Being placed with PAM through Driver Solutions, opinions please

**Scoundrel** · 02.10.2012

I was a returning driver. I'd driven a couple of years, then took a job doing something else. When I wanted to go back to driving, I had to start over and go back to trucking school.

After school it took 3 weeks to get on with a trainer. His truck broke down in Laredo and we spent 10 days in a motel. I was afraid I wouldn't have enough drive time to upgrade, but they took my experiance into account and I upgraded on time.

I was assigned 3 trucks before I got one that was safe and driveble. It was old, but ran good. Very little trouble.

I was solo for about 2 months. Then was offered a dedicated lane with a co-driver. My first partner was a flake, he never showed up and they termed him. My second co-driver was a work horse. The guy would drive 11 hours every day! It took me a couple of weeks to convence him that if he ran out of hours we couldn't get home in time to restart on the weekends.

We would 2 or 3 trips a week from San Antonio, TX to IN or I'LL mostly and be off at home for about 40 hours on the weekends. We did alright.

They gave us a 2012 FL after the old truck started having electrical troubles. Nice, but didn't pull up hill like the old truck did.

I have now just upgraded to trainer and am sitting in Tontitown waiting for my first load in a 2012 Pro Star.

I think PAM has kept their word about everything they said. I did have trouble getting home once, but one call to Norma and I was on my way in 30 mins.

BTW Norma is retiring soon and no one will take her place. Her job will be eleminated.

**Scoundrel** · 02.10.2012

One more thing, while you're in trucking school, LEARN TO BACK. I saw so many wanna be drivers that simply fooled around instead of spending time on the backing range.

You'll be doing some kind of backing almost every day. It just makes sense to do it as much as you can while in school.

**skokz** · 02.10.2012

Originally Posted by Scoundrel

BTW Norma is retiring soon and no one will take her place. Her job will be eleminated.

There goes the neighborhood!

**airforcetoo** · 02.10.2012

Originally Posted by skokz

There goes the neighborhood!

No driver liaison?!?! Let me call my good pal Jimmy Hoffa ...

**sevenmph** · 02.11.2012

Wow, Norma is retiring and job being eliminated. You guys are screwed. How do you think some of those DMs in T'town are going to act when they know you have no recourse. I know some of you long timers are saying I'm nuts, but think about it. No driver liason
. That little woman wielded a big club.

**skokz** · 02.13.2012

Maybe pam will become the next arrow trucking!

**cudafish71** · 03.28.2012

Okay, apologies to Noggin, I am sorry, I don't know you or who you are. All I know is that out of forty PAM drivers interviewed over the last six to nine months, they are leaving in DROVES. Most of the trainers, NOT YOU, don't care. They do the minimum and then because you are itching so bad to get out of a truck that is beating the crap out of you while you sleep to get into a solo bed with no hassles (trainer screaming at wife on phone all the time, no showers til you scream, low pay, ect) you will acquiesce to anything they ask you to sign or attest to. Hey, I was ######## and had every right to. THere is s sliver lining in my last few days at PAM, I have a great opp at another company and get to be a part owner. NICE. SO, Pam did blow, but now that the year is over, I get to take a week off, see the family, find a new place with my great wife and get to a real company.

**THGhost** · 08.23.2012

Originally Posted by Rollin2003

I've been at P.A.M. coming on 20 years. Trained 100 drivers, so there is my background.
If you go through C1/Driver Solutions school, you will get what you need for a CDL.
Four weeks of training with a trainer, usually with a stick. I have an automatic.
Six months out with a partner is with another rookie. (What you don't know hopefully they do)
You will probably get a decent truck because you will be a team.
The trucks come without a TV, CB, sat radio and GPS.
You will not be unloading at a terminal (that's ABF), delivery's to customers are usually done by the receiver or you would hire a lumper. (Company paid)
P.A.M. uses International and Freightliners.
You would be what P.A.M. wants in driver, i.e. never needing to get home.
Solo drivers get between 2,200 to 3,400 miles in seven days. (depends on the week)
After leaving school with a CDL you wait for a trainer.(one day to four weeks)
But living up in Michigan should be easy, because of auto parts loads MI to TX.

Thank you I am Going through DriverSolutions in Irving, I am Self taught and have had my CDL since April1977. Drove mostly Texas Instate with 18 months On I-10 Between CapeCanaveral, FL and Stinnis AFB MS But, that was over 6 years ago! Iwanted to Go to school mainly to see what they teach maybe pick up atrick or to I did not get being self taught and But most of all tosay I have gone! My House and Truck are payed for and I have someoneto watch my dogs so I really do not care how much I am paid or howoften I am home! Thanks for the heads up though!