TransAm Trucking, Inc. - Olathe, Ks.?

Well, as of today, when I pulled out of the yard, they had well over a 100 mty trks. Probably be the same when you test out and the wait shouldn't be that long. Just DON'T LET THEM TALK YOU INTO LEASING!!!!!

 

No chance of that happening. I got enough to worry about as it is. The last thing I need is to buy somebody a new truck.

 

I feel the same way you do! NO LEASE FOR ME! I start orientation this week at Rockwall but I'm a recent driving school grad so I can only imagine that I will have to wear the rookie beanie for a while. I can only hope that I get a good driver trainer that will take the time to teach me what I will need to know to create a positive relationship with TransAm. My attitude about driving for TransAm is simple, I will do everything I can to make them successful and I will expect the same from them in return. A good positive attitude and outlook goes a long way in building a business relationship with your employer.

 

Welcome and congrats on your new career. Let me know how your training goes and I will try to keep you posted on mine as well. Good luck.

 

Thank you tosh and welcome/congrats to you as well! Yes, I will post as much info as can on the training, both classroom and truck (w/driver trainer). I just came out of a 20 week driver training program where I was driving an 04 Freightshaker Columbia with a CAT engine/split 10 Eaton-Fuller, 6 hours a day, 4 days a week for 16 weeks. Six if those weeks were spent driving in heavy downtown city traffic. I came away form DDA Shreveport with a much better sense and understanding of my capabilities as well as my responsibilities as a Professional Driver. I'm not saying that a 4 week school does not prepare you adequately for the job! I'm just saying that I'm very happy that I took the 20 week course which gave me more time to really hone my driving skills as well as the understanding for doing it safely. Good luck to you as well and I hope to meet soon!

 

That sounds like an excellent training program. The only thing available here was a 4 week program, which I agree, doesn't seem like enough. I have a couple years experience with a gravel truck so the transition to tractor/trailer wasn't so bad, but if all I had was 3 weeks experience driving a truck, there's no way I'd feel comfortable doing something like this. Now if I could only make my wife not freak out when I leave next week I'd be doin alright. haha. It's pouring the snow here and our DMV tests are scheduled for tomorrow and Tuesday. Hope I get it done this week otherwise I'll be changing that bus ticket again.

 

have been told trans am will try to force u into a lease,true or false??

 

If you have experience, the answer has been yes. With all the mty trks they have tho..... who knows.
For newbies, what they do is wave the lease in their face and lie to them about how much money they can make as an L/O.

 

Tosh, I know what you mean when it comes to saying good bye to the wife for a month at a time. All I can tell you is what worked for me and my wife when I was working in the United Kingdom (London, England) for 8 weeks and then home for 2 weeks. Together we agreed to a designated time that I would call her everyday and just listen very carefully to everything she said so she could vent her anxiety/frustrations to someone. This really helped my wife get through the 8 week separation period. Then I would reminder her of how good it will be for the two of us when I return home. Then we would plan something like a evening out at a nice restaurant or maybe a evening at the Comedy Club to see one of our favorite comedians. You could even check to see if there were any concert dates for one of your favorite performers that will be available during your home time. But always make sure that your designated home time request is submitted extra early, completely approved and is written in STONE before you go and buy a pair of expensive concert tickets.
All I know is that instead of looking at the 4 to 8 weeks away as a separation period, try using it as a planning period to make the most of your home time. I'm not saying that this will work for everyone but it sure made things easier for my wife and I during those 8 weeks road trips.
Next subject: SNOW during your CDL Skills Test? You're a braver driver than I am when it comes to snow and ice! I can do snow but ICE is out of the question. I hope it clears up enough to get your skills test completed. That would really suck if you have to wait another week to get your CDL and postpone your orientation day with TransAm.
Next Subject: 4 week course or 20 week course. You brought up the exact point I was trying to make. Because of your 2 years experience driving a rock truck, a 4 week course was all that you needed. You had already mastered a majority of the skills and knowledge necessary to drive a Class 8 vehicle, so it was a perfect fit for you. That's why I did the 20 week course because the only experience I had was driving a 24000 lb GVW Mercedes box truck which has zero similar characteristics to a tractor trailer combination.
I'll check the board tomorrow evening after I get checked into the Best Western in Rockwall. I've got to get my Louisiana CDL transferred to a Texas CDL as soon as I get there in the morning. I'm driving my personal vehicle to orientation so I'll be able to get around on my own. I lived in Dallas for 28 years so I know my way around pretty well. I was told by my recruiter Cristi, that there would be about 10 to 12 people in my orientation class but you never can predict exactly how many will actually show up. I guess I'll figure that one out Tuesday morning at 6:30 AM.

 

Panhandle, can you drop me names or initials of at least 2 really good DM's at TransAm? I want to make sure I get a good DM after I turn down all the L/O promises. I guess I won't make many friends with the corporate culture there when I refuse to go for the L/O deal and get sent to the back of the line only to wait it out and be delt the worst DM on their staff.