Question for TMC Drivers

Thanks EKZ,,, I gotta think $$$$,,, I am an unemployed Dept. Manager outta the now defunkt auto industry base salary $70k. Gotta find a field that I can make decent living at.. I know the 70k is "history",, I wanna truck,, but also make $$$$

 

I wouldn't count on more than 40k your first year, realisticly. You CAN do more (60k ish) but it's not likely in your first year unless you're really good and have a really good FM. Ofcourse, that was back when freight was moving good, i'd count on a rough average of 40k as far as your budget goes, and go from there.

 

EKZ,,,, I can live in the 40s to get started, First time in quite awhile I have been excited about a career move. At least I am gonna make the commitment. I can't just set and wait on MFG. sector to pick back up,, ,may be waitin for quite some time,,,and I have grown tired of the corporate grind.

 

if you read on the cat and international websites the cat is for OFF ROAD USE ONLY because it will not pass emmisions

 

How does there student program work?? The pay, miles, running area, and fuel stops??

 

While you're a student you are paid at a rate of 300.00 per week while your in your trainers truck (5 weeks) depending on your trainer you may stay close enough to home to get home on the weekends, but this is not gauranteed. They do make the best effort to do so, though. I had my guys home every weekend pretty early when i was a trainer with them.

You aren't paid for miles, etc. I'm not sure what you want to know about fuel stops? They're mostly pilot travel centers, you'll get a book and a recommendation on where to fuel for that load on the route via your quallcom, however i never followed the recommendation because my way was always shorter than the way they wanted me to go.

They pay for the fuel with a commdata card that you'll be issued when you get your truck. It's basically a corporate fuel card, nothing comes out of your pocket if that's what you were asking.

 

I have a pre hire from TMC and finish CDL school in a couple of weeks. Can anyone give me an idea of what freight is like around Indianapolis? I was laid off from a job that paid in the 60's and I know I will not be able to make that much. But is 800 a week realistic if you are willing/able to stay out on the road for 3 to 4 weeks at a time? I don't particularly want to be out that long, but I gotta pay the bills and make sure the kids can eat!

 

You can gross 800 a week but you won't be netting that. Some weeks you will hit it, some weeks you won't hit 500. Indy is a solid area and TMC has a terminal there. The longer you stay out the less it matters what your home area is. Really your home area only matters in how easy it is to get you through the house.

 

cat will continue to build off road engines. i agree. the merger between navistar and cat allows emission credits which have been built up by navistar. navistar is allowed up to 3 tenths higher emissions because of these credits. these credits were not from heavy duty trucks they were from mid duty trucks, which in turn navistar can bank just like vacation time. this new venture is called NC2. its basically a cat engine with advanced egr. same engine just painted a different color.

 

Hey guys. I'm considering a few different outfits, and had a general question based on the current economy. Out of refer, flatbed, and general dry freight...who do you think you'd have the best potential to run or earn more with. I'm considering starting out refer or dry, but another part of me wants to go flatbedding for the experience and in hopes I might be getting home more often. What do you think?

Also, those of you who flatbed, how often are you walking on top of the stacked loads? I don't have a HUGE problem with heights, but when I paint the overhangs off a 2 story house I get a little wobbly on that ladder hehe. I do like the fact that you'd be getting more physical than you would if you were just pulling tandems or adding fuel to the refer. I'm certainly not looking to gain weight. Best of luck everyone and thanks for your answers.

-MB