Broke Down 69 makes a decision

Chinatown · Jul 28, 2016

Hey, I recommended TransAm to you July 4, 2016 in your other thread!

Hick · Jul 28, 2016

Broke Down 69 said: ↑

A few of you may have noticed an earlier thread I posted about trying to find a job with a bit of a past. It been over a decade since I last ran afoul of John Q Law but trucking companies...especially the majors...seem to hold a grudge like a Confederate widow so I had to look for my first opportunity with a "second chance" company and the options, while plentiful, were a bit depressing.

I received numerous "pre-hire" letters which mean exactly nothing as they don't even check your criminal record or MVR until you are at orientation, at which point they may send you back home...possibly on your own dime. Low pay, beat up equipment, forced teams and CSA scores that just made you shudder sure in the knowledge you were going to stop at every scale house and be routinely subjected to "random" pullovers for inspections and just about every other negative aspect of OTR trucking.

Then a break. I have been dropping in at a local truck stop and talking to drivers...amazing what a $1.50 cup of coffee will get out of a tired, bored driver...best money I've ever invested. Anyhow, I was talking to a waitress when a beautiful KW T680 pulled in. I should explain at this point that back in the late 70' or early 80's there was a TV show on the air called BJ and the Bear. It was a shameless Smokey and the Bandit ripoff, but it had a really cool chimpanzee, the Bear, and a bada$$ KW Aeodyne cabover that was the coolest thing ever to a 10 year old boy. My loyalties were thus established and nothing has happened over the years to disabuse me of that position.

Anyhow, the driver hops out, comes in and I comment on his truck. I might as well have been commenting on the beauty of his infant child and he lit up and started telling me all about it. I buy the aforementioned cup of coffee and he asks if I'd like to look it over. So out we go. This thing redefined loaded. Sattelite radio, satellite TV, inverter, APU, fridge 96" cab that I could actually stand up in...I'm 6'4" Okay, one downside...autoshift 10 speed. I commented that he must have spent a fortune outfitting this baby and he said no, I'm a Trans Am Company driver, this is how all our trucks are set up.

Told him I was about to graduate fom CDL school and was looking down the line at companies that would hire a guy with a bit of a rogueish past. He laughs and tells me about his history which made me look like a choirboy and said that I should call the recruiter and just talk to them, tell them my story and see what could happen...on a side note he warned me off the L/O program, in which I have no interest.

Called therecruiter, filled out my app online and a few days later I get a call. We've pulled all your reports, checked all your references and work history and we'd like to offer you a job.

So there it is folks. I'm on my way to Olathe, Kansas in a couple of weeks to start out. I'm one happy nugget.
Click to expand...

Yep, you're in. Congrats.

justa_driver · Jul 28, 2016

Broke Down 69 said: ↑

A few of you may have noticed an earlier thread I posted about trying to find a job with a bit of a past. It been over a decade since I last ran afoul of John Q Law but trucking companies...especially the majors...seem to hold a grudge like a Confederate widow so I had to look for my first opportunity with a "second chance" company and the options, while plentiful, were a bit depressing.

I received numerous "pre-hire" letters which mean exactly nothing as they don't even check your criminal record or MVR until you are at orientation, at which point they may send you back home...possibly on your own dime. Low pay, beat up equipment, forced teams and CSA scores that just made you shudder sure in the knowledge you were going to stop at every scale house and be routinely subjected to "random" pullovers for inspections and just about every other negative aspect of OTR trucking.

Then a break. I have been dropping in at a local truck stop and talking to drivers...amazing what a $1.50 cup of coffee will get out of a tired, bored driver...best money I've ever invested. Anyhow, I was talking to a waitress when a beautiful KW T680 pulled in. I should explain at this point that back in the late 70' or early 80's there was a TV show on the air called BJ and the Bear. It was a shameless Smokey and the Bandit ripoff, but it had a really cool chimpanzee, the Bear, and a bada$$ KW Aeodyne cabover that was the coolest thing ever to a 10 year old boy. My loyalties were thus established and nothing has happened over the years to disabuse me of that position.

