TransAm Trucking

I drove for t/a for 15 mos. They're an alright company, only problem I had was hometime, not wanting to be out for more than 2 weeeks. As of right now, any driver with exp is having to lease trucks if you got there. Company trucks are for student's only.

 

TTG,
I have invested quite a bit of time with the recruiting folks at TA. I did my homework on them and could live with going with them on several levels. I received a pre-hire letter on April 2 with a start date for orientation/training of April 22. That date slipped when the economy caught up with them. Last week I was told that they would take callers first-come, first served this morning at 0700 Central for the May 20 class. I dialed over 100 times in 40 minutes and when I got through was told they were expecting over 500 callers going after 15 seats. Those were filled within the first 10 minutes.

It seems they have changed their MO and a pre-hire letter means nothing. It now comes down to luck of the draw: Will your call be the one that makes it through? No hard feelings, TA, but if I win a lottery I would prefer it be the Mega Millions or Powerball!

 

The date slipped because the economy caught up to them. If they had held the scheduled session they would have ended up with more drivers than trucks. The recruiter told me that since they didn't want to keep people "on the bench" twiddling their thumbs they would just hold off until they could put trainees upgrading immediately into a truck.

Since I didn't "win the lottery" on the call Monday morning I am to call at the end of the week to verify when they will have the next orientation. Then I'll be told when the next "first come, first served" call will be made. It looks to me like they have just thrown up their hands because they can't handle the volume of drivers. It seems that you will have to speak with a recruiter anyway just so you know if they even want you to call. Clear the first hurdle, so to speak.

I encourage every driver that got one of the fifteen slots to make sure they have it in writing before making travel arrangements.

 

I am currently a company driver with them. You asked about meat loads. Meat loads are probably 55% of what you'll pick up. Pick up in the midwest, deliever to the east, get what you can going somewhere else and so on till your either back to a meat plant or going for home time.

Example and this is what I just did.Picked up frozen foods from Tyson in Ok, deliever in Pa. Pick upped hummus (what the heck is that) in Long Island, delievered to Il. Did a swap and delievered more frozen food from Tyson to Wi. and Mi. Orange juice in MI to IA. Meat load in IA going to MI. You'll like this one- picked up a load of furniture going to MO. Had to help unload that one for free Probably. More frozen Tyson in KS going to IL. and finally picking up coke products foing to TX.

All of my runs have been in the 450 to 750 mile range. Don't know why that is but used to get a 1000 to 1300 mile runs.

Hope that helps.

 

Im a company driver as well and Ive noticed the runs have started to get bellow the thousand mile range but they are staying consistent.

Alot of changes are happening at transam, to be quite honest it makes me a little weary. They dont have any trucks right now for anyone so orientation has come down to half of the students they usually take. They are pushing the lease program a lot more now, even to company drivers.

I personally wont lease a truck with them and if push came to shove, id leave.

That being said, it is a good company to start out with and get experience. Ive been driving two years for them and the only way Im leaving is if I can find a local gig back home in florida, get a fleet managers switched on me, or if the lease program (just speculating here) becomes mandatory.

I live in florida and I get in every other weekend just fine. There may be times here and there where I wont but not enough to make me quit. All trucks have APU's and are auto's.

I will warn you, DO NOT LEASE! Get some experience under your belt and get an understanding of this industry before you get in to a truck note. Im two years in and I STILL wont do it.

good luck

 

Talked to my trainer the other day and he said his last student sat around for 3 weeks waiting on a company truck. Seems the comapny finally sent him home. From what I gather, all new drivers will either lease or not be hired. Understand the comapny used to be a good one to work for at one time but.......beware if you come on now. So far, their leaving me alone and giving me the miles, a little at a time. Just hope I can get my time in till the economy picks up. Johnny oh Johnny, where are you? Please come back and save your company from ruin.