PAM/Driver Solutions Training

After much careful consideration, I have decided to leave Pam. I have decided to go with the company Roehl. I feel like it's a much better fit, and I'm very much looking forward to training with them. I will start out with a 6-day orientation in Atlanta Georgia. After that I go out with another trainer for 19 days. Thank you for following along this far.

Btw, I did upgrade.

Wow, did not see that coming. If you dont mind me asking, why the change?

There were many factors along the way that ultimately led me to the conclusion that they don't care for their drivers. I won't go into a trashy tirade, but it all came to a head on Thursday and I broke down from 6 weeks of exhausted frustration. I am much more at peace with this decision.

Wow.

Why do you expect a remarkably different outcome with Roehl? Training is difficult no matter what company you are with.

There were many factors along the way that ultimately led me to the conclusion that they don't care for their drivers.

Nighthawk, Rob is surprised, he says he didn't see that coming. I'm not surprised. A ton of people come to conclusions like yours when they try to get into trucking. It doesn't just happen at Pam, it happens at Roehl too. It happens everywhere because rookies don't have a clue yet as to how this all works. I know you've heard us warning people about listening to what the other drivers are saying. When you're first getting started it's easy to let the stress of it all weaken your resolve to see it through. Then the influence of the Terminal Rats weighs on you exponentially. Internet reviews become confirmations of your own unrealistic fears and doubts. It's hard to keep at this when you're demoralized and crippled by frustration and dread.

You have got to find your own motivation for success at trucking. It will never come from the company you work for. That's why thousands of people quit this career throwing out that same old worn out line, "they don't care about their drivers."

I want to see you succeed, but this decision gives me big doubts. It's typical of those who just never seem to be able to break through in this career. You've got to change your thinking. What kind of trucking company could ever succeed if they treat their drivers badly? The answer is none. Trucking companies really depend on their reliable drivers to keep them afloat. It is self defeating to run them all off by mistreating them. That's what I mean about rookies not understanding how this all works.

This is a demanding career. The demands are met by people who get the whole idea of performance based, incentivized pay. Nothing comes easy for beginners at trucking, and that confuses the heck out of us as rookies. We start playing the blame game because it's the only approach that satisfies our misunderstandings. I hope you can get yourself into the proper mindset, and reset yourself into the proper approach to all this. It's going to be tough now. You don't want to go through your whole career the way you're starting it. There's a lot of people who do just that, so you'll have plenty of friends you can sit around and be miserable with. I hope you're better than that.

Maybe I'm wrong. But so far I feel better at this company than I ever did with PAM. Time will tell.

Maybe I'm wrong. But so far I feel better at this company than I ever did with PAM. Time will tell.

You need to get over your feelings and start focusing on what you'll have to do to be successful in this career. There isn't anything that Roehl is going to do to make your life easier that PAM wouldn't do. There isn't anything Swift is going to do that Prime won't do. Trucking is tough. If it was just a matter of picking the right company we'd all be working for the same company. If you look at the experienced drivers on this board they're all happily working for a broad range of companies. That's because great drivers who have what it takes to make it in this career will be happy at any of the major carriers. It's not about the company, it's about you.

Stop expecting your company to please you and start focusing on becoming the type of driver that knows how to turn a lot of miles safely and consistently. Then you'll have great paychecks and you'll be making your company money. That's what it's all about. People hear that drivers are in demand and it makes them think they hold all the cards and that it's up to the company to please them. That's complete baloney. Truckers are in high demand because it's a job most people can't handle, as you've already found out the hard way.

How badly do you want this? That's what it's going to come down to. If you make the same mistake that so many make and keep asking, "How badly does my company want me?" you're going to have a short and miserable career.

Nighthawk,...the majority of the time, the problem with a company is a student's, or trainee's, or rookie driver's inability to adjust, commit, and accept the inherent challenges common in this industry. These challenges cascade the entire industry, not just PAM.

Not trying to insult or be accusatory here, just trying to suggest the importance and relevance on focusing your attention inward as opposed to your perceived misgivings with PAM.

Study the replies Brett and Old School offered...your success or failure is well within your control and has little to do with the company signing your paycheck.

Dig deep... Good luck.

Nighthawk, I remember you saying you weren't thrilled with the six months of teaming before going solo. Was this one of the big reasons for your change? And will you owe PAM anything for the schooling?