Wiltrans - Jim Palmer - Prime

I've noticed a lot of advertising lately on this forum with wiltrans. Doesn't wiltrans own jim palmer, and doesn't wiltrans lease their trucks from Prime?

I've noticed a lot of advertising lately on this forum with wiltrans. Doesn't wiltrans own jim palmer, and doesn't wiltrans lease their trucks from Prime?

Wil-Trans does indeed own Jim Palmer but they're kinda running them right now like two separate companies. And I don't believe they lease their trucks 'from' Prime but they have their trucks leased on with Prime. They get most of their freight from Prime and leverage the advantages of working with a company that large.

It started many years ago when Wil-Trans had only twelve trucks. The owner decided to lease all twelve of his trucks on with Prime and they've remained that way ever since. Wil-Trans picked up Jim Palmer a few years ago and they're doing the same with them.

Their company-sponsored training programs are also structured the same way as Prime's are.

Jim Palmer's trucks tend to run from the West coast to the Midwest most of the time and Wil-Trans tends to run more from the Northeast to the Midwest. But of course both companies have plenty of runs going coast to coast. Wil-Trans is based out of Missouri and Jim Palmer is based out of Montana.

Both Wil-Trans and Jim Palmer are run by the Wilson family, the original founders of Wil-Trans.

Anyone interested can learn more about these companies here:

• Jim Palmer Company-Sponsored Training Program
• Wil-Trans Company-Sponsored Training Program
• Prime Inc Company-Sponsored Training Program

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

• Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
• Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
• Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
• Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.

Company-sponsored Training:

A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.

The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.

If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.

Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.

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.

And I don't believe they lease their trucks 'from' Prime but they have their trucks leased on with Prime. They get most of their freight from Prime and leverage the advantages of working with a company that large.

Leasing "on" or "from," I'm not sure what distinction you're trying to make. My understanding is that he started basically as a larger lease op, remained that way, and has had success with that model. I thought it was an inspiring success story as a lease operator.

"In 1980, at 20 years old, Darrel Wilson bought his first tractor, a 1976 Freightliner Cab-over, while working as a diesel mechanic. Since he was too young to meet the age requirement to drive over-the-road, he leased the truck to a refrigerated carrier in Springfield, Missouri, and hired a driver to get his truck on the road to begin his career as a fleet owner.

...

In the autumn of 1990, Darrel developed a relationship with Prime Inc., and began leasing his trucks exclusively with them, and he hasn’t looked back since! The relationship generated a wealth of opportunity for growth and stability for his company and more importantly, for his employees"

In this arrangement Wil-Trans is the lessor (owner of the property) and Prime is the lessee (paying for the use of the property).

Taken from the history page of Wil-Trans' site.

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.

In this arrangement Wil-Trans is the lessor (owner of the property) and Prime is the lessee (paying for the use of the property).

Taken from the history page of Wil-Trans' site.

Interesting. I didn't notice that part. So essentially Prime is 'leasing' from Wiltrans ???

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.

Michael is right. Wil-Trans and Jim Palmer manage their own drivers and equipment. Prime is acting more like a freight broker to them. I don't know the nitty gritty details of the relationship but it's not the same as if you went to Prime and said you'd like to lease a truck from them.

And they also have other smaller projects going on the side that are independent of Prime. So no, they're not 'just a big lease operator' for Prime. There's a lot more to it than that.

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.

And they also have other smaller projects going on the side that are independent of Prime. So no, they're not 'just a big lease operator' for Prime. There's a lot more to it than that.

I'm sure it's more complicated. I had just thought that Wiltrans leased from Prime and used them as a freight broker, which apparently only the latter is true.