Considering Offers - Werner Vs. Prime - What's The Catch?

Thanks, guys. That pretty much clears it up. You've all been very helpful.

If you go into Prime already having your CDL-A license, then your training time is reduced. You will only have to do 40,000 miles (which will take about 2 1/2 months or so). Also the training guarantee has been changed from $600/wk to $700/wk just recently.

I went through the training program at Prime, was a trainer as well.

I still have friends there that are instructors/trainers so have been kept up to date as far as pay/time/miles requirements.

Any other questions, I will do my best to help if I can.

Ernie

I drive a LW truck at Prime Inc for .43 a mile and it has all the room I need...I had the passenger seat took out, put in a 2.7 cubic foot frig, strapped a .07 cubic ft microwave to the top of it and even have a 24" TV mounted on the wall. I also have a 3 drawer plastic storage cabinet next to the fridge so for me it's perfect....These Trucks are easier when your backing into a spot or need to make a U-Turn and you can get loads quicker because they are lighter so able to haul more weight plus more economical so you can get a nice fuel savings bonus too. Prime Inc has a nice long training program about 4 months from start to finish...even drivers with exp have to ride 10K with a trainer but its a good program

Ken

When i was looking to start this process i wanted to train though Prime, but the wouldn't even get me to a recruiter due to a gap in work history.

The main thing i do not understand is why there is just a huge gap in pay from one company to another. If anything i would of though the larger companies like JB Hunt, and Swift would be on the higher end being much larger companies then Prime and Raven. I looked at the numbers of trucks and trailers and Swift has nearly 10 times the number Prime does and Prime pays better.

If you go into Prime already having your CDL-A license, then your training time is reduced. You will only have to do 40,000 miles (which will take about 2 1/2 months or so). Also the training guarantee has been changed from $600/wk to $700/wk just recently.

I went through the training program at Prime, was a trainer as well.

I still have friends there that are instructors/trainers so have been kept up to date as far as pay/time/miles requirements.

Any other questions, I will do my best to help if I can.

Ernie

I spoke with a Springfield recruiter at Prime a few days ago and asked her about the $700 TNT training pay that I heard Daniel and others mention. She said 'right now it is 500 and 600' leaving me with the impression that it may be changing upward soon. I am wondering if Prime has only told their employees for now.

I drive a LW truck at Prime Inc for .43 a mile and it has all the room I need...I had the passenger seat took out, put in a 2.7 cubic foot frig, strapped a .07 cubic ft microwave to the top of it and even have a 24" TV mounted on the wall. I also have a 3 drawer plastic storage cabinet next to the fridge so for me it's perfect....These Trucks are easier when your backing into a spot or need to make a U-Turn and you can get loads quicker because they are lighter so able to haul more weight plus more economical so you can get a nice fuel savings bonus too. Prime Inc has a nice long training program about 4 months from start to finish...even drivers with exp have to ride 10K with a trainer but its a good program

Ken

That would drive me insane if I wanted to drive for Prime and I had to ride with a trainer for 10k miles. Not sure I could do it. I have well over 1.5 safe driving miles. Awards at home to prove it. Never had a preventable accident. Almost 17 years driving and most current stretch from 2009 til present and they would force me to team with a stranger I know nothing about if just for a little while? That's insane really.

I understand a driving test like every company does for new hires but 10k training for experienced drivers.... Hmm that just might be a deal breaker for me. It's nothing against the trainers or even their policy that gets it. It's the reason I only team with my brother. I have to have complete trust in that person 1000% in all ways.

I am currently doing my 40k training with Prime. I came to prime with my cdl but no "current"driving experience. I haven't driven tractor trailers in 10 years. Before I could come to prime I had to take a 40 hour cdl refresher from am approved school. I was hired as a C seat driver. After my 40k I'll get my own truck (a lightweight of course) and will make 43 cents per mile driving a refrigerated trailer. To my understanding only drivers with recent driving experience or past prime drivers get hired as a B seat, make $100 dollars more a month during training and only need 30k miles with a trainer.

Driving a LW truck gets you an extra 5 cents per mile for a base rate of 43 cents per mile but that supposedly JUST been increased 1 cent. In orientation I was told I didn't have a choice between a full size condo or LW. It was LW Or nothing. Only lease operators and trainers get full size condos in the refer division. Not sure about FB and tankers.

I drive a LW truck at Prime Inc for .43 a mile and it has all the room I need...I had the passenger seat took out, put in a 2.7 cubic foot frig, strapped a .07 cubic ft microwave to the top of it and even have a 24" TV mounted on the wall. I also have a 3 drawer plastic storage cabinet next to the fridge so for me it's perfect....These Trucks are easier when your backing into a spot or need to make a U-Turn and you can get loads quicker because they are lighter so able to haul more weight plus more economical so you can get a nice fuel savings bonus too. Prime Inc has a nice long training program about 4 months from start to finish...even drivers with exp have to ride 10K with a trainer but its a good program

Ken

That would drive me insane if I wanted to drive for Prime and I had to ride with a trainer for 10k miles. Not sure I could do it. I have well over 1.5 safe driving miles. Awards at home to prove it. Never had a preventable accident. Almost 17 years driving and most current stretch from 2009 til present and they would force me to team with a stranger I know nothing about if just for a little while? That's insane really.

I understand a driving test like every company does for new hires but 10k training for experienced drivers.... Hmm that just might be a deal breaker for me. It's nothing against the trainers or even their policy that gets it. It's the reason I only team with my brother. I have to have complete trust in that person 1000% in all ways.

False. Experienced drivers do not go through any training phase with Prime. If you have experience you'll simply go through orientation and get your truck immediately and be on your own. I know this from personal experience because I came to Prime with a year of experience and didn't get any form of training, just got my truck and left after orientation. I assure you this.

I felt that was the case Daniel. Only problems I would have with working for Con-Way or Prime is needing passport. I can get one without much issue but due to felony back ground crossing but into the US would cause issues at the border and besides I don't want to leave this country but Prime says it's a must have to work there. Passport or Fast Pass. Something really. Sucks cause if I go solo again they would have been only of my top picks to drive for.

I felt that was the case Daniel. Only problems I would have with working for Con-Way or Prime is needing passport. I can get one without much issue but due to felony back ground crossing but into the US would cause issues at the border and besides I don't want to leave this country but Prime says it's a must have to work there. Passport or Fast Pass. Something really. Sucks cause if I go solo again they would have been only of my top picks to drive for.

I started with Prime over 6 weeks ago and don't have a passport. They never asked me for one during orientation. Only thing I had to get was the TWIC card and I got that at the company HQ in Springfield.