Posted: 3 years, 7 months ago
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Trans Am Trucking Employment or Non Employment Question?
KEARSEY
I dont know about what homeless people do for a motel room and some food. I'm not homeless.
I was given to believe things that were not true. Took me a couple/few days to withdraw. After discussing with several management and trainers the fact that they do not offer training it was clear to me that Trans Am wasn't for me.
I'm real new at this and I guess not real bright as to some matters...............my bad. My inexperiance shows .
To me it's a matter of common sense that a person just graduating from a CDL school with zero solo experiance or for that matter, no experiance solo or any other type is not qualified to drive down a 6% grade with 70' and 80,000 pounds of misguided missile. I've just learned how to do that after a couple weeks of doing it but sure as poop had not an inkling before I was taught how. To send me up and down the Grapevine in LA with no training? Rush hour in SanFrancisco/ LA, anywhere of the like with no training? No basic training of any sort what so ever driving on an interstate?
I've just driven about four thousand miles with a very good trainer and realize more and more that CDL school taught me just about nothing having to do with the real world of trucking.
I lucked out landing with a company that makes sure before a driver is put on the street that the driver is trained for the job.
"Employment" is defined several ways but none include whatever Trans Am's definition is. I was not "given work" I was not "given compensation" The 'condition of paid work" does' not apply.
I was new, naive, stupid, inexperianced, pick whatever. I attended what I view as a three day workshop not any form of employment.
Posted: 3 years, 7 months ago
View Topic:
Trans Am Trucking Employment or Non Employment Question?
BIG T
It was made clear that until you passed orientation you were not employed by Trans Am.
It was also made clear that training on board the truck and follow up hands on training was part of the program.
They made very clear although it clearly says training and follow up training is all part of the program they made clear that it once was but no longer is.
If you read what they say on their Web Site it still offers what they do not offer.
No, I dont think three nights in a motel constitutes employment.
I do feel that putting someone loose in a truck with no on the road training, no solo experiance, a week or so in a classroom only , is irresponsible and dangerous.
Each to his own
Posted: 3 years, 7 months ago
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Just getting started and already it's bad.
Kerry L
My experiance with Trans Am was less than good. No matter who is at fault be it you or Trans Am, move on. When I left orientation at Trans Am after three days I went shopping for a job. Got some very good direction and help from right here on this forum . As luck had it, I landed good at CFI.
You gotta just beat the bushes til something comes up. I sent out around fifty or so applications and recieved alot of "sorry.............but". If you give up trying then that's on you. Dont give up.
I cant say enough good about CFI in Joplin, Mo. First class operation and I really lucked out falling in with them. Contact them and others as well and DO NOT GIVE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Getting kicked in the butt now and then is no mortal sin but giving up is one. Lots of companies out there Go get a job my brother!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Also, for what it's worth, I think I understand your feelings re Trans Am. I just didn't like the experiance at all. It's not always so easy to put things into words that maybe people understand but sometimes if you feel like your just a piece of meat, well, maybe it's best to just move on........huh?
Go get a job
Use the tools on this forum and all the help the people here will give you.
Posted: 3 years, 7 months ago
View Topic:
Trans Am Trucking Employment or Non Employment Question?
I recieved my CDL on 19 June, 2020.
Attended Trans Am trucking orientation 29 June, 2020.
After three days of orientation it was clear that Trans Am offered no "Trainer" on the road. No "trainer" at all. They said they once did but no longer offer a trainer.
Ok, here I am a brand new holder of a CDL with less than 100 miles on the street and those miles with a drivers school instructor and the state examiner. No solo time at all..........nothing at all.
Trans Am offers a week (more or less) orientation then if you pass orientation you have a truck by yourself, solo, no training at all. On the street with a truck, solo.
No way was I ready to be on the road with up to 80,000 pounds, seventy feet or so with no training.
Trans Am told me that they once did offer a trainer but no longer do. I was told that I could sign a "Voluntary Withdrawal" which I did sign.
To me the Trans Am policy was at least dangerous and irresponsible and I was not ready nor prepared to be on the road by myself.
Since that time I've signed on with CFI . A week of orientation A test drive with a CFI trainer to be sure I have at least a basic driving knowledge/skill. Three or four weeks on the road with a Trainer that CFI calls a "Finisher" Then after the time on the road with a "Finisher" I'll have a written test and a driving test, which includes an "obstacle course" and some backing skills before I'm considered safe/reasonably competent.
CFI's program is to me outstanding. I need the training and I want the training.
Ok, here's my rub with Trans Am. They report me that I was employed by them. I left orientation after three days. I recieved not one penny compensation from Trans Am nor any type of compensation/pay , nothing what so ever. I recieved not a penny nor did I want anything at all from them. I didn't ask for anything, didn't want nor expect anything, recieved nothing after three days only of orientation, but am reported as was empolyed by them.
This is causing me an issue.
I'm not all that crazy about Trans Am Trucking. They have the policies that work for them but those policies I will not agree to . I didn't agree to the program and declined Trans Am employment however they report me as an ex employee.
Of course I'm contesting any so called employment with Trans Am Trucking.
Now that I'm in the industry for about a month I'm learning that some of Trans Am's policies are very much Trans Am's and not industry standards per se.
Any past experiances with Trans Am like mine?
Posted: 3 years, 7 months ago
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Buying my first truck need some info
I chime in now and then when a subject comes up that has my interest. I too am weighing being an owner/operator vs a company paid driver. So, this thread sure did catch my eye. I'm finishing my third week on the road with a trainer and as an employee of CFI. After three weeks experiance I'm still about dumb as a rock however full of questions and an owner/operator being one of my questions.
