Things I do not like about ATS

LEAGLE? is that like beagle? sometimes i feel like a dog. but that's a good thing. cuz i be real good from now on, just don't whip me masser!

just messin, tryin to get a paycheck. whoop whoop, wonder what it will look like when i get one. maybe someone could send me an email with an attachment so i can see what one looks like. that way if i ever get one i wont throw it out on mistake.

i like it here! if i could only get a paycheck i'd be happy. started orientation jan 18th. put 26,000 miles on the truck. not sure how that happened. still no pay though.

OUCH! dang it that hurts getting whipped. i'll be quit. sorry bout that.

 

I feel 4 ya, ATS likes to see just how far HE can push ya, you know like the army first wk they do everything possible to brake you down then bring you back fighting. Well ATS works the same way, but once you conform then the pay shows up, but with 26000 miles you should have recived something, it took me 3mo to hit that mark and I did make a couple of cks LOL. And I've been busted once allready safety doesent like you doing houston to pitsburg in 19 hrs straight, I had to see just what the DT does howelse will you find out the little tricks.

 

The new rule is: You cannot drive more than 850 miles in any 24 hour period without a 10 hour break.

Hopefully, you can see ways to game this.

The key at Anderson now is to make sure you have an honest 10 break.

 

I wonder if MadDad's still around. I met him in Manitowoc in December and he's was pretty miffed.

 

Are all thier trucks using this trans? What rear-end gear ratios are in them? I thought 9 speeds were built for people who can't get a grip on 13 - 18 speeds.

 

Hmm.. Interesting, I'm comming over from the freezer and hoping ill mesh well in the skateboard world.. I'm comming in as a l/o and hoping it'll go well.. I sure hope I can find a good group of fellas to help me along the way as I'm back to being a newb again.. So I'm curious.. What type of trucks will I most likely be able to choose at cloud? Will I have to pay for my tarps, binders. Straps and ect?

 

Yes, that would be company drivers.

 

Sure, I'm always willing to help for a fee!

Your truck choice will be from whatever is on the lot on the week of your orrientation. There, probably, will be more Freightliners than other choices. You might get a Volvo or a Peterbilt. Be prepared to accept whatever is available. Sometimes, you have to go to our yard in Gary, IN to pick up a truck.

Once you select a truck, make sure you go over it with a fine toothed comb. It is in your interest to find everything will go wrong with it and have it fixed immediatly. You will have a 30 days to get anything fixed. That 30 days is pretty much set in stone. It is up to you to get your truck into a terminal to get it taken care of.

You will be required provide your own securement and they will sell you anything you are missing. You don't have to put any money down, they will sign a Prommisory Note and they take it out a few cents for every mile you run.

My advice, don't get the tarps. Don't accept any loads that need to be tarped. Later, you can get tarps from a different source both cheaper and better. Their bungiees are crap too.

If you have any other questions, post them, I or others will post as we get a chance.

 

Well thanks much for the reply, sir! I've actually been thinkin about ats for awhile.. Last company really did it this time, so I'm hopin to make something for myself here, it all seems to easy though, 3 days orientation and only 2 on load securement? I'm assuming at the end of those 2 days a test is presented and ill have to pass in order to work? Also, test truck is a 9 speed? Anything in paticular to watch for or out for? So if I need everything, I just inform em and they'll provide securment items(wouldn't not buying tarps put me in a position to miss out on freight)? Thanks so much for your answers sir.. Ya'll are my only guides for now, so any and all information, ill soak up like water on a wash cloth!!! Thanks! Oh and any paticular truck anyone would suggest(I was hoping for.a large bunk volvo or a. Classic.)

 

I don't know anything about 2 days of load securement. Another poster said something about this also. When I went through orientation we had a half day of securement, including a demonsration of hooking to a RGN out in the parking lot, class time discussing securement with a multipleguess test, then securing loads. We were all experienced flatbedders and I don't think any of use needed training at all.

My guess is yes. I'm sure they will help you on the test if you fail. Get a securement book and study. All you need to know is in the FMCSA.

Yes. If it happens to be a 13 speed, don't sweat it. Just drive it like a 9 speed and do not split the upper range.

In the driving test? It is a simple, arround the block test. A couple of tight turns, so don't let your trailer go over curbs or track off the road. You will have a couple of stop signs, be able to down shift. Just one or two gears. You will cross railroad tracks. Don't stop on them, don't shift on them. You will enter a highway where traffic is faster, be able to merge, if you are slow while entering use your 4-ways until you build up your speed. You will be asked to back arround a 90 degree corner, it on a dirt road in the parking lot at ATS. Don't sweat it, as far as driving test go, it was the easiest I have ever taken.

It works the other way arround. They will give you everything, unless you tell them you don't want it. You will have an opportunity to fill out a sheet. It will have everything marked on it, you mark off what you don't want. You can ask for used equipment, that will save you money. Make sure you check out everything before you leave. If it needs to be replaced, do it there. Yes, not having tarps could hurt revenue. Usually, you will have plenty of loads offers, so it doesn't matter. I have tarped, maybe, five times, certainly, less than 10 times in 16 months. Sometimes I carry tarps, sometimes I don't. I don't like to tarp and rarely accept tarped loads. The reason I say don't get their tarps is that they are crap. Buy them some place else. The Tarp Stop, in Gary, IN is a good source. Same with the bungiees. They have no stretch to them.

We all have our own preferences for a truck. My personal opinion is to get the truck that offers the best fuel mileage. That is your largest expense. A classic vs. an aero truck, the aero truck will get 1 mile per gallon better mileage. That doesn't take into account your driving habits. A mile per gallon works out to be $5 to $10K per year. A Freightliner Century or a Pete 387 are your best bets. Volvos, some Volvos get good mileage and are roomy, but have maintenance problems.