PAM Transport - A New Beginning

On what was supposed to be a Greyhound bus, but what ended up being some cheap version. Staring down the barrel of an 18 hour bus ride from hell. No wifi, no charging station, no book (because Greyhound said their busses have these things, and I thought "heck yes! movies and games, this won't be bad...wrong)

So now I have to ration battery power like a stranded man on a desert island with little food and water. What's worse is that this bus is the longest leg of my journey, then in Dallas I change busses. I pray that the promises of wifi AND charging capabilities along with more comfortable seating will come to fruition.

But while I *itch and complain I remain optimistic that what lies ahead of me is the reason I am on this bus. Freedom, independence, the countryside and highway as my office, and of course the money will be good. I understand a driver's first year is the lowest paying and hardest, but I love a challenge and the future looks bright!

Orientation is 4 days, then a first paycheck, and hopefully the Monday following next weekend I am on the truck learning to be a professional truck driver.

Now as I write this, my bus has come to a complete stop because a truck has rolled over on the highway...

Thanks to that accident I now have an 8 hour layover in Texarkana, AR. I'm so tired, want to be done with this trip already 😕

Oh boy I hit the lottery!! After the two day bus trip from hell I lucked into my own room!

The hotel has an indoor pool/ jacuzzi and this awesome bed:

This week is off to a good start!!

Updates?? How is PAM?

Orientation was mostly a lot of paperwork. We did have some "classes" with tests that followed. It wasn't difficult as long as u payed attention, plus you could use notes. The class gets split into two groups, so day 1 group 1 is inside and group 2 is outside on the range do skills tests (straight and 45 backing). The next day group 2 is inside and 1 is outside, and we swap untill Friday. Everyone is in class Friday. PAM serves lunch everyday and you also get $25 a day for spending money for dinner....eat cheap and save it!

The hotel is really nice, they serve breakfast in the morning and have a heated swimming pool AND sauna.

Friday of orientation week is when you will find out where you will go to meet ur trainer. New drivers will go to one of the 4 PAM yards in Irving, Tx; Little Rock, Ar; North Jackson, OH and Tonitown, AR. You will wait there in a local hotel until it is time to meet your driver. Some people wait 1-2 days, and some wait 10 days. I have been sitting here at the Days Inn in Irving since the 21st, I have to wait until the 30th!!

You will train for about 2-3 weeks and then go back to one of the 4 yards for your upgrade test, which includes a 70 question general knowledge test, backing test, and a road test.

PAM really wants its new drivers to be team HazMat drivers for at least 6 months. You get a lot better pay, if you do end up solo the pay is a little lower than some other companies, but hey, we gotta get that year somehow.

Once I get on the road with my trainer I will post regular updates from the road...until then.

Cool, glad it's going well. Good luck!

Cool, glad it's going well. Good luck!

Thanks, are you still considering a company?

I will probably go to local school part time and go from there.

I will probably go to local school part time and go from there.

Make sure they get you a job lined up, and it is a good school. I've met some people that went to school and it took them a while to line up work