Prime Ways | Volume 7 | Issue 3

VOLUME 7 ISSUE 3

e m a F HALL OF

CHECK OUT THE FULL CRYSTAL AWARD THIS GEM SITS PROUDLY ON TOP OF! SEE PG. 18

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THIS ISSUE, WE SALUTE ALL THE VETERANS WHO HAVE FOUND NEW CAREERS AT PRIME.

2022

We’re hard at work transforming into the next Oasis where we’ll be looking even more fabulous than before. Here’s what you have to look forward to:

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PRIME WAYS

2740 N. MAYFAIR AVE. SPRINGFIELD, MO 65803 417-866-0001 PRIMEINC.COM MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Clayton Brown MEDIA & ONBOARDING MANAGER Amy Hess RECRUITMENT MARKETING MANAGER Mitchell Coiner

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KATIE POLLOCK ESTES Editorial Director ETTIE BERNEKING Editor ANNAH CROW Creative Director JAMIE THOMAS Multimedia Editor BRANDON ALMS Photographer LEAH STIEFERMANN Photographer

Springfield, MO Salt Lake City, UT Pittston, PA

SHOP ONLINE

www.primeincstore.com

GIVE US A CALL CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ren Bishop, Mary Ellen Chiles, Tessa Cooper, Sonia Guzman, Susan Atteberry Smith, Rae Swan Snobl LOGAN AGUIRRE President/Publisher

417-521-3814 (MO) 570-602-4793 (PA) 801-977-5903 (UT)

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MEGAN JOHNSON VP of Custom Publishing AMMIE SCOTT VP of Strategy and Senior Account Executive LANDRA BUNGE Finance Director GARY WHITAKER Founder JOAN WHITAKER Founder

PRIME WAYS

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contents

ON THE COVER We photographed Prime’s Hall of Fame award for this issue’s cover.

PRIME WAYS| |August MARCH 2017 Prime Ways 2022

These two hit the road and used their trip to inspire a new round of artwork. Learn more on p. 9.

A BIG SALUTE This issue, we salute all the veterans who are part of the Prime family.

18 HALL OF FAME Prime was inducted into the hall of fame this year!

30 THE NEW FIT Meet three drivers who took part in the Fit in 15 challenge and managed to beat their goals.

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THIS GIRL IS ON FIRE

SPA DAY

Kendra Bruffett does it all. She works on Prime’s landscaping and fights fires in her free time.

Autumn Crosby is the new massage therapist in Salt Lake City, but that’s hardly all she does.

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SOCIAL PROS This Prime driver and his co-pilot became TikTok famous on accident.

BABY ON BOARD

14 PINK LADY This pink truck got its design from a rather unlikely source.

When this driver learned she was pregnant, she knew she didn’t want to stop driving.

Her solution was inventive, and it worked.

Berneking, courtesy Prime Inc.

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Photos by Ettie

Features

PRIME FAMILY

Chat These are the numbers and stats from this issue that blew us away and deserve a little extra attention.

7 YEARS

That’s how long ago Richard Brock joined Prime.

Back then, Richard was an in-house instructor in Springfield, and he didn’t even know how to drive a truck himself. That was despite the fact that Richard had operated large machinery in the Navy. Now, Richard is an operations manager. Turn to p. 6 to learn how this Navy veteran found a new career at Prime’s Pittston terminal.

$13,000

Each year, Prime associates in Springfield participate in the annual Springfield Area Memorial Stair Climb in honor of the 343 firefighters who died in 9/11. Between the 30 Prime associates who typically take part in the event, Prime raises around $13,000 each year for the families of the fallen firefighters.

Turn to p. 7 to learn more.

18 YEARS OLD

That’s how old KD Moore’s son was when he came up with the pink casino-themed design for her truck.

KD always loved the color pink, so her son, Bryce, created a colorful design for her truck that gets lots of love on the road. Learn more on p. 14.

THE LOW

down

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s the largest refrigerated trucking company in the country, we truly have driving and non-driving associates from all walks of life.

As a former Marine myself, providing new and exciting opportunities for veterans who join Prime is something that hits home for me. In this issue of Prime Ways, you’ll get to know a few fellow veterans turned Prime associates who, after the military, made the admirable decision to continue serving our country through the transportation industry. Turn to p. 24 to read their stories and learn how they found new careers at Prime.

My hope is that the atmosphere at Prime has, and will continue to, provide substantial opportunities for success to all our associates. This issue is full of stories that showcase this. I hope you enjoy reading, and you get a chance to meet some of the folks who are using their time with Prime to start new adventures, build new careers and see new parts of the country.

400,000 MILES

Photo courtesy Prime Inc.

Most trucks that end up at Prime’s Pedigree are about 4 years old and have 400,000 miles on them.

Those miles don’t stop these trucks from getting a full workup so they can be sold and start a new life on the road. Learn more about how the Pedigree team gets these trucks ready for sale on p. 16.

Robert Low Prime Inc., CEO & Founder

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LIFE | AUGUST 2022

spotlight

THIS GIRL IS

ON FIRE When she isn’t planting flowers, pruning shrubs or trimming hedges at the Springfield facility, this Prime landscaping team member responds to medical emergencies, motor vehicle accidents and fires.

BY RAE SWAN SNOBL

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endra Bruffett never pictured herself fighting fires. “The decision to become a firefighter came out of the blue,” Bruffett says.

She started working for Prime in June of 2017 in the Learning Center. “My dad, Wally Anthony, has worked at Prime since I was a little girl,” she says. “I went to the company picnic every summer and watched the buildings grow over the years.”

After having three children of her own, she chose to work at Prime because of the its family-friendly culture and benefits.

Bruffett loved working with the children at Prime’s Learning Center. “Early childhood educators are often overlooked,” she says. “The first few years of a child’s life can be impacted in such a positive way by quality educators, and the teachers in the Learning Center really excel in this area.”

Then, in 2019 an advertisement for volunteer firefighters caught Bruffett’s eye.

“A volunteer fire department in my area was asking for new members and mentioned that firefighters spend most of their time responding to medical calls,” Bruffett says. “I thought I would be a good fit be-

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cause I had no interest in actually fighting fires.” Her interests changed quickly though after she had the opportunity to learn the skills needed to perform fire suppression. “I was hooked,” she says.

In 2020, Bruffett received her fire training from Southern Stone and Western Taney County Fire Protection Districts and successfully juggled the training and her work at Prime. “My manager at Prime allowed me to get off work a little early on the nights I had class,” she says. “This flexibility helped me be successful.” Along with fire suppression, Bruffett learned about building construction, hazardous materials and vehicle extrication. “Once those skills are refined, there are written and practical hands-on skills that are evaluated at the state level,” she says. Bruffett also obtained her Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) license.

At first, Bruffett was able to stay at the Learning Center as a substitute, but after COVID hit, many parents worked from home and kept their children with them.

Though she wasn’t needed as a substitute any more, Bruffett still wanted to work at

Prime on her days off from the fire department. “I looked into available positions and found the landscaping opening,” she says.

“It gave me the chance to work outside, stay busy and help maintain our campus.” As a landscaper, Bruffett now helps plant all the flowers, and she pulls weeds and trims hedges. “The landscaping and lawn maintenance departments do a fantastic job,” she says. “It’s often the first thing you notice when you enter the property.”

After she was certified, Bruffett worked for the Fair Grove Fire Protection District for a while before moving to the Ozark Fire department. “The Ozark Fire department is growing at a fast pace, and more firefighters were recently brought on to help the needs of the community,” she says.

Though the main mission of the fire service is to protect life and property, the fire department responds to many medical calls and very few fires. Bruffett’s favorite part of the job is helping people in emergency situations—even the loved ones who aren’t experiencing the emergency themselves.

“When we loaded an elderly woman into an ambulance because she broke her leg, I felt it was important to make sure her husband had someone on the way to drive him to the hospital to meet his wife,” she says. “He isn’t the patient, but it’s important to make sure he is taken care of as well.”

