P.A.M. Transport

Well, I was a victim of Little Rock AR's C1 Truck Driver Training School. It is an actually good school if you're open-minded enough to finish everything in three weeks. I was fortunate to finish in three weeks, but I forgot to print my MVR record before I left to go up to training. I went to PAM's orientation there and put some false ticket info on my paperwork not knowing. I get back to my house and get a print-out of my MVR report and wait for PAM to get me a driver code. Well they call back and ended-up not picking me up for what I put on my orientation paper, not what is on my MVR report.

Long story short, they tell you from the beginning of how much you will get paid and the pay-rate after training. The first year is typically a privilege to get your experience because most good companies only take you with a minimum of 1 year OTR experience. PAM and other starting companies know that and use that to get slave labor out of as many people as they can. With the economy being in the toilet, those little $300 taxed checks are starting to look very good. I can admit that I've seen some people come in the trucking and school and didn't make the cut. I've also seen some people who I know can't drive for crap and shouldn't have a CDL, but they passed their DMV test somehow. So my advice is this: Drive defensively because you never know if the other trucker infront, beside, or behind you is an experienced driver or someone who probably won't make it 6 months in the trucking industry.

 

Sounds like you just have a case of bitterness because you screwed up. How did C1 fault you? Exactly, they didn't. You cut your own throat and need someone else to blame. It's always somebody else's fault. I'm tired of reading 'this company did me wrong' stories that just don't make any #### sense. Get over it, accept the fact you falsified your application, got caught and now you don't have a job at your own doing. And now we're supposed to believe you are an expert in trucking? I question how you passed your CDL test given the low IQ you've displayed in your comments.

 

Wow, so must can't read can you? Your IQ has to be dangerously low not to see where my MVR is clean. PAM dropped me due to what I thought was on my record. They dropped off, but PAM insisted on not picking me up even after the certified MVR report was faxed to them. PAM and Driver Solutions are just out to charge you that $6,000 and not give you a job. I should have went to Prime's school. It's much better than that 'three weeks of hell' bootcamp school at C1 of Little Rock.

 

Well we have 4 kids we moved to a part of Ky where I know absolutely noone the closest city is 17 miles away I have been a stay at home mom for 12 years due to the fact that he has to have a job over the road thats why he ended up contracting in Afghanistan post Army as far as moon pies go no none here but I do have an 11 10 9 and 3 year old and by the time I got a job it would just to pay a sitter. and the gas money to get to the job. whats the point I wouls rather work to keep the kids dressed well fed and have at least one parent. Soo nice wise crack but its still a rip off of a company that doesnt take care of good employees

 

I read these daily. Yes I drove for 3 years so I now how it is.

1. I paid for my driving school.
2. I started out with the common driving companies till I gained experience.
3. I stayed with companies for 12-14 months before I moved on.
4. I took care of any and all trucks I drove.
5. I had to use my 401/savings to keep up with bills.

Paychecks. You are stating gross. What they pay weekly is set for training. But, what deductions did you take for taxes, medical, etc, etc.

Bonus? No such thing for a new hire when in school or in training with a trainer. He is there to learn.

I agree with a few posts here. 4 kids and he wants to be a truck driver just starting out? Life will be hard. Very limited time home. Forget holidays, birthdays, school activities, etc. His primary job is to pick up/deliver freight. He will need to learn time management. Eating on the road. I hope he learns to take his food.

Most drivers are out 4-6 weeks with 2-3 days home. 1st day home will be getting his stuff cleaned and packed again for the day of leaving. Then pray you have money for his food when he is on the road. 3rd or last day will be getting to roll out again. It could be 1 am in the morning. It depends on his trainer and when he is on his own, the load.

Life again will be very hard. Your life will be hard with 4 kids and no way to have time to yourself. You and him will argue on the phone. Now he is upset or stressed driving a 40 ton vehicle. His 1st year will be all about learning and training. Stress will cause him to make mistakes that could cost him his job or CDL. Most companies will only tolerate simple OOPS. Run a tire on a curb and bend the rim. Fired.

Again, he is in training. Do not expect pats on the back or a "good job". He will simply get a "beep" and his next load which is already past the pickup time. So, now he has to haul butt to get it and make the drop off time. Oops, late for either. Get a few of those and Fired. Miss an appointment. Now he waits for a couple of hours or days. Unpaid.

Driving a truck is not a picnic. It is very hard and stressful at all times. He needs to support you at home and you have to support him at all times. He will be worried all the time about his family. But, his primary concern is how to handle time management, driving, backing, understanding how to get from point A to B in a timely manner.

He is just starting with this company so how do they know he is a good employee? Truck drivers are "at Hire" employees. Simply he can show up one day and they can say "Have a nice day" go clean your truck out.

The company is not there to give you support nor to make sure he has a paycheck. He is an adult. The company has one goal in mind. To make a profit. Find a support group on TTR to express your concerns and stresses as you will have many daily.

But, in the end you need to support each other. His paycheck does come with a breakdown of what was taken out. Look at that and question anything that does not seem right. Keep track of all his loads. He should keep a book of all load information and use this to verify against his pay stubs. His loads should be broken down on the pay stub. His book should also include the date/times that he send in his QC calls for each load. I had when QC msg was send, when I accepted, when I got there, when I was loaded, loaded call, etc etc.

Make sure he keeps copies of all his paperwork. I kept copies of any BOL and anything that went with that load.

Since he is starting out and you do not have a job, I would apply for assistance such as food stamps. Do not feel proud not to accept. You have 4 kids to think of.

Toys for Tots. Call your local Marine recruiter and find out the local business that is passing out free toys for low income familes.

Drop your name at the Salvation Army. I just bought presents for two kids with their name on the local McD. Salvation Army tree.

I hope he makes it. Keep a positive attitude at all times. This is for him and you.

Life will get you down. It is what you do each day that will bring you up. Your post shows a lot of stress. Your area should have local support groups for stress. Your church?

Again good luck. Make life better for your children by you and your husband having a positive attitude about his career choice.

Mark

 

Trucking is what you make it, same thing for any other job. Trucking companies as a whole are the same, just different people and attitudes. People don't have trouble with the company, its the people who they encounter along their employment. Everyone needs to put up or shut up. The world is a cold place and we all have to work to survive. Do your work and make the best out of it. Running to another company might not be the answer to everything. Like I said before, its the people that is the main problem most of the time not the company as a whole.