Trans Am Still

Which is why I am looking at a reefer company to start with, I have a small reefer outfit about 20 min away who will hopefully be hiring when I am able to get the needed OTR. But I figure on still applying if they are looking when I get my CDL, depending on the benifits they are offering as they are only a 3 truck outfit currently.

 

Welcome to our little TransAm home away from home!

I have about 14 months over a 22 month period in with TransAm (I took time off). Postings here are an extension of an older thread. I think Jaso is the last to give an updated report about orientation, starting here: http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...m-trucking-inc-olathe-ks-285.html#post3567772

If you will go out with a trainer or direct to solo, I think only your recruiter can answer. What do you prefer? I would fire off an email and get an agreement worked out.

A lot of how well things go with TransAm will depend on your Driver Manager (DM). There is a variance both in what policy DMs choose to follow and how they follow them. I like my DM, she has a reputation as one of the better, more experienced DMs and I still manage to butt heads with her from time to time. Frankly, I think you need to stand up for yourself with your DM or they will have you running ragged doing the dirty work they need done to keep freight moving. I think if you can establish that you can problem solve, hustle up and move freight and get it delivered on-time, that you will help out with reasonable requests but will not accept unreasonable assignments, you can be mostly left alone.

Swaps can be a hassle, it can be disappointing after you trip plan on what should be a long, profitable run, to have it pulled from you for a swap. Over time, you start to learn, based on a run, they day of the week, etc. what loads will likely get swapped out and feel less disappointed. In some cases a swap also can keep you moving, making money. One of my top three miles weeks done recently was done with 100% swaps. Not all swaps are a disadvantage to you.

Starting out, I took home about $100 for every day I spent in the truck, that is up, to a little less than $110 now. I posted details from my pay stubs in the old thread, if I can find it, I will post it here.

Good luck!

 

I have never tried to use it but others here say the health insurance with TA is cheap for a reason, it is not very good. I have a 401k with TransAm, all good and fine.

I think TransAm equipment while not perfect is very good. You likely already know the trucks are outfitted with all the good stuff like auto transmissions, APU, built in refridgerator, large inverter, air assist everything. TransAm runs Kenworth 660, T-700 and 680. As a company driver coming in, you could get any of the three but you will likely draw a T-700.

Trailers run from near new to near POS. I think TransAm does really make a good faith effort to keep trailers in good shape but equipment gets abused by both drivers and yard dogs. TransAm has always had repairs done on equipment when I have requested and I have never had to ask twice.

 

In super basic terms, a driver must take a 10 hour break after a day of driving. You can take a straight 10 at night, or split it up with a two hour break during the day plus, eight consecutive hours logged in the sleeper birth at night.

Trucking is a 24 hour industry, I put it in terms of day/night just to keep it simple. Jaso did an outstanding job explaining it in more detail, his explanation will make more sense once you start working with it.

 

Lets see if I am understanding this, problebly over thinking this and making it sound more complicated than it is. And sorry gonna put a scenario on it so I can explain my understanding of it better.

You start your drive and 3 or 4 hours in you are coming to the outskirts of a city during rush hour and you already know traffic is usually horrible and would take twice as long to get through than after rush, you can stop for 2 hours outside of town instead of wasting an hour or more in traffic, then after you finish your available drive time for the day you only have to take 8 hours in the berth to finish off your required 10 for the day.

 

^YES! That is an excellent example of a way to use a split break!

 

This is a kind of "standard" 2 then 8, split break and it is straight forward.

The more complicated one is if you do 8 hours in the sleeper but you did not take the 2 hour break during the day. You will get some of your clock restored after the 8 hours, the rest after you take a 2 hour break later. Complicated only in the timing of how your hours to drive are restored. Restored 11 or 14 clock, etc. That is what Jaso was explaining and it is easier to see once you work with it.

The best thing to do with e-logs is ALWAYS put yourself on the sleeper birth line when you take your long break. Starting out, most drivers do just a straight 10 hour break, but look at your clock after 8 hours on sleeper birth and note the effect. That will help you learn what is going on.

Frankly, I am not sure how an e-log split break matches up with the DOT regs but I am not complaining. Working with a split break on e-logs gives you more options to drive your hours than limited to using a split break on paper logs the way I learned it in CDL school.

 

Morning everyone. I still have company so will keep this short .....for me anyway! Here is a link for some logging examples that might help to clarify some of it for you.
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/files/docs/2014_HOS_Logbook_Examples_508.pdf

TransAm changed their health insurance in April. It is pretty deceptive......the change is on the last page in their insurance book.....and it is an important one. Sickness and Injury are NOT covered. It only covers preventive services now .....check ups and immunizations.

 

all truck stops in perrysburg oh i80 xt 72 (loves,ta,pilot, flying j & petro have no water due to toxins in town water supply and all resturants are closed until further notice

 

Chismi56, if your solo experience has been very recent, you may be able to bypass going out with a trainer. I came over from Abilene Motor Express with just six weeks of solo experience and did NOT have to go out with a trainer. Three days of orientation will include going over the handbook, filling out paperwork normal stuff. Pay attention to chapters 7 and 11 which deals with Hours of Service and communications through TransAm's version of the qualcomm called the TREQ/blue tree system. Pretty basic stuff. Nothing to get hung about. Strawberry Fields Forever. May that song stick in your minds. I digress, also be prepared to sit politely through TransAm leasing program. Not horribly painful, but not recommended for student newbies. Been here over two months and I like it here. Hope this helps. Also get used to being told where to fuel and how much to put in. It is in their fuel solution you get with your dispatches. Me personally, I like it as its one less thing to think about. Best of luck to you Chismi56!!!