When she is not out responding to local emergencies, Bruffett and the firefighting crew are often training aggressively for the high-risk fires they only encounter occasionally. Another side of the fire service that Bruffet says is often overlooked is Fire Prevention and Community Risk Reduction. “We ensure area homes and businesses have working and properly installed smoke detectors and educate area families, especially children, about what to do in the case of an emergency like a fire,” Bruffett says.

Bruffett works a rotating shift of 48 hours on and 96 hours off at the fire station, which gives her the flexibility to be home with family and work for Prime on her off days. “The days I am on shift at the station can be hard,” she says. “I miss my family, and I have missed birthdays and holidays, but I thoroughly enjoy the co-workers I have in both professions. Both Prime and the firefighting community are like family.”

Photos by Greenbox Photography

“I went to the company picnic every summer and watched the buildings grow over the years. ” —Kendra Bruffett

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A life of service In each issue of Prime Ways, we dedicate space to say thank you to veterans who are now members of the Prime team. This issue, we salute Richard Brock, who served in the U.S. Navy.

BY SUSAN ATTEBERRY SMITH

Military History: Pittston Operations Manager Richard Brock is quick to recite the day he joined the U.S. Navy: July 21, 2004. “It’s crazy that you never forget a date like that, right?” The Missouri native had just graduated from high school in rural Norwood, where he grew up on a dairy farm. “I didn’t want to milk cows, so my grandpa told me I was young, if I didn’t want to milk cows, I better go get smart,” Brock recalls. Since he hadn’t done his best in high school and couldn’t afford to go to college, he says, he joined the military in hopes of gaining discipline and starting a career.

In the Navy, Brock became an aviation technician and was stationed in four states and seven countries. He earned the rank of petty officer second class before he left the Navy after six years.

He says it was “interesting and eye-opening” to meet people grateful for basic necessities, never mind luxuries, in countries like Korea and Saudi Arabia, yet Brock says no particular service experience stands out. However, he adds, “I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything.”

Now, he realizes he accomplished the goal he set at 18. “I wouldn’t have developed mentally and had the discipline that I have now without that,” he says. He also sees his patriotism reflected in his 7-year-old son, Brayker, who recently helped his father fold and properly dispose of a worn American flag at the Pittston terminal.

“My son loves the flag,” Brock says. “He knows what it means to me.”

Prime Service: Brock joined Prime seven years ago as an in-house instructor in Springfield–back when he didn’t even know how to drive a truck himself. That was despite the fact that Brock had operated large machinery in the Navy.

He did know how to teach, though. After his military service, Brock met his wife, Taylor, then earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in history and education from Drury University while working as an HVAC technician. He went on to teach middle and high school English, math, social studies and special education.

After three years, he was ready for a change.

Family members who worked at Prime encouraged him to apply. “I thought, man, what a cool way to be able to help people in life and still provide for my family,” Brock says.

With zero knowledge about truck-driving, the

newly hired veteran first had to earn his CDL, which he calls a “very humbling experience.”

When he started training others, he says it was rewarding to see them gain skills.

“It’s nice to see that impact and to see that growth in a person and see them achieving their goals,” he says. After three years in Springfield, Brock and his family moved to Pittston, where he started a new driver training program. Now, the Brocks are a “Prime package,” he says. His wife, Taylor, works in the flatbed sales department, and everyone knows their children. “Being from Missouri and from a small town, Pittston kind of has that small-town feel,” Richard says.

Today, Richard is glad he took his family’s advice and applied for a new job. “Prime is absolutely the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” he says.

With zero knowledge about truck-driving, the newly hired veteran first had to earn his CDL, which he calls a “very humbling experience.”

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PRIME WAYS

Photos courtesy Richard Brock

petty officer brock

words from the field

COUPLED BY THE MILES More than 193,000 TikTok followers find life on the road entertaining, exciting and intriguing with Djamila and Jermaine Horton.

AS TOLD BY DJAMILA HORTON TO REN BISHOP

Photos courtesy Djamila Horton and Prime, Inc.

Photos courtesy Richard Brock

W

e’re currently driving west on I-80 through Washington, and I’m editing a YouTube video. This week, we’ve been in Utah, Oregon, Wyoming and Washington.

I’ve shared a few videos on our @coupledbythemiles Instagram stories of the mountains and a sunset in the distance. Our followers love to see where we travel, but they’re more curious about life on the road.

In 2020, I joined Jermaine on the road after we got married. He had been driving since he turned 21 and got his CDL seven years ago, so I joined him to spend every day with my best friend. I run an online travel business from my laptop, but in 2021, I started sharing videos of our life on the road on TikTok just for fun. TikTok was a way to spend my time while in the passenger’s seat at first.

Then six months ago, I posted a video that blew up and went viral with 5.1 million views. All I was doing was answering a question from a follower about what our life was like on the road.

In the video, I showed what our day on the road looks like. Us, making self-care a priority at a truck stop. Jermaine wearing a tiedye hoodie and a headset pre-tripping the truck; I make our bed and cook him one of his his favorite breakfast sandwiches when he’s rolling. We’re laughing as he drives 65 down the highway. We love our life on the road.

Then two months ago, I posted a video that went viral: 8.1 million views. “Every time I plan to ride up front with him,” I wrote in the caption, “I get in the passenger’s seat, and then I go back and lay down.” I guess people related to that.

A lot of our followers are in the trucking community, so I understand why people on #truckerlifeTikTok loved it. But there are so many people who want to know what it’s like being on the road.

The ups, the downs, the cold truck stops, the fried chicken and mashed potatoes I cook while he drives.

After that 8-million video, we got our first real sponsored video.

Indeed.com reached out and asked me to do a video on their paid CDL program for veterans. I served in the Army, so I got to share how being in the military prepares you for life on the road. A lot of TikTok users commented on that video about how they were thinking about being a driver. We’re glad they’re considering it and they got to see, through us, what’s possible.

Jermaine and I aren’t trying to recruit more drivers with our content on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. We’re just living life together, on the road, @coupledbythemiles.

NEVER FORGET Each year, Prime takes part in the annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Here’s a look at the numbers that make this special event so memorable for everyone involved.

BY TESSA COOPER

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ach year, Prime associates participate in the Springfield Area Memorial Stair Climb hosted at Hammons Field.

This event honors the fallen firefighters who lost their lives while saving others on September 11, 2001, and it raises money for the fallen firefighters’ families.

Safety supervisor Bill Sprague was the first Prime associate to climb in the event, and he has inspired other Prime representatives to get involved. “It’s not every day that we get to experience something like this event that touches so many lives and raises so much money for such a good cause like the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation,” Sprague says. “If we don’t keep this event going and share the events of that day with our children, people will forget their sacrifice with time.

This is our way to show those 343 heroes and their families that we have not forgotten.”

30 2017

About 30 people from Prime participate each year in the memorial climb. Associates and family members from nearly every department participate each year.

Sprague participated in his first climb in 2017 with a Prime driver. “I had seen the 9/11 tribute truck on the cover of Prime Ways magazine and was able to arrange to have that truck and driver attend the event. After seeing the response from firefighters and their families to the truck, it became a staple for years to follow.”

2,200 343

Each participant climbs 2,200 stairs at the event. This is the equivalent of the 110 flights of stairs in the World Trade Center Towers.

Tragically, 343 firefighters lost their lives during the attack. At the beginning of the event, coordinators assign each participant an identity of one of the fallen 343 firefighters. “We have the privilege of carrying that firefighter’s memory up those flights of stairs they didn’t get to finish on that tragic day. It’s a way for us to complete the task they started.”

78 $13,000

At the step that represents the 78th floor, participants stop and ring a firefighter’s bell and call out the name of the firefighter they are representing. This was the last recorded floor that any firefighter made it to before the buildings started to collapse.

Together, Prime participants raise an average of $13,000 each year.

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week in the life

SHEAR

DELIGHT After a long day at work, this Pittston stylist needs a spa day herself.

BY RAE SWAN SNOBL

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▲ Marione

Estacio has built a loyal client base at the Tru Salon & Spa in Pittston, plus she sees about 30 walk-in customers each week on top of her regulars.

