Welcome to American Transport, Inc.

Owners/Operators Program

These features and benefits are applicable to individual owner-operators and fleets with less than five trucks.  Other programs are available for larger fleets.

Click on or see below for more details

Minimum qualification requirements - The minimum qualification standards that were applied by American Transport, Inc. in considering an applicant for a driver's position are as follows:

  • Driver applicant must be 23 years of age or older.

  • Three years verifiable experience in the past five (5) years in the operation of a tractor-trailer unit, over the road, with a motor carrier. (This experience to include a minimum of one year’s experience with the type of trailer the applicant will be pulling.)

  • No more than three (3) points in the previous 3 years of application date.

    • Preventable DOT recordable accident
      2 Points

    • Serious traffic violation per Section 383.51
      2 Points

    • Non serious traffic violation per Section 383.51
      1 Point

    • Preventable Non DOT recordable accident
      1 Point

  • No preventable DOT recordable accident or serious traffic violation per 49 CFR 383.51 in the previous 12 months prior to date of application.

  • No commercial transportation-related felony, theft or larceny conviction within the applicant’s lifetime that resulted in an active prison or jail sentence. All other non-transportation related convictions will be subject to review at the discretion of the company and/or its insurance company.

  • No conviction for DUI, DWI OR OWI on driving record within the previous five (5) years. No violation of 49CFR Part 382 or 392 of the FMCSR for drugs or alcohol.

  • No more than three (3) Out-of-Service violations on roadside inspections within two (2) years of application date.

  • The nature and severity of any of the items referenced above, as well as the Independent Contractor’s record viewed in totality, may be sufficient cause for declination of the application.

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System Wide Terminal Pay - Settlements can be made at many of our terminals, between 8:30am and 4:00 pm Eastern Standard Time. You may also choose to mail your paperwork to us in postage-paid envelopes, for twice-weekly payroll, which can be loaded on your Comdata or EFS card or sent to your home. You may also send paperwork to us by TripPak next-day delivery service, at a cost of only $4.25 per envelope.

In order to assure and assist our drivers in meeting compliance requirements of CSA 2010, effective September 10, 2010 regardless of the method of submission of paperwork for payment of a load (mailing, scanning, faxing, TripPack or in person) logs through the day prior to submission will need to accompany the paperwork.

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Truck Pay % - You can earn 75% or more with ATI. In addition to the base pay of 74% we offer a $600 safety Bonus, a 1/2% Revenue Bonus, and free permits after the first year. Also, we normally pay an additional commission to any truck that has, or can locate, its own freight. Combined with the other features and benefits offered by ATI, we have one of the best overall packages in the industry.

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Liberal Advances - You may advance up to 35% of gross revenue, which equals 47% of truck pay. Emergency and after-hours advances are available.

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Revenue Bonus - A bonus of 1/2% is paid to any truck generating $30,000 in billed revenue in any quarter.

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Safety Bonus - We award every owner-operator who is accident and cargo claim free for a year, and has generated at least $100,000 in gross revenue, a Safety Bonus of $600 to apply towards the purchase of an ATI base plate. If you don't use our base plate, $25 per month will be applied towards any unit charges. New units are eligible for this bonus 1 year after start date.

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Permits - We will permit you for the states you request; 50% of the cost of the permits is required up front. Generate $100,000 or more each year and receive the next year's permits free as a Permit Bonus.

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Road and Fuel Tax - We pay on your behalf, all road and fuel taxes. 80,000lb units receive 5.52 miles per gallon , and units grossing less than 54,000 lbs receive 8.4. Unlike many carriers, we do not require that you purchase enough fuel in each state to offset that state's tax liability. You receive credit for all fuel purchases. A fuel tax escrow is established at the rate of $25.00 per week. At the end of each month we will balance your account. Any additional charges will be deducted from your settlements, and if you are owed a credit your account will be credited. We will send you a monthly report showing your miles traveled by state, fuel purchased by state, and tax liabilities and credits by state.

If you prefer, you can obtain your own IFTA sticker and do your own fuel tax reporting. We can provide you with the necessary forms to get your own IFTA. We will still prepare your mileage report each month, showing how many miles you ran in each state, to enable you to file your fuel tax returns. We are still required to report your road tax for the few states that have such a tax (NY, KY, and NM for example).

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Escrow - We do not require any escrow money in advance. Escrow is normally $600, and is deducted at the rate of 5% of gross revenue. This escrow is available 45 days after equipment cancellation, providing you comply with cancellation terms of the Service Agreement. You also have the option of establishing a Maintenance Escrow. Money held in a Maintenance Escrow is available upon request during normal business hours.

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Base Plates - You may bring your own properly-apportioned base plate, or purchase one from us, call for the current cost. Temporary plates are available within a few hours of receipt of your check and necessary paperwork. Remember that our Safety Bonus can help finance your second year's plates.

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Comdata/EFS Card - All drivers and owners are issued a Comdata or EFS card, at the owner's option. Advances are issued to this card, and owners also have the option of having settlements put on their card. Owners can also use their card to manage their drivers' advances and payroll.

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Drug and Alcohol Testing - Pre-employment drug testing is required. Our Safety Department has over 300 collection sites throughout the country, many of which are near our Processing Stations. Drivers are subject to random drug and alcohol testing, which are paid by ATI (the pre-employment test is charged to the truck owner).

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Workers' Compensation & Accident and Disability Insurance - ATI does not require you to have Workers' Compensation insurance. We do have an optional Accident and Disability policy available, which can be used in some states in lieu of Workers' Comp. Ask our Safety Department for details.

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Insurance - Bobtail/Deadhead (Non-trucking) insurance must be carried by the equipment owner. We offer this coverage for only $34.75 per month. The truck owner may provide this insurance, but the insurance company must have a rating from A.M. Best of B+ or better, and we must be named as additional insured with limits of $500,000. We also offer optional physical damage insurance at group rates.

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Physical Damage - ATI offers a comprehensive and collision insurance program for truck owners. Call the Safety Department for details and an application.

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Guest Passenger Program - ATI offers a guest passenger program for any passenger over 18 years of age. Ask our Safety Department for more information.

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Finding Freight - We have a network of more than 180 terminals and agents, as well as a Central Dispatch that will work for you. There is no forced board, and no company equipment to compete against. You may contact Central Dispatch at any time for help in finding loads, or you may also use our terminal list. You can haul for any of our affiliated companies without having to broker or trip lease. You may also look for freight on our website, at www.transportinvestments.com. Anyone can see our available loads by clicking on that link on our home page. When you lease to us, you can obtain a password that will enable you to see more detailed information, including the gross revenue on the loads.

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Sign-On Locations - We prefer you to sign on at our General Office in Pittsburgh. This allows us to give you a full orientation and the opportunity to meet some of the people you will be working with here at ATI. If this is not convenient for you, we do have Processing Stations located throughout our network. If you have several units and drivers, we may be able to come to your location to sign you on.

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Equipment Qualifications - All equipment must be able to pass a DOT Level 1 inspection at the time of sign-on, and every 6 months thereafter. Tractors and trailers must also be less than 15 years old. Flatbed operators need adequate chains, binders, straps, and at least enough tarping to cover a 45 ft. long 3 ft. high load. Side kits or lumber tarps are not required, but are a plus.

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Alternate Plans - Not all of the features and benefits are applicable to all divisions of ATI. Call to verify the specific plan for the division to which you will be leased.

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Questions - Please feel free to contact us with any other questions you may have. Contact our Safety Department at 800-284-1902 option 3, our Central Dispatch option 1, or click on the Pre-App Form button on the ATI Home page, fill it out and fax it to us at 412-490-6156.

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