Its amazing how driver pay has increased since 2015. I’m a first year CDL company driver, and my after tax, medical and 401k take home pay is mid $50’s too.
Good video mark. Have seen the lack of pre planning on loads through training. Was told by a vet that too many missed commitments put a stop to it. Totally agree with sitting eating into your money. Especially when it is 3-4 hours at a time followed by a 200+ mile dead head. Will watch for the next one. Be safe out there brother.
Great video. I got a 07 Columbia for cheap at a jersey dealer and have been running containers out of Newark. Best gig I ever had. I don't know where you live and I know people hare the nnortheast but the money and home time DWARF prime. Be safe
Thanks for the video I've learned a lot from it out of all the trucking companies I've heard prime the best currently driving yard dog thinking about going to CDL school
Having now done over the road company and lease For almost 6 years. I make more money now locally and home every single day. It's all smoke and mirrors when factoring in all miles into your pay there is not that much difference between both. I made $1717 this past week and my daughter was able to see me every day.
Mark! What's up man?!?! I've been keeping tabs on ya! Look, I would still recommend taking a serious look at KLLM. I've been out of the business for over a year but considering the way you like to run and your ultimate goal of O/O, I seriously think it would be worth your while to look. Anyway, that's my two cents at least. I miss the hell out of trucking but I've crossed over to the dark side... Management at a large transportation company in Orlando. Glad you are well brother! Keep us posted!
Hey Mark first let me say thank you for your service, and thank you to anyone who has the courage to enlist to defend our country. As someone who is going to be hopefully getting my CDL soon I have a question on what to do after I have it in hand as far as doing one year company driver then lease/op or going straight lease/op? Secondly has to do with the "coffin sleepers" that some Prime drivers have, as someone who is a fairly "big and tall" man would they stick me in something that small or could I opt to have a full size?
Mark Staite Help!! I've been looking to get back into trucking. I've done TONS of research and Prime is the way to go for sure. The problem is that when I did have a CDL, I only drove for three months (after riding with a trainer) due to my fathers death. I didn't continue trucking after that and my CDL (which I paid cash for in 2008 through Western Trucking) expired in 2013. I am wondering why no Prime recruiters have returned my calls. Here a few possible reasons, in my opinion: I am 45 yrs of age, I live in CA, I recently had a motorcycle accident in February, (police report states that I was not at fault) and I received a ticket in 2013 for not having insurance. In your personal opinion, or anyone's for that matter, could any of these be a reason for no recruiters contacting me? I have applied with several other companies as well. I have heard nothing from any. I would literally drive to Missouri to drive for Prime!!!! Any thoughts or advise from mark or any other truckers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!
great vid as always if you're looking to become an o\o try looking at Crete (dry) Shaffer (ref) they have a program where your name is on the title from day one u buy one of their older trucks through their finance company. Most drivers are paying 1200-1500 a month for the truck payment I dint remember what the mile pay is but its definitely worth looking in to.
Make sure to call before you put your application in if you really want to get some questions answered. If you send the app in and they don't like what they see like my 6 month employment gap you're SOL.No return calls etc.
+FIRED UP TRUCKER I agree and echo your advice. I had a list of questions to ask that I didn't get around to when I initially called. After I applied, answered their questions about my background and signed on, I never got my questions answered. I got promises of a call, but that paricular call has not come to this day. I even tried asking through email. No dice. My fault. So ask ALL of your questions BEFORE you sign.
This is probably apples and oranges, I have only been a local driver in Hawaii for 25 years, and never worked for a company with more than a hundred employees. That said, the treatment of senior drivers(more than 5 years with co.) seems to always be a bit better than the treatment of rookie drivers (less than 5 years). In fact most senior drivers I talk too want to stay just to avoid climbing the ladder again. I do think this was another great an informative video, Thanks Mark, Aloha
Mark: Would you recommend a new driver lease on with prime? Have you talked to or heard of new drivers leasing with prime that have had success meaning, made a profit, and are the leases 100% walk away and not affect your DAC report or credit in any way?
Hey Mark, strongly considering Prime after CDL school. How easy is it to switch between divisions? Such as from refrigerated to flatbed? I wanna flatbed when I grow up, but the majority of FB companies don't hire drivers south of the I-10 corridor. What say you... Oh and thanks for the update - great info..
