Trans Am Still

Gosh, travis, I don't know why this didn't show up last night while I was online! I saw you were online also and waited for awhile to see if you were going to post anything about your day.

Unfortunately, TransAm does very little oversight on their training. It is always just the luck of the draw whether you get a good trainer or one that is just making a lease payment and doesn't care. We have all voiced our opinion about this many times.

jaso gave you the best advice. Do all that you can do on your own. This is really a small taste of what it is going to be like when you are issued your own truck....you are immediately thrown in the fire. Hopefully this trainer will at least answer any questions that you have. As jaso said, do as much of the backing, computer work and paperwork as you can. Get comfortable being in the driver's seat. Try not to worry about this so called trainer .....as much as possible use this time to become accustomed to the job. Right now you are tired and so nervous that you can't rest.....that is normal and everyone feels that way the first couple of days. Take a deep breath, rest when you can, learn all that you can....this situation will only last for a short time.
I hope I said all of this right. It is not that we aren't sympathetic to your situation, because we are. We have all stated many times the need for TransAm to change their policies on training. I also know that you have worked hard to get to this point. You have done your research, you have asked questions and you have made sacrifices for the opportunity to sit in the driver's seat.....you can make it through this and even learn from a poor trainer. Just continue to do what you are doing and know that you have a support system here.

 

Deerfield fl @the publix warehouse ... Got here at 2pm apt. Time is 4pm. The weather is beautiful Out here... Everyone be safe...

 

Oi, I finally get a minute of downtime. I delivered my first stop this morning in Opelika. Got a decent nap while I was being unloaded. Kinda wish I had one more stop before I final in Macclenny tomorrow just to kill time and collect $. We get $50 for the first stop between pickup and final and $100 for each additional stop. That's ok though. I will still be able to collect $180 for en-route layover. This load is paying 95cpm and my last load paid $1.20 a mile. Keep in mind, though, I only pay 99 cents per gallon for fuel and don't pay for DEF. My 680 did ok for fuel economy, but I also had almost 2 years of knowing how that truck liked to be driven and would baby it accordingly. This new truck... I don't want to admit I like the Prostar, but I like the Prostar. Getting 7.4mpg FULLY LOADED, dealing with snow, ice, backroads, etc. It all translates to money in the bank. Oh, and novel concept!! They take care of their trailers a heck of a lot better than TA and our "old" trailers are 2011s. They are also phasing out the 2012 and 2013 trucks because we have 2014, 15 and 16s now.

At this point I can honestly say that the only thing I truly miss about TransAm is my dispatcher, because she was a total rock star. I have a small pining for the comfortable familiarity of my old truck, but that just because I'm still settling in to and getting a feel for the new truck. I know TransAm pours all this advertising into how comfortably they equip their trucks, but my 680 couldn't hold a candle to my current truck. I'm in a 2015 ProStar ((though several times a day I take verbal pot shots at International in general because I am not a fan of the trucks, I'm a KDub gal!)) with a Cummins ISX under the hood than can out pull the weeny Paccar motors TransAm has been running. A standard transmission will still outshine an auto, but this little truck has been performing quite respectably so far. It sure as heck doesn't lug like any of the Paccar trucks I've driven. APU, inverter, fridge... been there done that. I have been greatly enjoying all the features that TransAm wouldn't spring for that many of us drivers wished they had. Sleeper curtains and wraparounds, all the wonderfully convenient buttons on the steering wheel, swiveling drivers seat ((captain's chair)). My stereo can actually be completely controlled from my sleeper. All the little details that just make it nicer to be in the truck. Down to the silly windows in the sleeper. I really like those stupid windows. TransAm needs to step up their game, LOL.

You want a pet? Bring a pet. Fee is payroll deductible and be sure to bring them in to the terminal to meet everyone. The first thing I noticed with this new company is a much warmer family vibe instead of the more distant "us vs them" storm cloud that seemed to hang around TransAm. Drivers were there because it was part of business operations. But to go into the terminal and genuinely feel appreciated and valued? It's about dang time I felt that. I gave two years of blood, sweat, and tears to a company where the only person I ever truly felt appreciated by was my DM ((though I was friends with several people who worked on the blue collar side of things, but that's different)). I know that some of the planners did appreciate me as well, but drivers are rarely ever in a position to interact with the planners. Though for the two years I put in, in return I have 2 years with one company solidly on my resume which I have been able to use to move uo in the world. We all know I was stubborn to the point of stupidity in clinging to my determination to push through the lease. I consider myself fortunate that I ended my time there on my terms and not penniless and stranded. I appreciate the opportunity I had to gain experience, but I should have moved on ages ago.