Mid-Day: Some weeks are slower than others, but Estacio often gets a rush of walk-in traffic when there are safety classes and training classes happening at the hub. The Pittston Salon might have up to 30 walk-ins in a week. “I enjoy meeting all the different people that come in off the road or from other locations,” Estacio says. “The drivers like to come in and get pampered.”

Afternoon: In between appointments, both salon associates work on cleaning up. “I have to sanitize all the tools I use, wipe down chairs, bleach out the tubs for pedicures and switch out fresh linens,” Estacio says. They also check supplies and place any needed orders.

Morning: Estacio and the receptionist arrive and start setting up the stations and laying out styling tools. Estacio grabs a clean smock for herself and checks the appointment End of Day: book. Appointments can vary from haircuts, Pittston’s Tru Salon & Spa can stay open hair color and conditioning treatments to as late as 7 p.m. some days to accommodate manicures, pedicures, brow/lip waxes and later walk-ins. When the salon closes, it’s facials. “On an average day, I may see up time to tidy up and prepare for the next day. to nine clients depending on what they get “We scrub and sanitize all of the areas, run done. Waxing can go quickly, so I can fit it loads of laundry and put away the tools so in between cuts, colors and manis/pedis,” everything is ready for the next morning,” she says.

Estacio says. “It’s a lot of cleaning!”

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SPRINGFIELD 2740 N. Mayfair Springfield, MO 65803 417-521-3900

PITTSTON 130 Armstrong Rd Pittston, PA 18640 570-602-4792

SALT LAKE CITY 3720 W. 800 S. Salt Lake City, UT 84104 801-515-7259 Days and hours vary and appointments can be made online at primetrusalonspa.com.

Photo courtesy Marione Estacio

arione Estacio has been a licensed cosmetologist for 15 years and worked for a chain of resorts before coming to the Tru Salon & Spa at the Pittston terminal in June of 2021. She started as the receptionist for about two months and filled in for another stylist before moving into the full-time stylist position. “The clientele at resorts is very similar to the trucking industry,” she says.

“A majority of my customers are transient. I often see drivers who stop over and need a trim while they are away from their home stylist.” The great thing about working in a hub, though, is that Estacio has now built a loyal returning client base. “I am known for my versatility and willingness to work with all hair textures,” she says. “Curly and textured hair can be tricky to work with, but I love the challenge and now have several regulars who trust me with their curls.” In the two-employee, two-chair salon and spa, Estacio is the only stylist. No two days are the same, but she likes the variety. “I’m really a jack-of-all-trades,” she says. Here’s a look at an average day in the salon.

close to home

an open road and a blank canvas This past spring, lease-operator flatbed driver Courtland Rowles invited his friend and internationally exhibiting contemporary artist Michael Assiff to join him on his coast-to-coast route. Now, Assiff is using the trip as inspiration for his artwork.

BY TESSA COOPER

Photos courtesy Courtland Rowles

T

here’s nothing like reconnecting with an old friend. There’s also certainly nothing comparable to going on a road trip through 20 states together after years spent apart. But that’s exactly what Prime driver Courtland Rowles and artist Michael Assiff set out to do in spring 2022.

“We actually hadn’t talked in over a decade,” Rowles says. “I always thought about reaching back out to him after he had moved to New York City. We went to a high school art magnet program in St. Petersburg, Florida, together, and we were really good friends. We stayed in touch for a few years after he left, but over the years we lost touch. So when COVID happened, I was reconnecting with people, and he was one of those people I reached out to. We stayed in touch and had phone chats quite a bit over the last few years.”

The idea to take the journey together first came about during one of their phone

conversations. While they initially planned on just taking the road trip as a fun way to bond, Assiff realized he could use the trip as inspiration for his art. These were more than just empty plans. The two of them set out for their road trip from New York City to Los Angeles in spring 2022. As they traversed through West Virginia, Tennessee and Arkansas, they watched the green landscapes of rural America come alive.

“He’s obsessed with what we know as weeds, but he likes to call them volunteers because he has warm feelings toward them,” Rowles says. “Which I understand. He’s an environmentalist. His previous work was focused on observing on a micro level, scouting out the different volunteer species within New York City, and in particular this overgrown graveyard in Queens. Through this research trip, he wanted to expand his focus to a macro level and document the volunteer species along the supply chains of America.”

Assiff has exhibited in cities such as Paris, Los Angeles, New York, Brussels, Rome and Mexico City. His most recent body of work, Volunteer Flowers, debuted at New York City’s Ashes/Ashes gallery in 2021. The exhibit gained extra attention after it made the list of the New York Times Critics’ Picks of art gallery shows.

After traveling with Assiff, Rowles has developed a new way of thinking about his view out of the dashboard. “I always appreciated the landscape,” he says. “One of my favorite things about my job is just seeing the countryside. Now, I definitely have a better eye for detail. If I’m parked at a truck stop, I’ll walk around and take a picture and send it to him.”

This trip was Rowles’s first time inviting a friend on one of his drives, and they’ve already started making plans for their next trip together.

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WELLNESS | AUGUST 2022

wellness

mAJOR ADJUSTMENT Prime’s Salt Lake City terminal just got a new massage therapist who can also knock out a facial, manicure and even haircuts. Basically, she does it all.

BY SUSAN ATTEBERRY SMITH

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▲ Autumn Crosby has seven years of experience in massage therapy that she brings to Salt Lake City’s Tru Salon & Spa.

To make an appointment at Salt Lake City’s Tru Salon & Spa call 801-515-7259 or go to primetrusalonspa.com Monday/Thursday/Friday 10 a.m.—7 p.m.

Tuesday/Wednesday 9 a.m.—5 p.m.

Photo by Ettie Berneking

ith her rehabilitation background, the new massage therapist at Prime’s Tru Salon & Spa in Salt Lake City has a heart for easing patients’ pain through her practice. What’s more, as a licensed cosmetologist, Autumn Crosby also does facials, manicures, pedicures, body wraps–and even first haircuts for associates’ kids.

Crosby, who joined the salon in February, offers deep-tissue and Swedish massages along with hot stone, injury, pregnancy and shiatsu massages. She is also a certified lymphatic massage therapist.

With seven years of experience and a private practice devoted to older or hospice patients as well as stroke and heart attack patients, Crosby says she has a unique perspective. “I went to school so I could assist people with chronic pain,” she says, adding that several of her family members suffer with fibromyalgia or other painful diseases. “It was my way of trying to help without pain medication. It kind of helped me find out what I wanted to do with my life.”

Her background has prepared her to work with drivers with back, neck and shoulder pain from operating trucks for hours at a time, she says, yet she has also given therapeutic pregnancy massages to in-house associates and their family members. As a cosmetologist, Crosby also does facials and body wraps. The latter process involves exfoliation, hot towels, and sheets and blankets, “and then you get to take a hot shower in our sauna,” she says. “It’s a very pampering experience.”

Open since March 2021, the spa offers a full range of services, and Crosby enjoys getting acquainted with the Prime family. A self-described “military brat” and daughter of U.S. Coast Guard veterans, she says it has been great to hear the stories of other veterans at Prime.

With a passion for her work, the Syracuse, Utah, resident says she doesn’t mind her 30-mile commute. “I want people to be able to feel good on a daily basis, and that makes me happy and that’s why I do what I do,” Crosby says.

recipes

ROy’s crockpot sausage and veggies Ingredients: 1 large red onion, sliced 3 bell peppers, any color, sliced 2 small tub of fresh mushrooms, sliced 1–2 pounds of precooked kielbasa or turkey sausage. (2 pounds if you plan to use leftovers for spaghetti sauce later) 3–4 tablespoons of water Directions: Add the first four ingredients to a crockpot lined with a slow-cooker bag, then add water.

Cook on high for two to three hours.

This recipe can be made in a crockpot easily with little cleanup needed.

recipes

dinner on the go This driver’s favorite crockpot recipe is fast, easy and packed with protein.

BY SUSAN ATTEBERRY SMITH

Photo courtesy Roy Romo, Prime Inc.

S

ince he began driving for Prime 12 years ago, Roy Romo has learned it’s much cheaper to cook meals when he’s on the road. “I just don’t like spending the big dollars at these truck stops,” he says. “For half the price, I can make a crockpot of food that will last me three days.”

