Trans Am Still

Just have to make sure its well drained out after using it so it does not FREEZE with cold weather / winter about to set in .

 

How do you add "a few gallons of water" with that kind of unit? I would think you need a regular water supply to make it work.

In a pinch, I have used my hot water pot, take the boiling hot water, pour it on any blood spots, let it soak and then sweep it out. The blood and such sweeps right out with the rest.

I think your idea is better if you can get the water figured out. I don't think it would hurt to try, worst case you have a power washer unit, that is super useful around the house anyway. I see them for a good price at Harbor Freight Tools and I think about picking one up, just for general use.

 

So by the sounds of what I have read if I have other opportunities besides TransAm to start out I should pass on TransAm? Now I am going to lease but I can also do that at any of the companies I have pre-hire letters from. Yes i am not a fan of the driver cameras but I have gotten another call this week from Trans Am to try to confirm a date for orientation.. I just am trying to make sure I make the most informed decision as possible. while the other companies I have pre hires from I have selected 1. But as with anything I still have time prior to going to orientation so that is why I am asking.. Thanks

 

The only way you're going to find out is to jump in....one company might be a good fit for one person might not be a good fit for another...good luck in your search

 

Thanks As Einstein said "The only source of knowledge is experience". I understand what your saying. It is just with the most comments from former drivers it seems as though TransAm is more of a stop on the way to somewhere else.. Not that there is anything wrong with that I just have the oppurtunity to go to a few different companies and while I have asked the question if TransAm has long term drivers? Of course they replied with a deffinitvie yes they have countless people who have 1 2 and 3 million miles with them... I do need to thank dano86 as he has answered some questions for me and I know he is a current driver..

 

Most companies that hire new drivers are usually starter companies. Once you start to get experience behind the wheel you will like certain things and not like other stuff. Most drivers look for very specific stuff and that's why they move. Example you may not like going to NYC and desire a company that won't send you there. Or you may want to drive the Northwest and desire a company that drives there exclusively. Just a small example. Most starter companies have policies that experienced drivers may not like. It's hard to explain but when you start driving you'll understand better.

As I always do I will very highly recommend against leasing with no experience. I know this looks like a very easy industry and we are just cry babies for complaining but so does professional sports. I mean how hard is it to catch a football? I bet much harder with a 265 LB man running a 4.5 49 yards dash that hits like a sledge hammer about to hit you while catching that football. It is very very hard with no experience to be successful leasing. These companies will let you go very very negative. Have you ever worked for weeks 24/7(remember there is no going home at the end of a day) and owed money? I don't mean like trying to figure out who your going to pay after collecting money from a job but getting a piece of paper that says job well done but you get nothing cause you still owe money. Depending on some decisions you can easily go into debt for $3,000+ in less than a weeks time. The company controls your income and they always get paid first. If you starve to death well that 2 free weeks of labor and a big tax write off for them. Think I'm kidding? Go ahead and lease then just don't say I didn't warn you.

Good luck.

 

Ok, I give up and give in.....I have tried to explain and you men just have an unfathomable brain. I do know that it was a bunch of cow manure......and I know that most of you with experience could see that. However, because there are new people that watch this thread and try to learn from it, and they don't know the difference yet between apples and apple butter, I felt like it did everything that we have accomplished with this thread a disservice to allow it to continue. It ruins the integrity to encourage the BS and the BSer.....they need to be weeded out and frozen out. It most certainly wasn't fair to Pete, he has done more than his share to help new drivers and calls them like he sees them. I didn't see the messages that were posted by redneck .....I didn't need to because I had already seen a copy of the other messages that he had been sending Pete. I am amazed that Pete took it as long as he did, I wouldn't have. It was never about a "fight" or anyone getting their feelings hurt......it was and is about fairness and honesty. I won't participate in anything that doesn't have those two qualities, I see no point in it.

I will try this again ....because honestly, I have missed you......even though it is like herding cats. But guys, we gotta do the right thing here or it is no different than any other thread or forum. I know most of us have moved on from TransAm ....but it never was really all about TransAm either. The sharing of knowledge and experience have helped many new drivers with other companies also.

It looks like I am going to have to get busy with some weather reports .....and maybe a joke or two.

 

TransAm is set up to accomodate inexperienced drivers. They micro-manage .....because they must in order to be cost effective....new drivers make mistakes. The only problem is that as a driver gains experience, gets better at planning, is always prepared for the next load, etc.etc. .....TransAm does not have any policies or pay to reward that experience. That being said, I know a few company drivers that have been there from 8 to 12 years. The pay is not an issue for them, they enjoy the guaranteed home time and have learned to make the system work for them.

 

Thanks I do understand and much better about the finding what you like and that it may not always be at the first company you choose. That is reasonable and I can see as someone new that just because I may think it is the perfect company for me that after getting some experience that can change or what I thought was what I wanted is really not what I wanted..

As far as the leasing. While I understand exactly what you are talking about and would never say someone did not warn me. I am coming from a rather unique blessed and quite fortunate position. Without boring anyone with great details. I have already had a 25 year career in business. with that knowledge and the fact that I cannot be hurt (financially) if in fact the lease were to fail. Which by everything I have seen is most (77%) of the time. One of the main reason I am doing a lease is that I am documenting my entire experience coming into this industry. From cdl school to choosing a company to leasing etc etc. with all I have seen and read on leasing I felt that if I can accurately document what is required to make 1 work or break even or even in the event I fail. it will show others. whether it be showing that you will sacrifice home time for not weeks but possibly months to make this work whatever the case maybe. If it saves 1 person from losing everything then it is well worth it. As someone new this is really the only way I have to give back. As I have received so much in terms of advice encouragement and even a few disagreements from this site and these forums all of which has helped me and saved me some headaches.. I believe in paying it forward. So that is 1 of the reasons for leasing for me.. I do appreciate your words and that is why I am on this thread to learn from others..

Btw the documentation of my journey is going to be on a thread I created in the Welcome Wagon forum. I thought about doing a blog but because of the help this site has given me if it is going to help anyone they would come to this site..

 

Thank you.. I am not as concerned about pay or home time myself. I have a bit a different reason for joining the trucking industry.. My biggest priority is having miles to run if I am willing to run them. I am already very used to being away from home anywhere from 6 weeks to 8 months at a time. divorced with grown kids in different parts of the country.. While I have a home I just do not have a requirement to be there.. It is also 1 of the things that was of interest to me about TransAm. As they along with a couple other companies sent me pre-hire letters but more importantly did not have mandatory home time every 2 to 3 weeks..