Question:
If you are still in CDL school and are wondering
who you want to drive for when you get your CDL,
consider this:*$.30 /per mile to start
*160 hours behind the wheel with
a trainer
*state of the art equipment
*$50.00 a day while in training
All you need to do is maintain a 90%average or better, and call Helen Geiger@(800)370-9609 and ask her to send a recruitment package and tell her Dave Howe sent you and you are on your way to the BEST company out there!!!
" YOU CAN ONLY PERFORM AS WELL AS YOU PRACTICE".

Answer:
I won't question if it's a good company, no personal knowledge. But.....
I think EVERYONE at my school graduated above 90%. I don't think they graduate anyone below 90% -- I'd be surprised if ANY SCHOOLS DO. Why would they? Students are paying them to get a job, and anything less than 90% ain't getting pre-approved with ANY company. I think I got 98% or 99%....can't remember...I was disappointed because we all got the same grade and there were a couple major losers in my class.
By all means, get the best grade our of your school as you can. Just be aware, there's a lot to learn about the trucking school/job racket.

Answer:
Yea we all got 100% on our test we would take the test, instructor would go over test with correct answers, then we would have to hand them in. After the second test was done we no longer answered the ones we didnt know we would wait and mark correct answer when instuctor went over test.
Afterwards when standing around on break the conversation went like this.
"Hey what did you get on the test?"
"A 100".
"Me too, hey bill what did you get one the test?"
"I got a 100 also".
Dang if the whole class didnt just ace the test.
"A choice between doin' ten years, and takin'out some stupid !@#$,ain't no choice at all."
Mr.White (Reservor Dogs)

Answer:
'Transam hires the best'? The 'best' what? Why are they looking for newbies, if they want the 'best'?
$0.30/mile is about $0.20/mile short of minimum wage; nobody looking for the 'best' pays 60% of minimum wage.
"I do not need to explain why I say things. That's the interesting thing about being the President. Maybe somebody needs to explain to me why they say something, but I don't feel like I owe anybody an explanation." George W. Bush, to bob WoodwardJay Gould
__________________________
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Answer:
Of what my research of the past several months has indicated, Trans Am Truck is indeed a good company. They are at the top of my list. I've already talked to Helen, several weeks ago, and she was very cordial. Of all the companies I called, Trans Am was the only one that made me feel like they appreciated my call and would be glad to have me as an employee.
That's indicative of a pleasant atmosphere to work in, IMHO.
73, de KJ5KX

Answer:
As an aside, Crete Carrier also told me they hire from the top 90%, but they were short with me and behaved like my call to their recruitment line was an interruption. I took that as a bad sign and summarily dismissed them from consideration.
73, de KJ5KX

Answer:
Originally posted by OLDHIPPIE59:
call Helen Geiger@(800)370-9609 and ask her to send a recruitment package and tell her Dave Howe sent you and you are on your way to the BEST company out there!!!
While you have her on the phone, ask her how much they pay for a recruiting bonus, and don't forget to ask what it's really like waiting for your load at a meat plant, or dealing with Lumpers at Hunts point, Detroit, and Chicago, don't even want to think about Boston. I am not trying to put any company down, but as with any company, try to find out what they haul and where they go. then talk to other drivers about their experiences with those loads, and places, not just what equipment they have, or that you only have to spend 160hrs(about 2 1/2wks) with a trainer. Because nothing will make you think you've chosen the wrong career, faster than a couple of days at a meat plant.
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Answer:
If a company is looking for quality students they must evaluate the school, since many Private schools hand out good grades to get students hired.
Public Community Colleges and State Colleges are more honest since they are in the business of accreditation.
If your Company hires students with only a 90 %
score........they must be desperate for drivers or warm bodies.
Do it in the Snow, packed Snow, Glazed over Snow, Deep
Snow, Crusty Snow, Ice, Black Ice and frosty roads for the same pay as Drivers in warm Climates..

