Ozark Trucking Expo sees low attendance

by Melissa

Wilson

SBJ Staff

Prime Inc. may hold its own trucking expo next year after the disappointing turnout at the first Ozark Trucking Expo, Nov. 13 and 14 at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds E-Plex, said Don Lacy, director of safety and recruiting for Prime.

"We're involved in about 15 of these events a year around the country, and this one wasn't publicized enough ... that and there was an admission charge," Lacy said.

"That isn't the way you do them. It was a good location for a show, though," he added.

The charge for admission to the expo was $4 for adults. Children 15 and younger were admitted free.

Prime co-sponsored the trucking expo with RBX Inc., CFI Inc., Northeast Diesel Service, Cargo Transporters, Landstar Inway, Lake City Express, and SCAVT Truck Training Center.

Danny Felker, of American Made Racecars in Joplin, was in charge of promoting the event. He said that while the event had a tremendous vendor turnout, with more than 350 booths representing 200 companies in the Midwest displaying new products, recruiting drivers and conducting seminars, the attendance was a disappointing 1,500 for the two-day expo.

The Greater Springfield Garage Sale drew 8,004 Jan. 16-17, and the Lawn & Garden Show drew 16,000 Feb. 19-21 at the E-Plex.

"While the attendance may not have been what they wanted it to be (at the trucking expo), it was still a good show," fairgrounds representative Lisa Johnson said.

Lacy said Prime participates in shows such as the Ozark Trucking Expo primarily for recruiting purposes, in addition to advertising campaigns in trucking magazines and cable television.

"The primary reason we go to shows is to tell our story and attract people to our company. The last show we were in was in Dallas and there were around 40,000 to 50,000 people there," Lacy said.

Lacy said Prime recruiters look for drivers with stable work histories and no felony convictions who want to work for themselves and don't mind being away from home for four to six weeks at a time.

"The first thing we do before we even bring someone here is check with their past employers. We run a criminal record check and a motor vehicle record check," Lacy said.

"If all those things line up, then we bring them here and fingerprint them to make sure they are who they say they are. Then we give them a road test and a three-day orientation program, which includes classes on safe driving and safe operating," he added.

Depending on their level of experience, drivers can then be placed with a senior trainer for three to six months.

Lacy said Prime does not hire anyone with a careless and imprudent driving conviction, more than two moving violations in two years or a DWI that is less than five years old.

Prime was one of the first trucking companies to use the lease-contractor concept. In 1985, Prime began leasing trucks to former company drivers and converting the drivers to independent lease contractors.

Not all good truck drivers are good businesspeople, Lacy said, which is the reason Prime established its associate career enhancement business workshop in 1997.

The workshop covers bookkeeping skills, determining cost per mile, record keeping, fuel economy and more efficient maintenance.

Prime pays its drivers $200 to attend the program.

"The more educated our drivers are about their business, the more motivated they are, and the more motivated they are, the better service they will provide our customers with," Lacy said.

Prime's $9 million addition to its facilities at 2740 N. Mayfair is scheduled to be complete by the end of the year, Lacy said.

The addition will include a fitness center, convenience store, gift shop, movie theater, child care center, hair salon, expanded cafeteria, doctor's office and 20 sleeping rooms with private showers.