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?

Howdy, Mike C. ~ and congrats with getting on with CFI ... have you read Big Scott's diaries? PackRat worked for them for a spell also. I've heard good things, there; Trans Am, not much chatter around here, either way. I know they are big on lease...was that your plan?

Chickie Monster used to drive for them a few years back; you could dig up her diaries and comments within the search bar; she is now with Cal Ark, however.

Kerry, OTOH .. posted simultaneously with you (almost) about HIS current experiences with Trans Am.

In case you haven't read his conundrum with Trans Am :

Kerry's Trans Am Experience

That's crazy .. not having a trainer. IMHO, anyway~!!

Best of luck, Mike C.

Anne :)

Mike what problems are you having due to Trans Am saying you worked for them?

Also, CFI has a couple of Facebook groups for drivers. We mostly have helpful drivers and the rest of the company from top down.

With 100% bias, I think you're now with the best OTR company.

Good luck.

How did you get to orientation? Where did you stay for those three days of orientation? A company provided hotel?

If you weren't considered an employee why would have to sign a withdrawl letter?

It is not uncommon for carriers to list people that showed up for orientation as employees. It is also normal practice for potential employers to ask about previous employers even if you just attended orientation.

Believe it or not... Homeless people will jump from orientation to orientation just for a free room and meals. Recording them stops this. It also is a record for future employers to be aware of how much someone job hops. If you see seven jobs in 2 years don't expect that person to stick around.

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

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.

I'm just pointing out that it is normal practice to ask about companies that were employed at or attended orientation at.

I don't know anything about their "training". I've never looked at it since it wouldn't apply to me. I don't live in their hiring area. But to say you didn't receive anything from them isn't accurate either because you got at least three nights in a hotel. That costs money.

If you're on at CFI though it shouldn't be a problem for you. Unless Trans AM is saying you owe them.

I still do not understand if you were never hired why you would have to sign a withdrawl letter unless it's to cover their rear and prevent you from claiming unemployment or something.

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

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.

If it's on your DAC you can dispute it. Same way you did here. Then Trans AM has to respond. Even if it's not removed your dispute will accompany your record if someone does a check.

Best of luck

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.