Tips for tmc prospects.

Discussion in 'TMC' started by Mrredek, Dec 11, 2014.

  1. *Five-0*

    *Five-0* Light Load Member

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    Jun 21, 2014
    Hey...I'm over here!
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    It's amazing what a camera can't see through......just sayin'
     
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  3. joe2go

    joe2go Bobtail Member

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    Dec 12, 2014
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    I'm currently in my first week of school at a SAGE school in North Carolina. I'm trying to make an informed decision about the company that I go with, which is why I'm here.

    Let me say up front that I fully recognize that the money will come eventually, but may not be great for a while. I've concluded that will be the case no matter who I go to work for. I do think I want to go flatbed though, since the money is better than a van and the physical activity will help to keep me in shape.

    A recruiter from TMC visited our class yesterday and gave us a lot of information. I'd like to present some of the information he provided, as some of it does contradict what I've read is some of the other posts on this site. I took extensive notes and even asked some clarifying questions to the recruiter. Some of the information provided seemed to good to be true, so if anyone could shed some light on the following it would be greatly appreciated.

    Concerning out of route, the recruiter touched on this subject and stated that for the 1st year the safety department pre-loads the routes into your GPS so that their drivers don't go out of route. Is this accurate?

    Idling/Equipment - I asked the recruiter if idling was allowed, and he stated that it wasn't necessary because they have 100 new Peterbuilt 579's coming in with APU's, along with every other bell and whistle imaginable. (Bluetooth / premium sound, collision avoidance, blind-spot monitoring, 22 inch TV, leather interior) I asked if these new trucks were going to new hires and he indicated that they were.

    401k - During the presentation, the recruiter stated that they match on 401k up to 10%. I asked if that was a dollar for dollar match, and he indicated that it was, meaning that I could contribute up to 10% of my pay to the plan and they would match it. This seems to contradict what I was reading in another lengthy post on here. Can anyone clarify?

    Finally, I have a question that doesn't originate from the recruiter. I took some time to talk to my instructor today about TMC, and he stated that something is going on but he is not sure exactly what. He stated that he has heard that TMC has seen a huge amount of turnover over the past few months and that he has heard of numerous drivers who have gone so far as to have abandoned their trucks. Additionally, several recent graduates went to TMC, only to leave the company within a couple of months. I asked him if he knew why this was happening, and her replied that he didn't but that something major was going on. Is there any truth to this, and if so, what is going on.

    I'm seriously considering TMC, so if anyone can shed some light on any of the things I've mentioned it would be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks in advance!
     
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  4. Mrredek

    Mrredek Bobtail Member

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    Out of Route. This is the way out of route is calculated. TMC employs some sort of zip code to zip code mileage to determine the set miles that a certain load is supposed to go. lets say 200. You will go to the gps section of your Qualcomm (computer) and hit find route, and it will "usually" load you up with the shortest truck route. Maybe not the best truck route, but shortest.You will then find that the Qualcomm says it is 214 miles. Now according to TMC anything over 200 is out of route, But they "allow" for up to 10% extra out of route.so the load may be 200, but you are "allowed" 10% extra, so you would have 220 to get their. The reason for the "quotes" is because they say there is that extra, yet i never saw it applied to my truck.

    For the gps, you use a qualcomm. It has a gps function on it. for the most part I haven't had a problem with it, if you employ some common sense.It will take you down some shifty roads sometimes, But usually i have been screwed over by local directions more then the Qualcomm.

    Idling. As far as I know, new hires are still getting the older trucks. Pete 379 short nose. They are receiving alot of new Pete 579's weekly, but truth be told, i cant help you out, because ive been away from the terminal for a while. But i suspect that this is another recruiter half-truth. By the way, the collision avoidance is something called an eaton vorad radar. it is the most annoying thing and possibly most dangerous thing you have in your truck. if your in cruise control and your are coming up on someone, it will literally spike the brakes on you, scaring the #### out of you.

    As for the 401k, I truthfully couldn't answer that for you. I will look it up however tonight on the employee website and get back to you, as i am about to head out for work.

    TMC is a trucking business like all others, it is going to have a high turnover rate like all the other companies out there. Maybe a little more so then other companies due to being flatbeds. I have not personally heard anything in the last couple of months, but i do know there is a gradual slowdown for the winter months especially in stuff like building products, so dispatchers get more varying loads to their drivers that aren't always the most accommodating. Some drivers just dont get along with their dispatcher and get fed up and quit. I run a Day cab now, and i talk to many TMC Linehaul drivers every day, because it is a major shipper. But i havent heard anything about internal rumblings. I would likely guess that some of the people who go so far as to abandon the truck have some major issues though, either that, or they like ###### up their dac.
     
