The begining (so far so good) - Truckers' Trucking Forum | Message Board

Buddha · **^ Top** #1 07.24.2007

I've decided to use this forum as a diary of sorts, as I begining my career as an otr driver. This will be my first otr job and I've decided to go with Transport America to start my career.

First alittle backround :
For the last 2 years I've been driving a beer truck for a local Budweiser outfit. (never work for this company... my last 6 months was awful) I decided before I walked out that i was going to start looking for a new job and I wanted to experiance otr, since I left the Ai Force in 95 i've missed the traveling and the busy pace and this is something I want to try. I looked online and applied to several different companys and most of them wouldn't give me the time of day due to the fact that i had NO otr experiance. I never went to a driving school, i was completely self taught on driving a truck, and when i took my cdl test i aced the damn thing. Now the equip. i was driving for the last 2 years were International Automatics, i've only operated a str8 10 a handfull of times, and once again totally self taught. Anyway one of the only companies that would give me a shot was CR England! On a Thursday I was all set to leave on Sunday for a 3 day oreintation and then 10 days of riding with a trainer, and then was told i would be off to pick up a brand NEW truck and be off on my own. (this all accoding to the CR England B.S. speicalist) Anyway that night I did some research on England and came across SEVERAL web sites with Hundreds of complaints and such on how CR England screws EVERYONE!!! Well this began to worry me and I decided to try to explore more options and ran across Transport Americas web site. The next morning I called them and talk to a guy named Mark, and he was very upfront and helpful to me. (yes i know thats his job) He let me know that due to the fact that i had NO otr experiance and I've never went to a training school my only option was to go through there program as a student. (this made me feel alittle better about them, due to the fact they weren't just going to throw me in a truck and say... there you go.... your off, go and drive this big ### truck and try not to kill anyone.) So i was accepted and on the same sunday I was to leave for CR England I left for Tranport America.

Transport America's program in Scottsburg, IN
1. They paid for my trip to Scottsburg, (even though it was on a bus still no cost to me.)
CR England said they pay for it... maybe there but not the way home.
2. i was picked up no waiting at the louisville bus station by one of the instructors "Mike" who was very friendly and a very cool guy.
3. They paid for the hotel, it was a nice place, clean and friendly, wasn't the hilton but a pleasant place.
I had a roomate who just came from CR England and oh my god the nightmare he went thru. his name was Ken.
4. ALL of our meals where paid for... And it was pretty good. Breakfast was at the hotel, lunch at the training Fac. catered in and we were given meal tickets for a few different places in town for dinner... Mcdonolds, kfc, ponderosa just to name a few.
5. You are paid for the 6 day oreintation $350. now you did have to complete the course and get hired on and only one person didn't make it threw.

For the most part the Staff and Instructors were friendly and polite. i say for the most part because there were 1 or 2 of the staff that really didn't pay attention to us.

The training I thought was excellent. The instuctors knew there stuff, and were alway willing to listen to ANY questions we had, and took the time to explain the answes and if one didn't have an answer they would find someone who could. The days were long and sometime boring, but that way things go when dealing with the dot law and the federal govt.

The instuctors even took the time to work with me on the side with my clutch work since my experiance has only been with Automatics. That right there was the sealer of the deal... THEY GAVE A DAMN... After the 6 days were done we were all assigned to a train that we will be with for the next 21 days, Each trainer has at least 1 year with the company and will be finishing our training on the road. Another thing that i like is that i didn't have to ride the bus home, I don't live too far from one of the support centers and I got to take a company van back home... That was great.

now the only thing that I'm not too happy about is the fact that I'm not metting up with my trainer for alittle over a week... BUT the possitive side of that is that I'm still getting paid while sitting # home. I intend on keeping a current update on this message board every week to see how things progress, and may this will help other in the future... Plus feel ffree to leave questions or comments for me as I do have an open mind... and for those who have been screwed in the past... YES I will still be watching my back ALWAYS...

Baack · **^ Top** #2 07.24.2007

Great I love diaries!!
I heard transport America run mostly east?
Last time I was in Ohio and Pennsylvania TA seemed like every 4th truck.

Ronnocomot · **^ Top** #3 07.25.2007

Choose one color ink, lots easier to read if its black.

Good luck.

Buddha · **^ Top** #4 07.25.2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by baack

Great I love diaries!!
I heard transport America run mostly east?
Last time I was in Ohio and Pennsylvania TA seemed like every 4th truck.

Most of there loads are east of kansas city

Baack · **^ Top** #5 07.25.2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buddha

Most of there loads are east of kansas city

Keep the postings coming.

Yes larger letters, black is a good color. More spacing.
Cyberspace is huge take the room needed to spread out spacing.

Again I really enjoyed your writings!!
Post as many diaries as you can!

IrishMike202 · **^ Top** #6 07.27.2007

I was looking at their hiring map. Do they hire us Hillbillys in West Virginia?

Buddha · **^ Top** #7 07.27.2007

never hurts to asks

Buddha · **^ Top** #8 08.01.2007

Alright day 2 with my trainer... And i love it. My trainer is wonderful. I've learned so much in just two days. well it's time to hit the road.... update later.

Buddha · **^ Top** #9 08.02.2007

Day 3 last night we spent the night in a truckstop in Penn. It was clean, and the people there were nice... slept and that the best part. needed the sleep. woke up at 3am and hit the road on the wat to New Jersey. We got to our 1st stop, about 7:30 and of course the customer wasn't there yet, so we had to wait for about an hour. No biggie... took about 20 mins to unload that stop , and then it was off to the next in Jersey city, All I have to say is I'm glad I had my trainer with me... F- jersey traffic. Anyway we hit the next stop and unload the rest of our load, and then we were off. Lunch, and then to another part of jersey, drop the trailer and pick up another, and we were off back to ohio and thats where we are now... Today was an awsome day... Drove most of the way, played on the cb... and learned a lot... so far I'm happy... have a good night everyone.

Eagle1 · **^ Top** #10 09.09.2007

Buddha....Love reading your posts. Keep us updated on your experiences. I, too, have just left a local Pepsi/Bud distributor. It was the worst 6 months of my working career. I am looking to go OTR. I see Transport has an ad in my local paper. I will be sending an email here shortly for more info. Let us know how things are going for you.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread:

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Trucker Forum	Replies	Last Post
Good ?	wc5b	Trucking Accident Reports	5	12.11.2007 10.41 PM
The begining of the end for Hillary.....	j-mac	Politics	3	11.03.2007 08.15 PM
Think Its A Good One	DAN LAPP	Trucking Jobs	23	10.13.2007 08.42 PM
O&S----Good or bad?	keotie	Motor Carrier Questions - The Inside Scoop	2	06.05.2007 05.49 PM
Good Schools-Good Trucking Companies	Texashelly	Experienced Truckers' Advice	30	02.25.2007 08.32 AM

Truckers' Trucking Forum/Message Board - The Premiere Truck Driver Forum
Sponsored Links

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)