Trans Am Still

For a good long time now, here on this tread, we are pro go company. I think the word is getting out. If you go with TransAm go company. Do not go lease. Talking to random drivers out on the road, they start to say that they have heard company with TransAm is fine, avoid lease.

I wonder what effect this will have on TransAm's business. How it will work out if at orientation the numbers start to skew and now many new recruits are refusing to sign lease papers. As a company driver who leaves and wants to come back as a company driver ... I have wondered if I am cutting my own throat, increasing the completion for my own job. That maybe a factor in recruiting, how is it going to effect your own job if you are brining in an army of company driver wannabes.

 

^ Yeah, I would like that. If TransAm could just absorb and be happy with a larger, maybe much larger percentage of their freight being moved by company drivers.

 

I think that has been one of our strengths here on this thread. With all of our combined experience we have found ways to share information that increases paychecks and eliminates some of the stress. We have come up with some problem solving skills that help to work around some of the corporate problems.

I am in hopes that it will improve the carriers treatment of drivers .....especially the starter companies.....and make changes to the leasing programs that are out there. (TransAm isn't the only one with a problematic lease.) There are a few companies that are beginning to offer leases based on miles....your lease payment is so much per mile, so no miles no payment. Since they are ultimately in control of your miles it behooves them to make sure that the truck is making enough money to pay for itself.
Even without the leasing the driver turnover rate will still eliminate a good percentage of new drivers, either through unrealistic expectations, lack of training ....or a low tolerance for BS. As wulfman said awhile back ...While there is no real driver shortage, there is a shortage of good drivers. I think that will continue to hold true.
I get angry and discouraged sometimes when I see the way that the trucking system works in this country and I hear drivers say that we are too low on the totem pole to make any difference. I will get down for a day or two and think that so long as drivers feel that way there is no hope for progress. But truly, passport, we have made a difference. We have helped many drivers through this thread. I also believe that we have made some slight changes to the way that TransAm does business.... More students going company, safety classes online, even the new dispatch system I think was partly in response to some of the problems we have discussed here. I know they got it wrong but I am in hopes that will change eventually.

 

How does the new dispatch system works?? Do it gives the company drivers the crappy loads and lease drivers good loads?

 

Shoot! I'm still waiting for George making close to that even! Bet you were a good recruiter too. Unfortunately this world is full of smart alecks. I'd like to see what job he thinks he could work making that amount.

Good to know, that it ddidn't affect your HT.

 

That could have been said about the old system also. I was never the one to say it though. Lease drivers have a choice to accept or decline a load, company drivers do not. What many consider the best loads are taken up by the lease drivers. Company drivers must take up the slack. Due to timing and position, company drivers do still get their (fair?) share of prime loads. And even with the 2nd choice loads, I still think you can make more money as a new company driver than a new lease driver. I am sure there are exceptions but I think that is true as a rule.

However, that is not really what I meant about problems with the new dispatch system. My problem for one, is it chased my good, experienced dispatcher out of TransAm. I guess the new hours did not suit her. Next is just a general decline in service. No preplans, preplans being switched. Longer waits for answers to routine messages, no answer at all. Used to be better, I can not describe all that has changed I just notice as a driver that it has taken a turn for the worst.

Don't want to be all doom and gloom, I am still running and still making a decent paycheck. Talking about it more just as discussion point in a discussion forum and not as a damnation of TransAm but I would point that out to some of the ghosts here on the thread, something has taken a turn for the worst on the other end of the little, angry black box.

 

Passport, you certainly aren't the only disgruntled driver! George has griped on occasion too, as have many others. S Hometime has said before, it is part of the job. As tthread participants, we listen, commiserate, and support you. I don't think any jobs is without negative asoects, even not working at a job has its flaws. My brothers think I have it made in the shade being Mom's care giver....not so!

You certainly have had a bit to gripe about lately, which is also what HTQ pointed out, that there are good times and bad times. Sheesh! Even Pete is having it rough just now. I understand and agree about secondary DM. We can only hope things improve.

 

Do I feel disgruntled? Maybe disgruntled lite, disgruntledish, a sprinkling of disgruntledness.

I am a straight arrow, I have always gotten along well with my employers. If Pete and I ever worked together in the past, he may have been the one to call me a brown nosier. I want to like my employer, I want to like TransAm. If they give me a chance to, stop asking me to do ridicules things without pay, etc. Stop causing me to feel righteous indignation I may in the future like TransAm as I did in the past.