Answer:
Other than the fact that TN allows the newbies forum to be used as a recruiting forum and there's a whole lot of info about Trans Am missing 30cpm to start isn't bad. Some slightly dense indivuduals work for larger training companies and only make that much after a couple years.
The 90% grade average is what most want. Covenant wanted a 90 or better and SRT wanted 92 or better not to long ago.
Just 160 hours of training makes me think their getting a bit desperate for drivers. That in itself would make me look away. Some one up there mentioned how nice Trans Am treated him on the phone. Well, when your desperate you learn to kiss butt to get what you want. If that's what it takes to get you to sign up they'll be the friendliest company around. Unlike companies like Crete that can afford to be a little picky and wont hold your hand just because your you.
All I know is reputation plays a bigger part in decision making for me than any thing else. You can be rude and crude mean and nasty if I know your company is one of the better ones.
The $50.00 a day for training really sucks. It's only $350. a week. Then you minus at least $125.00 for food and stuff and you aint making no money.
It's tough enough to figure out what company you want to work for. Your simply not goung to make a liveable income for a while. The best thing is to look past the Bs on the phone. The most friendly of recruiters is more than likely a bigger phony than the grump that wants to keep it simple. Don't fall for the BS.
Don't fall for drivers that want you to mention their name to the recruiter. Because they are making a recruitment bonus. If they made a good enough living at their job recruiting for cash wouldn't be on their mind.
Good Stuff
"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of all who threaten it"

Answer:
Unlike companies like Crete that can afford to be a little picky and wont hold your hand just because your you. I'm referring to common courtesy. Lack of which does not reflect favorably on that employer. Yes, I can deal with it, but I am being picky, too. If I don't choose to consider a company who doesn't put their best image forward in the recruiting dept, then I'll be wasting no one's time.
I'd already done about 3 months of research on companies, and put Trans Am at the top of my list... before I even called them. I have also heard from a couple of their drivers, who report they are indeed a good company to work for. The cordial treatment extended me on the phone (read: manners) was simply icing on the cake.
There is nothing wrong with making someone feel appreciated. That speaks volumes about the operation of an organization.
I don't have to tell you that NO company is perfect. They all have pluses and minuses that either favor an individual's preferences or not.
Pick the one that's best for you and go with it.
73, de KJ5KX
[This message was edited by FlimFlamMan on February 18, 2003 at 21:04.]

Answer:
I used to work for TransAm a few years ago and it is true they treat their people very good and all......but I can tell you unless it changed you will haul mostly meat and due to this at least back then there was lots of layovers, and some pretty low mile weeks. just a little advice.
BTW my company...Shaffer is basically owned by Crete and I don't know about their recruiters but mine "Craig" in New Kingstown,PA at shaffer couldn't have been any nicer, heck he even let me use his own car when i was up there to go get lunch and dinner
And besides since ive started there have been treated great even by dispatch (yes even dispatch).....
good luck to you wherever you go.
GREG - a.k.a. Married Man
"Hakuna Matata...Means No Worries"

Answer:
Thanks, TFJ. I really appreciate the insight. I'm glad to hear you're getting along well with Shaffer, that's good to know. Hope you're getting lots of miles. I've deduced that TA is a good choice for me to start with.
Other TransAm drivers I've talked with report lots of drop and hook, so maybe that's improved. I hear you on the layovers, though, that's always something to be concerned with, thanks. And there were pluses that outweighed those probabilities for me.
Newbies have limited choices to begin with, and thanks to people like yourself - with good advice and experience from the field - we are able to pool resources and make informed decisions.
73, de KJ5KX

Answer:
your quite welcome.
GREG - a.k.a. Married Man
"Hakuna Matata...Means No Worries"

Answer:
Is it a requirement to mention Dave Howe?!?!?!?
How about calling the company I drive for and mention my name!!!!! I'll tell you that they only hire the best to get that bird dog fee in my pay check. Any of the companies that hire students at this time, when experienced drivers are plentiful is not going to be one of the "cream of the crop" companies.

Answer:
How about calling the company I drive for and mention my name!!
Any of the companies that hire students at this timeYou mean your company is not one of the cream of the crop companies, either?
73, de KJ5KX