Anyhow, the driver hops out, comes in and I comment on his truck. I might as well have been commenting on the beauty of his infant child and he lit up and started telling me all about it. I buy the aforementioned cup of coffee and he asks if I'd like to look it over. So out we go. This thing redefined loaded. Sattelite radio, satellite TV, inverter, APU, fridge 96" cab that I could actually stand up in...I'm 6'4" Okay, one downside...autoshift 10 speed. I commented that he must have spent a fortune outfitting this baby and he said no, I'm a Trans Am Company driver, this is how all our trucks are set up.

Told him I was about to graduate fom CDL school and was looking down the line at companies that would hire a guy with a bit of a rogueish past. He laughs and tells me about his history which made me look like a choirboy and said that I should call the recruiter and just talk to them, tell them my story and see what could happen...on a side note he warned me off the L/O program, in which I have no interest.

Called therecruiter, filled out my app online and a few days later I get a call. We've pulled all your reports, checked all your references and work history and we'd like to offer you a job.

So there it is folks. I'm on my way to Olathe, Kansas in a couple of weeks to start out. I'm one happy nugget.
Click to expand...

Congrats and a little true story about B.J. McKay trucking-it was a real company. You could still see those trucks running back and forth from Savannah to Macon up until the late 90s on I16. Still painted the same way and still had B.J. McKay trucking on the side of them.

Stormy 69 · Jul 28, 2016

tucker said: ↑

Heck, any of us would have told you about Trans Am, but that would be mean.
Click to expand...

Yea but why spoil the future posts about worst trucking companies.

Broke Down 69 · Jul 28, 2016

First off, to all who have offered congratulations and encouragement, I offer a sincere thank you.

To the couple who took sideswipes at Trans Am all I can say is for me it was by far the best choice offered for me to get in the door and get experience to open future doors.

And lastly to @Chinatown...to you sir, I owe an apology for slighting your advice in my post. You most certainly did recommend Trans Am and at the time I had some rather misinformed ideas about pulling reefer. Also, the idea of spending the vast majority of my time in the beef patch with winter coming soon seemed a little chancy for a new guy with no idea what he was doing. Fast forward three weeks and about 30 different recruiters and I had a little better idea of what was involved and it seemed like something I could handle provided I stay within myself and learn all I can from my trainer...that's what he's there for. At any rate, it was thoughtless of me to not acknowledge your sage advice and I felt the need to say that publicly. You seem to be a veritable encyclopedia of trucking company information and this site is lucky to have someone like you to dispense dispassionate advice to all who ask.

ethos · Jul 28, 2016

Broke Down 69 said: ↑

A few of you may have noticed an earlier thread I posted about trying to find a job with a bit of a past. It been over a decade since I last ran afoul of John Q Law but trucking companies...especially the majors...seem to hold a grudge like a Confederate widow so I had to look for my first opportunity with a "second chance" company and the options, while plentiful, were a bit depressing.

I received numerous "pre-hire" letters which mean exactly nothing as they don't even check your criminal record or MVR until you are at orientation, at which point they may send you back home...possibly on your own dime. Low pay, beat up equipment, forced teams and CSA scores that just made you shudder sure in the knowledge you were going to stop at every scale house and be routinely subjected to "random" pullovers for inspections and just about every other negative aspect of OTR trucking.

Then a break. I have been dropping in at a local truck stop and talking to drivers...amazing what a $1.50 cup of coffee will get out of a tired, bored driver...best money I've ever invested. Anyhow, I was talking to a waitress when a beautiful KW T680 pulled in. I should explain at this point that back in the late 70' or early 80's there was a TV show on the air called BJ and the Bear. It was a shameless Smokey and the Bandit ripoff, but it had a really cool chimpanzee, the Bear, and a bada$$ KW Aeodyne cabover that was the coolest thing ever to a 10 year old boy. My loyalties were thus established and nothing has happened over the years to disabuse me of that position.

Anyhow, the driver hops out, comes in and I comment on his truck. I might as well have been commenting on the beauty of his infant child and he lit up and started telling me all about it. I buy the aforementioned cup of coffee and he asks if I'd like to look it over. So out we go. This thing redefined loaded. Sattelite radio, satellite TV, inverter, APU, fridge 96" cab that I could actually stand up in...I'm 6'4" Okay, one downside...autoshift 10 speed. I commented that he must have spent a fortune outfitting this baby and he said no, I'm a Trans Am Company driver, this is how all our trucks are set up.

