how about TMC

Thanks Jarhed for the info

 

I used to run east coast only--north and south. I was home every weekend. Usually Friday nite till Sunday afternoon--but every weekend. But I stayed on the east coast--mostly wva and north down to Ga usually.

 

the truck driving school on the weekends near denton--down 109 i think it is. I forget the road but its right there outside of thomasville. He used to be home every weekend and parked his truck there.

Cross Country Truck Driving School? that's in Thomasville. that's where I went.

 

Yup thats the one--I went there also ! small world

 

Last week I was offered a Peterbilt Dedicated Account, I accepted. This week was the first week four drivers were running it.

Basically, we pick up Peterbilt truck frames that come over from Mexico at our yard in Laredo, TX and deliver them to Peterbilt in Denton, TX.

From Denton we ,normally, bounce to Corsicana, TX to pick up Railroad Car Wheels and deliver them to our yard in Laredo, or we can pick up just about any load the Dallas, TX/Ft. Worth, TX metroplex. Just as long as it gets us back to Laredo the next day.

I live in Austin, TX, which is almost exactly at the midway point between either leg of this run. That means I will be home every day and every weekend. On the downside, it means that I will have an irregular schedule. On the mornings I have to deliver to Denton I have to leave the house about 0100 or 0200 depending on delivery time.

This account is so sensitive, the delivery time so critical that TMC will be fined $250,000.00 if we are 15 minutes late. This motivates me to arrive at least an hour early.

Peterbilt is, also, very picky about the condition of the parts when they arrive. They can't have any dust or footprints on the frames when they arrive. The parts come over from Mexico, so we can't control the dust part of it, making us untarp the load at the yard and dust the parts off. Of course, when we retarp the load we get footprints on it. We have to figure out a way not to do that, putting down plastic first, wearing booties like they use in a Clean Rooms or building a tarping device that will drag the tarp on the load without the driver ever having to get on the load. This is all new to everyone and our techniques will evolve as we go along.

Since the parts are coming from Mexico and have to clear customs, we never know what time they will be ready for us. Sometimes, it is during business hours other times it is after hours. It doesn't matter when they come accross, we have to make our delivery appointment the next morning. If they arrive at the TMC yard at midnight, I'm not sure what we have to do, the trip to Denton is at least eight hours. I doubt we will be fined if it is not our (TMC's) fault.

So far, everthing looks good. We have to get used to the schedule and get all the kinks worked out to make it a smooth operation.

 

Heck with that. I tarp once and that is enough. I hate multi stops with tarps. Plus some of the mud holes I del and pick up at. I would never be able to have a dust free enviroment.

 

That was a collective "we." The yard workers at the yard untarp, dust the parts and take the photos. We are still working out who tarps after all that. The driver definately secures the load and bungies the tarp.

 

This is one of the problems we are getting worked out. There are two drivers on opposite ends. Two in Laredo heading towards Denton and two in Denton heading towards Laredo. We are exchanging cell phone number to cover each other when possible. The driver will not be held responsible for anything outside our controll.

I guess if I oversleep some morning I better stick a nail in one of my tires!

 

Sounds like a pretty sweet run! Regular hometime, no matter what the time of day, seems better than what most get.

Wish I could get something like that from North Cackalacky (and get TMC to rehire me).