Trans Am Still

If we are honest, drivers as a group are not known for their level headedness, diplomacy and flexibility. I was extra annoyed with my DM attitude over the mystery Wal-mart delivery as I was being a good boy (attitude would have changed if it turned into a next day needed problem). I was working and willing to continue to work through the problem when I got the call I may be targeted as the one to blame.

I think everything you write is correct about DMs having a too heavy work load. So how do we judge TransAm when we evaluate them as a starter company? Is it okay that DMs are often overworked, have too many inexperienced drivers to give them the attention that they need or assigned two fleets to work? I am sure it is an industry wide problem, even more so with the Mega carries, so how does TransAm stack up on this score?

 

Hiya, JDM ... thinking about u in CDL school and what that was like. From your posts, seems like you are a dedicated student and will get in all that you need. My advice to you, when you are with the experience drivers/teachers is don't just let them teach you the basics. When going over pretrips, ask questions about what is likely to go wrong with each part. Ask them about fuel gelling and how to prevent it, how to deal with tandems that have a hard time sliding, etc. I am saying, as a student I think you will get all the basics, use the resource of experienced drivers to go more in depth.

 

Now with the 2 dispatcher system you can double the amount of drivers on their boards

 

If redneck goes out with me I will try to cover all those questions. This is why I do not like to drive team it is way too short a period of time to do all that. I highly suggest bringing a pad of paper and pen. I can talk the paint off a wall but I will try to give as much info as possible. I keep a socket set on the truck to adjust brakes and other various stuff

 

I thought Chris might no longer be with TransAm when I looked at the corporate roster last night and he was no longer listed. passport, I hope and pray that you will not need the phone numbers .....but why weren't you given a new DM as promised?

I agree with Pete. For the most part the DM's at TransAm are just there to relay information given to them by the planners. They are overwhelmed by the volume of trucks that are assigned to them and caught in the middle of drivers and management. Although some of them seem to take great pleasure in doing the minimal as far as dealing with their driver's concerns. Looking back on it, it seems as if the wait time on the phone was directly proportional to the quality and efficiency of the driver manager of the moment. Bad driver manager, long wait times. The jurisdictions of planners is one of the reasons that swaps can mess up your mileage and timing .....a swap can take you out of your normal running lane.

Any large carrier is going to have many of the same complaints on dispatch, it is part of the system. There isn't much that is in the control of a driver in those situations. Over the years we have learned a few things that make it a little easier to deal with ....but TransAm's new dispatch system may have put a kink in that to a degree.

In recent years there have been far more complaints by drivers that were dispatched out of Rockwall ...Olathe is by far a better choice.
Always request that your fuel card be turned back on before you leave your driveway after home time ....or you will be sitting on the fuel island waiting for 45 minutes until your dispatcher gets to you.
Always request your home time the day that you come back on duty ....do not wait until you are 8 days out.
Always request detention/layover pay even when you are not sure if you are entitled to it .....you stand a 50/50 chance of getting it, but a zero chance of getting it if you do not request it.
Try to stay away from major swap hubs when you stop for your 10. Effingham, Indianapolis, West Memphis, Nashville, Atlanta to name a few.
If you are dealing with an inexperienced dispatcher, try to have your own solution in mind and make the suggestion .....there is a good chance they will jump on it.
Try not to communicate by phone ....you will become increasingly frustrated!.... And you will have no record of what was said.

What else am I forgetting?

 

I was just the opposite when I was there. Rockwall had a good team and I always got screwed by Olathe.

Gonna be up in cranky's area tomorrow.... early. Pickup cardboard in Cleveland, WI and taking it to Wahoo, NE. Sitting in Lake Station right now, taking a 10. Will leave here at midnight, hoping most of the traffic has died down.

HTQ apologizes for not getting to the pies. She SAID, the pumpkins had gone bad. Hmmmmmmm. lol

 

Years ago Rockwall was the preferred yard for dispatch, but like many things at TransAm the dynamics switch around. Rockwall was considered a plus when the King started.

 

HTQ is going to make chocolate chip cookies .....and not pies from decaying, insecticide sprayed pumpkins.

 

Can you have a DM out of Olathe but have a supervisor out of Rockwall step in when needed? I know there is a Penny who is a supervisor in Rockwall, I have talked to her face to face, I thought it was her I talked to on the phone. Is there also a Penny in Olathe?