I Have Had It

Check out Van Wyk and Continental Express. Smaller reefer companies. Based in Midwest not sure hiring areas. Not sure of rider program though. Also online transport. I have been researching smaller companies 200-1000 trucks. A little more hometime, pay decent and more of family atmosphere.

Chickie, I'm new on the forum, and yours was the one of the training blogs I read first. I can't imagine how your current situation feels. You showed a ton of perseverance and resolve during your training, so no one doubts your strength. Sometimes things have a way of working themselves out. And sometimes not. I hope a resolution for the best comes about from your company.

I agree with the others about contacting all the parties involved, be it your employer, and any rent/bills/utilities/etc. As a financial advisor, I've found communication can make the difference when dealing with late accounts. Granted, it's not a guarantee by any means. Companies react the harshest when they don't have any other options. A willingness to work with them can sometimes give them a better option for you. And yes, I've done this in my own life (regarding the IRS no less.)

I know your weekend went to pot, but maybe hold off your notice until Monday to see if things are still upside down by then.

(P.S. I decided to contact Prime myself so I've officially taken my first step, assuming they call me back.)

Alright, unfortunately I don't have the time to really get into this, but I'm just going to say everything that you are upset over is just trucking related stuff. I don't see Trans Am's liability or wrong doing anywhere in your unfortunate chain of events. Even the "phantom" truck recovery - I've experienced the same sort of thing. Sometimes they just can't keep up with it all.

Chickie, we love ya, but everything you're going through is the typical stuff that makes the green horns run to the internet and scream about how bad these trucking companies treated them. Changing companies will do nothing for you, hanging in there and facing down your difficulties, and learning from your trials, will set you up as a professional who knows how to handle themselves and this job.

Sorry I can't elaborate more - I gotta roll!

I don't see Trans Am's liability or wrong doing anywhere in your unfortunate chain of events.

CM- I hope you don't quit. TT's principle is that it is good for a driver to stay at their first company a year. My interpretation of Oldschool's comment above is that Transam did nothing wrong- ethically or morally. Good luck. I hope your husband is OK- with medicine issue.

I was just thinking in your financial situation you may want to consider that changing companies will require a period of time of low paychecks. For instance orientation could take multiple days, possibly having to go out with a trainer due to low experience, waiting on a trainer, or a truck if you go straight to solo. If you stay put you can start turning miles as soon as this situation is passed.

Just something to keep in mind.

Sorry to hear things are going so sucky right now, ChickieMonster. What you and your husband are going through is super rough. I really, really hope things start working out better for you two. Is your husband going to be ok and somehow get his meds?? Is there anything you can do to get him to the doctor before before his health is at risk? Do you have money for food?

Sorry about the way things are with TransAm right now, but Old School is right (as always!)--the only thing they have done wrong, in all your blogging, is that they "lost" this recovery truck. It seems like a pretty big deal to me, but still, it's really only their first strike. Yes, Teddy was breaking down at first, but that's not their "fault," so to speak. Trucks break down. In fact, if I remember right, they offered to put you in a replacement at one point and you turned down the offer (Was that you?? I can't remember if that was you or someone else on here.) It's also not their fault you got hit.

The only other thing you've mentioned really was a few issues with the training.

I haven't personally experienced any of these things, but I haven't gotten hit and my truck hasn't broken down. The first one is luck, to some extent. I probably would have taken an end spot if I didn't know any better, just like you did. The second--I've got a new truck, but it will break down eventually.

The paychecks are really up and down in this industry, which is potentially my least favorite thing about it. But that's just how otr trucking is, at least to some extent until you get the hang of it.

But anyways, if there is any way we can help please let us know. I wouldn't hesitate to help out if you guys need food or your husband needs his meds.

I've tried numerous times to respond to this but I can't seem to say what I want to say in a nice enough way so I'll keep it short for now. I agree wholeheartedly with Old School. He always says everything 1000 times better than I can say it.

I'm going to ask you one simple question CM and you answer it anyway you like.

Do you really think you have what it takes to make it in this industry or is it possible you're just another one of the endless stream of wannabes who couldn't hack it out there but doesn't realize it so they run around the web blasting their company to every sympathetic ear they can find? I already know the answer to that. I want to see what your self-perception is at this stage in your short career.

Chickie,

I know you are frustrated beyond all belief! I think you have gotten some real good advice here, particularly from Old Schools recent post. I'm sure he will elaborate when he gets the time. PLEASE DO NOT QUIT THIS JOB! As mentioned above a new company means a new orientation, new payroll, and a 3 or 4 week stretch with NO paycheck at all. On top of that there is no guarantee that the new company will have more miles, better equipment or even a Rider Policy for your Husband. In fact you could end up in a much WORSE job situation. At least you are somewhat familiar with Trans Am, and them with you. As the saying goes "Bad breath is better than no breath at all". Hang in there and Pray for patience and courage. God didn't bring you this far to drop you on you head. My prayers are with You and Hubby. It will get better!

TM

I agree with you OS, Paul and Brett. I know that trucking is full of these kinds of things. I was steaming mad last night and on rant. I believe I can make a career in trucking work for us, but we have an interesting and unique sett of circumstances that are proving challenging.

Just talked to my DM. They found the truck at the Rockwall terminal. No one has updated the information that it had been recovered.

They are buying us bus tickets home but they can't get us there until tomorrow at 5 pm. Which is too late. So we are going to have to figure something out to tide us over.

We weren't expecting all of this so most of our stuff including most of our clothes and all our food is still in Teddy.

We are both just emotionally and mental exhausted. But I'm much calmer today and I'm not going to make any rash decisions.

I can understand your frustration CM. At one point it seemed like my Mustang GT was going to get repo'd. When I bought it I could afford $400 payments but going thru training and having to buy load locks and chains and other stuff made me broke. I'm finally getti g caught up on stuff now that some of my Prime obligations are getting paid off.

It's good advice to talk to your bill collectors. You didn't say if your health insurance covers your hubby... so that might be somethi g to think about... changing jobs means 3 mos without insurance or 3 mos of COBRS which is expensive when you are already in debt.

I had some horrible issues in training which I did not discuss here.... including a trainer urinating in my drink bottle and not telling me. Now prime pays for me to get blood tests every 3 mos. I did not hold prime responsible for one person's actions. The 2 weeks with him were atrocious. .. dirty... abusive... in a truck riddled with DOT violations.... he was the best friend of my TNT trainer... and when things went bad she stopped talking to me over it. He illegally edited my HOS without me knowing (which prime caught when I got off his truck). I've had friends tell me to sue prime... but they did nothing wrong... they fixed my situation when I gave them the chance. There is good and bad everywhere you go.

I understand life is horrible at times. Within six months my sister died, my $50,000 car got flooded after only a month of having it... then a flood, earthquake and hurricane hit my house within 2 weeks. (In NJ go figure )... I have no more house cause of it.

My point is that you can make it through anything. Take a deep breath and consider your options. Is TA really responsible for the stuff that happened? My suggestion. Is to see if you can get loss of income from the guy who hit you. In a private vehicle you can sue for that... does it work the same with CMV????

When you said they have no record of anyone picking it up... it made me think it was towed rather than dispatch sending some one. So is that possible?

I know it sounds trite but the accident itself could have been sooo much worse. Had you hit the guy as a rookie... I doubt TA would have quit on you.. they expect rookies to hit things. But repeatedly you have been quick to want to quit on them.

Get a shower... get some sleep.. talk to rhe bill collectors. And good luck