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PAM Transport

PAM Transport review: 3 months wasted 115

K
Author of the review
2:49 pm EST
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My husband and I weren't even making ends-meet when he decided to go into the trucking industry. He stumbled upon the driver solutions website and we both thought it would be a good idea since he wasn't having good luck with getting a job our here. Well, he applied and was contacted by a man named Brian Kelly I believe. We went through a process of application as normal and they checked out his dvr record and all was fine and ready to go. He went to C1 Trucking School in Springfield, MO for a 3 week training course to get his CDL. Everything went fine and dandy for a while and he passed and received his CDL. He was hired on to P.A.M. by the time he was done with the school and this is where it starts to go bad.
He was scheduled to start the following Tuesday with them. Now grant it, I was working but barely making it with the house payment and babysitting costs on my own. So by this time we were pretty broke with supporting him while being gone. So we were more than ready to get him on the road to start making some money. Well, he was supposed to be on the road for 4 weeks with a trainer getting only $300 a week (minus taxes and a portion to pay for part of the tuition). That was fine, any money was good money at this point.
Well, he calls the contact at P.A.M. to start his loads and training, no answer, leaves a message. Well, we don't get a call back all day, he calls again, no answer, leaves a message. So we suffer for two weeks of no answers and leaving messages and asking a rude receptionist to page her to her desk for our call and her refusing to do so. Finally, the lady calls back. Well, she claimed that she couldn't get through the phone. That's funny, because he left messages with two phones to contact, both in working order and even C1 was frustrated this so called coordinator lady from P.A.M. because a ton of other new employees were having the same problem.
But whatever, he gets started with a trainer two weeks later after C1. So we're finally making money. However the "training" mind you lasted 6 weeks before dispatch finally decided to get my husband to the orientation in Tontitown where they were supposed to get him his own truck. The other thing was that his trainer was rude and unsafe with his driving, and took random pictures of women everywhere he went. My husband remembers finding piles and piles of pictures of random women in the trainers glove compartment. Interesting...what kind of people are they employing.
But nevermind that, he goes through orientation and gets a truck and makes one run and gets to be home finally. He has a couple days off at home and then got to head out again and start making regular (better) pay. His dispatcher calls him for a run and tells him to go back up to Effingham to get the truck inspected (since it was run down in the first place when he got it) and then start his load. Well my husband got to the shop and told the mechanics the truck was there for it's inspection. The mechanics looked at him funny and told him he was only there to drop off the truck. So he called his dispatcher and his dispatcher immediately transfered him to the safety guy. The safety told him he was fired for a speeding ticket back in 2006 and he was on his own for getting back home. He asked why all the sudden that supposed ticket came up when it should have been caught in the beginning when they said he was good on his dvr report.
So I had to get my infant son and drive for 7 hours to pick him up and get him back home. No compensation, nothing. They didn't even pay him for his first run, his layover or anything. P.A.M. Transport is a rip off! 3 months of "training" to be stranded in the middle of nowhere, no money, no nothing, sucked dry of money spent on essentials for that crappy truck. He has left messages in almost every department there demanding to see that so called report and to be compensated and actually get his payment for the runs that he did for them. Several messages, no answers, no returned calls or emails. We are looking for a lawyer or a class action lawsuit to join. They left us with tuition (promised to pay, yeah right!) and even more broke then we were before. Those life sucking idiots should never be trusted! Don't go with P.A.M. Transport ever!

115 comments
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Shalon Bates
, US
May 18, 2018 1:20 pm EDT

So I read a lot.. and to be honest these reviews must be from people who would have never made it in any company.. Driving school is not for the weak.. or the lazy.. I been threw 2 companies schools (one I got license and the other I did review training.. ) both where tough.. you are training with people who hold you back because they are not made out for this work.. NO Trucking is not easy.. it is hard.. You live in a tin can, sleep in crappy truck stops (at times) and 4 wheelers see you as the danger their roads..

Driving is a way of life not just a way to earn a living.. Most people who attend school don't make it.. It is a fact.. Either it is in your blood or it is not.. Yes people can do the job but if it is in your blood you will love your job..

OH yeah when people read all the bad they should check with the BBB They got a A+...

I gave up my license years ago.. Didn't want to but had to.. Cant wait to go back to school and back to a job I LOVE..

Driver Solutions
BBB ACCREDITATION SINCE 05/19/1996
A+
BBB Rating System Overview
Customer Review Rating:
84%

9%
[27] Positive Reviews
[2] Neutral Reviews
[3] Negative Reviews
[32] Total Customer Reviews

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coffeee
, US
Aug 04, 2023 7:18 am EDT
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you don't belong on the road with your iq

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New trucker's wife
Hamlet, US
Dec 17, 2012 2:08 pm EST
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I have complaint about PAM Transport. My husband went through the training school in North Carolina and was hired by PAM Transport. After driving for this training pay of $300.00 a week he was put with his team driver to start his new career as a truck driver. His bring home pay has been anywhere from $49.00 (yes I said $49) to $250. He is a team driver and should be getting more miles than a solo driver but he is not. He has complained to his manager and requested more miles however there area always layovers and just POOR A$$ Management with this company. Now we are stuck in a contract for a year and we are about to lose everything we have worked so hard to obtain. I have talked to other truck drivers and I know that this pay and treatment is not common with other trucking companies, however I have found that with PAM there are too many similar complaint to mine.
If anyone can give me some legal advice on getting out of this contract before bankruptcy let me know.
Thanks, New truckers wife