Romo and his wife and co-driver, Renee Romo, often post their “Roy and Renee’s Highway Cookery” recipes on Facebook.

One of his favorites is “Roy’s Crockpot Sausage & Veggies.” Renee doesn’t like sausage or onions, so she’s not the biggest fan, but Roy loves the mix of bell peppers, onions, mushrooms and sausage.

Prime dietitian Rachel Dreher says this recipe can work for drivers who are using the plate method to control their weight. If you’re new to the plate method, it’s simple.

Protein comprises one-fourth of a typical

dinner plate, a complex carbohydrate like brown rice takes up another fourth, and non-starchy vegetables fill the rest of the space on the plate.

“The largest portion of your meal, whether it’s a plate or a bowl, it’s going to be nonstarchy vegetables, those vegetables that are high in fiber and low in calories,” Dreher says. Protein aids metabolism and prevents muscle loss, complex carbohydrates boost energy, and high-fiber vegetables make people feel full because they slow digestion, she adds.

On Prime’s Driver Health and Fitness website, Dreher also keeps things simple for busy drivers with limited storage space by sharing recipes with only three to eight ingredients. For example, Romo often uses pre-sliced mushrooms and doesn’t slice sausage links, since they tend to fall apart while cooking. Seasoned sausage eliminates

▲ Rachel Dreher is Prime’s in-house dietician, and she helps drivers create meal plans and recipes they can enjoy on the road.

the need for other seasonings, while using a slow-cooker liner makes clean-up easy.

“I put everything in the crockpot all at once in the morning and start driving,” he says. “When it starts smelling good, I’ll pull over and give it a stir. When it’s finished, I’ll wake Renee up, and we’ll pull into a rest stop and have dinner on board.”

Romo likes to combine sweet and spicy sausage–and to stretch leftovers, he’ll add a can of stewed tomatoes and spaghetti sauce to top noodles later.

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Mental Health

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Learn more: driverhealthandfitness.com

TRUCKS & TECH | AUGUST 2022

how we roll

PRETTY IN Fun fact about this truck’s design. It was done by a high school art enthusiast whose mom drives for Prime. Talk about homework.

BY SONIA GUZMAN

A

s an owner/operator for Prime Inc., Kathryn Moore, better known as KD, knew she wanted her truck to stand out, but she wasn’t sure exactly how. But for as long as Moore can remember, she has had a pink steering wheel cover on her truck.

“I’ve always liked the color pink, so I knew I wanted to incorporate it somehow,” she explains. So with that idea in mind, she handed the reins to her 18-year-old son, Bryce Matthews, to design the perfect wrap for her truck. His final design—a hot pink and black casino-themed design that gets lots of attention.

Moore’s pink and black casino-themed truck stands out from the crowd. With pink and white dice rolling up the front end as if the wind blew them, it’s no wonder Moore can’t make a stop without being asked for a picture. “I get plenty of compliments and tons of honks and thumbs up when I’m driving,” Moore says. In fact,

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she gets so many requests for pictures that she created her own TikTok and has amassed more than 30,000 views on her posts. Of course, Moore’s vibrant wrap isn’t the only unique thing about her truck. She also added custom lights underneath, which shine in multiple colors and can be set to put on quite a show.

While Moore occasionally enjoys gambling, it’s not her primary hobby. She says the casino theme has a more personal meaning behind it. “Trucking is a gamble; heck life is a gamble. We’re all still lucky to be rolling the dice,” she says referring to the message printed on her driver and passenger side doors, “Lucky to be rolling.” Moore couldn’t be happier with the wrap her son designed, and she has enjoyed customizing her truck so much she has plans to continue adding to the truck’s design with new features, including rhinestones to add that extra sparkle.

FAMILY PRIDE

Moore couldn’t be more proud of her son Bryce, who designed the wrap independently. Bryce recently graduated from high school after homeschooling on the road with his mom. “He did it all. He designed the entire wrap, and all we had to do was pass it to the customizers to print and put on the truck,” Moore explains.

LIGHT SHOW

While Moore is used to the honks and thumbs up she receives while driving, she was utterly taken aback when she was going through the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and was cut off by a car trying to take a picture.

“They wanted me to slow down and a young woman just sat right out the passenger window and started taking pictures. I couldn’t believe it. We are going down steep grades and she’s hanging out the window trying to get a video of my truck,” Moore says.

For the record, Moore always recommends waiting until she’s stopped for a photo opp.

Photos by Ettie Berneking and KD Moore

 HAPPY TO RIDE

Moore’s favorite part of her custom wrap is the mural on her driver’s side door, “Lucky to be rolling.” “It’s kind of an inside joke between my son and me, and it’s a good reminder to count my blessings,” Moore says.

LET HER ROLE

Moore has future plans for her truck to be customized even more. The new idea involves adding rhinestones to the front end and epoxying poker chips to the floorboards.

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THe key to staying on the road longer From the very first mile, Pedigree team members are here to help retiring trucks get a second life.

BY REN BISHOP

R

ocky Carden isn’t looking for vintage trucks. No, this seasoned roadie likes his trucks young.

During his time at Prime, Carden has helped sell thousands of retiring Prime trucks. When they reach Carden, these trucks are almost 4 years old, but most have more than 400,000 miles on them—all have a service record from mile one, he says.

“At Prime, there’s an intense focus on ensuring that service and maintenance on every truck is done on schedule,” Carden says. “That service record, the commitment to keeping the fleet healthy on the road, makes these trucks valuable for not just Prime, but those who buy them after they leave our fleet.”

In 2010, more than 400 retired trucks were stacked up on the lower yard in Springfield, Missouri. The market had suddenly stalled for trucks, but they were in good enough shape to carry more loads for an independent operator.

So Carden and Prime Truck Expert Josh Parker were given a task: create a protocol to get used trucks at a premium and share each truck’s manufacturing and service pedigree with every sale. In the years that followed, Carden and his team of 18 have

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developed an extensive diagnostic, repair and inspection protocol that gives a used truck its pedigree. On average, the Pedigree team sells 100 Prime trucks a month, with more than 90% of those trucks going to independent operators.

“These trucks have been through 100-plus hours of work and have been touched by 15 different sets of hands,” Carden says. “We diagnose any engine problems; we detail the interior and exterior. We add chrome to the exterior to shine it up. I’ve seen our guys hand paint rock chips. That’s the amount of care that goes into our process.”

It takes weeks for Pedigree to receive a retired truck and sell it to a new owner, but with fuel mileage reports plus service records and more, the truck’s next operator can keep their cost per mile low. That knowledge combined with a premium used truck leads to repeat Pedigree customers, who often return in three years for another Pedigree truck or trailer.

More than 50% of Pedigree’s customers are repeat customers, says Rick Shortt, marketing manager. “Every Pedigree associate is committed to helping make drivers more successful and #MakeThatMoney,” Shortt says.

Driver suggestions led to some recent improvements to the Prime mobile app.

BY BRIANNE MADURA Have you checked out the newest features in the MyPrime app? Prime added two new sections to the app including the My Week section and a Miles Per Gallon ranking to the My Fuel section. Both are aimed at helping drivers.

First up is the My Week section.

This is where you can view current transactions before they are available on a settlement or payroll statement.

You can view up to 10 days’ worth of detailed fuel purchases in this tab.

Each transaction is grouped by date and includes the station and location along with tractor, reefer and DEF gallons purchased. In addition to the pump total, you can see the exact Prime Fuel discount and the amount of fuel tax that is pre-paid per transaction. My Week also contains a tab with TMT Invoices to view maintenance transactions for the past 10 days with links to the detailed invoices.

In the My Fuel section, you can now see rankings for the current week, 4 week and 8-week ranges for MPG in addition to Net Fuel Cost. This is also where you can view your ranking and percentile for transportation category, division, truck make and year, and Fleet Manager. There is a color-coded key at the top of the page that applies to all of these categories.

As fuel prices increase, everyone at Prime is focused on improving MPG, so talk with your fleet manager if you’d like tips or advice.

If you have an idea you think would be a good fit for the app, submit feedback through the forms on MyPrime or email PrimeMobile@primeinc.com.