Hi Mark. My name is Geof (Jeff) and I have just put in my application online with Prime. I have worked retail for years and I need a serious change of atmosphere. I am single, so no ties to worry about, just the question of moving my 2 bedroom home/apartment worth of belongings to the best location for easy home time if possible. I wanted to say that your videos have given me a LOT of great information to work with, so much appreciated! My question is this... in this video you mention utilization time being a killer BUT being made up for with revenue. I assume that someone like myself who just wishes to drive for the company atleast for the time being, does not make revenue. So that being said, will the "under-utilization" completely kill my paycheck? Just for sake of argument, would the low pay, but high miles of Stevens come out looking better / worse or would it be about a wash? If it's even close, you have still convinced me through your video that the drivers are treated better at Prime, but wanted to get some what of a "company driver paycheck" comparison you know? Thanks in advance and again, wonderful and informative videos, can't wait to listen to the others! -The future noob driver :-)
+Jasin James .... Blanket answer not knowing your situation: Stay a company driver. Learn the freight lanes, learn the job as well as study the business side of transportation. Better to drive for a complete year before deciding to go L/O or O/O. Hell... You may get 6 months down the road and decide that trucking isn't your cup of tea and quit. No sense complicating things by also trying to break a lease.
I worked for prime as a l/o. they have a few good points. but if you do not have a good dispatcher you can and will go broke. just my thoughts on this company.
As an observer of trucking, there sure are a lot of mismanaged companies out there. That company, making you sit way too much, is incompetent in that regard.
my name is Charles thinking of getting in to driving I have type 2 diabetes I take medication for and I'm turning 50 this year would this keep me from driving for prime thanks
+Shawntel Brown ... Like it better than the KW T-2000, the Pete 387, and 587 I've had previously. But then again, the measuring standard I use to judge a truck is simple: Which one is going to get me the highest MPG's?
Not trying to be a butthole, but it happens anyway. I am pretty disappointed. I thought there was a little more money in trucking. I mean you put your life on hold for months at a time. I always thought I was doing something wrong with my lease deal. Only x amount this week, if I tweak my fuel purchasing here, up my miles there, buy fuel at this amount... It's all bullshit... if mark staite can't make make more than that I sure as hell cant. I think if I put my kids, my wife's and my life on hold maybe it should be worth 65-70,000 a year.
Matthew... Notice I said that I did about $6,000 less on total income due to me not having any right-foot dicipline. Add that motivation back in and now I'm at $61,000 for the year. I also took 2 more home time trips than I should have, so add back in the list revenue from those two extra home visits and we add another $4800. Now we're sitting at $65,800 total for the year. There are 9,000 says to make money in trucking: You just have to find the way that works for YOU. What I did last year worked for me. I traded extra home time for money. I also traded away truck speed. Overall... Still good money -vs- the average driver with less than 4 years experience.
+Douglas Newman ... Nope. It actually had the recruitment department re-educate their staff on how to properly answer the question when prospects ask about FSC. It also forced a change on their website when it talked about FSC. Plus, I'm now able to continue the discussion with upper management... In short: It's all good and Prime is happy.
55k a year that’s not good money. After taxes you made 38 to 40k so you spent 50k to make 40k. Also I bet you’re a safety hazard on the road if your doing 57 mph in a 70 mph zone. I work at Fedex as A company driver no headaches and make 104k a year.
Jason White .... You're commenting on a video that is almost 3 years old. Secondly... It's about perspective. No green bean is going to land a FedEx job on day one making 6 figures. Ain't happening. Now... To that burger flipper making $330/wk... $50k/yr is gravy.
Its amazing how driver pay has increased since 2015. I’m a first year CDL company driver, and my after tax, medical and 401k take home pay is mid $50’s too.
Good to see you back, Mark! Your videos are always full of great information and well thought out. Much appreciated!
Superb video, Mark. Thank you for sharing your journey with the YT Community.
Good video mark. Have seen the lack of pre planning on loads through training. Was told by a vet that too many missed commitments put a stop to it. Totally agree with sitting eating into your money. Especially when it is 3-4 hours at a time followed by a 200+ mile dead head. Will watch for the next one. Be safe out there brother.
Great video. I got a 07 Columbia for cheap at a jersey dealer and have been running containers out of Newark. Best gig I ever had. I don't know where you live and I know people hare the nnortheast but the money and home time DWARF prime. Be safe
Thanks for the video I've learned a lot from it out of all the trucking companies I've heard prime the best currently driving yard dog thinking about going to CDL school
Good video and great info.
