TransAm: It isn't THAT bad

KillerBug · Sep 9, 2012

CastingMyFateToTheWind said: ↑

A two-week notice seems to be quite reasonable IF they don't hit you with fees for wear and tear and IF they don't find a way to chisel away at your final settlement check. Trans Am not having a school would make me less worried about them for the CRE and Swift flunk out come out owing thousands. I started the truck in gear at school a few weeks ago--I know DUH---not something that I would really wish to admit. I do have a point coming--this doozie of mine would have gotten me flushed down the urinal at Swift or CR England or Stevens. It is BECAUSE I went to a school on my own dime, the I am still on the path to CDLdomm.

The tax breaks is what I figured was a major piece of why to O/O or L/P instead of C/D. It dang sure better be more the just an ego boost if I ever decide to O/O. The $400/week additional over the $600 of the company driver is at 67% uptick and IS more than my 50%-more-requirement than I would demand over being C/D. I don't want the worry of breakdowns and fuel prices and trip planning and etcetera for just 1-49% more money---gotta hit dat 50%. Sixty-seven percent more money weekly does seem to be a no-brainer regarding O/Oing.

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For starters, they do charge for wear and tear on most everything, pro-rated...but with the maintenance accounts the way they are setup, it shouldn't be too bad...I guess I'll see in a week. I know you would never start a truck in gear at TransAm...not possible because the equipment is reasonably new (plus is automatic). TransAm lease driving is not what you seem to think of as being an O/O...breakdowns are a minor concern with a reasonably new truck that has a great warranty...there is the downtime and loss of revenue...but even that is not too terrible since they reimburse for any downtime over 24 hours (they pay your payment...you still don't make anything). Trip planning is something you should be doing anyway, even as a company driver...but if you are just lazy, TransAm sends you the roads they think you should use and the places that they calculate you should fuel, as well as how much fuel they think you should need. About the only planning you really have to do (and again, I recommend doing more even as a company driver) is to plan where you are going to stop so you don't go over your 11 or 14 or 70.

yukamaster · Sep 10, 2012

I'm working for transam for a month now as a lease purchase 1 check 50.00 second check 260.00 this is 3 week brakedown 1 time t700 2012 problem with air suspension valve -100.00 truck payment with all 900 week emergency load swaps making me do 300 mile a day loading time 18 to 44 hours in some places in total i can't even afford food.....looking other job...

CastingMyFateToTheWind · Sep 11, 2012

KillerBug said: ↑

To answer your first question, if $400 a week means nothing to you, please start sending me checks. To answer your second question, it is because they are the best of a bad lot...few companies hire drivers with under 6 months, even fewer companies hire drivers with under a year who live in Florida. To answer your third question, it is because I have been to Philly...if you have to ask why I wouldn't want to go back you obviously haven't been. TransAm pays the same whereever I go...so why would I want to spend more per gallon, burn more gallons per mile, get fewer miles per hour, and then have to make a delivery in a city that isn't designed for trucks, to a place where I have to wait 5 hours for the only dock door that is practically impossible to back into???
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Exactly! You are thinking like a businessman! If one's compensation is fixed, then the only viable pay raise is to do less and/or easier work.

I took this attitude in my thread and I was accused by 'experienced' drivers that I was too picky, wanting to call the shots, believing the world was my oyster, etcettea. Thanks for tipping me off to Philly--I knew to stay away from NYC and LA and mountain ranges, but I missed the Philly one.

KillerBug said: ↑

Now, I am actually on my last load for TransAm...picking up in a few hours and going to the terminal to turn in the truck. From there I'm driving up to Iowa to get my new truck, and then to Green Bay to sign on with Schneider...after applying with over 200 companies, that is the best option I have available to me...with one other exception, all the other options I have actually pay less, and that one other option only pays marginally more than TransAm, hardly worth the downtime involved in switching companies. If I lived in Jefferson, GA it would be a different story...but I don't. I live in south Florida, and telling a trucking company that you have under a year experience and you live in south Florida is like telling a potential girlfriend that you have been convicted of rape and you have AIDS.
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Didja get one year's experience at TransAm? What is Schneider offering to allure you away from TA? I am considering signing on with Schneider on the Chicago Regional. I am also considering LTLs Old Dominion and Conway though the latter I still have to verify that they hire recenct graduates.

WEEZZY · Sep 15, 2012

Thanks for your info.....i think this company is exactly what i need. Im going to school right now and should be out in about 3 weeks or so..........I think this company is pefect for starting out and is exactly what i want to do!!

yukamaster · Sep 15, 2012

Don't lease I got last check of 4 dollars....

WEEZZY · Sep 15, 2012

i have nothin here and wanna be on the road......my kids are grown.....no wife....nothin! i dont have any other bills. all i want is to drive and learn!

yukamaster · Sep 15, 2012

Go for it!! It's a grate job my wife and I we ride all USA but best advice isdon't lease do company driver and get hazmat endorcement its a fun job if you get the rigth company!!

kf4omc · Sep 15, 2012

Have any of you even called your Driver Managers? If your waiting at a shipper more than 4 hours I would be on the phone with my DM tell him he needs to call the shipper and light a fire under their ### or get me another load!! That is what you DM is there for..

MUSTANGGT · Sep 15, 2012

stuey said: ↑

Why not go to another company and start there and increase your income by being productive, by being available, by being rewarded for longevity & by being flexible?
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And have affordable health insurance, workers comp, disability insurance, opportunity for advancement, a retirement acount, paid vacations...

drvrtech77 · Sep 16, 2012

kf4omc said: ↑

Have any of you even called your Driver Managers? If your waiting at a shipper more than 4 hours I would be on the phone with my DM tell him he needs to call the shipper and light a fire under their ### or get me another load!! That is what you DM is there for..
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Unfortuantely...there are a lot of dm's that could care less how much your sitting!!...it's a shame their aren't more dm's that are more supportive but that's the nature of the beast...

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