PAM Driver - Ask me anything.

DJ, what is the down time between school and actually training? Is it better to have your permit when you go to school?

 

I'm not sure what it is now, but it used to be about a week to a month. Depended a lot on how many trainers were available. Now PAM does a week long orientation before you even go out with a trainer, so that delays it as well.

It doesn't matter if you have your permit, you'll probably have to get one at school anyway if the permit is for a different state, I'm guessing. Might want to call the school for that info. I wouldn't spend money without knowing. I don't it'd benefit you to have your permit before going anyway.

 

When PAM drivers do through orientation, they are asked for their smoking preference. If you are a non smoker they'll tell you that it may delay you getting on a trainers truck, but that if you select either then it may speed up the process. I told them non-smoking only and I was contacted by my trainer Thursday evening of my orientation week.

 

Has anyone been to C1 in Springfield, Mo? Just curious as to the CDL fees being double of what the State says.

 

What are these other companies that you are referring to?

 

I am thinking about attending training that Driver Solutions gives in Ft. Wayne, IN do you know anything about this facility? How is their training overall? Did you have a good experience when you went through and did they do a good job in preparing you for you CDL exam? Also, do you know anything about Swift or how their pay compares to PAM for the first year? Thanks for your help.

 

I've been on my trainers truck 4 days now. He's not a bad guy but it's obvious he's working me as hard as he can for more $$$. When he found out I had driven before, the first day I drove almost 10 hours, starting at 12:30, even tho I'd been up since a quarter till 6. Very long day. The next day I drove 10.75 hours from Laredo to Texarkana. Last night I went into Sleeper Berth on my hours of service, but dropped and hooked trailers in this lovely weather we had in the mid-west, for shuttle runs (that he gets paid for) for another couple of hours.

So basically I'm working like a Hebrew slave for next to nothing while my trainer will be getting close to 5.5K miles this week probably. Thank GAWD it's only 2 weeks.


Also I've been a little bummed to find that P.A.M. is very light on driver amenities. I may be wrong but I think the Tontitown yard (which drivers will never go to since it's not in a freight lane) is the only terminal with a bunk-house and showers. Oh and speaking of showers, this is my third day in a row without one, grrrrrrr. My trainers tells me we'll shower today for sure. I had planned to shower anyway no matter if he was OK with him or not. When I trained with a USA truck trainer we showered 5 out of 7 nights and being me, I resent every hour past the 24th hour I haven't gotten a shower and shave LOL.

 

I attended C-1 in Fort Wayne, it was not bad, I got my CDL and met new associates and friends. It was cold (because I went in January). The facility is not all that, but it's a training school for people who are on their last rope or who just want to try a new career. C-1 did an awesome job getting me prepared for the CDL exam, but it's all just about how you study. I researched swift before joing with PAM and I think the pay there was at $0.25 per mile. I like Swift because you get to go all over the continous 48 solo if I am not mistaken. Correct me if I am wrong.

 

Oh I remember my days of training in a PAM truck, God blessed me with two wonderful trainers. One taught me all about paperwork, and safe handling of the vehicle and some backing techniques and the other was a finishing trainer. This new training program I do not like and I feel that it is short changing you new guys that are coming on board in my opinion. I went out for 4 weeks (it was 3 weeks, but I opted for 4). Yea PAM terminals don't have the best driver amenities and I am upset that the new Laredo terminal has no physical drivers lounge. And you don't need the trainers permission to shower, if he gets a bug up his butt about you wanting to shower then call him in. If I am solo I go two days maybe three without a shower, as a team the same amount of time and I have went as long as five (5) days with out a shower and this was because me and my co-driver were running. Our DM ran us. Good luck and many blessings out there on your new adventure and hopefully I'll see you around at one of the terminals.