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  5. DirtyJoe13

    DirtyJoe13 Bobtail Member

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    Mar 28, 2013
    Jacksonville, NC
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    Hey guys, some helpful info on here as I'm in the same boat looking at companies to get started with. I haven't talked to a recruiter yet, but do you have the option to opt out of the 401K? I'll be retired military, and not really interested in company benefits. I'd be looking for the flatbed experience and eventually looking to go on my own. But at this point, I'm really not interested in a retirement and dental plan. Any info is greatly appreciated.
     
  6. Gunner75

    Gunner75 Road Train Member

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    I'll address these questions based on what I know to be true, or from my experience. My answers will be under each of yours

    If you got any questions feel free to pm me, I'll do my best to check in at least every couple of days.
     
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  7. Gunner75

    Gunner75 Road Train Member

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    Jackson Center Ohio
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    Yes you cam opt out of the benefits of you do choose, same with per diem, and 401k. The esop is automatically given without cost to you. And frankly you'd be nuts to turn it down. With what esop gives, you'd have to be on top of all your 401k investments and if you can trade that good, why in the world are you driving truck? After 5 years, you're fully vested in esop, and if you leave the company, whatever the value is you are given a check for the value of the shares. Several guys who have been with tmc for going on 20 years are taking early retirements because of how much their esop is worth
     
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  8. Gunner75

    Gunner75 Road Train Member

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    Mar 17, 2014
    Jackson Center Ohio
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    I've had a camera in my truck since day one, and I can tell you right now, they do not have access to the camera controls. They can not turn the camera on our off at will. And if you believe so, you're full of it.

    Any video that is recorded is sent to the smart drive company where they filter the video for what is and isnt a violation. Most times its nothing. I get busted all the time for no seat belt, when its always me at a shipper/consignee hitting a pot hole. Usually within a couple of hours i get a message from safety to call, when i do its always not having a seat belt on, and im always at a shipper. Terry knows this tells me this ahead of time. But says the video was flagged and sent to them. The cameras all have shock sensors "g" sensors on them. If you bump in, it will come in, if the body rolls to hard, it will come on, hard brake, turn to hard, yep. The camera I have is made by smart drive. It is always recording, when im driving, and when it senses an event, it flags it 10 seconds prior, and 10 seconds after. That is it. Ive gone into the terminals and watched my videos, and know what ive done to set them off. They are really sensitive. A hard brake sensed by it, isnt even looked at by the main system. Mine even recorded me going 82mph on i65 in Indiana. I told safety that was impossible since there isnt a hill long enough and straight enough to go that speed in our trucks. Ive tested what sets mine off and what doesn't. If yours is constantly going off, then no offense, you need to change your driving habits. On my current trip I went to California, you think if they were able to turn the camera on at will, they would let a rookie drive to cali without looking in on them? Ive seen that camera flag on twice since out here, Once while on the 101freeway when a car merged on me and I braked to avoid hitting him, the other was when I hit a pot hole at my consignee. i never got a message to call on either instance. Also the camera shuts down after 2 hours of inactivity. Meaning if you shut your truck off, the camera goes off after 2 hours. Youll know its powered off because ot wont be lit up, but if you idle your truck, the camera is always lit up.

    If you want to minimize your oor, get a rand mcnally like I did and route yourself with it. I did and my oor is 8%. My idle is higher being that its winter, but itll go back down later on.
     
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  9. Mrredek

    Mrredek Bobtail Member

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    Apr 19, 2014
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    Maybe you can then explain why my camera would turn on when i had it in cruise at 2 in the morning on a straight and level highway with no other cars around. or the times when it was on for 2+ hours straight. or the times when i have been at a truck stop for 4 hours in sleeper status with the truck off, brakes set, yet still the camera turns on and start recording. so what your telling me is that my camera was so sensitive to the sensors, that it got triggered by the vibrations from my farts?
     
  10. plankton

    plankton Medium Load Member

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    Maybe these cameras have something to do with the alleged huge turnover at TMC that joe2go asked about... they sound really annoying, to say the least...
     
  11. plankton

    plankton Medium Load Member

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    Jan 9, 2015
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    To not have a boss constantly looking over my shoulder is one of the most appealing aspects of becoming a driver. These cameras are killing that...
     
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