Iron will only gets you so far. I got tired of us just barely making ends meet. I'm excited to finally be planning a Disney vacation for myself and my family. And I don't have to worry about taking a week off because twice a year I can use my skip a payment bonus to put $750 toward my settlement and it's just that, a bonus. Not something I have to prepay for.

Only thing I don't like about this new company is Peoplenet. Peoplenet is the devil. Plus mine is screwed up right now anyways so I get to run paper logs. :3 Ha! Too bad they will be fixing it next week when they bring me back to EDub. I prefer the simplicity of Treq.

You guys be safe out there. I'm gonna try and sleep. I'm tired to the point of being delirious because my schedule is all screwed up. And no, I'm not driving, I've been parked for hours! Keep the shiny side up!

 

I am glad everything is going well for you honeybadger!

 

George is in Canajoharie, NY currently, about to jump off I90 in a bit to stay at a TA truckstop (exit 28, 8 1/2 miles to go) for the night. There is a little "fresh looking" snow on the ground, but the roads are clear.

 

Well today is going much better. He got us to a service station off of the toll just inside orlando and i brought us into the warehouse and backed us in... Just waiting to be called to handle paper work and back into the dock.

 

Actually at the TA in Fultonville NY. Advertised as a large lot but this place is virtually empty. This place is dead. Even the hot chocolate sux. If I get hungry (I will) McDonalds is closer to me. Thanks for all the help on Hunts Point. I thought about overnight parking there but if its that dangerous, I will stay at the Pilot in Newburgh and leave there at 3am and get to Hunts Point around 0430 for my 6 am. I get by with a little help from my friends (2x) gonna try with a little help from my friends. I am afraid if I succeed, I will get sent back here regularly, and if I fail, I will not be trusted with anymore 2000 mile loads. After running hard the last two days, I better succeed. Deuces, gang!

 

The biggest problem here is lack of training. I have talked to "coaches" who will openly admit that they only care about miles and could care less about training. I guess Trans Am likes that in a coach. Here is a common sense question how can you train if you are driving team miles?

HB the funniest they ever tell me is this is how the industry is. I usually ask well how many companies have you worked for? They usually say this is their first one. Then I will ask how do you know how the industry is if you only know one company? The office has stopped saying that to me. There is a certain level of professionalism other companies give you. Please let us know when you have to fax the bills. A Cummins is more fuel efficient than a Paccar but I bet Hirschbach isn't part owner of KW or International either. The Qualcomm is a much better system once you get used to it. The lease here is a joke. I will never encourage anyone new to lease here. The stop pay minimal. If Tyson goes out of business then so will TA. Hope you are enjoying your new company HB.

Just a few thoughts of mine. As long as TA monitors this thread I will be careful about how I really feel till I move on. I state certain problems here so maybe when they read it they will change things. A better support system would be awesome. Sometimes I feel alone out here. When it takes hours to get a hold of someone in the office. If you breakdown got to hope road assist isn't on lunch cause they all go together. Might only be 3 people to cover an 1,100 truck company and between 0000-0100 no coverage at all. Never in my experience have I had to wait for hours for breakdown coverage was important. Depending on which DM is in will determine if I can call one will get on the phone the other I have been on hold for over an hour and a half just to be hung up on and this happens all the time. If I ask that same DM a question on Trek it may or may not be answered even if asked several times over a few days. But as Joe says in orientation we are all just stupid drivers.

Just a few thoughts.

 

Actually, the market opens up for business about 10pm, you can get in earlier with no issues. The market is secure, fenced and safe, it's the garbage on the otherside of the fence that sucks. I would suggest, if you can, to get in there about 6pm, back in to your delivery and wait until they open up, they will bang on your door to wake you and get your paperwork. That way you are not trying to get in during the night on the busiest night of the week for deliveries. Your way and timing will be a disaster. The way I'm suggesting will be much less stressful and easier.