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Connie L.
, US
Nov 19, 2016 7:19 pm EST
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We have had mostly trouble with PAM. We know they just settled a huge lawsuit about pay. Now my fiancé is having trouble with the home dispatch to even get a load to haul. He loves to drive but they keep him parked most of the time. He's got a clean record, is ex-military, is HAZ-Mat and other rated. This past week and a half they kept him parked so much through miscommunication that he figured it all up and didn't even make minimum wage. I contacted the home turf on Sat. night and was treated rudely. I finally got a driver manager to pick up and he was rude as well. Granted, I was hot and asking questions on the heated side, but these guys had been waiting for a load since 7am. They were supposed to have a trailer before lunch. Now it was 7pm and still they sat. They didn't know I called. After speaking to the dispatch driving manager, within 5 minutes they had a loaded trailer to take. They found out that trailer had sat on the lot LOADED and ready to go since 9am. Now what kind of company has that kind of poor communication. I hit the PAM website and saw that they have reported 3 quarter losses. Now I wonder why...You can't make money if you don't deliver goods because you keep your drivers parked. We have bills to pay. The drivers have lost wages. I bet everyone at the home office made their paycheck this week and for inept work. I'll be on the phone to management Monday. We are college educated people and I have white collar management experience in many areas. He is a licensed registered nurse but could make more money driving a truck. There's more "state of the union" information for you. I don't know why or how some driver's are treated better than others. All I know is that my fiancé and his co-driver have run into a bunch of people who are walking or have shared the same issues. Somebody that wants to work and do a good and right job to support the company shouldn't have to call constantly to get a load to deliver. Unacceptable.

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Shoelace
, US
Oct 26, 2016 1:53 am EDT

Yep... HUGE ripoff, faulty equipment, not enough trucks, people from previous classes still having to use the only trucks so we couldn't train properly. PAM/Driver Solutions is nothing but a RIPOFF. STAY AWAY!

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CDLA non-driver
, US
Sep 28, 2016 11:15 am EDT

I was a trainee at C1 early last year in Indianapolis. I watched 80% of my class fail and somehow passed the test on my first try. I only had two days behind the wheel due to them taking forever about me needing better glasses. I offered to buy my own but they insisted that THEY had to buy me them. They wouldn't drive me anywhere without their permission, if course. I walked to and from the hotel just about every day and all was fine. Passed every test first try but the vision. Some downtime waiting on PAM at a friends house then I got my ticket to Tontitown. Red flags had already been smacking me in the face but I was already stuck since the contract with Driver Solutions bound me in before I could even get behind a wheel. Grit and bare it. Cruddy town with truck wrecks every day. Seen SWIFT crunch a trailer under the overpass right outside the hotel. Good sign, right? So we all get there, see maybe 4 other people from our, what, 40 people class?! The rest had stayed after me and failed their tests three times and were sent home with 6k in debt. Bullcrap. I already knew it was a scam from the beginning but the degree of severity was a shock. Maybe 3-6 people passed from each school and were all thrown to PAM orientation as, "The best of the best." Are you kidding? I had two days behind the wheel. I GOT LUCKY! Anyways.. Orientation, more classes, more "training" and even less coaching. "Where did you learn how to drive you [censored]?!" "Your school, sir." Ah, good times. After passing THAT mess of a test I was bussed out to North Little Rock to a Red Roof Inn for two WEEKS without pay. I was hungry and broke as it was, living off of the money we got from C1 for graduating.. 100 bucks goes a long way if you try.. Finally my trainer shows up, I was ready to go. He was in a rush with 15 minutes left on the clock and ready to pass out. His old student jumps out, I jump in and HE STARTS DRIVING. He pulls to the curb under a bridge and tells me we need to be in Houston TX in about 3 hours. Nope. Not going to happen. Kept the truck up at top speed of 66mph and he immediately pissed in a bottle and went to sleep. I could have killed us both but he didn't care. He didn't even strap himself in. Training was Hell, especially when I found out he didn't know his left from his right. Literally. I wish it was a joke. I somehow get through training and get dropped off in Houston, where that journey had first taken me. I get a truck, drive to Irving by myself and deliver a load there before going to the Irving yard to wait on my partner. A few days later they offer me a load going to Laredo. I took it, hesitantly. Truck breaks down after the first night. Wait about 20 hours in the heat for repairs. Get it taken care of, drive to Laredo and get a newer truck. Three weeks later my partner shows up in Ohio, same class as me, weeks later. I had to drive up there on my damn own to get him. I had been asking for WEEKS where the heck he was! No one knew! He said he chose to change trainers because of a disagreement or some bullscrap but it turns out he was stubborn, dangerous, and a general egotistical person to train. He went through THREE TRAINERS. By that time another class mate had already moved on as well, making it just the 4 of us. Time goes by as I watch my partner piss over me into bottles, go hiking in the middle of drives, need a 30 minute stop every day AFTER he started driving to get COFFEE at a "better place". Flying J coffee isn't any better than Love's coffee. Especially if you need 10 piss breaks a day. He wrecked a few trailers, lost plenty of tires, gotten us hundreds of miles out of our way for no apparent reason, we had the Qualcomm after all. One day, thirty minutes away from our dropoff, we switch out. All he had to do is drop the trailer, pick up an empty and drive to Jacksonville to get our new load. Fine. About 4 hours of work and driving, max. He had 10 hours of leeway. I wake up with the empty trailer still behind us. He woke me up with his yelling. He was lost and driving blind looking for his relatives near the coast if Florida... Granted, he was an older man, but this is where things become unacceptable. I ask him to calm down and pull over. He immediately tells me to shut up and "leave me the heck alone you griping. When you get to be my age, you don't get many more opportunities left to visit family!" He pushes me, I buckle in.. I tell him there's a walmart up ahead, that he needs to stop and at LEAST plan a route. He ignores me and passes the Walmart. "No trucks allowed." We entered a small residential area with cars parked on both sides of the road. I panic and yell at him to stop before he killed someone. He's still silent. Cringe and squirm anxiously as I watch kids cross the street and he finally slows down... We're stuck, nearly impossible turns all around us. I suggest we call for help. He says he'll beat the life out of me if I even try. I get out and guide the stubborn old fool out and he agrees to go park at Walmart to take a rest. Things only escalate from there on out. He got more irritating by the day. I had already requested a new partner to replace him but was declined. "You signed a contract, " they would say. I signed a contract to stay with PAM for a year or they would charge me for tuition of 6-7k. Not to needlessly endanger my life for crap pay. Two months of Hell later, I finally had enough. Dropped off our last load after having this son of a threaten my life, try to turn the truck on WITH MY ARM IN THE ENGINE, insult me, talk down to me, throw crap at me, stomp around and leave the truck whenever he felt like it and I had had enough. Dropped the load off, drove home, told him to get the heck out and get his crap before I lost my damn mind. I'm a very easygoing person but the Hell with this. Told him to come back in an hour after I got all my crap out and he could keep the truck. They had denied us home time for 7 weeks and had the nerve after approving us, 10 minutes to drop off, "NEW LOAD ASSIGNMENT." Nope. Screw it, they wouldn't even TRY to act humane. I quit. Screw them. It was miserable, underpaying, degrading, grueling work. Got calls and letters for a year, now they send one saying they're going to sue me. Fine, try it. Thanks to that screwed up school and company, I have enough debt to buy a new car. Thanks C1, thanks PAM. I really don't care if they try to garnish my wages. I'll quit. I'll start new jobs and quit enough times to make the lawyer go crazy. I'm not paying for crappy training and horrid memories and having my own life not be reasonable as an excuse to get a new co-driver. As far as I know, that dumb old man is the only one of us left at PAM. I seriously advise people to steer clear and look at other schools. Try your community colleges. Anything but this bs. Contact me at: imaginarydepths@yahoo.com

