TMC Transportation, Inc. - Des Moines, Ia.

It's 30k here too, when I swapped for the truck I'm in now it had 328k, the window sticker for the next oil change says 358k. I don't think 30k in commercial trucks is outside the norm to be honest, they might not even change it then. Some companies send out samples to see if the oil needs to be changed and just swap filters. The three trucks I've spent time in have all run well, although they have all had perpetual check engine lights on. My current truck is the only one I've had any real problem with, and those problems are not engine related but Eaton Vorad and power mirror related.

 

tmc changes all filters and oil every 30,000 give or take a few miles and they go over the trucks with a fine tooth comb fixing everything that they find. the maint plan is very good here and i would not be afraid to buy one of these trucks. the only downfall is all the newbies in the trucks and the fact half of them dont know how to properly operate a big truck. i would say tmc is in the top 5 for taking care of the fleet.

 

30k is streatching an oil change but it's unfortunatly becoming the norm. the big problem is that it about three times as long as you should go on greasing the truck. I change oil at 20k and grease once between

 

I just got home today from being at the TMC training center. They put you up in a fancy hotel that TMC owns. The number one rule is not to walk on the grass or you will get terminated. The owner of TMC spend over a million dollars a year on his grass care. Thats not joking. Well monday I started and I took my road test and come tuesday morning they said I couldn't drive. First of all I'm not used to a peterbuilt, I've always drove freightliners, so ya my driving might suck, and I had to say that several times. The Fat ### training manager was going on about how I couldn't back a truck up and that I couldn't down shift, again he has to get the donuts out of his mouth and listen closely, I'm not used to driving peterbuilts. So I told him to get me a freightliner and I'd drive circles around him. Needless to say he didn't like that and just said that he was getting me a bus ticket home. A blessing, so before I left I was out side waiting for a ride, I dug my heel into the ground and took a chunk of grass out as a going home present. They can suck it.

 

..hahaha.. that's funny, the last part, not u getting pushed out of training.. well their lawn care people will have sumthing to do now! .............................what was your trainers 1st name so if i ever get TMC training i will watch out for the 'donut guy'..

 

well it sounds like you have a crappy attitude so tmc is probbly not the place for you. first of all learn to spell it its peterbilt. i dont see what would be so hard backing up these trucks vs a freightliner. i think you should go drive straight truck at home depot. i am sure you could back that up!

 

what does shifting or backing have to do with truck make????

 

The obvious reason a Pete is more difficult to back is the physical structure of the truck. If you look at a 379 or most any classic style for that matter you will notice the stacks prevent you from being able to lean over and look backwards down your truck. Freightliners and most modern styled trucks have a flush side with clean sight lines to easily look out the window when backing. Still, you should be able to back with your mirrors anyways.

 

Peterbilt's have a wider turning radius than a Freightliner or Volvo, especially on the driver's side. Transmission governs shifting! The individual did not state whether it was a standard 10, super 10, 13, 15, or 18 sp transmission. Gear ratios are totally different depending on transmissions.

Little Princess Out!

 

You are correct when saying (basicly) that turning radius is different for trucks with different wheelbase.....however whether it is driver side or not makes no difference. its all perception.

i get a kick out of drivers who make blindside backing such a big deal, setup is exactly the same, turning radius' are exactly the same, what IS different is the position of the driver....and his/her PERCEPTION. When i blindside, i set up exactly the same as i would sight-side.

yeah?