TransAm Trucking, Inc. - Olathe, Ks.?

I think everyone has got to the heart of the problem here. The way I am understanding this is that the entrance is marked but is not obvious enough ....especially if you are a stressed new driver on one of his first loads, which is the majority of TransAm drivers.
So to follow through with everyone's suggestions -
1. Next time you are there, or if you have been there several times and remember it, make note of any landmarks and inform your DM so that they can provide the info to the next driver.
2. Please put it on here so that we can also put it on the blog.

Who knows, maybe we can save a few new drivers some heartache and frustration.

 

Whatever happened to form 20? That was the driver directions, given by drivers.

 

How can you not see where u turn in,Tyson has 2 big lots for trks,the north and south lot.Seems this type of thing happens with transam drivers more then any other company.Ive seen a few of them go right past the lot disreguarding the no trk sign and right into Dakota City.Heck ive seen trks ahead of transam and they turn into Tyson but transam keeps going.Seems this happens far too often and dispatch should give drivers special directions with customers like this no matter what.When in doubt about where to turn just follow the other trks and if not the right place at least you can turn around and the guard will tell you where you need to be.

 

Jaso36 some of them (trainers) worry more about the mileages it is very sad to see a new driver to get in any types of problems. I have a question to anyone who want to answer please do, maybe it me when I was with Trans Am I feel like most Trans Am drivers don't want to speak or help another Trans Am Driver, why is that? Am I the only one who feel this way? please do comment .

 

GPS will take you to the correct Tyson facility entrance, to the shipping office where we make our pick-ups. However, once at the shipping office, drivers are often directed to drop their empty in another lot. The south lot. One problem with the south lot entrance is it is also an entrance for employee's cars. It just looks wrong to turn into a place that it meant for all those cars.

However, not a matter of directions, driver is the captain of his ship and it is nobody's fault but his own. No matter what, we are sometimes going to turn or move in the wrong direction. Big trucks in small spaces is part of our industry. This driver was just not trained or experienced to understand the capabilities of his truck. Likely not experienced enough to understand his own capabilities as a driver.

TransAm knows they send out drivers with far less training than is industry standard. I think they understand there is a high driver turnover in the industry and they have somehow calculated a system where higher insurance to lower training costs make sense to them. We know with better training there will likely be less turnover. However, I think TransAm has calculated this. TransAm has decided that investment in training does not pay off.

There are several things that TransAm does that I find odd, this is one. But I guess in the highly competitive business of winning freight to haul, TransAm figures they have to do somethings different to get an edge.

 

patty you have to realize that when these guys are new they follow that gps with out looking around. I tell all my trainees that when you get with in 2 miles of destination keep your head on a swivel and especially when you get on the same street. These gps are not that accurate but get you in the area.

GordonA I think I know what you are talking about and we do not have that same system set up here. At my other companies we had other driver input with our information and made finding everything easier.

Voodoo Man attitude reflects leadership. This is the first company I have worked at where no one will help you out. I know a few who do but for the most part you are on your own.

Be safe out there

 

I'll agree with you on the employee entrance which they shouldn't be allowed to enter or exit.They have no respect for the trks.They'll dart right in front of you.They remind me of roaches scampering when they're off work,lol.They have their own entrance and should only use that.Trying to check in when they're just getting off work is near impossible unless a guard is direscting the traffic.

 

Will drivers ever learn they need to do things for themselves rather then depending on the GPS.You focus more on that then your surroundings
This driver had Tysons number,he should have called a day before.Plus from my understanding transam training program has a lot to be desired,only 7 to 10 days of training?That's nothing more then a couple loads.How can new drivers possibly learn anything.

 

You have to remember your first days as a solo driver. Worried about screwing up , trying to remember stuff about doing things the right way. Trying not to look like a newbie. So much so you do tend to mess up. You really can't fault the drivers too much . The drivers also intent on doing the job they over look the obvious and misses the turn. Now, after 5 months or so running solo it is a different picture . Could it be that their GPS did not tell them to turn in 300 feet? Not set up for trucks?
I try to remember my first days as a new driver , I made a lot of mistakes and at times I was embarrassed like never before . but I learned something from each incident. Maybe TA and Tyson could share the blame and the cost of putting up larger signs directing trucks to the right dock area. The cost of the signs is so much cheaper than the tow bills or damage to landscaping or equipment and especially to the reputation to T/A's credibility. Sign Example+ "TRUCKERS TYSON DOCK 4 300 FEET AHEAD. Just an idea.

 

^Again, driver's are directed just fine by the GPS and signage into the correct Tyson lot, with the main shipping office at this facility. Ironically, the problem is following directions from Tyson staff to get into the secondary "south lot" that is also an employee's entrance, to drop their empty that causes a problem at this location.