Told him I was about to graduate fom CDL school and was looking down the line at companies that would hire a guy with a bit of a rogueish past. He laughs and tells me about his history which made me look like a choirboy and said that I should call the recruiter and just talk to them, tell them my story and see what could happen...on a side note he warned me off the L/O program, in which I have no interest.

Called therecruiter, filled out my app online and a few days later I get a call. We've pulled all your reports, checked all your references and work history and we'd like to offer you a job.

So there it is folks. I'm on my way to Olathe, Kansas in a couple of weeks to start out. I'm one happy nugget.
Click to expand...

You should start a Trans Am thread and take us along with you through orientation and all that. Those threads do a lot of good for future drivers. I know they take time but it would be appreciated.

Broke Down 69 · Jul 28, 2016

ethos said: ↑

You should start a Trans Am thread and take us along with you through orientation and all that. Those threads do a lot of good for future drivers. I know they take time but it would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

That is an excellent idea and I shall do that very thing.

x1Heavy · Jul 28, 2016

Broke Down 69 said: ↑

A few of you may have noticed an earlier thread I posted about trying to find a job with a bit of a past. It been over a decade since I last ran afoul of John Q Law but trucking companies...especially the majors...seem to hold a grudge like a Confederate widow so I had to look for my first opportunity with a "second chance" company and the options, while plentiful, were a bit depressing.

I received numerous "pre-hire" letters which mean exactly nothing as they don't even check your criminal record or MVR until you are at orientation, at which point they may send you back home...possibly on your own dime. Low pay, beat up equipment, forced teams and CSA scores that just made you shudder sure in the knowledge you were going to stop at every scale house and be routinely subjected to "random" pullovers for inspections and just about every other negative aspect of OTR trucking.

Then a break. I have been dropping in at a local truck stop and talking to drivers...amazing what a $1.50 cup of coffee will get out of a tired, bored driver...best money I've ever invested. Anyhow, I was talking to a waitress when a beautiful KW T680 pulled in. I should explain at this point that back in the late 70' or early 80's there was a TV show on the air called BJ and the Bear. It was a shameless Smokey and the Bandit ripoff, but it had a really cool chimpanzee, the Bear, and a bada$$ KW Aeodyne cabover that was the coolest thing ever to a 10 year old boy. My loyalties were thus established and nothing has happened over the years to disabuse me of that position.

Anyhow, the driver hops out, comes in and I comment on his truck. I might as well have been commenting on the beauty of his infant child and he lit up and started telling me all about it. I buy the aforementioned cup of coffee and he asks if I'd like to look it over. So out we go. This thing redefined loaded. Sattelite radio, satellite TV, inverter, APU, fridge 96" cab that I could actually stand up in...I'm 6'4" Okay, one downside...autoshift 10 speed. I commented that he must have spent a fortune outfitting this baby and he said no, I'm a Trans Am Company driver, this is how all our trucks are set up.

Told him I was about to graduate fom CDL school and was looking down the line at companies that would hire a guy with a bit of a rogueish past. He laughs and tells me about his history which made me look like a choirboy and said that I should call the recruiter and just talk to them, tell them my story and see what could happen...on a side note he warned me off the L/O program, in which I have no interest.

Called therecruiter, filled out my app online and a few days later I get a call. We've pulled all your reports, checked all your references and work history and we'd like to offer you a job.

So there it is folks. I'm on my way to Olathe, Kansas in a couple of weeks to start out. I'm one happy nugget.
Click to expand...

Sir, there is a big custom pete cabover on the side of 440 at I think US 70 on the fence of the dealer in the middle for sale at the Little Rock Arkansas area dealer. Saw it the other day.

scottlav46 · Jul 28, 2016

Dude I'm tickled pink for ya! I know how intimidating this whole process can be, but you're doin the right thing. Pay no attention to them butt clowns that wanna rain on your parade n tell ya how bad transam is. They're miserable and they want everyone else to be miserable too. Just keep your eyes wide open and make your own judgements, you'll be fine.

Broke Down 69 · Jul 28, 2016

scottlav46 said: ↑

Dude I'm tickled pink for ya! I know how intimidating this whole process can be, but you're doin the right thing. Pay no attention to them butt clowns that wanna rain on your parade n tell ya how bad transam is. They're miserable and they want everyone else to be miserable too. Just keep your eyes wide open and make your own judgements, you'll be fine.
Click to expand...

Thanks Brother

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