Well NOW I'M CONFUSED

Heard a ton of talk about going with Jim Palmer Trucking, was all set to get the ball rolling and then someone suggested PRIME....I have ZERO Intention of doing Rent-a-truck or O/O just want a decent company I can run my wheels off, take EVERY LOAD I can get and get home to the Family. Not sure who to go with. The both basically offer the SAME to newbie drivers. Any suggestions ONE OVER THE OTHER????? NO I DO NOT HAVE a CDL so need a DECENT Company that I can School with and hang out with for a year or so. Thanks In advance

Firemedic, they are both "decent" and excellent companies. That's your problem! Have you checked out their TT Trucking Company Reviews?

Here's some more decision-making help:

• Article Category: Finding The Right Truck Driving Job
• Trucker's Career Guide: Choosing Your First Truck Driving Job
• Forum Topics Tagged "Choosing A Trucking Company"

Interestingly enough, Jim Palmer is actually part of the Prime family in a way. Wil-Trans owns Jim Palmer and according to Prime's official Facebook page:

We [Prime] do not own Wil-trans. They haul freight for us out of our Logistics division and run under their own authority.

So Jim Palmer isn't owned by Prime but they're hauling freight for them. In fact you will see Jim Palmer trucks pulling Prime trailers at times. I would imagine that the experience you'll have at either company is pretty similar. You can't go wrong either way, really.

I would suggest speaking with recruiters and drivers from both companies and try to find out the differences between the two. You might be better off going with Prime instead of a company that's basically working for Prime, but then again Jim Palmer might have a unique setup that gives them a distinct advantage for you based upon your personal preferences. So it's worth digging a little deeper to find out more about that story.

But don't lose a moment of sleep over it. You can't go wrong either way.

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.

As Brett & Errol have mentioned - can't really go wrong either way.

Prime is going to be larger company - so there may be some "logistics support" that you may not be as available at the smaller JPT.

JPT has gotten a lot of attention lately, due to the Allie Knight videos (youtube trucker star). Don't know that anyone here has completed JPT's training and gotten out solo yet - though a few people have talked about going there.

All things being equal - do you want to go to Montana as a home base for training, or Springfield Mo?

Since JPT hauls a lot of Prime trailers - the freight destinations are likely to be similar. I don't know the exact arrangement they have - so I'm not sure if Prime "load plans" for JPT - or just throws them a bunch of loads and let's JPT's planners handle their drivers.

While JPT has a decent stable track record - they have recently started their driver training program (compared to Prime) and the large influx of new drivers (due to recent publicity), with no real feedback from anyone here as to how their training is run might push me closer to Prime. OTOH - a smaller company might mean more individual attention at JPT.

I spoke with one of their recruiters a few months ago. Told me I would have to turn in my fully endorsed CDL-A here in Florida, come up and get a Montana CLP , test out and re-obtain my CDL & Endorsements in Florida. Didn't make a whole lot of sense to me to do so.

It's a tough decision for you - and not really a tough decision. If you are willing to learn and stick with it - you will do well at either.

Rick

Jim Palmer mostly runs out west and as a company solo driver at Prime you'll spend most of your time in the east, if that factors in at all.

Prime doesn't force, or reallyt talk to you about being an O/O.

Jim Palmer mostly runs out west and as a company solo driver at Prime you'll spend most of your time in the east, if that factors in at all.

Dunno about that.

Allie Knight pretty much caught almost all the lower 48 in the first 3 months with them.

They may be routing her that way, for "promotional purposes".

I've seen JPT Trailers down here in S. Florida too.

You run where the freight takes you. "Routing Considerations" are based on backhaul availability. You don't want to have your equipment running deadhead miles on the company dime.

Rick

I ran all 48 solo at Prime, but I bet I spent 80% of my time east of Chicago. I've seen Palmer drivers out east (actually ran into one in Maine before) but by far I have seen them the most west of Ohio.

I think with Prime it depends where you live and your dispatcher is. My friend is from California and is dispatched out of SLC. He runs mostly west. I'm from jersey but instead of dispatching me out of PA.. my FM is in MO. Solo I have run NJ to GA and ID to TX... everything in between. If you count my training time.. I think I've only not driven 7 states.

Prime won't make you lease.. and they won't make you get a lightweight. I'm in the full size. .. getting 39.5 cpm... my fuel bonus is decent and we get "Prime rewards" bonuses when we fuel.... get on time deliveries... drive safely. We can spend the points in the spa/salon or the company store. So far I've used my points to buy 3 shirts... a pair of sneakers and a 50 min massage at the spa lol.

A drunk driver hit me last week and fled the scene. I did the QC stuff... called disptach.. called safety.. got the trailer fixed.... when my FM came in I messaged "do I need to call u about that accident?" He said "nope.. what's your new ETA for the 90 so I can change your appt". End of discussion. No bs. Today I shut down at 1000 knowing I wouldn't make my 90 at 0230. I messaged and it was "sending a truck for you to swap loads." No why didn't you make it... what's your problem. .. you should do better.

I love prime and my FM. My intention was to leave after a year and go local if possible. Now I dont want to bother. I have it pretty good here.

Didn't think about folks dispatched out of SLC. Im from south Texas, and almost invariably I'd grab some Mexican produce and haul it up to Michigan, and stay in the northeast until it was time to come home. Washington was the last state I crossed off the list (now if I can get a truck to Alaska and...Hawaii).

Now that I'm teaming it's all about getting to California apparently.