This Forum

We all got fired lol. Ehh not a good joke I guess. But a lot of the regular posters here either quit like myself or really did get fired. So they don't check in here much, I do from time to time.

I replied to the other guy there and AFAIK they didn't lose those contracts. I was pulling them all the time up until I quit in April. Things are slow for sure, part of the reason I gave it up. Also that guy only has 2 posts, now since I been here on the forum seems like a lot of new people come on here and post a bunch of bad things and then are gone never to be seen again so I am reluctant at first to believe them.

 

You're kidding right ???

This is the internet, and the drivers who post. Do so when they are parked, and have the time.

NOT posting, is a good sign. Posting every day and night, is a bad sign.

 

I have been pre-hired by TMC and am currently in truck school. Is the word out there that TMC is in trouble as a company or is this just a rumor?

 

I've heard scuttle butt about every company out here myself. TMC is no differant.

The truth of the matter, every company is bouncing on/off the ropes. The herd has been thinned. And a few more may drop off the map. But I wouldn't worry too much about it, at this moment.

You have a pre-hire and want to go with them, by all means go. It can't be any worse than some of the others.

 

We didn't lose any big contracts that I know of aside from John Deere on the Mexican border. We still have stateside Deere, Alcoa I think, Lowes, Tamco, USG and LaFarge. We are taking more brokered loads though which is kind of a PITA. I haven't been on here much lately because I have nothing really new to say, all my old gripes are still there and both the old positives are still there. Only real news for me is that I fired my fleet manager. We actually did gain one new big dedicated account pulling boats for Brunswick. The slow freight is causing us to lose just about any detention pay though, and TMC is saying TWIC cards are going to be mandatory at our expense, I think Passport cards and HazMat are not far behind. This will probably send a few drivers packing, it's difficult to justify paying these expenses out of pocket when we make squat for tarping and no detention, and we pay the deposit and rental fees on our EZ-Pass.

 

longtime lurker, I post on CAD occasionally but the TMC thread has died off. sorry to read of Rawlco's departure, I met him up in Mass not that long ago and he was an asset to TMC. scary, because I drove on some bad, bad roads earlier this winter, no idea how I kept my truck on the road.

they have been pushing the TWIC cards hardcore. I think I have hauled out of a port once in over a year. I pre-enrolled, will pay the $130+ when I can afford it, whether TMC likes it or not. I have my passport and haul into and out of Canada frequently, hopefully that at least counts for something.

things are picking up slowly, I am not sitting nearly as much as I was earlier this year, and haven't gone home empty for the weekend in a couple months. still not really making any money, 3 loads last week, $2900 to the truck, which was a good week.

to anyone considering TMC, I'd still give it a shot. I am by no means the TMC cheerleader I was last year at this time, however I have made a lot of mistakes, a couple of them serious, and they have been more than fair to me. they have been doing a good job getting me home lately, the money could be better, $500-$700 paychecks compared to $800-$1000 last year at this time. I started at 27% and bounce back and forth between 27% and 28% because my revenue sucks and I usually have safety points. I don't understand how guys surivive at 23%, I have met a few guys who started and the winter and can't break 23% because of their revenue. I have gotten some good paying loads lately, just wish I could get 5 loads a week, I don't think I have hauled 5 loads in a week yet in 2009.

TMC pluses:
awesome, awesome equipment
good hometime, usually, depends where you live of course
potential to make good money, depends on the economy
nice hotel when you're in Des Moines
generally respected by customers and the public (generally)


TMC minuses
overly aggressive safety department
fleet managers can be hit or miss
too big for their own good, everything is "corporate" and they can be a pain to deal with at times. it's like Office Space where you have to report to 5 different bosses
longhaul freight has fallen off, more linehaul now, sucks if longhaul is your thing


I am going to stick it out hopefully another year and run hard, make some money when the economy turns around, and get another week of vacation, if nothing else.

 

Sounds like tmc was a killer company to work for back in the day?

What happened and when did all the changes begin to happen.

 

Why do you think TMC isn't a good company to work for? You have to be very careful about how you read the posts. Some post are from drivers who have been let go and aren't happy about it and some are from drivers who have less than one year of wheel time. I've have 15 years experience and have been with TMC for almost 2 years and it has the same problems as all other big trucking companies and it has it's good points also.

The job is what you make of it.

 

What is your opinion of the load securement training they provide? If a newbie (read:me) is interested in flatbedding, would you place the thoroughness and attention to detail of TMC's training "above and beyond" or "on par" with what other companies would provide. I am looking for a company that would provide me with a solid foundation regarding load securement.

Pay is a factor as well, but not at the top of my needs as my military pension will be a nice cushion.

R/

Frat