TransAm wasn't too bad!

Have been with TA for almost 8 months but as a company driver for only around 6. Will I do?

 

Can't speak for the FAC division but if your looking for hometime, this isn't really the job you'll want. DO NOT believe it when they talk about guaranteed hometime. Sounds great but I've been screwed the last 2 times on that. The 1st time was on a swap. Supposed to meet the driver that night before home time started and never heard anything tho I kept in close contact with the company. Driver finally calls me the next day to let me know he was there. Company had him call figureing (rightly I might add) that I wouldn't want to screw another driver because TA was unable to get their act together.
This last time, supposed to be home by 2000 hrs and finally got there the next morning at 0500. Once again, contact was kept with the company and the driver manager supposedly contacted the planners and blah blah. Not a #### thing was done about it because they gave me the same exact load that I had been scheduled to take when all this started. Don't want to say that the DM flat out lied to me, or that the planners are very lazy, but you can draw your own conclusions.
Would have turned down the load but am a company driver. Don't know if I would have kept my job if I had and times are tough out there for drivers. If you go to work for TA remember this #. 98.2%. That is their on time pick up and delievery rate and that is what they live by!!!! Nothing else matters to them.
You can be #### sure that once I get my year in and can hopefully find a better job, this company can kiss my ##### goodby.
BTW, am really starting to hate meat plants but have to admit, that this is the 1st one I've been to that evidently has no problem with NOT keeping to their schedule. Either that or TA messed up the load info. So far, I am an hr late picking up a load and counting. Plus side is that its a 1650 miles run once I start.

 

can you give me insight on what to expect at orientation and what all kinds of paperwork do you have to fill out and about the whole process i would really appreciate any information and god bless and be safe

 

Can only tell you about orientation at Rockwall, Tx. Think if you look thru this thread and the other one that they have on the bad company site, you'll be able to find out more.
1st thing and let me emphasize this- - - take only what you think you'll need, then take less. One of the less endearing things about orientation was having to haul all your stuff, back and forth, each day as you go to and from orientation. Why they can't just keep you in the same room is evidently beyond my limited capability to understand. Also, when you go out with your trainer, you'll have to move your stuff each day from the bunk to the seat so that you can sleep. Ask questions!!!! If you don't understand something, make them explain it till you do. Orientation is going to be fast and furious so be ready. Have paper and pen handy and try to keep up.
Paperwork--hmmm. You'll have all kinds of it and can't remember what it all was. Hire forms, medical forms, reitrement forms, forms for this and forms for that. You'll have a prehire physical and get another medical card. Pee tests. What TA expects from you etc..... Hint, if you can get medical insurance thru wife's job or otherwise, take it. Probably be better insurance.
Hope you get a trainer that has some experience under his belt. For some reason, TA thinks that if you have 3 months with them, your qualified to be a trainer. Mine had 6 and the school he went to was bumpkiss. I knew more than he did about the everyday stuff tho he knew the TA way. Learn the qualcomm!!!! Do all your communicateing that way so that its all done in writing. Read the policy book!!!! Know it fowards and backwards. You can be sure that your FM will. See other posts I've made about that. BE ON TIME!!!!! We had a guy that was late for the bus twice and was gone that day.
When you go out with the trainer, ask about his experience. Tell him that you wish to do everything!!! Commchecks, qualcomm, pretrip, hook ups, backing-- - I mean everything. If your shaky on your backing, practice, practice, practice. Would rather look foolish backing into a parking spot in a non crowded truck stop, than backing into a truck in a busy one. Talk to veteran drivers. Some will blow you off but there are more out there that have a lot of knowledge that their willing to pass on. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. God knows I have and some pretty stupid ones at that.
Hope I've helped you out some. If you have specific questions, will try to answer them or get an asnwer for you.
Oh yea- -after the training period. You'll come back to Olathe and be tested. They want to make sure that you can read a map, do trip planning etc.. Also have a backing range set up. Use it. I had to wait 6 days before finally getting a truck after passing all the tests. Don't know what the wait is now.
All the trucks TA has are automatics and they can be very frustrating, especially when backing. You have GOT to pause when going thru N or it will not like you and make you do it again.

 

thanks panhandle that was great insight i to am going to rockwall its a 20hr bus ride and from what i hear they are going to be 30 of us there but was told not that many would be there at the end what do they mean by that thanks

 

Can't answer as to why there won't be that many left. Suspect some will fail the physical, some the piss test, some will realize that this is not what they really want and blah blah. BE ON TIME FOR EVERYTHING!!!! BE EARLY EVEN!!!!! On time is TA's mantra and is above all other things that they will say. 98.2%. Engrave that in your forehead!!!!
The motel your going to be staying in is a dump. There are places within walking distance to eat tho. There's a really nice burger place in the strip mall there. If your into working out, believe you have priveliges at a gym that is back behind the motel. There is also a brand new county library that has just opened if you need to do reserach or just want to read or get away from the other guys.
Don't believe the taxi driver (if you get the same one I had) when he says that the wally world is only a half mile away. Its more like 2.
Laundry at Rockwall is free for now. Am sure that TA will get around to coin ops one of these days.
If your into confusers, the motels wireless sucks. Take a modem (wireless) if you've got one. Beer is a no no but theres a quickie mart about a 1/4 mile away. The one by the car dealership didn't have their liquer license yet when I was there.
Can't think of anything else helpful at the moment.
Oh yea, the drive test. Don't worry bout it. You'll drive less than 5 miles and as long as you don't hit anybody or run over a curb, you'll be alright.

 

thanks panhandle flash i hope you have a great weekend and you helped me out alot that i really do appreciate this site is tthe best info you can get be safe out there and i will try to get in touch wiyh you when i get back or shoot you might end up being my trainer

 

Sorry but you won't see me as a trainer. Like my privacy to much and these KW's are just way to small for 2 people. Heck, sometimes its to small just for me.

 

i was just wondering how you manage to survive out here with all these expenses(950.00 or so) a week. plus fuel!? i just dont see how it could work even at 3000 miles a week. or is my math off? im seriously looking at trans am lease/op but that seems like its a bit steep to me

This is what you have to pay weekly on your truck:

 

How can I put this politely, what are you, NUTS!!!! Why would you want to do a lease if you've been following any of the lease threads? All the odds are against you making much money. Most of the lease guys I know are making less than a company driver once all costs are paid and thats assuming they made enough miles not to go in the hole. Then you have your taxes, health ins., retirement, etc.... On top of that, TA is just teasing you with the money. You'll get some good weeks and alot not so good. Its a money losing propisition all around for you.