Photos courtesy Prime Inc.

maintenance

new on the app

tech update

sun powered To extend truck battery life, Prime is harnessing the power of the sun.

BY ETTIE BERNEKING

Photo courtesy Prime Inc.

H

ere’s a scenario that’s all too common for Prime. A reefer trailer sits at a shipper while it waits for a Prime driver to arrive and haul it to its next destination. While it waits, its battery is slowly draining. When the driver shows up, the battery is dead. Prime can’t wait the 5 to 6 hours it takes for a battery to recharge, so the company simply buys a new battery.

A new battery costs well over $300, but Prime is willing to take the hit if it means getting a delivery to a customer on time, and no driver wants to sit around for several hours waiting on a battery to charge.

This happens all too frequently for Prime, so the company is now testing out a possible solution—solar panels.

“We’ve played around with this idea for a long time,” says Chris Holtmeyer, Prime’s manager of fleet maintenance. “There’s not

much research on the ROI of this, so we’re testing it out ourselves.”

Here’s the theory: If Prime can install solar panels on its reefer units and new intermodal trailers, those panels can absorb energy from the sun and keep the trucks’ batteries charged. “These panels don’t create enough power to run the reefer unit,” Holtmeyer says, “but they create enough energy to slowly charge the battery.”

This can be especially helpful at night when drivers are running their battery to charge phones, laptops, microwaves… You name it. The solar panels will keep the battery charged and prevent the truck’s APU from kicking on, which happens when the battery gets too low.

When the APU starts up, the truck is suddenly burning diesel. If Holtmeyer and the Prime team can use solar panels to avoid

the APU from turning on, that will save drivers gas and money.

So far, Prime has installed 150 solar panels on its fleet, and it plans on installing the panels on all new intermodal tractors. Since the panels are still in the research phase, the Springfield shop has a signup sheet where drivers can volunteer to have panels mounted to their truck as part of Prime’s research. “This allows us to test out the panels at no cost to the driver,” Holtmeyer says. “It’s a way we can save them money down the road. But it’s also about making sure our equipment is always reliable. We want our trucks to be ready to go at all times, and we want to limit the number of batteries that fail on the road. Dead batteries cost Prime several million dollars each year. These small panels could fix that.”

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Simply the Best.

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Prime won Best Fleet to Drive for once again this year, but that wasn’t all. The company was also inducted into the hall of fame.

BY ETTIE BERNEKING

W

ell, it happened again— Prime made it into the Top 20 Best Fleets to Drive For in 2022.

The award is given out by the Truckload Carriers Association and CarriersEdge each year, and this is the seventh year in a row that Prime has been in the top 20. While that alone is reason to celebrate, this year’s award ceremony was extra-special. That’s because CarriersEdge introduced a new award in 2022—induction into the Best Fleets to Drive For Hall of Fame.

Eight companies were included in the Hall of Fame at this year’s ceremony, which took place in Las Vegas, and Prime was on the list. Out of 2022’s inaugural list, Prime was the largest trucking company by far.

“The next largest fleet is Bison,” says Jim Guthrie, director of operations at Prime.

“And Bison is about half our size.”

That’s a big deal—mostly because the Best Fleets to Drive For awards are based on driver feedback. The happier your drivers, the more likely you are to be on that list of top 20 fleets. The awards have been going on for 14 years, and the Best Fleets to Drive For is an annual survey and contest that recognizes trucking companies that provide the best workplace experience for their drivers.

Surveys are sent to drivers who then rank their fleet based on a range of criteria including: programs for drivers, driver satisfaction and results in safety and retention just to name a few.

This year’s introductory Hall of Fame recognized carriers that have been named a Best Fleet for 10 consecutive years, or seven consecutive years plus they’ve won an overall award. Prime made the cut for the Hall Of Fame thanks to seven years on the Best Fleets to Drive for list plus its 2019 win as Best Overall Large Fleet.

“To win these awards, your drivers evaluate every aspect of your company,” Guthrie says. “We know it’s important to have a culture that respects our drivers, which is why

Photos courtesy Prime Inc.

▲ Clayton Brown accepted Prime’s Hall Of Fame award at this year’s award ceremoy.

we make investments in our drivers each and every day.”

Amenities including in-house doctors, spas, fitness trainers and child care are all part of Prime’s commitment to its drivers.

“Even programs like Highway Diamonds and Prime Good Dads are ways we show our drivers support,” Guthrie says. “Those programs plus events like our holiday parties, company picnics and smaller team events are all designed to build community and culture with our drivers. Everyone at Prime from our owner Robert on down to our fleet managers and shop crews demand that we show respect and appreciation to our drivers on a daily basis.”

Another way Prime shows respect to its team of drivers is by making sure drivers aren’t siloed and separated from the rest of Prime’s in-house team. “A lot of other places have separate facilities for drivers and in-house teams,” says Mitch Coiner, director of marketing at Prime. “But our facilities are built so drivers can come in to our buildings anytime and talk with literally anyone. That starts with Robert being here everyday and walking around and talking to folks, and it goes on down to our spa, our salon, our mailroom, our theater, our showers, bunkrooms, cafes and our driver health and fitness centers. All of those facilities are used by both drivers and in-house team members.”

Obviously, being inducted into the Hall of Fame was a sign that Prime’s commitment and investment in its drivers is paying off, and even after seven years as a top 20 Best Fleet to Drive For, the win felt big for Prime.

“For a carrier of our size to get this kind of positive feedback from our drivers, and to get positive reviews each year, it’s really an extraordinary achievement,” Guthrie says.

“It also shows that we’re committed to being at the top of our industry. We want to be the best fleet in the nation, and we’re going to keep improving so we can be at the top of the pack in every category.”

“TO WIN THESE AWARDS, YOUR DRIVERS EVALUATE EVERY ASPECT OF YOUR COMPANY”

-J im Guthrie

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Still Going Strong Prime is continuing to grow, so here’s a look back at major signs of growth.

1

Prime started off with a single truck when Robert Low first began the company in 1969. Today, there are more than 7,000 trucks on Prime’s delivery route.

2,000

When Prime first opened its doors, it had fewer than 20 team members, and that included Robert’s dad Robert, mom Vera and his wife Lawana who helped run the business in the early days. That number surged quickly, and today there are more than 2,000 in-house team members and more than 10,000 drivers.

1

Prime started with one terminal in Urbana, Missouri. There are now three main terminals in Springfield, Missouri; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Pittston, Pennsylvania. Prime also has smaller facilities with locations in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Texas, Colorado, California and Oregon.

0

Prime had 0 women drivers on its team the first year it opened for business, but as a family operation, several of the original Prime team members were women including Robert’s wife and mother. Today, 14% of Prime’s fleet is made up of women. The industry average is less than half of that.

3.1 mil 3,986

That’s how many people earned their CDL through Prime’s training program in 2021. To get an idea of how much the training program has grown, consider this: In 2018, 2,396 student drivers passed through the program. That’s almost a 40% increase in just three years.

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Photo by Brandon Alms

That’s how many pounds of semi-tires from Prime trucks alone that Prime recycled last year at its ecoShred facility in Springfield, Missouri. Prime launched echoShred as a way to recycle the thousands of tires its trucks wore down each year.

Now, the recycled tires are used as mulch and are another revenue stream for Prime. On top of tires, echoShred recycles roughly 44,000 pounds of metal daily.

Love Letters

TO PRIME “I came to Prime through the CDL program, and I cannot say enough about this company. Prime has changed my life so much for the good. I will always be grateful for the amazing friends, journey and experience I have gained from them.

It won’t always be perfect, but prime will have your back no matter what comes along. If you want a CDL and an amazing career, Prime is a great place to start.”

—JAY MURPHY

Photo courtesy Prime Inc.

“The best highlight is that this company treats us drivers like we truly matter to the industry. My fleet manager and his team are amazing. The Springfield terminal is like my second home; I like coming here for a break because everything I need is right here on the complex... with the exception of groceries for when I’m out on the road for several weeks at a time. The pay is fantastic, and I don’t have to worry about my truck breaking down in the middle of nowhere because the mechanic crews are on the top of their game.”

