pam transport

**airforcetoo** · 01.23.2012

Originally Posted by cudafish71

I would have started with Swift before PAM. One terrible DM, one who didn't care and the one I have now is decent. Driving solo with PAM you will make NO MONEY. Maybe two hundred a week. The trainers SUCK. You would have found out more about trucking by PAYING a trucker to teach you, instead of going to PAM. I had to learn the hard way about rear tandem placement, lenght violations, what to watch for in different cities. Their PLANNERS suck, twice I have been planned to travel under low bridges. The CSR's SUCK too...........getting the picture? I went to call a company to find out if they could recieve a load on a Sunday and the reference number was 800-800-8000, NICE!!! This happens about every fourth load. Solo I was averaging 200 a week in pay. I was teamed with this KNOB I went to C=1 with, his truck was a PIG STY. The whole cab smelled like ##### and I cleaned it. I stayed on for four weeks and made good money, but couldn't stand the black mold in the truck and I was a getting a rash and it was rotten. Finally screamed, got a new better partner and again made very little in earnings. Piss poor load planning and you will actually be doing most of everyone elses job there. Watch your pay, they will mess with it. There are some super sweet ladies who work in Tontitown, but they are understaffed. Now, in the second month of teaming with New guy and we get along great and are already planning our Exodus from PAM. We get paid 17.5 cents a mile per driver, so if we get under 5 thousand miles a week, we are screwed. The first year you are in trucking, you basically get bent over. Don't get bent over at PAM.

Although I agree that the trainers could be better, I am going to disagree with other things you've said here:

The Route Suggestions are just that - Suggestions. Ultimately it's your license not the planner's. I trust NO ONE with MY license. You're the one driving, do your own planning.

5 thousand miles between two drivers is a breeze. Basically each driver just has to do 2500 miles. We have averaged 4000, but that's just cause my teammate wants to be home all the time, but that's another story. But 4000 is more than enough for someone who is just starting a new craft. Let's do the math; At $0.175; 4000 miles which you are paid for is $700 a week. If you deduct 15% of uncle sam's money that'll bring you down to $595; then deduct $45 of CDL school and $25 for the truck escrow account and you grand total of a paycheck is $525 - not bad in my opinion... so why in Sam Hill are you sir saying that "if we get under 5 thousand miles a week, we are screwed"??!?!!?

In conclusion;

You signed up for this. You agreed to get paid 17 cpm, most probably cause you couldn't (like I couldn't) afford to pay for a CDL school. I truly get frustrated on people with your attitude. Look at the bright side of things man.

**"thegoat"** · 01.24.2012

Originally Posted by airforcetoo

Although I agree that the trainers could be better, I am going to disagree with other things you've said here:

The Route Suggestions are just that - Suggestions. Ultimately it's your license not the planner's. I trust NO ONE with MY license. You're the one driving, do your own planning.

5 thousand miles between two drivers is a breeze. Basically each driver just has to do 2500 miles. We have averaged 4000, but that's just cause my teammate wants to be home all the time, but that's another story. But 4000 is more than enough for someone who is just starting a new craft. Let's do the math; At $0.175; 4000 miles which you are paid for is $700 a week. If you deduct 15% of uncle sam's money that'll bring you down to $595; then deduct $45 of CDL school and $25 for the truck escrow account and you grand total of a paycheck is $525 - not bad in my opinion... so why in Sam Hill are you sir saying that "if we get under 5 thousand miles a week, we are screwed"??!?!!?

In conclusion;

You signed up for this. You agreed to get paid 17 cpm, most probably cause you couldn't (like I couldn't) afford to pay for a CDL school. I truly get frustrated on people with your attitude. Look at the bright side of things man.

My two cents again here... The routing IS NOT a suggestion. It may say that on the dispatch, But if you where around when the QComm message came through that all routing and fuel stops are MANDATORY. TO THE GALLON, btw. I only scored a 40% fuel compliance because I never hit the right gallon amount. Another thing when going to KC from Laredo I took 35w through FtWorth to 35 all the way to KC. I got a call when in OK saying I was 800 miles out of route, cause the "suggested" route was up 75-69-71. So my DM had to re route it so I wasn't out of route further. Their routing is stupid and fueling is retarded. Their computer is a terminal routing meaning it only fuel plans for that load, does not take in consideration where your going after. I ended up in NJ will 60 gallons of fuel and ended up siting for a day. So I had to get fuel in NJ where it is ,30-.40 cent higher than VA, PA. So with all that said! Pam DOES suck. But if you can work the system and but up the BS. Its well worth the 5k for school

