Thinking About start with TMC.

Im scheduled for orientation on or about July 7 or so. I graduate my CDL school on June 30, then finish out my last week at my current job. TMC has a milage pay, and a percentage pay scale. From my understanding, their percentage pay tends to be higher overall then the milage pay. I do know their pay scales are all performance based, and after a few months you can be in the upper levels of their pay levels. And after speaking with several of their drivers at truck stops not just on this forum, that seems to be the general consensus. Most of their loads are short 1 to 2 day haul. They have a few other divisions like a boat division and a John Deere dedicated run. My understanding is they usually only hire for those positions from inside, and usually only after several months of experience. Youll have people say that TMC is a bottom feeder starter company, and as far as pay goes, that may be true, but after speaking with more then a couple of different drivers TMC seems to be a solid company to start and stay with. You will want to get your hazmat, passport, and TWIC cards as they pull all of these, and these all reflect into your performance increases. For their trucks their fleet is getting changed out currently to the new 579's. They are more aerodynamic and will help with their fuel usage. Im told that new drivers will get assigned an older truck after training for the first 6 months or so, then they will consider moving you over to a new truck. Then I was also told that its based on what is available when your truck is assigned. There is a TMC recruiter on here from the Michigan area that I have been speaking with over the phone. Im sure he will chime in when he logs in. Richter, whats up!

 

TMC is a great company to get started with. I was a company driver for TMC. I then became a trainer. I made so much money i bought my own truck and decided to pull vans. 6 months later i was back at TMC as an owner op missing flatbed.

I made over 60k my first year as a company driver. 75+ is possible as a trainer. % pay will get you to average around .48/mile so go with that pay option. Most fleet managers are pretty good, although if you get a bad one you cans switch. Mine is great. Flatbed is hard work, but that work is reflected in your pay. Your not gonna make .48 right out of cdl school pulling vans. It only really sucks about 5 days a year. (tarpin on the 105 day and unstrapping on the -30 rainy sleeting day.)

As for disbatch, Some driver build relationships, some just get loads by qualcome. I talk to my Fleet manger (disbatcher) every day and he gives me a few options. As a company driver, you do have to take what load they give you, but you can request a load in a certain direction. your FM may also learnt he type of freght you like and try and avoid the stuff you dont. I hate home depot loads, lowes loads, and wire mesh loads. In the last 3 months, i have only done 3 HD/lowes loads and no wire mesh. Now other drivers do 3-5 HD/lowes loads a week. If you work with your FM you should be able to keep freight on your deck that you like. (for the most part)

 

Lol yea, you know i post on all the TMC threads. Gunner is pretty much correct. Although, the performance bonus for twic, hazmat and passport arnt much. I do recommend getting them just for job securities sake. JD/Boat normally need a year, but sometimes you can be considered early if your interested. If you work hard you should be able to get to 28% within 2 months. % is bassed on minimizing extra driving miles (out of route), MPG, overall revenue, endorsements, getting to consignee on Sunday night to start your week, and a few other minor things. 579's are really based on availability and what trucks they have prepped. Ive seen orientation classes get split 50/50 on who gets what truck. keeping your scores up in orientation will insure you get the better truck if available. I do however recomend getting your own TRUCKER GPS since the one on the qualcome isn't great. Your trainer should teach you trip planning. As a new driver you are supposed to use qualcome directions all the time, but, use common seance.

 

I just got out of CDL school on May 7. I'm going to Orientation on Monday, May 15. I hope I made the right choice. I'm just a little nervous about the physical (tarp lift) and of course driving. I drove a 10speed during school. I hear TMC has 13 and 9s. As far as skills goes, our school taught us how to pass the MVA test and Drive. I'm not sure if it was as thorough of a training as it could have been. I only got 140miles driving, the training was only 20days. I'm going to stay positive though and try my best. I've heared more positives than negatives about TMC and I also believe this could be company that I stay at. Am I also going in the right direction?

 

Dont worry so much about it. I weighed 140 when i started with tmc and i could lift the 120 pound tarp. Yes its heavy. They do have a physical theropist come in and show you how to do it correctly. If you follow his instruction, it will be hard, bit doable. In the real world, i always have the forllifts lift my lumber tarps.

Your first few nights will be on the simulator learning how to shift the 13. Its not hard once you get used to it. Its just a different pattern. Most drivers come in never shifting a 13. Some have used a 9 which makes a 13 easier, but learning from a 10 wont be to hard.

Most schools train you to pass the test and get a job. When you get to TMC you will relize how much you don't know and learn how to actually drive truck. At TMC you have the potential to make the same pay as the 10 year veteran since pay is heavily performance based. If you work hard, its a great company to start with and potentially build a career with.

 

If you go the pay route that most other TMC drivers go, it won't matter as much as being under loads will. If drivers on here aren't answer your questions, find a truck stop that has tmc drivers, walk up and talk with them. Those I've encountered have been great and have all been willing to speak with me willingly.

 

I average 2250/week. Miles arnt as important as getting high paying freight if your on the % pay.

 

As a company driver or O/O?