Question:
I am a newbie looking for info on either TransAm Trucking out of Olathe, KS, or on Watkins & Shepard out of Missoula, MT. I can't seem to find much info (either good or bad) on either Company. Was wondering about anyone's past experiences. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks
jscook

Answer:
I applied to them online but never heard back.

Answer:
I've ran the same lanes as watkins guys and most seem pretty happy with that co. Dont know if they take less then 1 yr. though.
Luck to you, TC
It takes courage to change, not the absence of fear or adverse conditions.

Answer:
Thanks for the info I guess Lack of bad reports is a good sign.
thanks Again

Answer:
I am starting on my fourth month at trans-am
Home Time
You get 4 days a month They are very good about getting you home when you want. If you live farther than 150 miles you take the trk home with you. You get paid deadhead miles home and to next pickup.
Pay
They start you at .30 and the pay goes to .37 The bonus is paid every quarter and is tied into on time deliveries and the number log violations
Equiptment
Every trl i have picked up needed repairs mostly burned out lights
the trucks are freightliners mostly 10 speed trans They are upgradeing to all automatics Classics when you get upgraded you pick the color and how it will be marked if you want they will install rig master generators at no charge or sell you and install 1000 watt inverter for a about 400.00
Miles
They are mostly meat haulers they have slow times of the year. They have long waits at the shipping places my longest has been 23 hours.My average wait is 5 hours this last week i loged 3800 miles the previous week was 3600 my slowest week was 1800.
Runs
they run from co. east mosy of my runs have been from kansas to pa. ny. ma. If you want nyc. they will pay extra
freight
The majorty of loads i pick up are drop and hook the deliveries are live the company pays for lumpers when they are available if you dont want to unload it yourself I have had 1 that I had to unload my self
The majorty of the people there are pretty happy working there the dispatchers are decent people the shop people are ok but it sometimes takes them a few tries to get the trk fixed I broke down in pa. for three days the company paid for a hotel no problems
when you tell them you are empty the longest i had to wait for a new dispatch was 1 hour
you don`t have a choice you go where they tell you to go

Answer:
Almost everything about Trans Am sounds pretty good, and I would apply with them today, but their website says they reimburse for lumpers. I've worked for companies before (outside the trucking industry) that reimburse expenses, but I don't envision having enough cash on-hand to be able to front the company $125 or more a pop, interest-free, for a couple weeks at a time.
How do other drivers deal with this kind of outlay?
de KJ5KX

Answer:
Even the companies that reimburse, you can still usually get a comchek for it and be reimbursed on same check so it will balance out....thats my experience.
and i worked for Trans Am about 5 years ago and they would give you comchek number to pay the check right to the lumper (just get a receipt signed from lumper).
******************************
HAPPILY MARRIED AND IN LOVE !!
******************************

Answer:
hey okcok.....just curious does T/A still put you up in that Best Western in Olathe that has the indoor pool and hot tub, and the sports bar ???
That was the best company orientation I've ever been to
******************************
HAPPILY MARRIED AND IN LOVE !!
******************************

Answer:
I am leaving for orientation at trans am this morning. The hotel that they are putting me in is called the Microtel.
I was going to wait until the Jan 2 orientation but I have to be back home for a court appeareance (an easement across my farm issue) on Jan 31. They would not quarentee me that home time due to the time that I have to spend in the truck with the trainer. As a newbie I have to log 160hrs of driving time before they bring me back in for your final testing, and they thought that might not be doable as far as getting me home in time for the court appearance.
What a b**ch! Oh well, I will get some good winter driving experience with a trainer, which in mho is a good thing. I figure by the time I get to start feeling comfortable with myself at the wheel of a 80,000lb. ball of rolling steel is when all the freight starts to loosen up (March or April).
This will be the first time I haven't been at home with the wife and kids for Christmas since I have been married(1976). My family and I knows that we have to do whatever it takes to make this thing work. It helps that they are all pretty much grown up and are willing to help their mother around the place while I am gone.
I have been self employed for the past 20 years, so this is going to be quite a change for me. No more taking off anytime I feel I need to.
Anyway, I am off on a brand new adventure in my life. Quite excited really. Get at least 6mos. with Trans Am, then decide if they are whats right for me. I would really like to drive for someone who does all 48. Really want to see some more of this great country of ours.
I will try to keep you posted about my experiences so as to provide first hand infor for all of us newbies what it is like to break into the trucking industry as a new driver.
My thanks to all who have posted here info that I have found to be pertinent about what to expect as it was really quite informative. It really helps us newbies to find GOOD information instead of ranting and raving.

