Transport america orientation-"thank alot!!"

I really don't understand what the OP was b#tch##g about. They didn't have to let you use any van or feed you for that matter.

 

Okay so I am 2 days into orientation at TA and let me verify/dispute some of the facts in the first post.

1. Yes you can take the van just as described, we had 4 come up from atlanta so everyone but the driver had plenty of room to stretch out. Took 7.5 hrs to get here, with one fuel stop. Now when you get here, the vans do stay in the garage at the training facility, big deal, dont blame them. I could see students taking them out and about getting in trouble at night. As far as needing a ride to eat, there are 5 places within 300 yards of the hotel. Give me a break, no need to drive to even if I had a car. My neighbor drove himself and has yet to move his car. So big deal. And 4 of them, you get a 7.50 coupon to use, and KFC accepts it for there buffet with a drink, had ponderosa buffet and drink cost me 2 extra dollars, yes not free but big savings provided by TA. Now as far as van back, yes your recruiter was wrong. May and may not take the van, see the Pros are done wed, if they need vans to transport them yes may not have enough vans for saturday. So you are correct, sat could be van, bus or rental, hard to say till friday or sat.

2. As far as leaving truck near home when you get it. Recruiter may have been wrong too but dont see how, TA clearly states if you are withing 75 miles of a service center or drop yard, thats where you will keep it while at home. So if anyone wonders there you go. I am 60 miles from mine, and will have to leave it.

3. Breakfast is your typical hotel style continental breakfast, apples, bananas, bagels, cereal, juice, milk, donuts. Like I said typical, and exactly what I expected. Best of all FREE. And lunch is great, they have it catered by a local family, today we had barbecue sandwiches, mac and cheese, salad, desert, cant remember yesterday was a brownie, and choice of soda, water, tea. And yes Free. Not some cheap box lunch.

4. I have only dealt with 3 intructors, and have been fine. Very patient, and willing to answer any questions. Yes some of the intructors are a little introverted, and not chatty in the halls, but hey guess just there personality. Did a 2 hr road drive today, and was at ease with the intructor and got a lot of tips. Do yard tomorrow so will see how they are out there, but from what I have heard, they are all decent, and not rude. Cant answer to the boogers, not really looking either lol.

I was very nervous about lack of experience in the last year, and feel fine after a couple days. And like I said in another post, this is a great stepping stone to get into your own truck as a student. It is very much like your CDL school crammed into a week. It is good way for TA to know you have been trained to there way of things.

 

TA orientation is a great way for a newbie to start truck driving. I may not stay with TA, but I'm glad I started with TA.

When it comes down to it, Swift has all the freight, not TA.

 

I was talking to a swift driver that was next to me at a dock. He stated he had a good week the week before, 2300 miles.

They might have freight, but if 2300 miles is a good week they don't have miles and last time I checked, that's what they pay by.

 

That is about what I'm getting. I'm sitting more than I was. Talk to more Swift drivers because they are running. Swift has taken some accounts from us in the South.

 

Now I realize where a lot of these negative comments come from. We have a guy in our class that won't quit complaining, because his recruiter told him a couple of things that have changed, small things. One being not telling him about the possible bus ride home. Geez let it go and suck it up, I cant believe the big deal he is making. I don't see him making it long. There are a couple people in my class that will complain about the smallest of things, I dont think these people would be happy anywhere. So again, everything is on schedule as advertised to me, and what has been said here.

I can say anyone planning on coming to TA do plan on a bus ride home if you are a student, seems all the pros got the vans, and we got the bus. Ohh well half expected and planned for it. But other than that everything has been just as I have found on here, and the recruiter said. Supposed to have a trainer within a couple days of being home, and will be paid 350 next week for this weeks orientation minus 25 for company supplies provided this week. And will get $50 a day or $350 a wk. while in training 3-4 weeks with a trainer, even if I have to wait a few days after I get home sat night. Not like most companies that dont pay you until you get on the truck. So I dont think they will be stalling on getting me in a truck.

 

I just did my performance review(got my penny per mile raise too) and between Aug. 15 and Sept. 15 I ran 12,155 miles. I was a little surprised that it was that much.

 

That's good to hear. I was getting around 3000 a week until a couple of weeks ago. You have to let me know if it starts slowing down for you.

 

Try and be happy about the miles your getting. All the distribution centers I've been at are empty 6mo. ago they had cargo stacked to the ceiling.

 

Some more info on the ride home for students. The way they worked it for us, was if there were more than one person going back to a particular service center they rented a rental car for us. Luckly I was able to ride in a rental car. 2 out of the 10 ended up on a bus, but one of them rode the bus down so he expected it. The other came down in a van with 3 others and the other 3 failed the medical, so he had to take a bus. So far no disappointments for me.