Ok, I'm mostly dumb but not totally dumb. I know jumping into ownership of a truck as an FNG is not a good idea. I've given myself six months (more if needed) to make the call driver employee vs owner/operator.
So, guys and girls, what are the +/- of owning vs employee. There must be some advantages, huh?
My absolute lack of knowledge has brought me to a few kinda/sorta thoughts.
I find used trucks with maybe 300,000 or so miles are selling for mid 20's or so. Factory warranties run til about 500,000 miles........yes? I find that being an owner/operator does' offer more independance. It appears that there's more money in owning with of course the expenses involved.
What I'm seeing here is pretty much against the idea of ownership. How about some input from some owner/operators that might see it different?
I've stipulated to being a whole lot of stupid more than once on the forum so lets allow that I am.
What's the owner/operator view of the question and the opinions?
Posted: 3 years, 7 months ago
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Mentoring done ... going solo ... nervous as hell
Man............................. I feel like I coulda written what you wrote and your fears. I've completed my 6th day of training (with a trainer) and learn something it seems every moment. Currently at a Loves in Idaho and have had my first lessons re driving in mountains from Joplin, Mo. to SanFransisco. If driving a truck solo only consists of driving forward on straight and level interstates, perfect daytime weather and no backing into loading/unloading areas and no tight backing at truckstops, well then, I got it...........no sweat. BUT.................that just aint what it is.
Sure, I'm looking forward to solo in a few more weeks or so but I sure do share your anxiety and your fears. My biggest challenge/struggle at truck drivers school and to date has been backing and I am not looking forward to maybe making a fool of myself while demonstrating how much of a klutz I am at it.
Posted: 3 years, 7 months ago
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No, his last name begins with a "C" like mine does'
I'm in So. Dakota at a Loves , showered and hanging out before hitting the hay.
Constantly learning and very happy about that.
It still amazes me that my initial employer (kinda employer) was giving me my own truck with about one week of orientation and no trainer or any kind of on the road experiance offered at all. Boggles the mind!?!? I cant imagine it being allowed???????????
Posted: 3 years, 7 months ago
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TERRIFIC & CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As CFI'S second biggest fan let me thank you for your input . I'm in my first 7 days of training and leave tomorrow for Washington State, Oregon and San Francisco.
CFI is a great company and I'm very happy I ended up a driver which was "LucK" not by design.
Very impressive mileage.
CFI has about two thousand drivers with something over 25% of them over million mile drivers.
I think after reading some of your input and your bio that guys like you are a reason this is such a good company.
I'm screwing up here and there but nothing real bad it would seem.
Backing is not my strong suit but I'm getting there little by little.
Had some free time today and Mike (my trainer) took me thru thru the obstacle course before we leave for the west coast.
My intent was not to hijack your thread but I sure share your enthusiasm for CFI and wanted to congratulate you and to share some as well.
Posted: 3 years, 7 months ago
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Lost my first trucking job, rather resigned ( a longish post sorry for length)
Bobcat Bob
When I was faced with the choice of staying with my first trucking job and going on the road with zero-none-nada-zip experiance , I posted my thoughts, my fears, caution, on the site . You commented then (which I appreciated) that yes, companies do that. That there are companies that do that. Companies actually put people in a truck and out into the world with no experiance at all. A dope like me does' not know better but thankfully I questioned it and asked for some input from some experianced drivers, and also thankfully recieved some very valuable input.
People like Moe and me are vulnerable. In my case I withdrew from the orientation and sought a better employment with a much better company. Moe rolled the dice and lost which is a shame but also it screams of something just being flat wrong with the company and the one I almost went to work for. Bobcat, it's just wrong to put someone with no experiance on the road with a semi truck and trailer. It defies the imagination IMHO.
So, yeah, I guess to some Moe is 100% in the wrong but I view it as a shared wrong and I wonder how and why this practice is allowed?
Maybe I'm just making a bigger deal out of it than perhaps it is but to my mind what his company did, and the company I almost went to work for, shows a great irresponsibility to a degree that it defies the imagination.
I'm dumbfounded that the practice is allowed.
So, Ok, Moe screwed up but I hold to the belief it's a shared wrong.
BTW, two great looking dogs!
Posted: 3 years, 7 months ago
View Topic:
Trans Am Trucking Employment or Non Employment Question?
BIG T
If you read Trans Am's own words they offer training and on going training. Now, maybe their words are more carefully scripted than the ordinary reader would read them but when I asked if what they say they offer was offered, they said "No". They said they did up to fairly recently offer the training and trainers but no longer do. I took my question to the highest management on the scene and was told that they do not offer trainers.
Ok, no problem with that as far as I'm concerned because it was an easy decision that Trans Am was not the company for me and I did sign the "Voluntary Withdrawal" from the orientation after three days. Maybe I should not have?
I hold to the fact that I was never "employed" by Trans Am trucking. I dont want it on my employment record or my DAC that I was employed and quit the job.
What I claim as to their misrepresentations can be clearly read on their web site written by them.
"Quibble" is a word I learned as a term used by the army in the 60's. To "Quibble" maybe does' not mean to out and out lie about something. What it could mean is "double talk" maybe. maybe they didn't actually out and out lie with their representations on their web. Maybe just worded so that dopes like me would think they're saying something that they're actually not saying? Maybe so, maybe not but it might also be worth the time to read what their former drivers have to say about them. Now and then a positive statement but for the very most part by far.............pretty ugly.
When I read Kerry's remarks on a different thread I tend to lean his way some because of the way I feel about Trans Am. Maybe he's wrong. Maybe I'm wrong.