TransAm Trucking, Inc. - Olathe, Ks.?

Well I got back to the yard to test out on Thursday and there were 9 people graduating Thursday and Friday. Of them 6 were going company. All 6 had trucks waiting for them and based on their reactions, I didn't see the trucks, they were all pleased with the truck they were given as well. One guy complained of getting a purple truck, but no one griped about getting an old heap. Apparently there will be 12 people in class to test out next week, the good thing is I'll be testing out on Wednesday so I'll be able to get a truck ahead of everyone else in my class so I might get a choice. But as it stands, in Olathe at least, there is zero wait on company trucks. As expected they are leaning pretty heavily on us to lease. A buddy of mine I met at Roadmasters got a 4 year lease and picked up a brand new 2011. He went in determined to go company, so clearly they know how to pitch a sale. Maybe I will go lease down the road, but until I better understand the industry and see what CSA 2010 is going to do, I'll be satisfied as a company driver... I hope....

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Well I'm sure glad to hear that about the waiting for company trks. Somebody posted a thread about her father being kidnapped at Rockwall and had been waiting 3 weeks. Others have posted the same thing.
So, how was your trainer? Did you learn all you needed to about the policies, using the QC, and how to write comchecks? Plenty of practice backing?

 

My trainer wasn't too bad, we got along fine, though he didn't teach me enough stuff IMO. Learned most policies, pretty good idea on how to use the QC, and have about zero idea about how to write a comcheck. And I think we backed up like 3 times in the 4ish weeks we were out, mostly did drop and hooks in yards where we could find a pull through. Didn't teach me anything about how to read a map, we used his GPS and were done with it. He gave me a 5 minute crash course as he dropped me off so I could take stabs at my map routing tests. I'm not too happy about that since I have zero map experience, but I'm trying to teach myself quick. So far I've done the general test, all I have is the log and backup tests. Mike (the teacher) seems like a nice guy so far, haven't met Ernie yet cus he's on vacation till Monday.
Yea I'm real excited about there being no wait time on the trucks, from what I had heard on here and other TransAm people on the road I was going to just be sent back to the hotel and made to sweat till I gave in and leased or gave up. As it stands the stories were either blown out of proportion, or I just happened to start when a lot of people were quitting so I lucked out.
Either way, I'll update when I pass my stuff and let you all know how long it takes me to get a truck and get out on the road. If anyone has questions please feel free to ask me and I'll do my best.

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Did my 1st comcheck, right out of the policy manual. Do hope you have your card turned on!!!! Should have started to get a feel for the map with some of those lessons you had to do while on the road. BE CAREFUL IF YOU USE A GPS!!!! Yes, mine has got me out of trouble, but would have put me in alot more if I hadn't used the map.
TA is pretty good about the rteing instructions but you have to watch out for 2 things. 1) if you have a connector to another road AND it isn't at least 5 miles long, they won't list it. Got bit by that one TWICE!!!! 2) and this is especially in TX, for some reason, alot of the instructions is wrong. Policy says to turn it in and have....several times. They really don't care if its wrong, no matter what they say.
Backing is all about getting set up, correctly, before you even start the back. GOAL, GOAL, AND GOAL SOME MORE!!!! You'll get ribbed and razzed, but I guarantee you, you'll also get the grudging admiration for ignoring the super truckers and making sure you don't hit anybody.
I'll PM you my # if you wish and am willing to help out if I can.

 

Well did my road test, 97% and my general knowledge test 98%. Turned in my Log Test today and I'm pretty confident in it. Teachers are going nuts that I'm not going to lease. Tomorrow is my day of "classes" then Wednesday is backing range practice/test. Should be graduating on Wednesday or Thursday, get my truck and be on the road either Thursday or Friday. Oh, found out that apparently every TransAm truck is going to get a Garmin GPS installed in them. That might be nifty. Well lets see what the next two days bring me...

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Hey Panhandle flash hope hometime was relaxing. Just got my info packet in the mail. You get $20 per pickup/stop do you have alot of them? Have you done any loading or unloading? Thanks ahead of time.

 

Hey Panhandle Flash, yea I'll take your # if your willing, I'll take any help I can get. And hey, what do you think about their lease program? They are shoving it on us pretty hard and of course it sounds good.

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MD Steelers fan, does the MD stand for mad dog? lol You'll have your fair share of multiple drops tho pick ups are rare. Most drops will only be 2 or 3 but have had 7 once, 4 of them around Boston. Yuck!! Have had only 1 double pickup tho and that was melons in Fl.

-+, hope you don't mind me shortening it a little. Anybody and I mena ANYBODY who does a lease as a new driver is just asking to fail and no company, TA included, cares about that. You have so many things as a new driver that you need to learn 1st. IMHO, you should have at least 3 yrs experience and preferably 5 before you should even THINK about leasing. Then save your money up and buy a trk instead.
You need to learn the lanes you'll travel, what loads you can accept that won't leave you sitting in a dry area, map reading, policies, how to trouble shoot trk and tlr's, and oh so many other things that I won't bother to list. Not only do you need to learn these things BUT how to do them easily and efficiently. Time is money when your running your own business.
I have almost 2 years out here now and am still learning and hope to learn till the day I retire. Here's an example. TA has a pretty good maintence program for their trks and tlrs but problems do occur. I picked up a tlr last night that had an air leak but dang if I could find it. Should I fix it now or run with it? I ran with it till I got to stopping point for the day. Ran further than I had planned but needed to stop where I could get it fixed. Had the leak found to a general area but just couldn't find it. Turns out it was in a fitting on top of one of the air bags and the bag has to be replaced. Would have never found it on my own.
Will send you a PM with my #. Am sure this msg is kind of disjointed but crap, I'm tired!!!

 

Yea I'm doing company first. They talked everyone into a lease, I'm the only person in my class of 12 who is company. It's driving a certian backing trainer here nuts, you see what I'm sayin? Hehe. He is trying to tell me that as a company driver I'll be making $300 a week if even. That better be part of his lease sale and not really what I'll make or I'll work at McDonalds for the same amount and just stay home. Anyway, I should have my truck some time in the next day or two so I'll find out in a hurry one way or another.

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Well I definetly make more than $300 a week. Wonder if their getting a bonus for talking people into going lease?