HERE WE GO STARTING with PAM TRAINER

I'm trying to set it up for the 21st, so I'll probably see you there at some point...clue me in on the motel! LOL

 

Will do Terry, for me that seems to be the thing I'm most nervous about, I'm definitely taking a sleeping bag and my own cheap bed linens.

 

The trucks are governed at 66. Some might do 67. I believe their whole fleet is now auto-shift. You won't always be preplanned, unless you're on a dedicated. I was on two different dedicated runs when I was there. One from St. Louis to Philly with Trane and another from Laredo to Toronto for a GM supplier.

 

Decker is smaller and probably has less trainers. But, the couple that I have met don't seem too bad. I don't know any that have become friends, just met in tontitown or in passing on the road. So I really can't say what they are like for sure. Wish I could help ya there.

However, just so you know. If you absolutely can't deal with your trainer, you CAN call the company and get a new one. It might take a week or two to get in with a different trainer. But you DON'T have to put up with bullcrap from a bad trainer. You have the right to request and get a new one.

Well, if doing my work by company standards makes me a "company #####". Then so be it. But this company ##### makes good money being a company #####.

Trucks are governed at 67mph. However, with fuel prices getting over 4.00 a gallon, they are starting to work on an incentive program. Either do what you need to do to keep your fuel mileage above 6mpg or get your truck turned down to 65 (unless there is a mechanical reason it is lower).

Now, PAM is also working on a new way of doing our loads I've noticed in the last couple weeks. I haven't been preplanned on anything in quite a while, but I'm finding that getting new loads is happening faster. Before, if I wasn't preplanned, it would take a few hours to get a load. Now, I have yet to wait more than 30 minutes for a load.

Also, as a side note. Once you receive your load assignment, call the shipper and receiver and ask if you can pick up or drop early. Most will let you. The sooner you load and unload, the sooner your on your next trip getting more miles.

PAM mostly does GM and Chrysler dedicated runs. You have to live in the right area to get on them. They like to see you living within 20 to 50 miles from the route in order to get on one. The second you get on your own truck as a first seat driver, send a message to your DM requesting to be put on the dedicated list. It might take a few months to actually get a dedicated run. For you Decker drivers, I know they have a couple of GM runs and an account with some lawn tractor company pulling their trailers. I'm not sure about the other companies.

Sincerely,
Chip - The company #####

 

So do they have a dorm in Tonitown or do they put you up in a hotel? Do you know if the the Decker drivers get their rides out of Tonitown also?

 

They have dorms in Tontitown. They're not bad. Private rooms, but a community bathroom.

Decker will have you do your orientation at their main terminal which is in New Jersey. I don't remember the name of the town. They recently moved to a different location.

 

The most recent information I have tells me the main terminal was moved to Ohio. I don't think I've seen anything about the NJ terminal since. I know the old web page is active, but if you go PAM website, it seems to have the latest links.

 

That's right. I forgot they moved to the North Jackson, OH terminal.

The point I was trying to get it is that Decker does things differently than PAM does. All the subsidiaries do things different from each other. Yes, they're all owned by PTSI, but they all have different procedures.