TransAm Trucking, Inc. - Olathe, Ks.?

@Passport 220 Who do you work for?

 

^Had been a company driver for TransAm for about 6 months. Taking extended time off for overseas travel right now, plan on returning to TransAm as a lease driver in the Fall. I would prefer to go back as a company driver but not an option. I need or would like to finish one year of experience with one trucking company, that is why I am going back to TransAm for a 6 month lease.

The chance to take extended time off is the very reason I got into trucking, I like TransAm trucks as they are all set up with the stuff that I like (inverter, fridge, etc.), no need to worry about it as I jump truck to truck. It was a big reason why I went with TransAm.

 

Been at that Coke yard too. As a trainee, no less! Quite the experience blindsiding into a tight-as-he## slot! Thankfully I had a great coach who made me do it, but helped me do it too.

 

HTQ, sorry to learn you and hubby are leaving TransAm. Just getting back to the forum after a couple of steep-learning-curve weeks on my own OTR. Thanks for all your GREAT participation here.

HTQ wrote about this a little while back, my experience over the last couple of da ys might be. helpful to you guys/gals. Rolling up I-81 yesterday morning, I heard a "pop" under the cab, then the hiss of an air leak. Quick glance at the air pressure guages confirms I gotta get pulled over fast before brakes are gone. Turns out I had broken exhaust pipe under there that most likely caused the
air line to fail. Sound familiar, HTQ??

So now I'm sitting in a motel in Roanoke VA waiting for my 660 to get repaired.

 

So you would say it's best to get on there lease program, instead of being a company driver?

 

If youre a new driver, company is the way to go til you learn the ropes. The potential to make money leasing is there, but difficult. Company guys are guaranteed a consistent paycheck if theyre rolling. We have to clear truck payments and other overhead costs before we get a paycheck. Doesnt always happen.

 

Okay.... Here goes a VENT.... What exactly is PRACTICAL MILEAGE? They are sending my hubby from Ennis,TX to Plainview, TX via small backwoods roads through small little town squares... to save 40 miles..... how does STOP GO STOP GO STOP GO, benefit on saving gas and time. It is a $12 savings for company paid driver and 5-6 gallons of fuel savings....

His GPS and his Drive Availability hours are not synching. His DM said to keep him in the loop...

He started his trip at 6:30 am. His Load PU was at 9, He sat 2 hours waiting for road assist for a trailer tire. Left his PU location at 2... He said he was OFF DUTY, that whole time, but is now gonna run out of drive time before he gets to his drop off, total trip is 9 hours, I thought maybe it is because he has to have the REAGAN, but he said that was used in his down time at PU location...
He is saying it is because of his 14 hours... clock time says 4 hrs 1 minute left, and google says 4 hrs 6min

Anyone have any thoughts????

 

there are different time challenges to deal with every day
and we are on our own to learn them
you can drive 11 hours every day
but from the moment you start your day with a pretrip
your day has to end 14 hours later no matter how much of that was on duty or driving
then you need 10 hour break before you can drive again
then you can only be on duty or driving 70 hours in 8 days
daunting isn't it
getting a good paycheck requires mastering the skills of managing your hours

routing really doesn't work bad just takes getting used to

there is a lot to learn and can't be done overnite
he will mess up his hours and learn from it 6 months later he will lol at the foolishness the first 2 months entailed

 

bwaync, I was wondering how you were doing! Glad to hear that you are alright and that the exhaust problem was found and is being repaired! That is another good point to make ....if you are a company driver and something happens to your truck, TransAm will pay for you to stay in a hotel.
I have found that in this business you are always on a learning curve, I guess that is a good thing ....Especially when we can help ease the way for someone else. Keep in touch, bwaync. I have gotten used to being a part of this group ....I think you all are the best! When you have a group of folks that will answer your questions, share solutions, let you vent when you need to....it makes all of the rest a little easier to deal with.

 

I'd definitely second that honeybadger. My plan is to get a year under my belt THEN look into leasing.

The emphasis I wanted to make was on the broken exhaust pipe. HTQ's hubby had the same thing on his 660 not long ago, if I remember correctly. Might be a pattern there. Something to keep in mind when you other 660 drivers go in the shop for PMs or other repairs. ..ask them to check the entire exhaust system. Might prevent another breakdown later, not to mention the dangers of an exhaust leak in close proximity to the cab!