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alonzo anderson
, US
Apr 09, 2016 8:44 am EDT

Dont go through pam trucking or driver solutions its a scam and a rip off i was at my job 4 years prior to going to pam and i told the recruiter that (danyelle is her name) and she said ok she checked my backround and asked me if i had any viaolations in the past 5 years i said the only thing i had was a hit and run back in 2011 which wasnt my fault and she ok im gonna call you back as soon as the backround check comes back and let you know if pam will accept your job offer to them i said ok then she calls me back and says everything is good your good to go i said ok well i was told by someone i knew that i should get my temps before i go out there and she says no they will help you get them i said ok what she didnt tell me was that they dont help you get your temps and that your gonna be put on a bus going back from indianapolis to cincinatti ohio to get them which takes you out of class and that everything that the class is learning while your our in cincinatti you wont get to learn until the next week what she also didnt tell me was that you only get five weeks to get your cdl's and then they send you home so long story short i went and got my temps and when i got back they told me that i had to go back home (which is 5hours away) because pam declined my job offer so the point im making is why would she send me out here and tell me everything is good everything came back good and im good to go if in all actuality it wasnt and i could have stayed at my job that i was at for 4 years that i can no longer go back to because she was trying to get her comission its a scam but if anybody is reading this if you are gonna go make sure you get your temps before you go out there because if not your gonna be behind from the very first day you get there

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Melissa Berry
, US
Oct 24, 2015 6:08 am EDT

I whould love to be part of your lawsuit..almost the same story here.My husband already had his licens.Pam was fast 28th orientation got truck within week.The truck set in my driveway most of week .He was hires for a daily run 2600 miles week garentee 2000 they said he be paid for even if truck never started.He revived first check low, dispatch got back to him, we will make it up in next check 3checks later 3200$missing from that garentee2000 miles, he get good and mad demands his money, , no reply so he makes one last trip gets there drops load sets 10hrs gets email go to truck stop and boom they leave him stranded with my son 7hrs away..excuse hrs not fired but needs to call dot issue with his license..funny for had no issue...never got paid Pam is still looking into all that money but no return calls or answers for any of it

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lp54023
vicksburg, US
Jul 16, 2015 6:01 pm EDT

Worst thing in the world to do. Recruiter have bad attitudes and don't tell you everything. They will send you to a school in jackson ms that don't have the proper equipment or instructor to work with. CRW in jackson is a bootleg school with no trucks and put together instructors. Everyday a truck is on flat you have to wait on that and we sit in the sun we was promise a tent or something we haven't gotten anything. Someone from driver solution or pam need to go check out that school. The owner only want the money he don't care about nothing else.

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its all good
Oklahoma City, US
Jul 09, 2015 6:32 pm EDT

They say if one person said it could be a lie... If two people say it it could still be a lie... But if three people say it you have to take notice... If 4people and more say it it must be some truth to it... Now i called driver soloutions they told me i was a go suppost to be contracted thru pam been there done that with swift i drove 7 years let my cdl go...In all my reading of driver soloutions and pam sounds alot like the old swift... I will not go thru them pam or driver soloution... Best get funded by local city workforce or some other means of paying for it a grant or local city finacial help so you dont have sign a contract just ho thru school and find ur own way... Stay away from dac companys... Mom and pop companys are the best companys... Oil fields companys are ok... Dont go to driver websites for jobs... Go look in greensheets or local news paper people who own 10 trucks that are looking for a driver exsprience taught me this... Hope all is welll... O yea do some flatbed work... The pay is better and usally pretty good stronh smaller companys... Hope all is well out here... You. Make it even if driver soloution and pam stuck you with a bill much love...