—ANDREW MITCHELL “Prime is a career, far from just another job. I hit a gold mine with my PSD and TNT trainers. I love this company! It’s a big eye opener on how other companies I’ve worked for just care about their numbers; you were replaceable. Prime cares about their drivers... It shows with the benefits, attitudes, and the compassion everyone has for each other. The only downside is that I didn’t come to Prime years ago. I met a couple drivers that have been with Prime for 20+ years. There’s a lot of drivers that span well over a decade with them. This isn’t just a starter company if you’re making a career out of it.”

—JORDAN EVITTS

“Great training program and outstanding family atmosphere.

Love it here and feel fortunate to be working with Prime Inc!” —TIMOTHY BLANK “The amenities for the drivers are amazing. Food in the North Star Grill is awesome! Bunker rooms if you need out of the truck for the night. Ping pong table, pool tables, basketball court, gym, laundry, showers and towels and a company store.

When you enter the property, they have a tire reader to let you know the percentage of air in your tires. There’s a post office box, which is convenient when I come into town.”

—BARBARA DERAMUS “Been here 4 years, literally nothing bad to say about it. They treat you good, like family. Pay is excellent. I’m home when I need to be. Equipment is top notch. I highly recommend coming here” —ALEX HOLT “This is where my career started. I started in ‘05 and worked for them 4.5 years. I learned alot from them. I got my very first new truck with them. The truck I drive now is one of their old trucks. The guys I work with now are guys I met at Prime. The open door isn’t a joke. If I want some one to learn to drive, I send them to prime. You will learn your worth from them, so aim high and start at Prime Inc.. You will not go wrong.”

—JEFF JON

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MAKING A

Difference

Prime is dedicated to giving back to the communities it serves. That’s why the company donates thousands of dollars to local and national nonprofits. The list of nonprofits Prime supports is too long to fit here, but these are a few of the charities Prime donates to each year.

Brothers

Roberson

“My brother Rhett and I have worked a combined 15 years for Prime. This year, Prime helped us raise more than $7,000 at the Devon Roberson Memorial Scholarship benefit. This annual benefit raises money for a scholarship we started in our brother’s name when he passed away in 2013.

Each year this scholarship goes to a high school student in Springfield, Missouri, to help with the expenses of their first year at college. “Why I Do This” is a song Rhett and I wrote for Prime, in 2015, to show our support for all the drivers out there.

We hoped that it would show some of our appreciation for all their hard work.” —Brendan Roberson

BETWEEN 2020 AND 2022, PRIME DONATED MORE THAN $1 MILLION! 22

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Photo courtesy Drissa Samake Photos courtesy The Brothers Roberson, Shutterstock

Scan to watch ‘Why I do This’ Music Video by The Brothers Roberson

! g n i r i We’re H Prime is always hiring, so here are a few of the positions that were open when this issue came out.

Line Cooks

Shop Positions

Lake City Prime is immediately hiring Cafe Associates to help achieve its goal of providing healthy and delicious meals to its drivers, in-house associates and family members each day. Folks who fill this role will fuel the Prime team and keep them rolling on and off the road.

Responsibilities include taking orders, preparing food and cashing out customers.

Lake City Prime’s shops need more team members in a variety of positions. Each position at a Prime shop is critical in keeping Prime’s daily operations running so trucks can make deliveries on time.

No experience is needed. Prime is committed to training. Available positions in Prime’s shops include: Tire Techs, Express Bay Techs, Tractor / Trailer Mechanics and Trailer Rebuild Technicians.

Locations: Springfield, Pittston and Salt

Locations: Springfield, Pittston and Salt

Housekeeping

Locations: Springfield, Pittston and Salt Lake City Prime is hiring within its housekeeping department at all three main locations.

Prime takes a lot of pride in having some of the best facilities in the industry and is always looking for new team members to help keep facilities in the best condition possible. This role includes tasks such as cleaning office areas, restrooms and amenities and maintaining Prime bunk rooms for our driving associates.

Time to Brag Best Fleets to Drive For Prime was inducted into the hall of fame this year by CarriersEdge for being one of the Best Fleets to drive for seven times.

Official Partner with Veterans in Trucking Prime has long been a partner with Veterans in Trucking, which helps people transition from the military into the trucking industry. This partnerships reflects Prime’s commitment to providing opportunities to veterans.

Carrier of the Year Prime has won Carrier of the Year from several customers including Tyson, Kraft, General Mills and many more. Each year, Prime is awarded several Carrier of the Year awards from many of its top customers.

SmartWay Certification Prime is regularly recognized by SmartWay, which tracks and documents efficiencies like fuel use and emissions. This recognition shows that Prime’s efforts to be more green is paying off. The company is always looking for more ways to reduce, reusing and recycle. Visit primeinc.green to learn more

Women in Trucking Association Prime is consistently ranked as a top company for women to drive for by the Women in Trucking Association. Around 14% of Prime’s fleet is made up of women, which is well above the industry average. One of Prime’s in-house programs dedicated to building a community of women drivers at the company is its Highway Diamonds program.

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&

This issue, we thank all our service members who now work at Prime including these four veterans who have found new ways to put the skills they learned while in the service to good use back in their civilian lives.

Photos courtesy Prime Inc.

BY MARY ELLEN CHILES

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S

ean Fitzgerald was born in a place so small, he attended high school the next town over. He wanted to get out of Springville, California, and see the world. He also knew he wanted to join the military.

“I was 12 when 9/11 happened,” he says. “I remember everything about that day, and from that point on, I knew I was going to go to the military and serve.”

Fitzgerald served in the Navy from 2006 to 2015 as Master-of-arms, which is pretty much the military police force. “The recruiter told me ‘Basically, you have a badge and a gun and you’re in charge of upholding good order and discipline throughout the Navy.’ And I’m like, ‘Okay, cool.

That sounds like that could be fun.’” He also got to see more of the world and expand his hobbies. “I learned how to scuba

dive; I got my diving certification and did a lot of deep-water fishing,” he says.

When he left the military, Fitzgerald went into law enforcement, but something was missing. It didn’t have a sense of community like the military. He also wanted to study criminal justice and needed a flexible job to do it. That’s when he found Prime. “I was able to complete my four-year degree program in two years in the backseat of my truck,” he says After graduating, instead of joining the NCIS or DEA and taking a pay cut, Fitzgerald stayed with Prime.

“Once I got here, I realized the culture, the family atmosphere, and the opportunity to make money and make myself more financially independent,” he says. Now, he trains others to do the same. He also found the community he craved.

“I found what I was looking for,” he says. “What I have with all of my friends and everything down here is exactly what I had in the military.”

LESSONS LEARNED Love of country: “I was able to see all the lower 48 states within a year. I absolutely loved being able to see the country that I joined the military in order to defend.”

Name: Sean Fitzgerald Prime Position: PSD/TNT/Company driver Military Branch: Navy

Self-Reliance: “You’re given your delivery, your time and how you’re supposed to be there. There’s Robert Low spoke at this year’s Highway gala, which honored all the your mission:Diamonds now go execute.

That’s why trucking women who drive at Prime. ends up being a really good transition tool after the military

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Photo courtesy Siobhan Allen

S

Photo courtesy Siobhan Allen

iobhan Allen, who also goes by Amber, wanted the structure that the military provided. Her parents were both in the Air Force, so it was a no-brainer to follow in their footsteps. She worked as an air traffic controller from 2000 to 2004, and when she started expanding her family, she left active duty.

A few years later Amber returned to service in the Air National Guard where she served from 2008 to 2011. At the National Guard, she was back at air traffic control, but this time she had a much better view.

“Instead of sitting in a small dark room, I was sitting on a control tower on the airfield. I could actually see the planes take off and land,” Allen says. After leaving the military in 2011 she worked as a massage therapist but wanted more of a challenge. “I wanted to be able to travel and see the country,” she says. A cousin suggested trucking, and while searching for a company, Allen read about Prime’s Highway Diamonds program. “I liked that, because not many companies recognize their female drivers,” she says.

