Trans Am as seen by Broke Down 69

Well, well, well. I'm gone a couple days and the whole thread goes wild...just the sort of operation I'd hoped we'd all be running...free exchange of questions, answers, ideas and views.

As for me it's been a rather interesting few days. Got to Tulsa to find a trailer with my supposed unsaddled steed...that caused a delay of a few hours because I was already assigned a load out of the Tulsa area going to someplace in Texas I've already forgotten. Then came the truck itself. It wasn't bad in the sense that it was covered with unspeakable body fluids/waste but the previous driver had some sort of long haired critter in there that revealed a previously unknown allergy so off to the detailer it went. I must say they did one hell of a good job at MHC and when they were done the inside looked brand new...did I mention the rest of the truck did as well? With good reason. It was a black 2017 T680 with 21K on the odometer...basically the truck I've gone to bed wishing for since I decided to come to TA. Part of that dream was not, however, my introduction to driving an empty trailer in an Oklahoma thunderstorm complete with 30-40 mph wind gusts and rain like God dumping a 55 gallon drum of water right on me...got to say there were a few tense moments there but I kept her upright and moving forward and made 582 miles in one hop to the terminal.

There things went all Trans Am again and the truck I was supposed to get was still in the shop so off I go to Joplin, Mo. yesterday to grab a second truck which I bobtailed in this morning only to be told that my truck would not be ready for me until lunchtime tomorrow...anyone want to lay odds on me heading out tomorrow to pick up another one? Oh yeah...second truck was another T680 but it was a 2015 and had some interior issues...the previous occupant smashed the radio, tv and satellite box and shredded the mattress. Also it had some issues with the cruise control and a slight vibration in the engine.

All things considered, I still consider it a good experience, got to drive a couple different trucks loaded, empty and bobtail and had to face some weather as well...experience, experience, experience.

Don't have to be at the yard until 1pm tomorrow so I'll check in before I go.

 

I'm getting a 2013 T700 that is due to be pulled from service by the end of the year. After that TA will have a complete 680 fleet.

I am. I have had fun and learned alot so far and as I gain experience I think it'll get even better.

I'm in Olathe at the moment and I hope to get in my truck running tomorrow. Saturdays and Sundays are awesome mileage days with such a reduced traffic load.

As for the numbering system, it's changed recently as I understand it you actually add one to the last two digits to know the year.

 

Thank you for the compliment, I find that attitude makes all the difference in the world. As for the reasoning behind not giving me the truck(s) I picked up, they are both assigned to the L/P fleet so unless I drink the Kool-Aid I get the oldest in the fleet. I knew this coming in so there was no surprise there.

On this point @Pintlehook, you and I are in complete agreement. However, TA has a ridiculous turnover rate and the number of 5 year drivers in the company could be counted on both hands, likely with a few left over. To me this is the glaring weakness of the company, there is not a highly experienced core of drivers who have been with the company for any period of time. The company has no experience base to call on in an advisory role...after all the drivers make ALL the money for the company and in my opinion an advisory "council" of drivers would be an invaluable tool for the company as a whole. The upshot is the "training" you get is very weak and is the number one contributor to the absolutely hideous on time/accident rate in the company.

 

I think you'll do just fine. Swing wide, go slow at first and stop when you're tired...that's about all the advice I have at this point.