Back from TMC orientation in south carolina

Just came in from NM-CO. Gosh. 75 feels nice and no COPS. Its fun to run. We had snow and 7 degrees and 70 mph wind at Vail and cme back across Brekenridge to Co Spgs and they had 100 mph on top. Thatll blow your skirt up.

I don't remember leaving so I guess we didn't go. Yogi Berra

 

Man, that is GREAT bangngears! Congratulations! Keep us posted

Brrrrr!!!!!!

 

Chief I don't know your situation right now but if I were in your shoes I would stay in the Navy until the economy revives itself.. they aren't laying off or downsizing military personel right now .. I just wish I would have stayed in for 20 & retired with a guaranteed retirement income unlike my pension now which is next to nothing thanks to the stock market crash!

If you haven't found it yet you might want to check out evertruckerr's thread "CRETE - A YEAR IN REVIEW" if you really want to read what it's like in the day-to-day life of an OTR driver; I think it's the best example on this site of what drivers go thru driving for a large carrier.. check it out but be warned in advance it's addictive reading & you will spend hours of your free time reading it!

 

I am with ya 100%. I plan to stay to 24 (I am at 19 now), if I make SCPO I will run the numbers to see ifs its worth it to stay to 26 retirement wise. Now is the best time for me to get my CDL since I am on shore duty...as luck would have it... I am gonna retire from sea duty....I would not want it any other way, though. Sailors belong on ships...and ships belong at sea. ( I know...I'm ate up with it)

I have been reading Evertruckerrs post for a while....you are right....its addicting.

The wife and I were at the Wal Mart this evening and I saw from accross the parking lot a nice shiny Pete...took a drive over and was rewarded with the Gold Leaf 'TMC" on the door. The sleeper had "Specialized" on the side. Driver in the seat on his cell, so I did not bother him. Forgot the truck number, but if you are parked at the Walmart off of HWY 17 in Elizabeth City, NC...hope this weather is not beating you up too bad.

Mack....thanks for the feedback and thanks for your service as a driver and when you were in the military.

To the OP...thanks for a bit of space in your post.

R/

Frat

 

..Chief if u were thanking me for the feedback I wasn't a driver in the service, I was a Navy airdale, AK2 stationed at NAS Oceana, VA-75, A-6's, the "SUNDAY PUNCHERS", & that was back in the late '60s.. was lucky enough to make just 2 cruises to the Med aboard the Independence & a West-Pac (Tonkin Gulf) on the Kitty Hawk b4 getting overseas shore duty my last few years in the Navy.. NAS CUBI POINT, Subic Bay .. a dream duty station if you're a young single sailor who likes drinking & chasing those cute filipina girls like I did back then; over 300 bars & I never did step foot inside most of them! Well those days are long over & everything has changed there since I left, a major volcanoe eruption & the bases closing put an end to the life many knew there & it's probably all for the better now, they use all the facilities as a Duty Free port, lots of hotels, amusement park & beach resorts.. SURPRISE! ..they finally learned that they can support themselves without U.S. aid!

 

I went to orientation, with nearly 3 years flatbed experience, in the previous 3 years and was assigned a truck right after the 3-1/2 day orientation. Problem was, I went through orientation in SC and my truck was in Indianapolis. Me and 2 other guys drove a company car to Indy, Thursday evening and were in our trucks on Friday. The company car was being taken out of the fleet, so they wanted it up in Indy. My truck hadn't yet been released by the shop, when we came in early Friday morning, so I had to wait all day Friday and half of Saturday. Got my first load Saturday afternoon.

So, yes, an experienced driver can be assigned a truck right out of orientation. Provided you do well on your securement tests and such. You take the written load securement test in your room. I had my wireless laptop with me and managed to find some information online pertaining to TMC's practices on certain things, like how to secure "greasy bars".

Do some research on TMC load securement and you won't have to go with a trainer, if you have good, verifiable, flatbed experience.

 

There is one downside to driving yourself to orientation. TMC will only pay that $100 for you to get to orientation. If you have your own car there then you will be driving that car home also for the $100.

If you take the bus or fly to orientation then you and a couple other drivers will be provided a rental car to take home from orientation to await your trainer. TMC will pay for the rental car and reimburse for the gas to get you home. TMC will not reimburse gas for your own car.

Sorry I missed this page before.

 

ive seen sooooooooo many TMC trucks around i live in charlotte nc (all of 90mins north of columbia sc) are yall still runnin pretty hard these days?

 

Freight availibility is picking up after the holiday slump.