As it turns out, Allen’s service helped her transition into the work she wound up doing at Prime. “The military taught me how to be more independent and have more of a structure,” she says. “I wish I would have found this a lot sooner. I will always have a military family, and I feel like with Prime, they are truly like family.”

Now that she has been welcomed to Prime, Allen wants to do the same for other women. She has a YouTube channel called A Truckin’ Lady and hosts a podcast under the same name. She shows people life on the road and gives them insights into working as a woman driver. “I like leading female drivers out here on the road. They might feel like they are alone and don’t have anyone that really can understand this career field. So, I always try to connect with other female drivers. I like to be an open book,” she says.

LESSONS LEARNED Pride: “Representing Prime is just like representing the military. Take pride in your look and how you’re dressed. I try to get my truck washed as frequently as possible.”

Punctuality: “If you’re early, you’re on time, and if you’re on time, you’re late. That is the same mentality Prime focuses on.”

Name: Siobhan Allen, or “Amber” Prime Position: PSD/TNT/Lease Operator Military Branch: Air Force

Thousands of United States military veterans drive for Prime, and that’s not including the countless in-house associates who are veterans including Prime’s owner Robert Low.

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J

ason Wirth served in the Marines from 1993 to 1997, and he is glad for the confidence he earned during his service. “I was in artillery. The training is really fun,” he says. “You learn how to do things you never probably thought you could do before.”

When Wirth enlisted, his friends thought he’d lose his personality and humor in the military, but he didn’t. He just learned a few new traits he wanted to bring back with him when he returned to civilian life. “You don’t have to let something change you completely,” he says.

Making the switch to civilian life isn’t always easy for veterans, but Wirth says the transition was pretty smooth. He moved to New York City, got a job at a French eyeglass company, and settled into a new chapter of life.

Almost two decades later, he learned his life was about to change again. The company he worked at in New York laid Wirth off, and suddenly he was looking for a new job.

A friend suggested earning a CDL to work in oil fields, but Wirth lacked experience. He reached out to a driver on YouTube, and the truck driver recommended Prime.

Now Wirth trains new drivers at Prime, and a good chunk of his students are women who are brand new to the industry. Trucking is still male dominated, the numbers reflect that, but Wirth says he’s seeing more and more women join the industry, and that’s something he loves. It goes back to

Name: Jason Wirth Company driver Prime Position: PSD/ es Military Branch: Marin

what he learned while in the Marines—inspire others and train others. “As a Marine, you get used to working under harder conditions. You get used to being away from your family, and you learn to train the younger marines underneath you,” he says. “Now that I’m a PSD instructor, a lot of what I learned in the Marine Corps gets used every day in the truck. It’s about being a leader and inspiring people who don’t think they can do this.”

LESSONS LEARNED Confidence: “Marines are pretty confident in what we do. I think it’s something that translates into being able to show that confidence in what you’re doing and pass that on to the others around you.”

Photo courtesy Jason Wirth

Perspective: “We’ve kind of lived through worse conditions, so you can set your mind to ignoring some of the discomforts and putting that aside and getting your job accomplished. In the end, you still get that reward of having completed your mission.”

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B

Photo courtesy Brian Broughton

rian Broughton learned to cook by watching his grandmothers. He worked at a nice hotel but says he struggled in culinary school and moved back in with his dad. “I was young and stupid and failing out,” he says. “I swallowed my pride and said ‘Could I go home?’ By the grace of God, a Navy recruiter called that first night.”

His dad had worked in a naval submarine, and Brian had brothers in the military. “I like the structure. I like going to different places.” After 21 years in the Navy, Broughton ended up traveling around the world, and he did so in the kitchen. This time, instead of working as a cook in a hotel kitchen, he served as a cook on a submarine.

Cooking and living on a sub taught him to use his space well. Now he uses the passenger side box in his truck to hold vegetables and canned goods. “It’s like a second refrigerator in the wintertime,” he says.

Once he left the Navy, Broughton was ready for a new career and some extra cash, so he joined Prime to earn more money. One of the big draws about Prime was the fact that the company offered a stipend while drivers trained. “This job allows me to take care of my family, just like I did in the military,” he says. “It’s allowed me to get out of debt at a higher rate of speed.”

Now, Broughton trains new drivers, which he enjoys. “I get to help people and guide them with their success,” he says.

He also helps his trainees learn to eat better on the road, which saves them money and keeps them healthy. “It’s really easy to get out of shape,” Broughton says. “If you watch what you’re doing, you can maintain weight. I always cook a whole chicken once a week, and I also really like making a turkey salad.” At the time of this issue, Broughton was training a student who loves salmon, so twice a week, Broughton made sure to add salmon to the menu.

If bringing fish and chicken on your truck sounds tricky, Broughton says you just have to plan ahead and think about food safety basics. “I don’t cut any meat on my cutting board,” he says. “ I cut meat on paper plates and save my cutting boards for vegetables.” His other secret weapon?

Clorox wipes.

oughton Name: Brian Br erator PSD /Lease op Prime Position: : Navy Military Branch

LESSONS LEARNED Organization: “My living space was super-tiny on a submarine, so that translates very well to the truck.

It’s not a big deal. I can load the truck out with quite a bit of food.”

Camaraderie: “Just like the Navy and just like being on a truck, getting a good meal at the end of a long work day is a big deal.”

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the BIGGEST

LOSERS Meet three Prime drivers who did a whole lot more than lose 15 pounds in Prime’s recent Fit in 15 challenge.

P

30

rime is focused on the health of its team.

It’s part of why Prime adds things like fitness centers, basketball courts and inhouse fitness instructors to its terminals. It’s also why Prime launched its Driver Health and Fitness program.

Staying healthy can be a lifelong struggle, especially for drivers. When most of your day is spent behind the wheel, it can be tricky to work out or find healthful meals.

Prime is on a mission to change that. One of the ways the company is helping associates shed pounds and build convenient workout routines is through its Fit in 15 program. It’s all about 15-minute workouts done over 15 weeks.

Now, it’s a year-long program, and drivers and associates can sign up anytime. Once they’re part of the program, the DHF team is there to build personalized workout routines, find snacks and meals that fit nutritional goals and cheer them on as they hit fitness goals.

As more team members sign up for Fit in 15, we’re looking back at three of the original participants to see how the program worked for them.

Katherine P o t e a t has been a long-time participant in DHF programs.

“Whatever they’ve done; I’ve done it,” she says, so when Fit in 15 launched, she signed up.

She knew she wanted to lose 20 pounds, but the struggle was keeping it off. “Battling weight gain out here is a constant thing,” she says. To help, Matt Judy in Salt Lake City created a

customized workout focused on her upper body strength and flexibility with the goal of improving her knees and shoulder. “It was a lot easier than I thought,” she says. “There’s a surprising amount of room in the truck, plus I drive team, so I workout when my other driver is at the wheel.”

Katherine also made dietary changes like cutting back sugars, increasing water and snacking on healthful options like hummus, vegetables and nuts every two hours. Katherine lost 22 pounds, and she could feel the

difference. Not only had her sweet tooth pretty much died away, but she was no longer out of breath. “I can do much more now,” she says. “It’s a general better feeling overall.”

Even though her 15-week session has ended, Katherine says she’s successfully kept the weight off. In fact, to date, Katherine has lost 38 pounds since she started working on her fitness in mid-January right before Fit in 15 started. Now, her big goal is to lose a total of 50 pounds so she can be ready for a cruise.

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Photo courtesy Katherine Poteat

BY ETTIE BERNEKING

Photos courtesy Gene Burgess, Mike Nissley

M i k e Nissley is better known as Mr. Fit in the DHF circle.

When Fit in 15 started, the 6-foot-4-inch 51-year-old weighed 311 pounds. When the program ended, he weighed 280 and had more muscle than he had in his 30s. “This was next level shit,” he says about the program’s workouts and nutritional advice.

Before joining Prime, Mike drove for a company that hauled liquid chocolate like Hershey, Nestle and Klondike. It was a dangerous job for someone like Mike who had a serious sweet tooth, so when he switched companies, it was Prime’s DHF offerings that attracted him. “I walked in the door at Prime and called Driver Health and Fitness on day one,” he says. “Matt told me about Fit in 15, so

I spent the next few weeks pounding my cherry Pepsi and KitKats and then on Feb. 1, I threw myself totally into this program.”

