Prime Inc.
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Freight transportation |
| Founded | 1970 in Urbana, Missouri, United States |
| Founder | Robert E. Low |
| Headquarters | Springfield, Missouri , United States |
Area served | United States and Canada |
| Products | Refrigerated, flatbed, tanker, and intermodal trucking services |
Number of employees | 1700 drivers plus approximately 7,400 independent contractors (2024) |
New Prime Inc., known commercially as Prime Inc., is a United States-based trucking company with its main office located in Springfield, Missouri. The company provides freight transportation services throughout the U.S. and Canada, specializing in refrigerated, flatbed, tanker, and intermodal trucking solutions.
History
Established in 1970 by Robert E. Low in Urbana, Missouri, Prime shifted its corporate headquarters to Springfield a decade later in 1980. By 1990, the firm had grown to employ 1,250 drivers operating a fleet of 680 trucks. Two years afterward, in 1992, Prime allocated $4.3 million to upgrade its fleet with satellite communication and tracking systems supplied by Qualcomm.
In response to harassment complaints, Prime implemented a policy in 2004 that matched new drivers exclusively with trainers of the same gender. This practice resulted in a 2011 lawsuit filed by the EEOC alleging discrimination due to the limited availability of female trainers. The dispute was resolved in 2016 when Prime agreed to pay over $3.11 million in damages.
In January 2019, the United States Supreme Court ruled against Prime in the case New Prime Inc. v. Oliveira, which addressed arbitration rights for independent contractors. Subsequently, in 2020, Prime settled related claims for $28 million concerning allegations of misclassifying drivers and failing to properly compensate owner-operators.
Prime initiated legal action against Amazon in July 2019 over purported confusion between its own branding and Amazon’s use of the Amazon Prime logo on delivery vehicles. The lawsuit sought injunctive relief but was dismissed in 2022 following a confidential settlement agreement.
In 2024, Prime broadened its operations by introducing a hopper division focused on bulk commodity transport, beginning with an acquisition of 25 hopper trailers designed for hauling corn, grain, and similar products.
Operations
Prime Inc. is a privately owned company providing freight services throughout the contiguous United States and Canada. Its offerings include refrigerated, flatbed, tanker, and intermodal transportation. As of 2024, the company employs roughly 1,700 drivers alongside approximately 7,400 independent contractors.