Trans Am as seen by Broke Down 69

Orientation Day 1

Today was a short day, we finished at 1pm.

First up was a fairly routine bit of paperwork. You review your own application...a little odd there...do some tax paperwork and the like. Took me about 30 minutes to clear the stack out. Then comes a short computer survey. Mostly it involves any government subsidy used to get your CDL. Took me less than 10 minutes. Next is the cup. Make sure you drink plenty to be ready...this is one place where you don't want to have a delay because the minute you step into the classroom you're on a 2 hour clock. I guess if you can't produce you're going home...but everyone in my class could so no losses there...we'll see what happens with the results. After everyone cleared that hurdle we took a tour of the facilities to get familiar with the people and places where we'd have various cooperate interactions.

Next we had out introduction to Trans Am's all in one nav/comms/e=log formerly known as TREQ. I say formerly because they are about halfway through a conversion to an updated version proprietarily produced by Garmin...who's world headquarters are located about 5 miles from Trans Am's own...In function and use, it is pretty much identical to the TREQ, so watching the youtube videos of it's use will still be very beneficial. I am extremely impressed by not only it's technical abilities, but it's extreme ease of use. While I will need a little "real world" experience with it, I could easily use it now with absolutely no help or supervision.

Next, we established a video internet link with the Rockwall, Texas center and had a brief...and I do mean brief, it lasted 7 minutes, presentation on the L/P program. It was low key and decidedly soft sell. I was a bit surprised by this approach having braced for a much more aggressive presentation and can only assume that either the reports of others were wildly overdone, or, and I regard this as a much more likely possibility, this was just an opening salvo in an oncoming assault.

Lunch was Pizza Hut and bottled water. Can't complain much about that. After lunch we were returned to the hotel and we have the rest of today off. Tomorrow we'll get out company books and get started on the real work of orientation as the next two days are much longer and info packed.

 

Must get to that later...lol.

 

Orientation Day 2

Today we got into the company handbook. It's a comprehensive overview of company policy and operating methods. And very, very dull.

Using the updated TREQ system we learned how to handle all pre-plan/pre load/fuel solutions which is really quite simple once you've done it a couple times. Did pre-trip navigation plans which was essentially like using any GPS system...just put in the address and hit enter and the magic happens. Learned about all the various forms...macros to those used to Qualcom systems...that are used for pretty much everything short of using the bathroom. Filled out all the paperwork for our EFS cards which we will be issued tomorrow and received our driver codes and passwords that marked our official hire. So I am now an official employee of Trans Am Trucking.

The high point was lunch, my introduction to KC style BBQ. Not bad really just different from what I'm used to. Got a couple of chapters of homework to read through tonight and then after we cover that tomorrow we'll be going out to get familiar with the reefer units.

Been hot as Satan's kitchen but storms are heading in tonight and the next week it's supposed to be in the low to mid 80's and we're all looking forward to the break in the heat.

So far so good...

 

Glad it's helping out. So far I have no complaints. They are treating us well and I'm looking forward to getting out of here with my trainer and doing the job.