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StokesBoy
Louisburg, US
Apr 29, 2015 10:49 am EDT

I start Cdl training for Driver Solutions next week & I pray to God it's not as bad as all these comments I have been reading. I mean its free training and you have to pay for is your permit & cdl license. Of course you have to pay back the portion they paid for youbto go to their school. My opinion if you're broke going in don't go. I have saved enough money so where I want have to worry about anything for at least two months. So yea wish me the best of luck

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devildog14
Austin, US
Mar 28, 2014 3:12 pm EDT
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Glad I saw this site, I was about to do the same thing. Retiring from the military next month with 25 years of service.

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Overthe BS
, US
Oct 24, 2013 8:17 am EDT

working for PAM ..PLEASE read your contract, they say they pay by the mile, but they pay from zip to zip, they work their employees like slaves, and mess up on paychecks on a weekly basis. someone needs to contact the media needs to or state attorney. These people just want the government incentive for employing veterans and low income people, they are full of crap>>>.run if you value your sanity

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Dallasguy84
Dallas, US
Aug 29, 2013 2:32 pm EDT

I'm a Texas resident living in Dallas Texas, I went to C1 truck driver training throw driver solutions in fort worth Texas. I cant find I job of any kind (not even trucking). Driver Solutions is now taking me to small claim court all the way in Indianapolis, In. I give up!

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Ran-Ragged
Columbia, US
May 18, 2013 10:36 am EDT
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I obtained my CDL in the year 2000, and I have had many negative experiences in the trucking industry since then. Unfortunately, the negative experiences outnumber the positive ones. For those who think they want to enter the trucking industry as a long haul OTR Driver... do a lot of homework. Try to meet some drivers and get lots of opinions. A good place to meet drivers is at the front counter of a truckstop diner. Most of them are probably in a hurry and some just want to be left alone... but if you are patient and respectful of their time (they have little free time), then you might find a few who will tell you the truth about their experiences. My only advice is to be careful with large corporate motor carriers. They will lie, cheat and steal to put drivers in a truck... so they can run you to death and leave you with little rest, barely any sleep and hardly any time at home with your family. Good luck.

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Angela Watkins
Morganton, US
May 08, 2013 5:46 pm EDT

Does anyone have any experience with this company in the state of north carolina? Please let me know before my son wastes his nonexistent money?! akwatkins42@yahoo.com

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Larry Bom
tree, US
Mar 23, 2013 1:31 pm EDT

I like the first one. He was in a Truck for 45 Day's and no one seen him and now he's at Adol's House waiting for a load of Tire's for him in division and then he sold a Tire to WE and WE said i said WE were a Soldier of Fortune here. A Sole of a Idea and i was Jew here to and you should Shut Down the Trucking Industry, he's not going to and D.O.T. here said you show U.S. The Way and will show you out The Door! And Soldier of Fourtune here is Garboring and you were WE and WE were ALL Together. How Come! I Jesus has said to you Many of Time I Was Here and you Shoed a ### with Foot of Eatery here and now John Joe E Joe IS Are Eel here and your O' Dot or what ever you call it, call's here every day to see his Way Home and now you know who you are - E ### and that's the E[censored] Shin Shareall you said you were and WE said NO! to you and all the Comotion you said i was and that's John The Japtist here IS R Eel here Lieing to you and Old Dot or what ever you call him. And i was Joe E here and you were Wall. For Heavens Sake already, why don't you Try Here for your ### Reaming - i'll give it to them here to if you like and i'll be at Lier's Club for you to For Feeding you Fit and Fiddle for me to. Also, i would like to be in Jesus Name and not yours. OK? OK then, and you You'll Time Carol for ALL of U.S. for nothing, because WE said NO! to your Trucking Industry. WE want it STOPPED! JESUS CAME. GOD

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aquaman250
Grantville, US
Feb 25, 2013 10:40 am EST

lets see how many people will sign up for a class action law suit against driver solutions.They said my work record wasnt detailed enough, but only after I had been in school for 31/2 weeks, such perfect timing not to hire me but make me pay tuition that I am not going to pay without a fight.I told them before I drove 500 miles to school I had no money.I was informed by Steve Monroe at drivers solutions not to worry that p.a.m trucking would cover it as far as the school, I had to furnish food and money for exams and physical.what can you do when you are 500 miles from home, no money to get back and they put a contract in front of you.this is a racket and it need to be stopped.Go to the court systems in indiana and see how many law suits driver solutions has filed, you would think BBB would have already stepped in.my email is aquaman2501@hotmail.com.

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New trucker's wife
Hamlet, US
Dec 17, 2012 2:38 pm EST
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My husband went through Future Truckers of America in Asheboro, NC and was hired by PAM. That school had bed bugs and they had to through away about six mattress while he was attending. He had to use the same towel for two days before he could get a clean one. Now about PAM they really do suck guys! He became a team driver thinking that he would get more miles and of course more pay but he is brining home between $49-$300 a week. (This is with him living off peanut butter and jelly on the road). He is gone for three and four weeks at a time and is home for about two and half days a month. For the money and the time away from home, I'm starting to wonder if truck driving was the right choice to make. He has complained about the miles he is getting and has begged his manager several times to please give him more mile so he can help pay our bills at home. His manager has promised several times but he still is getting only about 2800 on average a week (Teaming). We need out of our contract or we will be filing bankruptcy anyday now. If that happens I will sue PAM for this! Contact me is there is a lawsuit at blondie2867@yahoo.com

