TransAm Trucking, Inc. - Olathe, Ks.?

to me the facts are no one should lease straight out of school
learn the buisness of driving before you have to learn the buisness of leasing
people lease right away tie themselves into it for a period of time
then find out the reality is driving or OTR isn't for them
not everyone with a CDL is a truck driver

 

I think coming streight out of school with no other skills and a possible school loan now on your back for deciding to go, well 600 a week in your pocket is not that bad if your a young person just starting out. Keep you home expenses low, pocket your 600 a week, get your experience, keep a positive outlook on your goal, don't get cought up in the drama of good company vs. bad, after a year you will have a few bucks saved and enough exp to see some good option ahead of you. Now if your older with kids at home, a morgage, car loan, ect then a 1 yr Commitment away from home struggeling to make ends meet is not a smart option at all and trying to do a lease out of school has a 100 to 1 shot of working, it has many pit falls and to get past the pit falls experience is absolute! Also I think honeybadger is right, if your making your lease work for the most part and you are prepared with some savings for those bad weeks that will come along well then keep on working it! Once that truck is paid out then you have a few more options on going where the money is and once that truck is paid for the money just might be where you already are! Now I know the haters will say when your close to lease completion the loads will slow down. Perhaps but I don't think the bigger companies are still playing that game and even so now is the time to decide how to deal with that. Put the money away now while loads are good, minimize home bills, if loads are slow yell! then yell louder!!!, pay those taxes, forge good partnerships with management, be known as a good runner, and keep a lawyer on retainer that knows your lease situation. And yes you can walk away with a truck, I did at the old TRL. I then ran that truck til it died happy. now Im ready to do it again one more time! It can happen with an honest company.

 

My Satellite goes out at least twice a day. It freezes up so then you cant control it. The other day I finished my day, and went to go to my log to do a post-trip, and it froze up showing me as still driving. So I went over on my 70. SO then me and safety gets into it about the H.O.S violation, and I tryed to explain what happened, but they didnt believe me untill they went back and looked and seen that I was in fact parked. So now when my satellite freezes up or whatever else it decides to do I just shut it off, and wait for 10 minutes, and then turn it back on. Sometimes it will automatically shut off and reset itself, and that aint good if you are needing to see the GPS or look at your logs. I guess it is what it is.

 

that appears to happen to a lot of them
mine only once or twice a week but it happens

 

Oh mine will freeze up while Im driving and gps stops working. It also randomly reboots itself while Im trying to log at least twice a week. And this is now the second time the sound stops working completely. Im ready to rip the thing out of the dash. I think I might be routed to Olathe after I deliver in Council Bluffs tomorrow. A nice easy run, I picked up at AB. Typical AB load, its heavy as can be. Im just under 80k gross with 3/4 tank fuel. Yet my truck is actually getting BETTER fuel economy, despite the weight and western winds (and not all of it was tail wind!)

 

nebraska is all downhill heading east

 

There is no deduction.

I am driving company my miles have been 2700 to 3100.

I keep in touch with the drivers I went through training with 2 of is went company the rest lease. 5 of the leasers are gone already out of 11 most have struggled with equipment issues costing them down time and putting them in the hole for a week or 2. So when it all evens out I think I am ahead money wise as a whole with the exception of one I think.

 

Does anyone know whats up with the insurance rates?

 

We are apparently having too many spectacularly Swift-like stunts with our drivers is all I can figure. Cant say Im too thrilled about the rate hike, but oh well. What can you do about it except keep driving and dont be part of the numbers that are the reason that caused the hike in rates.

 

I am new to leasing a truck from a company. I heard good stories and horror stories about it. I have driven over the road for almost a year and very much liked it. I got laid off from my last job and been looking for work for the past month and a half. Ive applied to a crap ton of companies and transam is the only one that will give me a shot. I talked to Talisa in Kansas city and she said they dont hire company drivers with experience, you would have to lease. They have really nice lookin comfortable trucks, and they are all automatic she said. I guess im a little nervous about leasing a truck, and havin that extra responsibility instead of just driving and getting a paycheck. I heard they will run you if you want it, the miles are there. I heard the waits can be hellish and cut into your down time and i heard its hard to get home if you live in Fl. I am a single guy so am not really pressed for hometime. She said if you fill up on fuel right, lable yourself as a runner and not turn down loads and factor everything out right as far as fuel and mpg you will be ok and make money. I was wondering if the maintenance on the trucks are ok? do they break down alot or have problems? Do they give you enough time in between loads or is it cut throat? Do the APU's Break or work good for the most part? Are the trucks comfortable enough to basically live in for a while?I would sign up for a 6 month lease the first time. Does the satellite work pretty good or does it break alot? Does there warranty cover that stuff or if that stuff breaks does the money come out of your pocket? If you have any kind of issue, is their customer service people there to assist you? Are thier dispatchers ok for the most part or are the douchebags? I also heard froma lady named Jenny out of kansas that they give you the 1st week free to let you learn the ropes. If you could respond, I would be much appreciative. Thankyou alot in advance.