Haveing that dump valve in the truck is technically illegall it is suppossed to be right next to the load leveling device on the rear of the trailer. Btw alot of Owner Operators use them DOT know we have them but it is kinda a dont ask dont tell thing as when you use that dump valve your load becomes automatically illegal due to axle weight restrictions.



BTW, the trailers have spread axles but there is a switch in the cab to dump the air from the rear axle when making tight turns so it slides around the corner much easier. Is this something most spread axle trailers have? It works great when making ninety degree back ups also.

It is not illegal to have a dump valve in the cab..... Where did you get that info. Those valves have a specific purpose and are perfectly legal

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From the oft Times Bedraggled and Sometimes Deranged Mind Of Runamuk

What "dump valve" are we referring to here? The one that empties the suspension on the drive axles? You have to have that in the cab, so when unhook from a loaded trailer your air bags don't come apart. No, that isn't illegal, just hard on your driveline to drive with the bags down.

Flatbeds do come with dump valves now to raise an axle for easier cornering, and this would cause weight issues if the axle is left up with a load on the trailer, but not if the drive suspension is empty.

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Z-Lady's devoted hubby.

I did not have good experience with TMC, some had to do with just getting in the truck and having to get home for a sick child. That did cause some issues. The real big issue for me was that, if you say something than stand by it. I loved driving that truck, I wanted to do the flatbed thing for the exercise involved. I gave TMC 110%, did everything they asked, and did it very well, (blowing my own horn, LOL). I did not look for another driving job after the bad taste from the 1st job. Now 6 months later, I miss it real bad, it has gotten into my blood. I have been considering buying my own truck. But need to research more so that this time I can be sucessful with a company, I dont and have never expected the trucking gig to be 100% perfect. Its is trucking and if your butt is not in the saddle with the wheels turning, you are not making money. I have been doing some work lookin at owner operator outfits, but with the little experience I have, my options will be limited, and I do understand that. I will probably wait out the winter to make a concrete decision. Good luck to all of you new drivers, dont let my experience alter your route.

The dump valve they are referring to is, it dumps the air from the rear axle of the trailer. Its like chopping off 10ft of the trailer to make turning and backing easier, and it works well too. But as good as it is, it comes with the bad too. We were told at orientation that it was illegal to use, and that TMC mechanics said it ate up tires. And that they would be phasing them out.

Any company has its good points and bad… I like some things about TMC hate a few too but I don’t let them drive me I drive them… Expect nothing and hope for surprises along the way… You reap what you sew out here so don’t let anyone push you around if it’s not legal don’t do it unless you are willing to pay for it if you get caught… Be kind to people and kindness comes in many forms… If the tires are bald refuse to pick up the trailer or drive the unit… TMC does not have bald tires on its trucks and knowingly allow it to happen… If you get a trailer with bald tires its because another driver was a goober smoocher and passed the problem on to you! One person telling you bad things like your dispatcher pushing you can make the whole company look bad to you… Look at logs quite simply… Logs are a not called a comic book by other drivers for NO reason they sometimes are just that… TMC is NOT alone with log violations!!! They just got caught!!! YOU WILL BE SHUT DOWN if you drive over 11 hours OR go over your 14-hour rule PERIOD! Go with the spirit of the log and your abilities but don’t over push it… The rules are in place for a reason fair or unfair it’s the law… NEVER drive past your ability! NO load is ever worth YOUR life or anyone else’s for that matter… Over time you will see what its all about… Relax… Don’t expect to drive 800 miles a day your first week ramp up to it and see where you come out… Don’t let a trainer ever push you beyond what you have energy for but don’t be a wimp either flat bedding is hard work and takes some getting used to… Just because a trainer says it does not make it true… Ask a lot of questions and if you don’t like them call in to training and get out of his truck! I did my first go around but have a list of your reasons in place before you call to get out or your going to come off like a whiner… 6 weeks is a long time to spend with an ### hole, dirty slob or sloppy careless driver… Look it takes T I M E to learn everything and get your body and mind in tune with how big the truck is how long the trailer is and the immense responsibility you carry while behind the wheel… Shifting will improve in time down shifting will improve with even more time… The day you do not fear that truck is the day you should go find another job… NEVER blink an eye or start to relax behind the wheel… The farther you focus ahead the straighter the truck will be in its lane and gives you more time to react to what’s in front of you… Take your time… Take it all in… Calm down you have nothing but miles to burn and learn… Sure you take a hit over training pay but you put in the time make the effort LEARN all you can from other drivers or this form and USE all of it how it best suites YOU! The pay will come later… Learn how to make the most of your time! Have a routine in place work smart keep the left door closed and you will be heading home on Friday before you know it to have a little time to decompress and reflect upon the week and what’s ahead for next week…
Just my 2cents…

