Trans Am Trucking, Inc. - Olathe, Ks.

Sounds like false advertising.

 

Werewolf,

this is September 2007 and everything you cited in 2006 is the same if not worse. For instance, they have a six month lease that they offer to drivers. I don't know if they are saying to the driver "as a company driver you can test the waters in leasing," or are they getting new drivers from schools that don't know any better, but after the six months is up the truck can be purchased for whatever the cost of the truck is and this is the kicker!!! The six months lease driver has to pay for all of the fuel and repairs and everthing a 4-year lease driver would. The choice they have after the 6 months if up is 1) purchase the truck they have been driving 2) they could become company drivers or begin a full 4-yr lease 3) they could leave. The company benefits either way because they get the truck payed off in 6 months and if the driver cannot outright buy the truck the company gets a driver who now has to start over with an 4-yr lease and a payed off truck to sell to another driver. I am presently driving for TransAm as a lease driver but I know the ropes having been on the road for a number of years. It is a shame for newbies who are so anxious to drive and have stars in their eyes about owning a truck to be blinded by the words spoken during orientation. They have to have their contract read, whether they are doing a 6mos, 2yr, or 4yr lease and signed by the end of orientation. Unless one has a lawyer strapped to their side, they are on their own. One has to be patient when going into trucking. When one has a family, a driver has to make sure that their family will be taken care of for one year ( have some money saved up) try to get their credit straightened out. Do some research! This leasing to drivers is the latest thing the trucking industry is using to make money off of the drivers!!

 

Trans-X
Your average check was only $300. a week?

 

i would like to know more about trans am as i was planning on applying there on monday. i am currently in truck driving school.

 

I was given a pre-hire letter by Trans Am, and they have been calling every week since I started school.... they seem to be anxious to get new drivers into their program, which in this climate of freight slowdowns doesn't seem to be a good sign.

 

LOOK DEEP B4 YOU LEAP!
This company sells its self well! Don't go into a lease! U will go broke! I hear guys saying that they have gone 6 weeks with no check. Just enough miles to pay for truck! This company is O.K. to get experience and that's about it! You will be told that lease operators have priority on loads and get the home time they want. I have talked to too many lease guys who are turning in their trucks.

 

well, this is all good information, thank you. however, i am not sure it helps me. 50% fo everything i read is that trans am, (and most companies for that matter) are good, the other 50% say they are bad. so, i dont know which 50% to take to heart. i have the worst luck in the world, so i am looking for as much factual information that i can before i decide to pick a company fresh out of truck driving school in january. i cant afford to go out and pick a company and then not get paid or have to wait a long time for pay or etc. i need a company with a good name and that pays their drivers what they say and when they say they are going to. so, thanks again for the input. can someone help me get some more information please? thanks

 

i am confused about the lease/owner option. if you do the math it works out good. that is if you get the miles. i talked to a couple who drives for trans am and is on their 2nd lease/owner opt truck and it has worked out well for them. they hired a driver to drive the other truck, one truck is paid off and the other one will be in 6 months. then they are buying a third truck. they pay the driver 100% of the load minus some small expenses that the driver is aware of and agreed to. once the truck gets paid off they will give the driver a raise and buy another truck with the rest. what do you folks think of this? are they on the up and up or is this make believe? i actually seen the truck they paid off which they driver regularly. it is a real nice kenworth all decked out, has their name on the side (and says leased to trans am also). let me know what you think.