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NoMercyKerz
Laurinburg, US
Dec 02, 2012 5:43 pm EST
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I just left PAM to take a job in Afghanistan today. Worked there for 2 1/2 months. I wasn't even given a decent truck after I upgraded in North Jackson while all my other classmates got almost brand new vehicles with low miles. My truck had 370, 000 on it. Was supposed to be teamed. My 1st teammate quit the first night we drove together cause he already found a new job. The 2nd teammate they got me, quit the 1st hour we met, had someone come pick him up next to the yard we were stopped at. It is a definite scam they're doing. $5995 for a school that should only cost $2000, at most. In orientation at Tontitown, we're all told solo drivers will get 2, 000 to 2500 miles a week while teams will get 5000. After talking to several other PAM drivers out at truck stops, this isn't even close. The most miles I got in 1 week, thru no fault of my own, was 1500. Out of 10 paychecks as a solo driver, I only got 9. The most in 1 week I made was $375. 1 week I didn't even recieve a paycheck. Reason: 1 load, less than 600 miles for the entire week. After taxes and their school/ escrow, left me with nothing. Even told me I owed them $24. I wanted to be a good driver, work hard, haul loads all over the US, but when you only make $150 a week average, sit for 2 to 3 days a week waiting on loads, don't get but $40 if you happen to stay somewhere for 24 hours..Who can make a living off $150 a week? Not me. My bills total $1550 monthly. I'm now more behind, more in debt than i was when I joined. So I will be in contact with Attorney Generals in NC and Arkansas, the B.B.B and file formal complaints on both Driver's Solutions and PAM. This is a crime when you drive a semi-truck and make less than a high school student working part time at Taco Bell or McDonalds. It's a shame I spent 5 yrs in the Army, worked as a contractor overseas twice, come home and want to work to help rebuild the economy, haul Christmas freight around so all the kids could have their presents and they do this to me. But I'm not the only one. I will be in touch with an attorney once I can afford to retain one and I will come back to this site to report if there's more we can do to get these companies investigated and at least stop the criminals from getting away with this much longer. I regret ever signing that contract but I have a good feeling there's at least 1 smart lawyer out there who will be willing to take on the job. All I really want is the tuition cut in half cause it isn't close to being worth $6000 from any school. The stress this has caused me, the strain on my personal life, getting behind on my bills, strain on my family for not being able to have what we need, it's enough to drive a person insane, but I will not back down! The worse thing a person can do is let a company like these two get away with it

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elizabeth7622
n/a, US
Sep 15, 2012 9:37 pm EDT

Pam sucks! They don't follow their contract. Legal action should be taken against the company.
My husband has been working for 3mos and they aint following ### on the contract

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Earlgt
grandy, US
Aug 31, 2012 12:29 pm EDT

anybad news on ds in north carolina

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Earlgt
grandy, US
Aug 31, 2012 12:28 pm EDT

what about ds in north carolina any bad news?

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Peacekeeper73
Little Elm, US
Aug 28, 2012 2:07 pm EDT

I went through C1 in Ft. Worth. The instructors were ok, but, the equipment was crap, the "yard" was pretty much a dirt field with hay spread around to keep the dust storms from hitting you in the face while you wait around for your turn to practice straight-line backing. I swear we straight line backed or stood around waiting for nearly two weeks! We also watched a pre-trip video several times... everything is "secured". lol Our instruction for 45's was this is how you do it... go practice while the instructor heads inside. We taught each other.

There were WAY too many students attending at the same time waiting for their turn with a test truck trainer. Add to that, the number of people from the earlier class still waiting to test and we didn't get much time at all. I know of a few guys that got a total of 45 minutes with an instructor before they had to take their CDL test! I got a couple of hours because I had a little trouble downshifting.
I only passed the parallel parking because we had a cheat-sheet in a hidden cubby only the driver could see (I only got to practice 2 times anyway). (I did good, though. Amazed the tester because I got really close without touching the curb. LOL)

Ok... Got the CDL... finally. Now, remember I said we got NO time with a instructor on backing at angles. So, here I go to PAM transport. They strip down training to 3 weeks. One week of orientation in Tontitown, and, ONLY 2 WEEKS WITH A "MENTOR". WTH?! 2 WEEKS.
Orientation was just going over general PAM stuff, logging, rules, etc.. We only got to go out on their little range for a couple of days. Again... there weren't many trucks, so, we had to sit around waiting. I think I got to drive 4 times, and, then out on the road. IT was nothing. A bunch of us get sent on a bus to Ohio to get our trainers. We sat around there for days waiting. I know a few that just up and quit at this point. I wish I did.

The two weeks with a trainer was entirely too short. My "mentor" didn't know how to set up the training so he rushed me into the drivers seat on the first day. I WAS REALLY NERVOUS. We were at one of those docks that I've head experienced drivers don't like... Well, I had a mishap with the trailer door, while I was supposedly being spotted. Took the hinges clear off. ( I couldn't figure out how that had happened until I got some experience under my belt. I went under the trailer at too much of an angle. So, the already crooked trailer got a little more crooked. Pull out "forward" and wam hit the pole. See I learned from my mistake.)

After this, I should have just requested another trainer, because I got to spend the rest of the time listening to stories about other students doing things, and, not getting any help (but pretty much being called an idiot) for having downshifting problems (trucks reacted really different from C1 trucks). I didn't get to use the qualcomm much, and, I didn't get to back up, but, twice... and he took over when I had a problem. Oh, and, I got to spend days at a truck stop while he took home-time. Remember this is only a two week training? I think I really got about 9 days worth. Well, he decides to "test" me one day on everything I've "learned"... Now my confidence is shot. I never got to do anything by myself and I"m expected to do it all... yeah... So, he says he's not going to upgrade me. Whatever...

