My 16 Week Experience with TRANSAM

Well, I hate to what happened to Old Guy. Anyone can really learn from his experience. If you are "newbie" to the trucking industry, stay away from leasing trucks til you get the some experience in the first place.
I have just been laid off from a local driving job. I did filled out some online applications on sites that passed them onto various trucking companies. The post from Old Guy reminded me of a call I'd got from JB Hunt. The recruiter was telling me that they had "lease drivers" opportunities. Even though I have 13 years of driving experience, I am not going to lease a truck. Not in these times. One thing I do have to admit about the JB Hunt recruiter, at least she was honest.

 

I dont know anything about transam. But after being in this industry for a number of years now it sucks. you are right all trucking companies suck. Them and the brokers prey on drivers they are making all the money and the drivers ae doing all the work. I think the way they treat drivers like dirt is because they assume we are all uneducated and will just do anything to drive a big truck. F...... that and F....... all the companys in this cut throat industry. As soon as the economy picks up and i can get anouther job NOT DRIVING A TRUCK im gone. My advise to anyone looking to drive a truck DONT.

 

wow this tread still going lol nic been on the road with the parking lot and havent had time to check in.
I got one bud that quit ta and one is still there he is up and down.overall I am sure its the same all over right now unless you drive for a small guy or find a niche to get into.
Far as doing anything the old timers could do Id like to see a few of yea drive a fully loaded truck with NO jakes and old spring type setup goin down the 2 lane side of some of these passes these trucks now days are ALOT easier to drive if you smoke the brakes now days you must not know wtf your doing in the old days it was common on some of that #### to smoke um bad.

All I can say at this point anyone wanting to get into trucking Id wait if you can and see what happens all big compaines will use you all they can and when you get mad and leave they will just put the next student in the seat ever wonder why they say freight is slow but you got 100 new guys in the classroom every week?

 

Sigh. You would think that with our dispatchers being college eddicated and all, that reading comprehension would be required. Guess not. Am on hometime and having to do a swap since planning is......not very good. Was told the driver wouldn't show up till about 0600 this morning. Asked them to have him NOT call me till 0830 or so. What time did the call come in? Oh about 0300 this morning.

My miles have really sucked this past month and am developing that paranoid feeling that their trying to force me out. Dispatch says otherwise but..... If it doesn't pick up this next trip, am outta here!!!!!!!!!

 

most the stuff is out of the dispatchers hands they are in the middle and have to listen to you and the planners.the planners are the ones there i had problems with if they had a brain it would be easy to keep trucks from sitting.
Sorry to hear its gotten that bad like i say one buddy has left there the other is trying to make it a few more months.

Good luck with it glad i stepped out when i did

 

Load planners are wonders. At the company I left, they would even tell me how long I should log for pretrip. Said it would only take 15 minutes. Also, how long to drive point to point, fuel would not take any time, and rest room and food not needed on a 600 mile run.

 

them mudflaps are cool driver, thats a sure sign that some of the old timers are still out there

 

You know, after reading all the horror stories about the safety departments at various companies, am surprised that TA's is different. Just had a wreck and am pretty sure I totaled a p/u. Wasn't my fault and even had a witness that gave me his card and said to call if needed. T/A just called me back today and let me know that after talking to the witness, that this would be logged as a non preventable. Will still go on my DAc of course but hopefully won't hurt me when I am finally able to change jobs. I am just very thankful that there was a witness and he was willing to back me up.

Now if i could just get an answer as to my pay status while the truck is getting repaired......They are saving money on hotels since I had just come back on duty and was heading to my 1st fuel stop and am still in my hometown.