Answer:
i worked for Trans Am about 5 years ago and they would give you comchek number
Thanks, T4J! That sounds like a go!
de KJ5KX

Answer:
I have been with trans-am for a while now, I still think it is a good place to start with.
The starting pay is better than what a lot of places pay after 1 year.
The trucks (classics) are some of the nicer company trucks.
They advance you 200.00 a week for lumpers and expenses
they put you up in the microtel near the terminal.
A couple things i don`t care for is the area they operate in from denver to the east coast a lot of PA , NJ and OH
They are very good about getting you home when you want , but it is 4 days a month use it or lose it. i like to stay out a couple months at a time and 4 days isn`t enough time to take care of things
I still haven`t seen a bonus. Log violations
Overall trans-am is a good company to start with but after you get 1 year i think there are better companies to work for

Answer:
Jawatzoo, Microtel's are very nice. Good luck to you, I look forward to hearing about your experiences and progress. Please let us know how you like TransAm.
Being away on the holidays takes some getting used to, certainly, but it is not insurmountable. You just have your holidays on a different day than the majority of the populace. I worked as a motion picture projectionist for 30 years, and quickly got to where I didn't even notice missing those days (or weekends, for that matter). Just know that you are serving a vital role in your new job, and, most importantly, you are providing for your family.
Be safe, and keep us posted!
de KJ5KX

Answer:
okcok, thanks for the good info. How much is their health ins. deduction, if you don't mind to say?
they operate in from denver to the east coast a lot of PA , NJ and OH I live in Eastern PA, so that will work good for me. Do they slip-seat?
They advance you 200.00 a week for lumpers and expenses Will they issue a Comchek #, like they did when trucking4jesus worked for them? If not, what happens when you go past $200 in lumpers for a week?
I still haven`t seen a bonus. Log violations
What sort of bonuses are these? Are they remotely attainable... again, if you don't mind saying?
Thanks for all your good info, it is helping me to make a decision. Right now, TransAm is at the top of my list. I would just call them and ask these questions, but I would only be talking to a recruiter. A driver tells it like it is!
de KJ5KX

Answer:
I forgot they have a real nice new terminal there since I worked for them.......never have seen it but heard it was nice.
Unless things changed they don't slip seat.
******************************
HAPPILY MARRIED AND IN LOVE !!
******************************

Answer:
at trans-am you take the trk home with you on home time if you live farther than 150 miles.
when you take your vacation you leave the trk there in olathe. you get the same trk after you get back
you will get a bonus (i am not sure but i think it is 1 cent for every mile driven in the quarter} if you have no late loads or very many log violations or any accidents. some drivers do get bonuses. most of the drivers i have talked to say they have a problem with the log department if you have more than 16 points you lose the bonus.
they will give you points for any thing.
when you fuel they ask you if you want a cash advance. i take one for 200.00 every wednesday. i keep what i dont`t use and save it in case i need it for lumpers. if you have a major expense they will give you extra but i never had to ask.
if you are near your home they don`t have a problem with stopping by as long as you deliver on time. you route yourself.
this last quarter i averaged 2800 miles a week. they say from dec to mar it is slow but we just got several new customers. so i don`t know what the next quarter will be like. The things we haul mostly are meat and beer. long waits at the meat places.
when you get to a meat place you will drop your empty. i bobtail around town shop and have dinner while waiting to pick up a loaded trl, most of the time you will have no more that 2 deliveries. you will get 20.00 for the second stop. when the lumpers unload. you will go drop your empty and pick up a loaded. there is a lot of drop and hook
most of the live unloads will be meat loads at food warehouses. not very many live loads most of the time you will pick up a loaded trl.