Trans Am Still

I consider both Earl Henderson and Prime as a step up from TransAm as a starter company. They have higher starting and overall pay, longer training period, "other" pay (detention, etc.) higher hiring standards (Prime rejected me) and a better general reputation.

TransAm works well as a starter company if you feel the need to drive an automatic truck (I didn't) or if you have a problem with your employment, driving or criminal history (I did - no current US driver's license and that silly misunderstanding with the dead hooker in the truck, that people wanted to make a big deal about).

One positive thing about TransAm as a starter company (George has pointed it out), TransAm is fairly laid back about new driver screw ups. I did some fairly goofy things as a new driver, got lost, etc and no one at TA ever said anything about it.

The devil is in the details. Jaso knows a lot of details of many companies. Stuff like if they pay to run the toll roads, etc.

 

I see those TMC flatbeds all they time. Out of Des Moines and I have been thinking that should be my next move. I always stayed away due to the tarp in the cold rain and snow issue but I figure at 51 this could be my last chance to give it a try. Still thinking about it, I know I need to do something different for my trucking exercise habits ... maybe for next spring.

 

You are correct KLLM does hire if you obtain your cdl somewhere else..

 

Nah! This thread has thousands and thousands of posts where people treat each other with respect. Things have gotten sideways a bit but the overall tone of the thread will prevail.

 

So redneck how many more miles have you gotten this week? Did you get another load once you went to reading pa? Was that the delivery of your swap? Hopefully your miles will work out in the end.

 

Saw 2 things today that causes me to despair and have disgust to my fellow drivers.

GOAL, GOAL, GOAL!!!!!! What happens when you don't GOAL? You back right into the truck that was behind you.

Pulled into a dirt lot across from Truckworld. Some sleaze bag drivers, was to dang lazy, to walk, or drive, a whopping 30 yards to a trashcan. Left a whole bag of trash just laying in the lot. Not even a small bag either, but a large trash can size.

Drivers!!!!!!! Don't be these to bozos, please!!!!!!

 

It is hard to know what you want in this industry till you get experience in it. Stuff like LOH, APUs are important to me but to some that is silly. Stuff like being home every week is important to some or EZ Pass. Some don't mind avoiding toll roads. Some want to be in certain regions, some won't go to NYC. The more experience you get the more you realize what you want. There are so many options and so many variables.

Dennis I appreciate the fact that you have driven all over. The difference in how you did it on four wheels and at your leisure and doing it in a truck is an experience. Cops in every state looking for things wrong. HOS rules that you can get fined or put in jail for violating. Schedules that you have to stick to. Deliver a few loads late and you sit a lot. When it's icy out 18 wheels and a high center of gravity can be a dangerous mix. When you do finally decide to join us out here you will chuckle to yourself about comparing the experiences.

 

Had to be towed to Youngstown Kenworth yesterday morning for bad batteries stayed there overnight then this morning reassigned me to the Cheyenne load currently in LaSalle, IL To fuel an take my 30

 

If you can afford a school instead of getting into a contract for your CDL that is the way to go. If you have kids be prepared to miss out on some stuff. Not all the time but sometimes companies can't get you home on time every time. Pay will be up and down, that was one real good thing about TA cause they pay for every mile driven till midnight Thursday. There will be days you sit and days you run every available minute on your clock. Some customers will be so rude your blood will boil and some so nice. Some weigh stations just wave you through and some exam everything. Companies all say safety first but in those offices behind closed doors they only really care about on time delivery and no claims. Most office people have never even sat in a truck, most have never been in NYC traffic. So they don't understand. Just some of what to expect. To think averaging 3,000 miles a week on E-Logs, governed at 65 or less MPH is easy, that is just foolish. Being efficient is key with time. Most have never had to be this efficient with time in their lives.