**airforcetoo** · 01.24.2012

Originally Posted by "thegoat"

My two cents again here... The routing IS NOT a suggestion. It may say that on the dispatch, But if you where around when the QComm message came through that all routing and fuel stops are MANDATORY. TO THE GALLON, btw. I only scored a 40% fuel compliance because I never hit the right gallon amount. Another thing when going to KC from Laredo I took 35w through FtWorth to 35 all the way to KC. I got a call when in OK saying I was 800 miles out of route, cause the "suggested" route was up 75-69-71. So my DM had to re route it so I wasn't out of route further. Their routing is stupid and fueling is retarded. Their computer is a terminal routing meaning it only fuel plans for that load, does not take in consideration where your going after. I ended up in NJ will 60 gallons of fuel and ended up siting for a day. So I had to get fuel in NJ where it is ,30-.40 cent higher than VA, PA. So with all that said! Pam DOES suck. But if you can work the system and but up the BS. Its well worth the 5k for school

I'm going to disagree with the route suggestion being MANDATORY cause if they tell you to drive of a cliff, there is no order in any sane man's organization that'll justify that. EVERY company has idiots ... try working for an organization who tell you this is MANDATORY and then when you do that MANDATORY order it really didn't make any sense, and then they try to wash their hands of ever telling you to do that and at the same time try to fire you ... PAM probably does suck, but I bet you there are a lot of places that have a higher level of suckiness, it's all about how much suckiness you can put up with; right now I like PAM. Maybe in a year I'll want greener pastures, but it really upsets me that so many people bad mouth PAM, it's not THAT bad.

**Noggin** · 01.24.2012

the route suggestion is not mandatory. I never even looked at my route suggestion. Granted, I had a DM that would shoot me another one if I ventured too far off the original suggestion....but, You can choose your own routes, as long as it doesnt venture over 50 miles off the original. (i think it is still 50). They would rather you not take toll roads if there is another way to go, but hey...they write off the tolls at the end of the year...take them if it gets you where you're going faster.

If you look at your suggested routing and follow it on a map, the beginning and end are from the city centers. so, the route is not always what you actually need to travel. Just use your brain and come up with the best, easiest way to travel.

**kid_cardiac** · 01.24.2012

Originally Posted by Noggin

the route suggestion is not mandatory. I never even looked at my route suggestion. Granted, I had a DM that would shoot me another one if I ventured too far off the original suggestion....but, You can choose your own routes, as long as it doesnt venture over 50 miles off the original. (i think it is still 50). They would rather you not take toll roads if there is another way to go, but hey...they write off the tolls at the end of the year...take them if it gets you where you're going faster.

If you look at your suggested routing and follow it on a map, the beginning and end are from the city centers. so, the route is not always what you actually need to travel. Just use your brain and come up with the best, easiest way to travel.

Actually, I'm beginning to see more toll roads being used again. My guess is they finally, 1) Heard enough complaints from drivers and customers about pickup and delivery by taking back roads, and/or 2) the wasted fuel taking said back roads.

I've been an opponent of this routing system from the start, and will continue to be. I'm going to go the safest way possible, because it's my license on the line.

**Rollin2003** · 01.25.2012

When I get the routing I compare it to what my GPS says, and if it's way off I look at a map. If after that I still don't agree I use Microsoft Streets and Trips on my laptop.
Then if I have a better, faster, shorter or quicker route I call and get it changed. One time I had a load from N. Little Rock to Brownsville, route had me going to San Antonio for fuel. That added over 100 miles of unpaid miles just for fuel. DM asked which way I wanted to go. She looked it over and agreed, changed fuel stop to match the change. So I went thru Houston with fuel in Lufkin, TX. As far as getting low on fuel, they have figured out that you will have 75 gallons after your delivery. If you need more call the fuel desk for 50 gallons.

**Madmax9813** · 02.14.2012

Originally Posted by markr

Hi I am new to the site and just starting out with PAM Transport. Should be getting my trainner this next week. Look for any new people with PAM to share any info about PAM, the trainning program, anything at all. Thank you Hey To any C1 studants out of the Fort Worth program 4-21 to 5-9 GOOD LUCK OUT THERE GUYS

I am also going with Pam I hope I picked the right company

**airforcetoo** · 02.14.2012

Originally Posted by Madmax9813

I am also going with Pam I hope I picked the right company

Read the forums my young padawan and find out if you did!

If you don't like teaming though; it's probably not for you

**Madmax9813** · 02.15.2012

So how do you like Pam?

**Madmax9813** · 02.15.2012

Good analogy "young Palawan" I like it!

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