Another great video Mark !
Having now done over the road company and lease
For almost 6 years. I make more money now locally and home every single day. It's all smoke and mirrors when factoring in all miles into your pay there is not that much difference between both. I made $1717 this past week and my daughter was able to see me every day.
Rock of the Marne, I retire next year and looking at company driver a year then o/o. thanks Jay.
Mark! What's up man?!?! I've been keeping tabs on ya! Look, I would still recommend taking a serious look at KLLM. I've been out of the business for over a year but considering the way you like to run and your ultimate goal of O/O, I seriously think it would be worth your while to look. Anyway, that's my two cents at least.
I miss the hell out of trucking but I've crossed over to the dark side... Management at a large transportation company in Orlando. Glad you are well brother! Keep us posted!
Hey Mark first let me say thank you for your service, and thank you to anyone who has the courage to enlist to defend our country. As someone who is going to be hopefully getting my CDL soon I have a question on what to do after I have it in hand as far as doing one year company driver then lease/op or going straight lease/op? Secondly has to do with the "coffin sleepers" that some Prime drivers have, as someone who is a fairly "big and tall" man would they stick me in something that small or could I opt to have a full size?
Well spoken and informative video.
Mark Staite Help!! I've been looking to get back into trucking. I've done TONS of research and Prime is the way to go for sure. The problem is that when I did have a CDL, I only drove for three months (after riding with a trainer) due to my fathers death. I didn't continue trucking after that and my CDL (which I paid cash for in 2008 through Western Trucking) expired in 2013. I am wondering why no Prime recruiters have returned my calls. Here a few possible reasons, in my opinion: I am 45 yrs of age, I live in CA, I recently had a motorcycle accident in February, (police report states that I was not at fault) and I received a ticket in 2013 for not having insurance. In your personal opinion, or anyone's for that matter, could any of these be a reason for no recruiters contacting me? I have applied with several other companies as well. I have heard nothing from any. I would literally drive to Missouri to drive for Prime!!!! Any thoughts or advise from mark or any other truckers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!
Dennis Rowe Let me check with Prime's recruitment department and see what I can find out. Will update if I learn anything.
great vid as always if you're looking to become an o\o try looking at Crete (dry) Shaffer (ref) they have a program where your name is on the title from day one u buy one of their older trucks through their finance company. Most drivers are paying 1200-1500 a month for the truck payment I dint remember what the mile pay is but its definitely worth looking in to.
Make sure to call before you put your application in if you really want to get some questions answered. If you send the app in and they don't like what they see like my 6 month employment gap you're SOL.No return calls etc.
+FIRED UP TRUCKER
I agree and echo your advice. I had a list of questions to ask that I didn't get around to when I initially called. After I applied, answered their questions about my background and signed on, I never got my questions answered. I got promises of a call, but that paricular call has not come to this day. I even tried asking through email. No dice. My fault.
So ask ALL of your questions BEFORE you sign.
This is probably apples and oranges, I have only been a local driver in Hawaii for 25 years, and never worked for a company with more than a hundred employees. That said, the treatment of senior drivers(more than 5 years with co.) seems to always be a bit better than the treatment of rookie drivers (less than 5 years). In fact most senior drivers I talk too want to stay just to avoid climbing the ladder again. I do think this was another great an informative video, Thanks Mark, Aloha
Mark: Would you recommend a new driver lease on with prime? Have you talked to or heard of new drivers leasing with prime that have had success meaning, made a profit, and are the leases 100% walk away and not affect your DAC report or credit in any way?
Hey Mark, strongly considering Prime after CDL school. How easy is it to switch between divisions? Such as from refrigerated to flatbed? I wanna flatbed when I grow up, but the majority of FB companies don't hire drivers south of the I-10 corridor. What say you... Oh and thanks for the update - great info..
