TMC Transportation, Inc. - Des Moines, Ia.

Have you ever actually done that? I mean the 13.75 hours a day--I doubt it! The way you have it laid out, you cannot do this scenario legal. You can only drive 11 hours during your 14 hour clock, so once you hit 11, you have to take a 10 hour break, then you have to pre-trip again-so there goes another 15 minutes on the return, so legally you can only drive 13.5 hours a day as long as you have a legal 10 hour break in between the 11 and the 2.5 hrs. But since you probally will fuel and probally stop to eat or take a break or unload or load or whatever in that timeframe and all that counts against the 14 hours, your actual driving time will probally be closer to maybe a full 11 hour shift and then after a 10 hour break, a maybe 1-2 hour drive time, I have done this and beleive me, you wont want to do this every day. Any time that the driver-trainer is sitting in the jump seat and training, he must be on the clock and his logbook better match the trainee who is driving logbook, or enjoy your hefty fine. and anytime the trainer is training counts against his 14 hour clock, which also counts against his drivetime. If the trainer is doing his job correctly, the last week or so before he graduates his trainee out of the program, he will let the traineee run the truck and be the first seat driver and take all the responsibilities of a real first seat driver, since the only way that you can truly learn is by doing it. When I was with the trainer driver back when I started driving, we were out for 7 weeks with a trainer at the company I went to work for, the last 2 weeks on the truck, I made all the decisions, planned all the breaks and fuel stops, planned the routes, ect and my trainer evaluated me. And BTW, I graduated from that company's training program with the highest marks of anybody ever to go through their program up until that time. And that probally still stands because they went bankrupt about 8 months later.

 

I'm not a trainer, so no. I won't admit to doing it as a solo driver. I said in ideal conditions. You are already fueled, you don't need to stop for anything, it is a long haul run. Between the trainer and trainee you have a full 14 hour clock. It can be done.

 

I'm sure glad I joined the forum. I looked at TMC as the best trucking co. out there. Looks are decieving.

 

There is no single "best" company, they all have their strengths and weaknesses. Your post is vauge, so I don't know what you are trying to say about TMC. This is typical of a TMC basher, no substance.

 

So, by that logic you will not clean your own HOUSE if you rent or have a mortgage. That really means the landlord or bank owns you house, you inhabit it, but you will make sure that it looks like a slum. If you want to live in filth that is fine, but don't tell me that I should. Your truck is your house on wheels. As for the exterior of the truck I visit a truck wash and watch other people wash my TMC truck using TMC's money.

Of course you do realize that by TMC asking you to keep the truck clean they keep people with that kind of "me me me" attitude from working there. That is why I like working at TMC because I don't have to work next to people with attitudes like yours. Have a nice day.

 

Of course you will continue to doubt, but I have legally done and logged 850 miles on one single logbook page. Now that was with the right run a light load, through relatively flat ground of IN, TN, GA, and no traffic tieups that day. I was still rolling from the previous day between midnight and 3am. Parked for ten hours until 1pm, and continued.

I only list PTI on each logbook page once. I even combine that with the fuel times or load/unload times when convenient. With your argument you would have to do a PTI again if you stopped for any break. I do it once per day, or once per trailer.

I claim 13.75 driving is possible, with 15 min fuel and PTI, but you are free to do your own math.

You can make money, or you can take breaks all the time and get nowhere. You cannot do both. I can eat in the truck while driving, and hit a couple of rest areas for a 7 minute bathroom break. You are only paid when the wheels are turning, so make them turn.

True you don't want to do it every day. But the freight working out so that this is possible does not happen every day.

 

If you have to run that hard to make money then I feel real sorry for you-I bring home $1000 a wk after taxes and insurance, and I dont run nearly that hard and I am home every day and every weekend-there are companies out there that you can make money with where they dont treat you like a slave.

 

Rawlco,
I like your summation of: "You can make money or you can take breaks all the time and get nowhere." Too many drivers now pull out with destination "Truck stop on the right". It is amazing how much ground you can cover if you sit in it with the left door closed and your mind on what the haul is for, where you are now, what the present circumstances are, and work a plan around those factors. Usually makes for a good paycheck, pleasant boss, and a nice fast tractor.

 

Typical newbie, you didnt even read the post, you just comment blindly, You know when you get that truck washed or when you polish it or whatever else you want to do, that LEGALLY, you have to log that you are doing it because legally you are working--personally like I said when I am home, that is my time not theirs. My attitude is fine, If TMC is such a great company, then maybe you should ask them for a load, Im not sure how you are answering on this board if you are driving-you know it is only Thursday. I am home everyday and I will be willing to bet that I work about half as hard as you do and make more money than you do. I didnt say that I didnt keep my truck clean, because I guarantee that I do and I will also guarantee that any truck that I have ever driven anywhere was cleaner than any truck that you currently drive--I just commented that I am not doing the company's work for them. I dont live in my truck, I live in a house, I am not a slave to my company like you are--been there and done that and it wont happen again.