Lengthy but please read...

Lengthy but please read...
I give it 2 stars. I am a lease driver with Prime who attained licensing through their CDL program.

#1 licensing isn't FREE (there is nothing more expensive than FREE.) IF you stay a year 'from the date you are hired' then you don't have to pay it back there are other details to this agreement. Big picture, you are basically agreeing to pay Prime a little less than 4k to arrange a hand shake between yourself and a trainer who will decided if he likes you. Theres a list of names and the trainer basically interviews the prospects. If you get picked you get to leave if not you sit on the campus until someone wants you. Like every company there are some difficult people and Prime is no exception.
Major thumbs down for transparency this company majors in omissions. You are not informed if something goes wrong during orientation they do not pay to send you home and you are immediately told to leave.

As far as earnings I've heard the horror stories and victory dances alike. I know people and have their truck number who average 3.09 per mile and they don't train. I've also met drivers who are in their second lease and still average $2900 a week in revenue no matter how slow they drive. Consistently bringing home 3-500.00 a week??!. I've spoken with lease fleet managers that aren't aware that company drivers make 40+ cent a mile, while they try and cajole you to focus on attaining 32 cent per mile benchmark success by driving 54-58 mph. What can be said but something is odd and very wrong with the above picture. Driving slower does improve fuel economy but theres a point where it hurt as far as loads per week (Prime ignores this data) as well as Deadhead miles. I found that 30% of my milesl is spent on hauling Primes empty trailers to 01's. A 500 mile dead head to pickup a refrigerated load that pays $1500.00 that goes 800 miles isn't GOOD MONEY! An independent would NEVER do that with a brand new truck!

If you have never driven or ran a business before my advice is DO NOT lease with Prime or any other company. Prime has great equipment...YES! but there are far more profitable programs out there if you are business savy. DO NOT let your friend or family member talk you into leasing because of the great experience they have had and their relationship with their fleet manager.

If you have issues with being OTR for 3-4 weeks at a time and need to be home 4-5 days every 2 weeks DO NOT come work for Prime!! In my opinion, based on observations and average consensus with other lease drivers Prime does not have enough quality freight for their solo drivers. Those that do well here or exemplify the 5 attitude towards Prime typically come from one or all of the following life situations:

1. They have nothing or no other choice because of a recent divorce, layoff...whatever. So staying out 4-6 months is a blessing whether lease or company. (nothing wrong with that and I am not judging.)

2. Their significant other is or will be on board with them as a Co driver...So again no reason to go home. Teams especially when its your mate do better so all the money to the truck ends up in the same pot. This plan leaves alot of money for life enhancing items like satellite connectivity and an endless shower balance at the TA. Also Prime has more quality freight for teams (this has been verified by several fleet managers.)

3. People who are some how stuck with Prime. They are in a situation where they have a criminal record and Prime was the only one that will hire or had a life event while at Prime and they just can't leave or its just easier to stay.

Prime is an OK house in a very shady industry. Their freight to me doesn't necessitate the need for a $140k vehicle. You have to think risk verses reward. The risk to me isn't worth what you earn in OTR at Prime. Every OTR driver in a lease program should be bringing home 1500-2k conservatively.