transAM

Cheap way to get expenses paid for by letting a driver think he's an 0/0.

 

TranScam:smt063

 

LOL!!! That's 28 cents per mile RIGHT IN YOUR POCKET!!! Cash money!!! Hahahaha!!!! (before unforeseen expenses that is)

 

dont forget to hold back at least 25% of that since you're paid on a 1099!

 

That correct and they (Trans Am) have the best lease purchase in the industry.

 

I have done a little over 18 months as a TransAm company driver and I posted similar to this in the other TransAm tread also:

Almost no reason to join TransAm if you have a clean driving, criminal, employment history record. Just better choices out there. TransAm is a good place if you have some type of problem in those areas. They do hire ex-cons for example. At best, TransAm could be looked at as a place that gives someone with a problem a second chance at gaining experience. At worst, TransAm could be looked at as exploiting people, asking them to do unreasonable things, unpaid because they have few choices but to agree.

TransAm operates under a lease business model. They want lease drivers. They keep a certain number of company drivers around to do the things (short hauls, multi-stops, swaps) that lease drivers will have a problem doing.

Many lease drivers fail. The ones that stick it out will end up netting about .25 or less per mile. Low rates by industry standards but they do get a good quantity of miles to run to make up for it. It is not all gloom and doom for company drivers, you will be ask to do unfair things like sit around, unpaid, babysitting problem loads, etc. but you will get good, fair runs also. You can make a decent paycheck as a company driver if you have a good attitude to take your share of lumps and go with the flow.

So much of how it works out with TransAm will depend on who you have as a Driver Manager. TA did a shake up in operations last year and lost many good, experienced, Driver Managers. My first year with TransAm, I had a good experience. After the shakeup, things went downhill.

The bright ones, keep their good attitude, get the needed experience to over come the problem in their record. Ones like me stick around too long, get ground down and end up a bit disgruntled or at least disgruntledish.

 

No need to hold back money for taxes. With TransAm lease you stay below poverty level and end up with an EIC at tax time.

 

In my book, your not an Owner Operator unless your name is on the title to the truck or atleast the registration if your making payments. Leasing is not owning, it's renting. One thing that concerned me when I watched the recruiting video on their website was the mention of home time. They said as a company driver, with 8 days notice and upon approval., you get time off, up to 4 days per month. Great, groovy, but then they talked about Lease Drivers getting flexible time off. I am willing to bet, its the same policy.

Lease driver in a trucking company culture just means that your making their truck note for them and covering all their costs, so they have lots of profit.

 

Unforseen like you actually have to stop and eat today