Trans Am Still

Yes it was, Dolphins beat the Pats.

 

Hey Aquarius, welcome to the thread. I live in eastern NC about 75 miles east of I 95 and Rocky Mount in the town of Plymouth. Though we don't have a lot of freight out this way, I get home about every 12-14 days. Like Cranky said DO NOT LEASE. Run as a company driver as there is so much to learn. Trans Am only trains for 11 days after orientation and then out with a trainer for a week. Not very much time at all. Dont let the 84cpm entice you to lease. You gotta know what you are doing in regards to your driving and backing skills, time management skills. Shippers and receivers loading and unloading times and habits and learning your driver manager's habits for starters. Then you have to be lucky as to breakdowns and flats and reefer malfunctions (got a good dose of that this past weekend). Please do not put the pressure of making a $600/week lease payment on yourself at the beginning. Once you go lease, you cannot be a company driver. You can always become a lease driver later.

Having said that, I think Trans Am is an excellent company to start with or even transition to. I recently met a driver from Jacksonville who is a long time veteran driver just coming over to TA and he said they have been very forthright and upfront. He said this company really takes care of its drivers putting APUs in all of the trucks costing 11-12 thousand per unit. Many places do not allow you to idle. Thats where these APUs are nice to have!! The tractors are all Kenworths, all are automatics which is huge when you are starting out learning to drive these rigs. You can concentrate on your turns without worrying about shifting gears. You will start out at 30cpm as a company driver. I have been here three months and its mostly been very good. You will average 2500 miles of course I get home twice a month for a couple of days. Mini fridges and 2500 watt inverters are included. These trucks are spec'd to the nines.

You get fuel solutions with each dispatch so you know where to get fuel and how much. One less thing to worry about. I thinks its a boon. You will learn how to log correctly with this company. The GPS system comes with the communication TREQ on board. Also, you won't have to chain in snow or ice. Thats because the trucks won't have them. They don't want you to drive in bad conditions. Think about that. The stereo system in these trucks are excellent. Even speakers in the sleeper. Comes with a SIRIUS radio. Just got a free 90 day trial. Listened to NFL FOOTBALL yesterday. Lovin life as my 49ers won yesterday in Dallas. Trucks are governed at 62 for company driver, 65 as a lease driver. Hope this helps, Aquarius. Any other questions, just ask. Or call recruiting. Ask for Jonette Owens. Nice lady. Lucky to meet her face to face. Best wishes to you!!

George Torres

 

This is a good place to get your career started. Just keep this in mind nothing is perfect. This is an industry of the grass is greener on the other side and when you get to the other side you find out they just use different fertilizer. I am a trainer here so if you want some info PM and we will exchange #'s. Everybody is giving you good advice on here and everyone wants to help so we do our best to be honest. DO NOT LEASE. No matter what numbers they throw at you do not believe it. There is a lot to learn in this business and when you lease you learn on your dime. When you are company you learn on theirs and there will be a learning curve. I am from Nc also and have no problem getting home but trucking is trucking and sooner or later I know I will get home late but that is trucking. Good luck to you no matter who you decide to go with.

 

Maybe this will be the year of their fall from the top. One can always hope

 

On my way to Greenville, Sc. went through the recruiter thing and got qualified as a trainer again. Just sign paperwork and go.

Be safe out there

 

The Queen is so proud of you guys! Everyday I see posts making fun of drivers and humiliating other folks, calling them horrible names....it gets very discouraging. Do you all have any idea how unusual this thread is? How great it is for other drivers to have such a support system? You all get gold stars on your map pins!

 

Every time I see a post from you like this..... I keep waiting for you to post a pic of you in a cheer leading outfit!!!! hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

 

Are you headed there for HT or picking up a load?

 

And while you might be young now, with a powerful left leg, there may come a time when jerking along at 3 mph in the I-90 parking lot known as Chicagoland or many other "parking lot" freeway cities, will be much more enjoyable when that left leg is sitting on the floor and isn't pushing a 40-pound clutch in and out for miles and miles.

 

Delivering a load. I am going home 9-15 for a couple of days then back out for at least 5 weeks.