I merely expected what I was told to expect. I was told that trucking companies needed new drivers and would keep me busy since they were hurting so bad for people qualified to drive. I was told to expect to be paid around $30,000 to $35,000 for the first year. I was told that all I had to do was follow the rules and work hard and I would eventually make a good living. This is what I expected.
What I found was that trucking companies run recruiting as a cattle call. They do not care if you are qualified, only that you are not dis-qualifiable for some past transgression. I found that I was expected to break rules as needed and sign federal documents saying that I hadn't. I found that TransAm would take money from me and I had to prove to them that they should not have taken it to get the money back. I found that TransAm did not care if they sent me to the middle of nowhere and left me there for 4 days without layover pay(according to their rules). I found that their promide of a minimum of 2700 to 3100 miles per week was a lie.
In short, I found out that I could handle the work with no problem. What I could not handle was the fight with my employer to get paid for what I did. I could not handle fighting with my dispatcher to get work (miles) and having no recourse to change my lot. I could not handle negative settlements (through no fault of my own, just not dispatched on enough miles). I could not handle the low, low pay I got each week when I got paid. I got out of the truck and came home because I could restart my unemployment and make more money at home doing nothing than working 70+ hours a week driving a truck. I decided that I could not afford to get in that year to get to a "gravy" job. I worked harder trying to make it driving a truck than I had to in running my own business (which, by the way, did not fail; the whole industry disappeared overnight). The return, I decided was just not worth it (to me) if I had to lose my family and live and work in a moving box. If that is what you call "badmouthing" I have another name for it. I call it the truth.
My 16 Week Experience with TRANSAM
Discussion in 'Report A BAD Trucking Company Here' started by Old Guy 56, Feb 19, 2009.
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says you got less then a year driving? what you expect truckin is a good life but you have to LEARN it and LEARN how to make money.
They will play the noob but everything does that you start as a green horn you will get the horn for a bit
When I was young and started framing houses you think i got to nail first.
Na I had to tote all that lumber you think driving is bad go try that.
Most new guys come into trucking thinking all the wrong things because what schools and recruiters tell them THAT is the problem with new guys.
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"It would probably help us new drivers if some of you experienced drivers would offer some real information " AND THE ANSWER IS...........There isnt any!!!!!!
I work mostly local, home everynight, drive around 200/300 a day, bring home 400/500 a week, normally 10/11 hours a day, or night, Iam a night driver. Hauling HazMat aroubd the central Fl area, and every 13 days a run into Ga/Sc. Pays the bills, that I really dont have, Playing the stock market makes me the money. Trucking is what I do for fun
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I'm not a "lifer" just a noob wondering if I can ride out that magical year to riches and fame.
My intention is to go local or at least dedicated. I have seen a lot of this country in my former life, field service, but more from the air, not the road like now. I do enjoy the sights and want to see more, but long term, I would rather be closer to home.
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Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
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