks when he bought one. At the same time a fellow I drove for started with one truck and one driver, me. He went up to 4 trucks. He's now a driver for another company. His trucks are long gone as is his credit. You need a definate plan and alot of money smarts to make it work. Ownig is a challenge but not impossible. You don't have to live in a truck to make money at it.
Best of luck to you.
I have to figure out where UT comes up with some of his funny stuff. "The levels are,", hahaha now thats funny. He's just leaving out the 20-30 job types and pay levels in between.
"There is just something about fresh winter snow and a river. The day is bright even if it is cloudy, the water is friendly even if it is cold and the fish are there even if they are not biting."
Member: Happy Dweller Society
Team Driver Division
[This message was edited by Stuffs on November 28, 2003 at 11:10.]

Answer:
Thank you for your suggestion. That definately sounds like a good idea. I am going to look into it a smaller company. There are a lot of them around here. I am serious about this, and I do want to learn the business. I think that no matter what business it is, and if you have the business smarts, and industry knowledge, you can make it work. Thanks
J. Clark