I end up back in Tontitown and they put me with another trainer. This person was a better fit for me. The bad thing is. YET AGAIN We get stuck for a few days in Tontitown and again several days in Laredo (aka Limbo for PAM drivers). I at least got to perfect my downshifting. Got the qualcomm down. Still didn't get enough backing. It's not from the Mentor not trying to help me. There just wasn't any time. They wanted me to upgrade after being with her for 10 days (yet I really only got OTR for maybe 5.).

It's like setting people up to fail.

To make a long story short. I ended up making a dumb error and scratched a reefer on a trailer in a odd dock setup. So, they terminate me for this. Ok, stupid mistake on my part. They just had to do it, though, when I was about 1700 miles from home, on a Friday afternoon. I had to leave all my stuff in the truck to go home via Grayhound. The safety guy tells me to ask for a PO for cab money. This is where the [censored]s in Tontitown show their true selves. I called my DM and he lies to me. Saying he'd help me with this. I call back and he's gone. Didn't do anything. Call back and get an automated messed saying calls from my number is not permitted... WTH? Call the main # and they are asking me what had happened, and, this guy will help me. Call back and it's like they've been talking about what had happened. Could hear someone laughing in the background. Jerks... On top of it. I didn't get the PO. They told me they'd take that money out of my last paycheck. They don't give taxi money to terminated drivers.

Now I'm just waiting to see what they've put on my DAC. My incidents were not technically "accidents". No other vehicles/people were involved. I also didn't abandon the truck because I was at a terminal at the time. I've head stories, though, on how companies use DAC to blackball people. I guess I'll see while I apply to other companies. (Gladly looking for real training!)

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JOHNZARK
, US
Jul 29, 2012 4:48 pm EDT

yall al suck dick n take it up the ###

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JOHNZARK
, US
Jul 29, 2012 4:47 pm EDT

YALL ALL SUCK BIG FAT DICK

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Poplicola
Indianapolis, US
May 23, 2012 5:33 am EDT

If you have had problems with Driver Solutions LLC (aka C1) there may be help available to you, particularly if you have been sued in Marion County, Indiana.

Despite the fact that you may have attended a Driver Solution/C1 CDL school in TX, AR, MO, OH, etc., the Enrollment Agreement you signed states that all lawsuits have to be filed in Marion County, IN. If you fail to pay back the money loaned to you, you will probably be sued in Indianapolis. This creates a real hardship for those who are being sued who live hundreds of miles from Indianapolis. Often judgments are entered against people simply because they are not able to go to Indianapolis to defend themselves. This often leads to wage garnishments and bank account freezes.

The Legal Services Corporation is a federally funded national network of agencies who try to provide legal advice and representation to the indigent. There are Maximum Income Guidelines these agencies must follow, but if you qualify you may be able to receive free legal services. We've already helped others who have been sued by Driver Solutions, LLC.

If you have been sued by Driver Solutions LLC, contact your nearest Legal Services agency and explain to them your problem,
including that you've been sued in Indianapolis, IN. If you are eligible for LSC services, you may be able to get help.

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John Pau
Memphis, US
Mar 30, 2012 12:34 pm EDT

I recently attended and graduated school at C1 Little Rock. I knew something was not right by the end of week one after about 11 of our fellow classmates were dismissed. If i knew then what I know now, I would've dismissed myself right along with them BEFORE DAY 7. You see each of us were made to "sign a contract" stating that if for any reason we were dismissed from the school BEFORE DAY 7 we would only be responsible for repaying housing and our DOT physicals. TBH, $6, 000 is high-way robbery for the the inadequate living conditions, poor teaching, and lack of concern that we were subjected to. Honestly, If you showed up with no prior knowledge or experience with a semi, you were basically doomed from day one, and should've ran. On the other hand, if you maybe trained on grandpa's truck for 11 yrs in the country you were just the type of candidate who would receive most supplemental instruction, road, and pad time. The living condition was not even fit for pig or dog. There were about 30 ppl in my class, so much for the small class sizes they boast about on th Drivers' Solutions' website. There were 4 of us to a room the size of a standard college dorm room fit for two. We shared 4 restrooms/showers and two washers and dryers which were almost always occupied, except in the wee hrs of the morning. (around 3 or 4). On average we trained behind the wheel of the truck on the pad about 1 hour each a day which anything adequate. During that time, I heard pad instructors curse, scream, and scold. However, there were two instructors, Wayne, and Craig, who actually utilized EVERY MINUTE of that time focusing on the strengths and weaknesses of EACH student, not just the stronger students. They actually spent time, even after hours with no overtime and on weekends, providing extra help to students who needed it. Over -the- road training was a disaster. I was one of the weaker students, and was constantly reminded through yelling, cursing, and verbal assault. (True story) As someone previously stated, more of my road training time was spent standing around waiting on smokers to finish their breaks instead of designating some non-smoking trainers for NON-SMOKERS like myself. At exactly 2 weeks and 2 days, several of my classmates were sent to test against our wheels, and against our trainers' better judgments. After I failed, the CDL test my first time (yes. I failed. go figure!) I was placed with a specific trainer who was suppose to help me "perfect shifting technique". In short, all he did for that 4 hrs was ###-watch and yell a bunch of obscene, derogatory comments to women walking down the street. I went and retested, and somehow God and I made it out of the hell hole know as C1 Little Rock. At one point during my skills test, I wanted to quit, but I thought about all that I had endured at C1, and I was determined not to leave their empty handed, so I didn't. Long story short, I would not recommend C1 trucking school to my WORST ENEMY, and I feel very passionate about that. I am now sitting at home in Memphis where I have been for the past 3 WEEKS waiting on a trainer from PAM. I call everyday, but no one seems to be able to tell me anything. Maybe I should go out and get a minimum wage job to take care of this mountain of debt I am getting consumed with. If you're pursuing a CDL, inquire at your local community college first. I am almost positive that they have some sort of cooperative program like W.I.A that will cover the cost of your training where you will NOT have to pay it back, and you will NOT have to endorse a company. Save yourself the misery!

