turned down

I too got turned down by TMC. And there was no reason given. I pass at least 5 or 6 of their trucks daily around my home area. Made no sense to me. Went with McElroy and never looked back. As others have said, they probably did me a favor. Don't sweat it. Yeah their trucks are pretty but besides that what else do they offer that others don't?

 

A lot of them are not necessarily turning you down as much as hiring someone else. I bet we get 20 apps per month, we only have 27 truck total. About half company and half o/o. when a truck becomes available you start going through the stack of applications and pick the best you can based on what is written on the paper. Might bring 2-3 in for an interview. May not be a lot of difference between them but somebody has to get it and some don't. I would think it would almost be impossible for someone as big as TMC to give everyone they don't hire a reason. If they do like we do they may keep your app on file and call you later.

 

They do, I get calls from Melton and TMC periodically. Its always a prerecorded message, I have them on my ignore and it goes straight to voice mail now.

Funny how when your desperate and need a job urgently, everyone seems so nonchalant and in no hurry to get back to you. You always had to follow up on job leads. Then when your doing really good, everyone and his mother call you to offer you work.

Hurst

 

Don't mess with Buchanan, at least as of this posting.

They will tell you what they think you want to hear to get you to orientation...but, just because you get that far is no guarantee you're hired, so, don't quit your other job before you go!

I asked several times for the opportunity to speak to other O/O's. They promised to get me names and numbers, but, nearly a week went by, there were NONE. So, I decided I'd see what orientation brought, and, seek out a few veteran drivers.

Orientation was a joke, a real waste of time. If you are new to flatbedding, they are gonna give you wrong info on how to do load securement. My advice if you are new, just read the FMCSA book, it is not that many pages dealing with load securement. I have been doing it for nearly 20 years, there have been times where I have gotten my book out, educated the DOT along the way. If you say it the right way, and ask them a few questions too, they are most appreciative. We are all trying to collaborate on keeping roads safe for travel. Flatbeds represent one of the most dangerous loads on the road. However, that doesn't seem to concern Buchanan...they want loads secured "there way"! Well, sorry Mr. Buchanan, but, your way does not follow DOT rules!!!

I questioned the instructor in a few places, even showed her the DOT rules and regs (which they give you the latest copy of in class), that got an icy-cold reception, and, I was told, "Well, we have NEVER done it that way at Buchanan!". The DOT is NOT going to accept the answer "Well, this is what they taught me in training", and, Mr. Buchanan certainly isn't going to pay your ticket. I don't mind doing things that go "above and beyond" DOT regs to ensure safety, to an extent, but, you cannot do them differently!

Finally, the "strength and agility" test is a JOKE....but, not easy! Unless you work out a lot, you will be sore afterwards. When was the last time you stepped on and off your truck very quickly for 3 minutes straight? And, there is a LOT more to it. If you do a lot of flatbed work, you should pass, its just over-done.

Many attitudes run very sour at Buchanan as well. The recruiter I spoke to was very apologetic for them.

But, what urked me was, recruiter AND Brian Buchanan said that their flatbeds averaged $2.50 for all miles, and, since I owned my own trailer, AND it was a conestoga, that I should average well above that.

But, every load dispatch offered paid far below $2 a mile heading into areas which seldom have a backhaul or are usually low paying. And, of course, when I asked about it, they had no backhaul scheduled with the trip. "We'll look for something while you are driving" was what I was told. Famous last words...and, if you have ever run east coast, you know that what is typically coming back from there is closer to $1 a mile heading west.

One backhaul load they did offer me was over-dimensional and would have required me to drive all night. I refused it before we got to discuss the route, but, you know my choices would have been lots of tolls (which were to come out of my pocket), or extra miles on backroads with no shoulder. This load paid gross a whopping $2.70 mi on 400 miles, but, was not getting me any closer to home, just further north and into congestion of eastern PA!

When I refused that one, I was told not to be so "picky". Sorry, but, I am not being picky, just not willing to run under $2 a mile heading to the east coast. In all, these loads were not getting paid anywhere near what was told "everyone else" was getting.

So, I had to say "good bye". And, good riddance.

One last note, their contract says you owe them $500 as a flatbed O/O if you quit within the first 180 days of the year, to cover permit costs.

My advice, stay FAR away.

 

McElroy is not a bad place to start. But...

The problem is getting paid for the work you do. For instance, they do not pay for all the tarping you will do. They include your services to get loads and won't charge the customers.

Maverick is somewhat better. They are very picky about EVERYTHING you do. They have their own in-house point system to get rid of drivers. Minor things will get you fired!!! Their insurance is sky high because they haul a lot of glass. This is one of those companies where the tail wags the dog.

 

Central oregon truck co.

 

A good friend of mine worked for two of the companies in the Daseke Group. He was not happy at E.W. Wylie or Lonestar Transportation. He probably picked the two worst companies. Central Oregon Truck Company is one of their properties I was looking at earlier this year. I'm not too crazy about being on the west coast.

 

At one time, P&S was a good company.
Don't know much about the last few years.
Still know a number of people that are with them. They seem to be doing well and are happy.

 

Wow, I'm sorry to hear that. I wish you the best of luck in the future.