socal, what happens is the first day, you get your physical. If they find something your are released. Pretty much it. Hope that helps. Take care.

Ok, day 2 is in the books. Today we went over the pay system for drivers (certification program, mileage pay program). Then we were visited by the Simulation Dept, where he went over the 13 speed shifting. He also started taking 12 people each day for simulation training (shifting). From there we went over maximum weights for axles then gross weight info. Then we went over abbreviation's on messages that would be sent to us, and what they mean. Also watched video's on defensive driving, safe following distances, rollovers and alot of accident video to remind us of how important safety really is. By the way for anyone wondering, yes they strongly stressed safety which included doing things by the book (not fudging anything). Let's see what else, oh went over OOR, MPG and the likes. That pretty much covered today's events. Lunch was chicken fried steak, mashed taters & gravy, corn, rolls and brownies. Forgot to mention that the 12 people picked today for simulation training 4 did simulation for an hour the others were outside doing backing maneuver's so they would alternate as such. Again everything was very professional and personally I'm having a great time thus far. Until tomorrow's update, take care.

If you get bored and want to answer some dumb questions, I'm full of them.

For example, Out of Route. What does this refer to? I assume it's a method of maintaining efficiency, but is it dead heading or miles over practical miles or something entirely different?

Also, you mentioned they went over pay. I watched a training video where they use 23% of a $1000 load as an example of what you get paid on the percentage system. I'd be curious to know what the average load pays. I suppose this might be difficult if there is a great deal of variance in what they pay. I wonder how many people choose the milage pay system?

Nevertheless, take care and thx for the update.

Out of Route refers to not following the routing given to you. Large companies usually send your routing over the qualcomm, and that routing usually comes out of a computer program like Opti-Router.

There have been times when my hubby (does not drive for TMC) has not followed the routing exactly as it will often put you on state roads that are loaded with small towns and stop lights. Some companies will get ticked at you for doing that and some won't. His company doesn't unless he's on a high security load.

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I have a ?? just curious but does TMC want you to double clutch when road testing or training with them??

Double clutching, probably in orientation, trainers don't care (At least i diddn't, unless you started grinding the #### out of my trains trying to float, then i would get upset)

Out of route, they give you practical routing with short miles, you are not required to follow their routing. Our company oor goal is 10% but the lower you can get it the better percentage you will end up with at the end of the month. The only time you will hear anything is at snapshot if your out of route comes back over 10% they might ask you what the problem is. Aside from that part, you're free to do whatever you want. If you want to get your percentage low, though. You're better off chosing your own route, becuase like i said, the one that they send you is practical, and if you follow it you will likely be RIGHT AT 10% every time.

Average load during the winter pays around 600-1000 dollars. TMC doesn't usually take loads that pay any less than 500 dollars. The average rate TO THE TRUCK per mile was around 1.40.

Percentage always worked out better when i was Over the road with them. But you have to look at the entire week, and not at each load individually, otherwise you WILL get discouraged. But at the end of the week your dispatched miles will be on your paycheck, as well as what you made for the week, it's simple math to take what you made for the week and divide it by how many miles you drove, and it'll make you feel pretty good about taking that one cheap load that pissed you off on that wedsday.

I averaged around 50CPM on percentage and floated monthly between 28% and 30%.

Hope this helps guys, any other questions just ask.

Also, unless you're an invalid you should be able to get at LEAST 26% after your first month in your truck.

That would be no problem as I can float gears well.

The reason I was asking is because I'm considering going over the road on of these days. Currently I run the Gulf Coast, we do all 48 but mainly the Gulf Coast.
And if I do go OTR it would be with TMC.

My current position I make 25% of the load, but our loads average anywhere from $600 to $10000. And you are right you have to look at the total work you do all week and not each load or you will be dissappointed on some loads.

Eckz how many loads do you do a week?? What is your average take home per week? And what would be the better money maker OTR, Regional, or whatever else they offer?

First off, if you can float and are experienced it shouldn't be a problem. You won't have to go out with a 'trainer' for anything longer than a week, and that's just to learn "The TMC way" of securement and whatnot. Not to learn to drive.

The difference between regional "Line haul" they call it, and long haul is hometime and the amount of work that you do. On regional they will keep you fairly close to your home as they gaurantee you home every weekend, so you will usually do between 3-5 loads per week. Some guys dislike having to strap and chain and tarp a load and run it 500 miles and dump it off the next day, but i enjoyed being home every weekend so it wasn't a problem for me as much as it is some people.

On long haul you will only be gauranteed home every 2-3 weeks (Depending on where they run you, in relation to where you live ofcourse) they say that the average length of haul on long haul is 1,000 miles (Probably less in the winter time, though) and that the average length of haul for us regional guys is between 400-600, the regional is correct but i can't speak for the long haul part accurately.

Better money depends on how hard you want to work to be honest. I've heard of long haul drivers grossing as high as 2200 in a week. I usually averaged between 890-1100 take home. 800 would be a pretty slow week, though. 890 Sounds funny to be included into an average but it seems to fall that way when i have a crappy week, usually just round up and say 900 but im being honest. =P

I would probably say that if you want to be over the road, and don't care about hometime to give long haul a try, i used to switch to long haul during the winter time and stay out for about a month at a time just becuase it was less stressful than trying to get home every weekend with a crappy freight selection, and if i was going to stay out on the weekends i might as well run and make money instead of sitting around, or running cheap freight. OR you can be regional and stay out sometimes to make extra cash, that way, you're gauranteed your weekends at home still and if you stay out it's becuase you feel like it, not because you had to.

I went to orientation in columbia. I'd never driven a 13 speed. I floated the gears. (I have driven an auto the last year and a half.) the examiner mentioned it when I was trying to get the truck in the right gear (with its sloppy shifter.) but he wasn't complaining about it. I ended up "parking" in an intersection in downtown (light was changing and I could back up/ couldn't turn.) he didn't even mark me for THAT!

one of the guys in the class actually FAILED the road test, and he had been driving for 5 years! he ended up going home. (so did I because after the physical and backing test, my legs felt like they were going to fall off and I couldn't see slugging around in that huge dinosaur peterbilt every day.) sleeping only 2 hours the night before didn't help either - there was a chainsaw in the bed next to me!