Decker you can lease to OWN in 36 to 42 months
The squeaky wheel gets the grease
Mark great video get ahold of me I will make a video of my last year numbers n show the max utilization u would be around 90
Hi Mark. My name is Geof (Jeff) and I have just put in my application online with Prime. I have worked retail for years and I need a serious change of atmosphere. I am single, so no ties to worry about, just the question of moving my 2 bedroom home/apartment worth of belongings to the best location for easy home time if possible. I wanted to say that your videos have given me a LOT of great information to work with, so much appreciated! My question is this... in this video you mention utilization time being a killer BUT being made up for with revenue. I assume that someone like myself who just wishes to drive for the company atleast for the time being, does not make revenue. So that being said, will the "under-utilization" completely kill my paycheck? Just for sake of argument, would the low pay, but high miles of Stevens come out looking better / worse or would it be about a wash? If it's even close, you have still convinced me through your video that the drivers are treated better at Prime, but wanted to get some what of a "company driver paycheck" comparison you know? Thanks in advance and again, wonderful and informative videos, can't wait to listen to the others! -The future noob driver :-)
+Geof Meador ... Hit me up on FaceBook ... We can continue the discussion there.
Good Stuff
Mark, do you suggest jumping right into leasing or should a newbie be a company driver for say 6 months or so to learn the ropes?
+Jasin James .... Blanket answer not knowing your situation: Stay a company driver. Learn the freight lanes, learn the job as well as study the business side of transportation. Better to drive for a complete year before deciding to go L/O or O/O. Hell... You may get 6 months down the road and decide that trucking isn't your cup of tea and quit. No sense complicating things by also trying to break a lease.
Mark do you take trainees on your truck? I am take a CDL course from my local Tech school and was wondering if you could be my trainer for TNT?
is there a lease termination fee
What are the real number? All miles? We know that prime has no pay for mt miles so adding all that up and dividing it what is the true rpm profit?
I worked for prime as a l/o. they have a few good points. but if you do not have a good dispatcher you can and will go broke. just my thoughts on this company.
As an observer of trucking, there sure are a lot of mismanaged companies out there. That company, making you sit way too much, is incompetent in that regard.
Hey mark I need a job with prime!!!!
my name is Charles thinking of getting in to driving I have type 2 diabetes I take medication for and I'm turning 50 this year would this keep me from driving for prime thanks
+Charles Elston ... You would need to talk with a recruiter at Prime.
and how do you like that Cascadia
+Shawntel Brown ... Like it better than the KW T-2000, the Pete 387, and 587 I've had previously. But then again, the measuring standard I use to judge a truck is simple: Which one is going to get me the highest MPG's?
You said pre tax 55000, did you mean after tax? Because that 708 a week.
Took 8 weeks home time w/o using a time off account. So take that pretax total and divide by 44. Should come out around 1300.
hey mark try kllm they r a good lease company
Kllm sucks low pay 88 cents a mile
Not trying to be a butthole, but it happens anyway. I am pretty disappointed. I thought there was a little more money in trucking. I mean you put your life on hold for months at a time. I always thought I was doing something wrong with my lease deal. Only x amount this week, if I tweak my fuel purchasing here, up my miles there, buy fuel at this amount... It's all bullshit... if mark staite can't make make more than that I sure as hell cant. I think if I put my kids, my wife's and my life on hold maybe it should be worth 65-70,000 a year.
Matthew... Notice I said that I did about $6,000 less on total income due to me not having any right-foot dicipline. Add that motivation back in and now I'm at $61,000 for the year. I also took 2 more home time trips than I should have, so add back in the list revenue from those two extra home visits and we add another $4800. Now we're sitting at $65,800 total for the year. There are 9,000 says to make money in trucking: You just have to find the way that works for YOU. What I did last year worked for me. I traded extra home time for money. I also traded away truck speed. Overall... Still good money -vs- the average driver with less than 4 years experience.
Cool thanks mark, just being a negative Nancy today. Looks a lot better when you add in those other factors. Take it easy bud.
Do u need high school diploma
?? >> Did you take some 'heat' from Prime for making the comment that the do not pay 100% fuel surcharge?
+Douglas Newman ... Nope. It actually had the recruitment department re-educate their staff on how to properly answer the question when prospects ask about FSC. It also forced a change on their website when it talked about FSC. Plus, I'm now able to continue the discussion with upper management... In short: It's all good and Prime is happy.
55k a year that’s not good money. After taxes you made 38 to 40k so you spent 50k to make 40k. Also I bet you’re a safety hazard on the road if your doing 57 mph in a 70 mph zone. I work at Fedex as A company driver no headaches and make 104k a year.
Jason White .... You're commenting on a video that is almost 3 years old. Secondly... It's about perspective. No green bean is going to land a FedEx job on day one making 6 figures. Ain't happening. Now... To that burger flipper making $330/wk... $50k/yr is gravy.