The first big step for Mike was working with Rachel to change his diet. KitKats were thrown out, and snacks like hard boiled eggs and pickles became the norm. “One thing this program drove home was to avoid anything with more than 10 grams of sugar,” Mike says. “I about fell over when I looked at my cherry Pepsi and saw it had 46 grams of sugar.”

Besides cutting back on sugars, Mike also cut down on red meat, and started using Rachel’s Plate Method where half of your plate is dedicated to vegetables. Another quarter is for protein and the final quarter is for non-starchy carbs.

Mike also started hitting the gym several times a week. Not that long ago, Mike was running 10ks and half marathons, but he’d fallen out of

the habit of running. The DHF team changed that. Matt Judy built a cardio routine for Mike, and he loved it. “I’m hooked,” he says. “I get to the gym five days a week now and plot my routes so I can hit up a Planet Fitness. Matt jacked up my workout routines, and I’ve never had a workout like this. Each week, he sends me a spreadsheet with a new workout. Seriously, this team is incredible.”

T u r n s out, if you start tracking the number of calories you take in each day, you’ll be shocked. At least Gene Burgess was. When he signed up for Prime’s Fit in 15 program, he wanted to lose 30 pounds. At 71 years old, Gene says the program’s daily and weekly weight tracking paired with the help from the Prime DHF team was a big motivating factor.

“My weakness was ice cream,” he says. “I love ice cream. I would get out of the truck and say, ‘I’m not going to buy ice cream,’ but I’d get back

to the truck with an ice cream.” He says Rachel helped him a lot when he realized he needed to figure out which snacks would actually fill him up and give him energy.

Fast food was the first to go, then chips were swapped out for bags of popcorn. His morning cereal was replaced by a bowl of oatmeal topped with cranberries and nuts. When he needed a snack, Gene turned to his favorite new combo: turkey sausage sticks and cheese sticks.

A few weeks into the program, Gene noticed a big difference in his energy levels. “The way I felt was so much better,” he says. “I even slept better.” He also noticed a change in his wallet. Turns out those quick but

unhealthy snacks like ice cream and fast food dinners on the go were a lot pricier than Gene realized. At this point, he says all those cravings for chips and ice cream are gone. Now, he’s hooked on the new energy levels he has.

By the time Fit in 15 ended for Gene, he went from 192 pounds to 164. After the program ended, he kept working on his weight loss goal and ended up going from a 38-inch waist to a 36. “It’s amazing,” he says.

“Once you do this for a month, it becomes more natural.” Gene still sends Matt and Rachel updates on his progress. He says he likes the accountability and he’s now working on losing another 6—8 pounds.



Mike before and after Fit in 15.

PRIME WAYS

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Family Ties

BABY

ON BOARD First this Prime driver got her very own truck, then she learned she was pregnant. To keep her career and her family, she came up with a creative solution that kept everyone close together. .

BY SONIA GUZMAN

▲ Lorin has joined Stephanie and Joseph on the truck, so the whole family can spend time together.

W

hen you hear Joseph Freeman and Stephanie Murdock speak about each other, it’s clear that the mutual respect and love they have for one another is abundant. So it’s no wonder that when Stephanie found out she was pregnant in March of last year, the couple took whatever steps were necessary to ensure that Stephanie continued her career as a driver while keeping their family as close as possible.

Stephanie had been a solo driver since August of 2018 and had recently acquired a new truck on a lease-to-own basis, which meant she finally became an owner-operator—a goal she had ever since she began driving. So when she got the news of her pregnancy, she knew trucking wasn’t something she could walk away from. “I had put so much time and energy into pursuing my career as a driver, and I knew we had to find a way to make it work,” she says.

And make it work, they did. Joseph, who owns his own moving company in Ohio, put his business plans on hold, and Stephanie trained him to drive a manual truck.

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PRIME WAYS

going to start crawling and walking, and Joseph earned his CDL license and joined she will need space to grow and hit these Stephanie on her route in July 2021. milestones,” Stephanie says. So they are in With Joseph joining Stephanie on the the process of purchasing their first home, truck, she could continue driving through and when Joseph’s contract is up next most of her pregnancy. “Joseph would do year, he will return to his moving business, all of the physical things, and it allowed me and Lorin will stay with him in Ohio while to keep driving for as long as I did,” says Stephanie drives. “It’s going to be so hard Stephanie, who drove up until two weeks before giving birth to their daughter, Lorin, leaving her,” Stephanie says, “but I love my job. I love Prime, and I know it’s what on January 7, 2022. The unique spelling is I’m meant to be doing.” The family plans to a tribute to Joseph’s late father, Orin, who stay in touch using FaceTime, and Stephapassed away in October last year. After nie will plan days off each month to ensure Lorin was born, the growing family was she has plenty of time at home with Lorin back on the road three months later with and Joseph. little Lorin in tow. “We are loving life as Both Stephanie and Joseph express their new parents, and it’s been amazing seeing gratitude to Prime and especially their the world through Lorin’s eyes,” Stephanie Fleet Manager, Mary, who has been so supsays. “Everything is new and exciting.” portive and accommodating while they adWhen asked if they’ve faced any trials just to their lives as new parents. Joseph’s while traveling with a newborn, Joseph advice for navigating life’s curveballs is, says, “Not really. We are a great team and take everything in stride. We are enjoying “Anything is possible if you take the time and trust the process. Never give up, and getting to spend this time together. It will be hard when she goes back to driving solo.” remember that hard work pays off.”

Stephanie and Joseph know they won’t be able to drive with Lorin forever. “She’s

Photos by Ettie Berneking

⊳ When Stephanie Murdock had to hit pause on her driving to take maternity leave, her partner Joseph Freeman got his CDL so he could keep driving Stephanie’s truck until she returned to work.

View From the road What awe-inspiring landscapes have you seen from behind the wheel? Submit a highresolution photo (usually 500 KB or higher) of your truck to primeinc@primeinc.com.

Include your name and caption information about where and when the photo was taken.

▲ Mountain Views Driver Christopher Pope stopped to snap this photo while making a delivery. “In a fast paced world, we can’t forget to stop and take in the sights,” he says. “So many people wish they could see the sights. It’s important to me to take it all in and appreciate the opportunity Prime Inc has given me.”

Photos courtesy Prime Inc.

▲ Break Time It can be hard to beat the views when driving in Utah, which is why Logan Mangels stopped to get a photo of their truck with the mountains in the background.

▲ Best Co-Pilot Around This happy pup is named Moochacha, and he and his owner, Irene Dominguez, headed back to Pittston to enjoy some greenery.

▲ For Our Troops Travis Richason is a Navy veteran with more than 20 years of service under his belt. He sent in this photo of a special delivery he made.

PRIME WAYS

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Driver Referral Program $100 $500 $500 1/4cpm $1,000 Earn $100 when referred driver hauls first load.

Earn $500 when referred driver stays 30 days.

Earn $500 when referred driver stays 6 months.

Earn ¼ cpm on every mile referred driver runs after 6 months.

Earn $1000 when 3 referred drivers stay 6 months.

Earnings Example: Refer 3 drivers who stay at least 6 months at Prime, and you would earn $4300, not including the additional mileage pay!

Program Rules: The person that is referred must run under Prime’s operating authority (A, B, C, or D Seats) as a company driver or independent contractor.

All active Prime Driver Associates under Prime’s operating authority (A, B, and C Seats) are eligible to receive Prime Inc Driver Referral Program pay.

To earn bonus at 6 months longevity pay and mileage pay, referred driver must be an A Seat.

No driver referral bonus will be earned for referring a rehire (previous Prime Driver).

To earn referral, referred driver must list Prime Driver’s name or driver code on online application or be provided to Recruiter prior to processing application for approval.

For more information, contact Prime’s Recruiting Department at 888-664-4473.

Program is effective as of Nov. 19, 2021, until further notice or cancellation. (Prime reserves the right to modify the program at any time.)