Trans Am Still

I'll back you up, Pete. This is nothing more than honesty. The simple truth, redneck, is that if we hadn't been on you about it, you would have gone ahead and leased. It is also the truth that your planning skills are lacking .....and that is coming from a non-driver, so if I can see it then it is very apparent to a driver.
You are serving an apprenticeship and working to gain experience and keep afloat financially while you do it. You are out there to drive, not go on a tour, not go to the movies, not stop and sightsee, and not stop early to watch a ballgame. You do those things when you go home or when you know your truck is down for a number of days. You are expected to live with a modicum of comfort while OTR but your LIFE is at home. That is what you sign up for when you are OTR.
Things happen in this industry.....it is a driver's job to always be available when those things happen. If you don't use your time wisely then you will be one of those drivers that TA uses for swaps. If you plan ahead and stay ahead of schedule, then you are always in position to make more miles and more money.
Not trying to be mean, redneck, it takes time to adjust to this lifestyle and to learn how to run efficiently. You have to give yourself time to learn.....or it will be the same no matter where you go.

 

I am an avid reader of this thread but I have not been much of a poster as of yet. I started in June of this year, went through the training and started driving solo sometime early July. I ran for 55 days and had to come home due to needing some therapy for sciatic nerve issue. I will be going back this coming week to start running again.

I am not an expert I am still a newbie and during my first weeks on the road I made mistakes. Once I thought I was done for the day and forgot I could have taken a 30 minute break and run for another three hours. I have yet to make that mistake again. I was swapped a lot for the first two weeks. Most due to issues with the truck but I also found that as long as I ran the hours I could and rested when I could not drive that Transam would give me the miles. The key for me was to go with the flow. Be happy with a smile on your face when at shippers and receivers and be polite when dealing with your DM. That does not mean that I didn't ask questions and question decisions that were made but always conducting business as a professional.

After all of that, I also learned that even when things happen never think you will not make miles on Monday. It is Monday there are still three full days left and 1500 miles is not out of the question. So it "isn't over until the fat lady sings", as they say. IN 7 weeks I ran 20,000 miles taking into account that one week I was down for 5 1/2 days. Another week down 2 days and during the last weeks I was down three days dealing with my nerve issue. As the others have said, some weeks will be better than others but usually they will balance out over the long run. As for me Transam has been good to me and I hope that it continues as I go back to work.

Yes, I still have lots to learn, I am still a newbie, just some thoughts of what I learned in my first three months at Transam.

 

Bravo, jademps, and welcome! You have learned well! When the King first started we made so many mistakes that took money away from our paycheck. At that time there really wasn't a regular bunch of drivers on here .....other than Panhandle,(he helped more than he will ever know). Like you, I just watched and tried to learn and eventually we did. It becomes routine after awhile, you know what to do to keep the wheels turning, you start to be the one on the "good end" of the swaps because they know you are prepared.
I'm glad that you are better and will be returning to work.

 

Everybody has bad times, no matter who your with. I sat in a stinking NJ svc plaza last week, for 24 hrs. No load.

Heck, it was so long ago, tha I was with TA, that I have no idea what I said then. Think I just tried to be open and honest about my experiences, both good and bad.

 

Not going to get into a Pissing match with you but you have No Idea what I do or Don't know about HOS , I know Plenty To know enough to know I have Plenty enough hours to get to where my Load is going an Enough to know when I'm getting screwed over an bullcrapped with on reasons why I can't deliver this Load, An I never said I was going to Lease of you go back and Look at what I said , I said I was thinks about doing it never once did I say I was actually planning on doing it. I respect y'all plenty and on another Note about my HOS Not only did I go over it an over it But I also went over it a few times with my Dad 33yrs experience an Owns his own Truck but I also went over it with my Uncle who also has 30years experience an has owned his Own Truck So Don't come at me saying I don't know enough about Hours of Service to manage my time and When I doubt myself I know I have people in my corner that I can turn to when I have questions

 

No Offense or disrespect But There is Nothing wrong with my Planning I've Been Atleast a Couple hours early for all of my Loads an that goes for pickups an deliveries

 

If you could have got a local job then why didn't you? You chose trans am..deal with the good and bad

 

I hear u redneck I just need 3mo. Exp. and I can get a job at home be home every night hang in there thanks

 

All rights folks, this thread was started to help each other and share our experiences, both good and bad, of transam. Feel free to flame the company, with examples please but...... lets not flame each other. We're supposed to be brothers and sisters,with a ccommon bond....... trucking. This life is hard enough as it is, let's not make it any worse. Thanks.