PAM Transport

I have yet to see $850 a week before taxes, even with the $500 bonus on two of my checks! And a new truck???!!! How did you get one? See my profile pic? That's every week for me and my co-driver...i'm sitting next door to the Freightliner in a hotel broke down at this very moment...we were promised a new truck months ago, but have yet to see one...oh well, i've got a few leads on other jobs and PAM won't see a cent of what they think i'll owe them. I understand getting the green off of me for the first year but ####, i don't like my truck getting repossessed while i'm out on the road because i can't make any money here...yes, it happened, and i'm still trying to catch up. I don't get it. I'm accident\ticket free, clean inspections twice from D.O.T, and haven't been late once besides when my truck breaks down. I'm kinda done ranting about this company, i'm so sickened that i'm just getting the heck out. Unless my trainer request goes through, and i get a new truck that way....

 

My first trainer went home for Christmas and new years, and they sent me out with a different guy after new years.

 

When were you there? I wasn't placing blame on the instructors, you guys were great, but i couldn't believe that a "truck driving school" wouldn't even show you a 90 or 45 degree maneuver for backing...or even a quick demo on coupling\uncoupling a trailer...i've watched a few noobs at the Pam yards scratch their heads when a trainer asked them to pull the 5th wheel release, or lower the landing gear, lol.

 

Yeah, i'm a rookie, sure. I understand getting an old truck to learn in, but the least they could do is maintain the darn thing! I've been with Pam for 8 months, and i'm #### proud to say that i haven't done a single bit of damage to their equipment or anything else for that matter. I'm consistently on time and professional, yet i haven't received any recognition from a soul in the company. I figure that's standard in my first year. My DM got pissy with me on the phone everytime i had to call him and let him know i was broke down and the load needed repowered, like i was the one who caused the turbo to seize up, or the headlights to quit working (crappy rewiring at a company shop was the culprit), the lightning that struck the truck and fried 2 of my batteries, the starter that went out, (thanks to Opti-Idle i'm sure), the EGR valve that went right after the turbo, not to mention having to get a tire or a light fixed nearly every time i hooked a different trailer...i have to complain, sorry. If i didn't i would have probably snapped and done something incredibly stupid by now. Sure rollin coal, don't complain...just remember, the squeaky wheel gets the oil...and that's why i'm happy to report that my persistence got me in a 2010 tractor with low miles and i'm finally rolling a little bit...if now i could only get a reliable co-driver, i'd be set...i guess we can't have our cake and eat it too. And yes, i have sucked it up. I simply wrote what i did to inform potential students of what to expect...had i stumbled across this article, and i did check this site out before i went to school, i would have definitely chose a little wiser. However, i do love this industry and i can't wait to earn my stripes and move onto bigger and better things.