My 16 Week Experience with TRANSAM

Well this is a new one for me. Rarely do I have preplans but can usually count on having load info within 20 min. of sending in an mty call. Seems that nothing is available for tonight and that i'm supposed to check back in in the morning. Sure do hope I'm not going to be sitting all weekend.

 

sorry you got shafted!

 

Hey i know you are telling the truth! Everyone has different stories good and bad! i hate what that emerson guy said! I like how you responded politely! Recruiters lie all the time! They are paid to get you there! Then they will sell you hard in oreintation like all cdl mills do such as cr england when i went last year! Take care!

 

Earlier I said that Old Guy's commentary should probably be taken with a grain of salt. I did not mean to refute anything he said. In fact, I believe him 100%. I haven't heard a single good thing ever about being an owner/operator for any company, and TransAM seems to be the major case in point on this issue. (In good times, however, I've heard that being an O/O can be pretty sweet).

I also have no doubt that TransAM's indication of getting 2800-3100 miles per week is false. The reason I believe they (and companies such as Werner and Swift) are still hiring tons of noobs is because they expect 19 out of 20 new hires to wash out, which they will. Also, like someone else said before, it's a dog eat dog world out there right now and the ones wearing the milk bone underwear right now are the drivers. If a company can pay a newbie peanuts to deliver a load while a guy with allnite's experience sits in the truck stop, the unscrupulous companies will probably go for it right now.

I think it's clear that being an owner operator with TA is for the birds. I'd simply like to hear from a few TA company drivers reading this forum on the status of miles and pay. Forget about driver treatment. 99% of companies consider us 100% disposable. That seems to be the fact of this business, from what I've learned. Fine.

To OldGuy: did TA tell you exactly the same numbers on miles (2800-3100)? Just curious.

Good luck all.

 

Well I'm a company driver with TA so will try to answer your questions. Have been with them since Sept. as a new driver. Miles started out at 1500 to 1800 and slowly worked there way up to 2500 to 2700 as I proved I could do the job. The 2 weeks out before my dad died, I got 3100 a week. Wished it could stay there but knew that was not realistic at this point.
This time out is pretty sucky!! Been out since Sunday and only have about 2200. Course I did have to sit in Liberal for a day and a half while they got caught up from being closed for 2 days and now it looks like I might sit again. Don't know bout that yet.
They told me last night there were no loads until the planners came in in the morning and then called me last night about 1145 and asked me to help them out. Seems a load had fallen thru the cracks that needed to be delievered by 0500. Got a whopping 100 miles out of that. Load delievered and now heading to bed.
The biggest thing that is going to help you out in whatever company you go with is your DM. Get on good terms with them and it will make your life a whole lot easier.
Peace

 

Getting into a lease program with less than 1 year of experience in the industry is a recipe for disaster most lease programs are set up in the company's favor. With this economy you couldn't give me a truck right now. Good luck to all.

 

My husband is supposed to go to Orientation with TA the end of this month but after reading these posts I am wondering if it such a good idea. His back ground is in Automotive manufaturing as a Supervisor/Process Engineer. He was making 60,000.00 until they eliminated his position due to cut backs in Dec 08. The UI office reccomended the WIA program to get his CDL so he did it and just got it. He realistically expects the their are dues to pay. His goal was to eventually get a driving job locally so he could be home regular if possible. He also looked at it as a way to keep our heads afloat and survive this economy and not have to move yet again as we have 4 times with the auto industry. We have moved out od state away from all our family and suffered for it. We are finally comfortable here. The down side is that it is 90 mins to any decent size city for jobs and with the economy thats slim picens if any at all. He has an interview this Monday for another process engineer job but it is out of state about 5 hrs from here. The money is where he was at in December but that would mean my hubby would have to move and leave us here. There is no way we can get a mortgage right now and selling our 120yr old home will be hard in this economy even though it is well updated. We would lose our ### as many are. So my questions are is Trans Am decent enough to pay your dues with and move on. Can a family survive on their pay? Lastly for any seasoned drivers out there would you opt for the factory job making 60,000.00 even though it means a move from your family knowing they can not move with you for a very long time if at all. I have read so many negatives about TA and about trucking period. Alot riding on this decision.

 

Thank Old Guy 56. I spent alot of yesterday reading your posts and others. You right. At least I can drive there any time I choose to see him and even stay for a wekk or so as my daughter is well old enough to be home alone for a few days or a week. Thanks so much. I honestly do not want to miss anymore time with my hubby. We have already lost 15 months dues to the moves from the auto industry.