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Jhon smith
, US
Mar 26, 2012 9:55 pm EDT

The best thing i can tell anybody on this is just pay out of your own pocket and take the training somewhere else. They will promise you a lot but not true. You have to pay for training yourself if you quit working about 1 to 2 yours. the whole 4500 dollars with interest. They will sue you and the court will take wage garnishment from you current job. C1 is a scamming company nasty rooms, nasty trainers and once you complete your training, when you go OTR trucking for PAM or USA etc... the drivers are not fit to be trainers and you cannot ask for another one, it will take you weeks to get one in between you need money so you look for another job guess what that 4500 plus interest could go over 10, 000 dollar and you have to pay for each penny.
if they send you a letter to settle for 2500 or 3500 usually around tax time take that time and pay them off, this ppl they would not leave you alone.

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Splatout
Johnson City, US
Mar 17, 2012 9:13 pm EDT

Scammed as well, Indy school. Maybee 2 hours of time behind wheel on range, 1 1/2 hours behind the wheel on the road. The day I took my driver's portion of the CDL, the state tester told another state tester that he was going to just go ahead and fail everybody that day in earshot of several of us that were going to take our tests. Sure enough he did.
Alhough my trainers "passed" me during the school portion, I never made it off of the range during the driving portion of my CDL testing. Big bill, they called my father's house every day rather than calling me, even though I was sending them more than their monthly payments. Was finally able to negotiate a settlemen for what ended up being about $3800.
Oh, by the way, I passed my CDL in a different state in my friend's flatbed the first time I took it a couple of years later. He taught me more for free than C1 did. No, I take that back. C1 definiely taught me a very valuable lesson-if it seems to good to be true, it probably is.

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junebug70
Aurora, US
Feb 28, 2012 2:52 am EST

I smell a recruiter...total BS. They will screw over as many as possible. the "school" is a scam. 5, 000people cannot be wrong.

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April H
91 dalena way, US
Jan 11, 2012 1:29 pm EST

My name is April H. I went through c 1 in Indiana
I worked hard, was completly honest on my app.
Therefor I passed C1, I was off the truck with my trainer in 3 wks.
C1 was a great school, and almost a year later I am still
With Pam trucking, They have been good to me.
God willing, I will continue to be with pam trucking until
I retire ! And for those of you that complain about the school
Or Pam, Im sure there is more to the story. True pam isn't
The highest paying comp. But what they lack in pay,
They make up for in the way they treat you !
I am not a trainer, or any kind of spokes person.
Im just April H. From the Atlanta area, just a
Driver that has been treated very well !

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backto alaska
Alpine, US
Oct 28, 2011 7:34 pm EDT

WOW...after researching and reading up on these and other trucking companies i don't know if it's a worthwhile pursuit on my behalf or not. I have always wanted to be a solo OTR driver and at 53 yrs. old, thought maybe nows the time...but...i do have a felony record...a couple of speeding tickets from the 1980's...and one DUI back in the 90"s...so much for a trucking career huh...

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Michael Shaw
Jessieville, US
Sep 05, 2011 5:11 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I've tried twice, to contact P A.M. Via U.S, Mail, and keep getting the letter back saying that their address, is not sufficent. I am glad that I read all your comments, about their bad CDL training course. It makes me want to stay away from them, and go with someone else.

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summersetblonde
Ligonier, US
Aug 30, 2011 5:36 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

DRIVERS SOLUTION is a RIP OFF and I have the e-mails and messages to prove it. The 1st time I was called a recruiter Melissa talk to me made it sound like I was perfect for their school. Single, no kids, could drive all I wanted to, no accident, no traffic tickets, no criminal record of any kind. She kept having me to call to get and give m0re information this went on for 3 weeks. I wasn't sure if this was normal or not, then after 3 weeks I tried to log on to the web site. I has been using it to study, all of the sudden I log on message said that because my information was being processed that sent up a red flag! Well I still thought maybe they were getting my paper work done. So I called Melissa again, after all that time she said there wasn't any body hiring that would help with tution. She tells me this was after I jumped through hoops for 3 weeks. Every time I talk to her for those 3 weeks I kept asking her are you sure I can get into class I needed a job and had to know for sure. She did every thing but sign a contract to convince me I could get in. Now I was pissed so I called drivers solution myself and they had no idea why she would say that because they had tons of openings. I decided to get back on the computer and try to get in to see what would happen with the web site, every thing was buttoned up tight. So they wasted 3 weeks of my life for nothing and if I had not called they would not have had the guts to tell me them selve.
This is the good part I had some friends that were considering them for school so to prove to them what a mistake it was I applied again same thing happened. That's OK it save 4 friends about $4000 and kept it away from THAT SCHOOL.

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lcbranch711
Rockmart, US
Aug 23, 2011 10:20 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Thank you every one for the background check on PAM, i was considering attending cdl training school through PAM. but no way, some of these trucking companies are brutal, they have no regards for man or God, only money, money they cannot take to the grave with them. some body needs to make an example out of them with a good law suit then they will stop. Doing business with a trucking company, it is a very good idea to put everything in writing, do not take their word for it since they are how they are...if they do not want to put what they promise in writing well, I would say run...DO NOT TAKE WORDS, ACCEPT THEIR WORDS IN WRITING AND SIGNED WITH THEIR SIGNATURE; then you can sue them if they do not do what they say they would do also Georgia have a law that employer can fire you for no reson. You know with a law like that, some congressman got paid off.

