My 16 Week Experience with TRANSAM

It's in the lease agreement. When you sign it, you agree that they keep all funds if you terminate early. They want you to terminate early. That's why they make such a huge point of telling you that you can. Just give two weeks notice (and all of your cash, pride, dignity, ect) It's a nice racket, Johnny's wife (therefore Johnny) makes money on the truck when it's delivered new. Then Trans-Am makes money on the loads you deliver for those few months they are taking care of you since you are a new lease driver. After that, they take care of the new crew and you are going broke while they STILL make money off of the truck payments and the loads you deliver. Finally, when you are starving and losing your stuff because of loan defaults, they make money by keeping your accounts when you term the lease early and they still get the truck back. Oh yeah, then they make money by charging you up the rear-end for every tiny bit of wear and tear on that truck you were driving. Trans-Am could make millions and never deliver a single pound of freight with that little scam.

 

#### that is a great little scam Who in their right mind would sign a contract where they keep YOUR money thats stupid. But i guess when your a noob that can buy a truck right off the bat thats what they go for. Not me buddy

 

Well am past the 1st 24hrs and working on the 2nd. Suspect I'll get a QC msg in the morning asking me why I'm not on the road yet. Going to wait till after I get another 24 to try and at least make it worth my while, somewhat, for having to sit and twist in the wind.

 

Is that the KW dealership in Olathe??? Never thought of that but not really surprised.

 

That's the one.

 

Mine did, of course I started out in a 36" coffin sleeper (my uncles old freight shaker), I am(or was, I've shrunk) 6'1" and to get comfortable I'd stretch out my legs on the dog house and rest them on passenger door and I never took my clothes off because anybody in the old flat top cabovers knew that you could never get dressed if you did. It was nothing to see me standing out in the parking lot getting dressed outside my cab. Now I'm up to a 70' high rise that I can run laps around the inside of the cab. I guess all it took was a little miracle-gro

 

Perhaps i was too keen and high on the trucking industry and Rg is correct w/his thought processes.I have no idea if companies do indeed chew a newby up and spit them out but considering the times that we are all in,they probably do and do so at a profit to them.I know only what I read and there is no reason to doubt the dozens/hundreds of horror stories shared by the forum members.
Ultimately your husband will have to make the decision and hopefully it will be an educated one in which he has absolutely considered every variable/scenario imaginable.Only then can ne proceed into this next phase of his,and yours,life.
Best of luck.

 

TRANS AM,IN THE 6 MONTHS I WAS WITH THEM THEY GOT ME HOME ONCE,SAYING IT WAS BECAUSE OF WHERE I LIVED,MY REPLY WAS THAT I PUT MY ADDRESS ON THE APP.+ THERE WAS NO $ SITTING AT THOSE MEAT HOUSES FOR 2 DAYS AT A TIME,IN FACT,AS I RECALL THERE PRETTY MUCH WASNT MUCH $ PERIOD,EVEN ON THE WEEKS THAT I RAN HARD..IN ALL FAIRNESS THEY HAD A PRETTY GOOD BBQ FOR DRIVER APPRECIATION DOWN THERE IN ROCKWALL,GOOD BRISKET...BAD COMPANY.SORRY TO HEAR YOU DIDNT DO WELL,BUT IT DOESNT SURPRISE ME,IM JUST GRATEFULL I NEVER SIGNED THE LEASE,AND WAS ABLE TO WALK AWAY CLEAN.NOT TOTALLY THOUGH,AS THEY DID CHARGE ME $300 IN FUEL TO BRING THIER TRUCK BACK TO THE YARD,BUT I DID THE RIGHT THING,IT JUST COST ME MY LAST CHECK TO DO IT.

 

I hate to hear about how tough trucking has been on some of you guys. I worked briefly at both US Xpress and TMC. USX was a nightmare. My trainer was exactly the way some of you describe them - he just wanted me to log it his way (which was completely illegal). When I protested, he went batty on me, and snapped about how it was his truck and I'd better do what he wanted. I asked if he was leasing it (being a bit sarcastic, like I can be), and he said no. He then shut up.

I left him after 5 days. He repeatedly swore that he wouldn't have me doctor the logs anymore, but the next day he was right back at it. The guy was funny. One minute, he'd apologize for having me doctor the log and promise not to do it again. Next, he'd be ranting how everything he was having me do was completely legal and we weren't doctoring anything.

I'm pretty patient with people, so my decision to leave reflected on him directly. When I called and asked for a new trainer they told me I could either stay with him or look for a new job...

...which brought me to TMC. I have nothing bad to say about them. During my brief time with them (just over 3 months) I saw some great sites and drove a lot of legal miles. Honestly, most guys I met said I would need to doctor my log book, but I never did. I'd still average 2500 to 3000 miles a week, no problem.

I drove a 13 speed 379 peterbilt and I loved it. I think that anyone who is a good driver and is willing to work hard (and yes, flatbed IS harder than van) should check them out. I just hope you get my trainer, because his goal really was to make sure you were a safe driver (he's a family man).

After my praise for TMC, you might wonder why I left. It wasn't money, which was pretty good (anywhere from $400 - 1100/wk usually). Nope, I'm recently engaged and my fiance missed me (okay, okay. i missed her too). I just wasn't cut out for the OTR life. I'm hoping I can find something local, because man, I miss that truck!

Good luck to all of you.