TMC Transportation, Inc. - Des Moines, Ia.

Discussion in 'Report A BAD Trucking Company Here' started by TurboTrucker, Apr 23, 2006.

  1. Short Ride

    Short Ride Bobtail Member

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    Oct 18, 2007
    baltimore, MD
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    I got in my truck march 4th and I've been doing great pay wise, Im just getting to the point where I can tarp as fast as the next guy (or faster) at places like Tamko and Cargills, most loads I can have strapped in no time except for some DC loads which I spend about 45 minutes scratching my head and repeating "what the f***?!?" in my head as other guys come and go like its easy. Overall I'm pretty impressed with TMC, there are some minor things that I dont like but no company is gonna be tailored to my preferences. My trainer and my dispatcher are like my personal support team, Im always calling my trainer for advice and hes always willing and able to help me sort out which routes are better, how to figure out certain things in my map book, how to secure a difficult load. Usually when I get a crappy load or have to wait for a load I get a "Please call your fleet manager as soon as possible" so my FM can explain to me why Im sitting or why he cant do better for me, sometimes we even hold casual conversations over the Quallcom. Being a TMC driver (and possibly having a horseshoe up my butt) I dont know the pain of people with faulty equipment, finally got a real nice 102" trailer... and naturally Im heading to a consignee/shipper that has a drop yard for my monday dropoff.. my only real equipment problem has been that 96" with shelfs in both tool boxes so I had to wrestle my lumber tarps in and out of em and winch rails that had a 2 foot gap in the middle forcing me to be alittle more creative with my straps or just use my 2" straps.

    As far as log books go, how you handle yours is your own business.. I was taught by my trainer to sleep at the consignee whenever possible, for line haul guys thats the most efficient way to handle your schedule as far as turning over a load a day and still getting your rest. I've missed load appointments because they werent possible to make and I've missed load appointments that a better driver might have made on time, but I dont miss load appoints because I ######## around at truckstops and I dont miss load appointments because of my 14 hour clock. Most people I've talked to that have problems in this area are a simple case of not everybody makes the cut, or they're just out here to live the dream where Im out here to haul freight in a safe yet as timely and efficient manner as possible.

    I cant say much about hometime, because Im lucky enough to live in an area and have a capable dispatcher that assures me pretty ###### good hometime to top off decent paychecks and I realize not everyone has as the dispatcher I do or lives in the area I do, my best advice to those people is to consider what your employment with TMC is worth to you, I like them alot but that doesnt mean they're for everybody. If hometime is important to you(no fault there, its important to me too) try to find a company that can get you home on the weekends, your not a lesser driver for that.
     
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  3. eckz

    eckz <strong>"Radio Rambo"</strong>

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    Sep 15, 2007
    Detroit, Michigan
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    I did 62k my first year, legally. And will be well over this year. I am a solo driver.

    My beloved company? It doesn't matter who i drive for, period. The fact is that people come here for valid information and not your input. Nobody cares that you have a personal problem with the race car, nobody cares that you don't want to stay 20 years for a watch. I diddn't see anybody here asking those questions.

    Another thing, the sign on bonus. Once again, when you have some sort of something to show that you were promised a sign on bonus (Which he wasn't) then come here and complain all you like. But i've counted 3 or 4 DRIVERS for TMC that have all said we never had one... And we haven't, ever. Just becuase i haven't heard of something doesn't mean that it wasn't said... Well, since i have quit and came back 3 times... I think that IF THERE WERE EVER a sign on bonus, i would've heard about it at least once... And i never did.

    I honestly mean no disrespect, but seriously, if it's that bad why doesn't your husband just quit? I had a job that i diddn't like once... That's what i did, and now i'm much happier. When you come here to post your opinions and views, and go so far out of your way to make a company look bad it doesn't appear that you are actually here to help people, but rather to hurt the company... And to me, that just isn't right. Opinions are just that, opinions, people can form those for themselves, which is why they come here for facts and real information.

    Hope this clears things up.
     
  4. terrylamar

    terrylamar Road Train Member

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    Oct 8, 2006
    Austin, TX
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    Just because some of you are incapable of earning over $60K does not mean that other are not.

    My circumstances at home changed, but while I was Long Haul with TMC I was on course to make over $60K. I run a completly legal, nonfalsified, log book. I chose to be home more often rather than be out, otherwise I would have easily made over $60K my first year.
     
  5. RobW

    RobW Light Load Member

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    Sep 6, 2007
    N. Florida
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    Making 60K in your 1st yr driving is still rather hard to believe. Most people can't stand the heat that long, and/or have SOME small desire to see people they know at some point. If you stay out all yr, you should make good money. Most people have no intention of never going home.

    Taking 2days off per week makes it very difficult. Even 1 day a week cuts back to just over 310 days to drive. Factor in the clock and you're running real hard to make that much. Bottom line: It is unrealistic for a new driver to expect to reach 40K, let alone 1 1/2 times as much their 1st yr out.

    Veteran drivers can do this much more easily because they typically have a higher rate of pay and are used to being gone several weeks at a time. Of course, many veteran drivers also own their own truck, so they'd better make more.
     
  6. terrylamar

    terrylamar Road Train Member

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    Oct 8, 2006
    Austin, TX
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    I agree with you on most points, nevertheless, it is possible with TMC and without staying out for months at a time. I usually stayed out no more than three weeks at a time. I would take of for two, three or four days afterwards. I guess it all depends on what your priorities are, making money and hometime. There isn't a single right answer, it all depends on your own situation.

    As a veteran driver with TMC on percentage pay, you don't necessarily make more money because of longevity, but because you gain experience and speed. Yes, you do become eligible for dedicated accounts or to become a trainer, which can increase your pay. For the sake of this arguement, I am limiting the debate to first year drivers with no special circumstances.
     
  7. chief

    chief Heavy Load Member

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    Jul 15, 2007
    Flavor Country, NC
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    how would training increase your pay? TMC doesn't pay trainers extra.
     
  8. terrylamar

    terrylamar Road Train Member

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    Oct 8, 2006
    Austin, TX
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    They do. $75.00 extra per week, a bonus if the trainee is still in his truck with no accidents or load claims at the six month mark and I think, but I'm not sure at the one year mark. You can be more efficient because there are two people and you can legally drive longer each day even if you are not teaming and later if you do team. Estimates, are that you can make 25% more. That would/could be an additional $15K.
     
  9. chief

    chief Heavy Load Member

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    Jul 15, 2007
    Flavor Country, NC
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    oh, OK. evidently, the TMC recruiter lied to me. he said they don't pay extra for training.

    "because there are two people and you can legally drive longer each day even if you are not teaming and later if you do team."

    if you're team driving, you're not training - you can't train if you're asleep. also, you still can't put in but 14 hours a day - if your trainee is driving, you have to be on the "on duty" line.
     
  10. CaptJack

    CaptJack Light Load Member

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    Apr 20, 2008
    Botetourt Co., VA
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    Well, not really a dreamland if you think about it. If you can average 2,500 mi/wk # $0.40/mi, that is $52,000. Even if you only get 2,100 mi/wk thats over $43,000/yr.
     
  11. chief

    chief Heavy Load Member

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    Jul 15, 2007
    Flavor Country, NC
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    2500 miles a week? $.40 a mile? NOW who's in dreamland?

    I count 40 people "graduating" from TMC's orientation on their website. they have like, what, 1000 trucks? that's about a 200% annual turnover rate. yes, I realize a lot of these students won't get to their own truck once they realize what all is involved with this job, but still, 40 new guys a WEEK?!?!?!
     
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