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unfortunatelyiamapamdriver
New Madison, US
Aug 09, 2011 6:29 am EDT

I had no problems with school, but the trainer did offer my g/f money for sex. I beat his ### and he never said a thing. I have currently been working for pam for a little over 9 months. The pay does suck, and I have met alot of drivers with only six months on the job making .29 cents already and I'm still at .26 cents. I don't ### or complain at all. Only to myself sometimes so as not to get das boot. Everytime I fill out a hometime request it is never honored. They are always filled out at least a month before the actual date to be home. Haven't seen my house in 4 months. I have been through 10 trucks already and am currently sitting in texas at a company yard and have been for 9 days. They have provided me with three trucks during this period and all have to be put in shop for oil, a/c, and coolant leaks. Only three more months and i'm done, and can hardly wait. It is a trainer company after all and I know it isn't all going to be a walk in the park. As to all those that have been fired. maybe you just suck ### at being on the road. The ones that don't see pay obviously haven't scanned their bol's or logs or they would have been compensated. As to the people who read this in the future. Pam is not as bad as everyone says, they are complaining cause they were let go. You can't believe everything you read. To the whiners that were not "trained properly" wah wah wah. You have the ability to pick up a phone and contact the safety department if something is not being done right. If you don't tell the right people nothing will ever be done about it. If nobody who can do something is unaware of the ### it can never be fixed. Don't get on sites like this and post whiney ### posts because you were "wronged". About 9 times out of 10 the people on here were problably let go because they were proven to be incompetent behind the wheel. I am not a dm nor do I work for ds or c1 in case some whiner posts that next. You get what you put into it. If your instructor is not to your liking you don't just have to "suck it up" by the way. They do provide you with a number to call if you have problems with your trainer. Good luck to all who choose to be a pam driver and drive safe. and remember a no sir/ma'am or yes sir/ma'am goes a long way and if you treat the dm's respectfully then you will be treated the same.

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jawj4291
commerce, US
Jul 31, 2011 11:47 pm EDT

I was scamed as well! I went to c1 in springfield no problem there. the problems started after I got placed in my owne truck by pam. after being verbaly told that I would be out on average 2 weaks I was kept ott 3 to 4 the whole 6 months I was with them. I quit when this did not change and have been herassed by pfs every scence. PAM keeping me out 3 to 4 weaks all the time after saying that that was rare is breach of contract and they are responsible for the schoolling bill. even though I did not stay with them for the year. I know breach of contract laws and that is the main one, if I breach contract I am responsible if they do they are.

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pissedatp.a.m
Deatsville, US
Jul 30, 2011 2:04 am EDT

i agree with yall i worked for p.a.m for 5 months and they havent payed me for the last 6 weeks they told me i didnt transflo my logs and bills on time which is b.s SO EVERYBODY DONT GO TO PAM TRANSPORT THEY SUCK BUT ONLY 1 OF THERE DMS ARE OK HIS NAME IS SYDNEY KING HE TRYED EVERYTHING TO WORK WITH ME AND MAKE THEM TREAT ME BETTER... So i got a local job driven a dump truck and im enjoying it very much... s o P.A.M IF YOUR READING THIS U SUCK AND ILL TELL EVERYBODY HOW YALL TREAT PEOPLE...

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caldwell1981
, US
Jul 25, 2011 12:19 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

fafsa.com was the wrong address. Its fafsa.ed.gov

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VERM2
Houston, US
Jul 05, 2011 3:08 am EDT

I too tried to work for PAM. Everything i have to say about PAM has been discused already anything further is beating a dead horse. but i will tell you a little bit. They finaly let me go after 6 months of driving for them. I did get tired of the $43.00-$350.00 pays per week. I was lucky enough to have placed my stuff in storage and had a cell phone bill only. Theyhad me stop at a PAM yard in North Jackson ohio and turn in the truck. I'm out of the Irving Tx yard. They shorted my pay and tolled me there would be no busses out of there till tomarrow. I called Norma and she informmed me that there were three busses out of there today. After that the so called managers informmed all the drivers but me, that they were not going to give me a ticket back home I was on my own. The other drivers are the ones that informmed me of this. I knew a few of them. I cleanned the truck like it was new. But I will never see a refunded $500.00 Deposit, the rest of my Pay (over 2500 mies), just a bill from C1. These are a few things to expect from PAM. If you are from Arkansas and very clannish then you should work out fine. Most people that have been with PAM for several years have been trainners, worked for the companies that were bought out and ETC... I feel that if I had a better Driver manager, I believe it would have been better than the experiance that i have recieved from these people. I wish I could say this was the worst job i have ever had... But no! The worst was working in a Candy Factory 12 hours a day to recieve 8 hours of pay. That only lasted 2 days. What the hell, it is like paying 6, 000 to see yourself get screwed over like what you hear about on TV. However; I did send them a nice Qualcomm message before I left thier property. covering the shorted check and how i believed that they would keep my pay and a few other things along those lines. Since it is court record for LIFE & PAM has to keep them for 2 years on their mainframe. If you ever get truck # 61654 Turn it down, please refuse it. Frieghtliner told PAM that a new truck would be cheaper to buy than to fix this one. I was right there when this was said. Truck # 62136 Is a good truck to have. Good luck to all those that don't believe any of this...