My 16 Week Experience with TRANSAM

Discussion in 'Report A BAD Trucking Company Here' started by Old Guy 56, Feb 19, 2009.

  1. Panhandle flash

    Panhandle flash Road Train Member

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    Only bumping the 70 because of these 2 back to back runs, otherwise have been fine. Should have done a better job of explaining that. Thanks for the concern about my dad. Like I said, don't know if its my DM or the company thats helping me out here but am grateful
     
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  3. telcobilly

    telcobilly Medium Load Member

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    "Working the logbook" is going to put you in jail! All it takes is one retarded four wheeler pulling out on you and causing a fatality. They are going to subpoena your logbooks and QC records. If they can find something that doesn't add up, your co and the lawyers are going to hang you out to dry.
    I just finished an 1100 mi run and was 38 min late. I ran hard and legal and notified my DM well in advance of my concerns that the load was in jeopardy of being late. She seemed pretty casual about my concerns. I did a macro 22 and stated that the delivery time for the miles run was not realistic. Maybe it was my fault for accepting the preplan, we'll see.

    I hear you about the monthly avg and it was hometime that caused that low check. The monthly average is still very poor and I run almost everything that comes my way. The only trips I turn down are the trips that can't be delivered on time. I enjoy this career as it is a good fit for my personality, but I may be starved out before long..


     
  4. billsgirl

    billsgirl Light Load Member

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    Panhandle, Bill's and my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
     
  5. d'kota

    d'kota Bobtail Member

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    What ever happened to can't wait till payday ! Just got pay posted $177.00 for this last week and been sitting alot this week so I don't think next week will be any better.
    I'm really not sure what to do. My bills are piling up at home,about a month behind on everything. I'm afraid if I stay with Transam my wife and I will be homeless.
    I've only been driving as a company driver for 4 months and I know I have to start at the bottom, But all I want is a living wage. It's really hard to stay focused on doing the best that you can when you feel so under paid. If I did my math right and I was working a job where I worked a 40 hour work week that's only 4.42 a hour.We live in a box, expecected to drive on no sleep, under nurished and go days at a time with no shower and we all know there's plenty more we can add.
    I'm so discouraged today. I guess I've got alot of thinking to do.
     
  6. Old Guy 56

    Old Guy 56 Light Load Member

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    Feb 19, 2009
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    In the further interests of fairness, I must report that I received two communications from TransAm this week. The first was a poastcard asking me to come back because "Things just aren't the same without you". The second was a bill from the lease department for $303.43 for charges not covered by the maintenance escrow. This one says to pay it in 20 days or it will be sent out for collection. I guess they are not through with me yet. More joys of the trucking industry.
     
  7. Tran Man

    Tran Man Light Load Member

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    Sorry, to hear that......
     
  8. Panhandle flash

    Panhandle flash Road Train Member

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    You misread my statements. Yes I have been averaging 2500 a week and #### glad of it. Better than the 1500 to 2000 I was getting before.
    The bumping the 70, concerned my last 2 loads that were over 1800 back to back. I was bumping into the 70 as I got around 3200 miles.
     
  9. Panhandle flash

    Panhandle flash Road Train Member

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    Billsgirl, thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers. Hows the moving business working out?

    D'kota, wish I knew what to tell you. It seems like this business is all a crapshoot at the moment. Other companies aren't doing much better either and unless their a small one, don't care about the drivers either. Trucking companies are searching for the "Holy Grail" of trucking where they won't need drivers at all.
     
  10. telcobilly

    telcobilly Medium Load Member

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    d'kota, your situation is a carbon copy of mine! I was thrilled when I got a $179 ck two weeks ago, I made more washing motorcycles. I can't understand an industry that will trust you with a $100k + truck not counting trailer/cargo and can't pay you what you could get on welfare!

    Don't tell me about paying dues! Going to school, testing and getting CDL, riding with trainer for 6 weeks isn't some of the dues?
    The deplorable conditions that most drivers face at shippers, with law enforcement abuses, DAC ripoffs, pay issues ect is beyond belief!

    I have wanted to drive a truck for a long time and had past straight truck experience, so I was very excited to get in this industry as a semi driver. The enjoyment of building skills and seeing this great country we live in has not disappointed at all, it's just the state of this broken industry, one that is vital to this nation.
    It amazes me that it has persisted so long...:biggrin_25510:


     
    MackDaddyMark and allnite Thank this.
  11. BlueHawk

    BlueHawk Bobtail Member

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    In other words, you didn't do your homework; and counted on a salesman to be truthful.

    Not knocking you personally, Oldguy; but this seems to be a recurring theme. Ppl get booted from their former careers, and expect trucking to be similar. They expect the same circumstances with a 9-5 job... steady paycheck, hometime with mama, job security (which we all know is a farce). But they also want the freedom.

    Well... you now know what it's like to be a trucker. Basically, it sucks! The pay sucks. The conditions suck. The co-workers suck. The traffic sucks. Sometimes, the customers suck. But when it DOESN'T suck, it's GREAT! Basically, you're trading all the things that matter... money, home time, life expectancy, etc. for the chance to be independent UNTIL you get out of the "prison of newbyism". When you can write your own ticket... AHHH!!! You've made it. Not necessarily in these times, tho... as everyone who's losing their arses in other jobs think they can come here and "just do it". Well... you learned it's not like that. It takes a special breed (or idiot) to work it. Unfortunately, it cost you time and money, when you could've just done your homework. At least you know you're not a special breed OR an idiot.:biggrin_25520:
     
    Pawnd, Tran Man and losttrucker Thank this.
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