“I’m LakeReady and I’m Back Quiet.”

I've done that daycab thing that TMC is apparently about to get into, except for a different company. That was my first tractor-trailer job. It was pretty good work, and as long as the job got done I could pretty much make my own hours. It just didn't pay much.

GAF, the roofing manufacturer, was paying 5 years ago about $400 a load to go from here up to the NJ/NY area. At the time I was getting 23% of the load, which is peanuts. One such workday amounted to this:

Leave approx. 2 AM. Get up to say, Norge Building supply at Iowa Ave and Beckwith Ave in Paterson, NJ about 7 AM. Leave there about 9. Arrive at GAF here about 3. Get loaded and leave there about 6. Park truck and go home about 6:30. This was about a $130 workday, as delivering to that place paid an even $100, and loads picked up paid $30.

A better scenario was to leave delivery pt. and pick up more shingles. at the Owens Corning plant in Kearny, NJ. No tarping was needed for their stuff since it was wrapped in plastic. This is probably what's referred to on FlatbedFred's website. I'd be headed back south about 10-11 AM, and be done at 2-3 PM. Same pay as above.

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Z-Lady's devoted hubby.

I got that from and old boss of mine you can believe what u will but the dot knows we have them they just smile and wave.

I was very impressed with TMC's training in South Carolina, load securement, safety, equipment familiarization, etc.; however, when I got to my over the road training, with a trainer--if you could dare call him that--I lasted only 4 days before I called it quits. The trainer began teaching me how to cheat from the get-go.

He had a "I don't give a ----" attitude, and it showed in everything he did. He dropped a load of steel off the back of the truck and didn't report it, a major offense in TMC's eyes. He was more concerened with looking at women, making disgusting comments about them, and looking at porno mags in the passenger seat than he was with training me. BTW, if that were my wife in the car beside him he would've been making crude comments about her as well, or my teenage daughter. The guy was just a filthy pig. The truck, btw, was filthy. And reaked of BO.

The trainer spent 50% of his time on the cell phone arguing with his wife, and looking for another trucking job. He badmouthed TMC constantly, it seemed never-ending.

I also came to conlcusion that he wasn't in it for the love of training, not even for the money, he was in it because he hated working. It was easier to have a trainee do all the tarping and securing while he watched. The fat slob could've used a little exercise. But that's not to say I wanted him doing all the work. I wanted to learn it for my self. But he was so lazy and forgetful, he misplaced his fuel card and then was crying on the phone to TMC that it wasn't his fault. He also constantly overslept and then wanted me to speed to get to our destination on time. I was up on time, but I wouldn't dare wake the fat slob up because quite frankly I'm not his mother. He was 28 yrs old, I'm 33.

And trip planning was never done. His idea of trip planning was keeping the quallcom and atlas on his steering wheel while driving, very dangerous and distracting.

And I won't even get into logs. He wanted to do nothing but cheat them too.

Either way, I reported the slob to TMC, and they weren't happy. I drove 700 miles to meet the guy because TMC told me he was the best. Well, unfortunately, I won't be returning to TMC. My family is too concerned about me working for a company that has such reckless trainers. But I don't believe the company is all bad. They did take my concerns very seriously and the ol' slob will probably lose his job. But that's on him. I don't want some careless fool driving a 80,000 lb killing machine while my family and loved ones are on the road. That trainer doesn't deserve to be on the road.

And that's my 2cents.
melfry

READING SOME OF THIS CRAP IS SIMPLY HYSTERICAL.