Headed to Des Moines give me some tips.

Discussion in 'TMC' started by Roadhog84, Aug 23, 2012.

  1. johnthurjr

    johnthurjr Bobtail Member

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    Sep 16, 2012
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    Don't drive if you are the type of person that doesn't like to do stupid things on purpose. The entire industry is a fraud. The laws are for big business. The rules are enforced but are owned by the big money. Don't think you are going to change any of it. They say you are to run legal and that means what? It means you will leave your house Sunday around noon, You may have to drive about 10 hours or so. The next day you will get up about 6 am, you will be unloaded around 10 am due to no one cares about your time , you will have to drive about 50 to 100 miles average to your next pick up. There you get behind about 10 other trucks waiting to get loaded. Now it's about 4 pm since you didn't start your legal clock till about 9:30am you can drive till 11:30 pm. This happens clear up to Friday. You will work 14 to 16 hour per day. You will average 12 dollars per hour. Trucking is for people who don't have a home life. It took me about 12 weeks to figure out how this business works I was not impressed.
     
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  3. aiwiron

    aiwiron Road Train Member

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    Aug 24, 2011
    Sunny Tampa Florida
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    I feel bad things did not work out for you but that is trucking life, take it or leave it that is the way it is and sometimes will not go as planned.
     
  4. cap12

    cap12 Bobtail Member

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    Nov 27, 2011
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    at what point after you get to Des Moines are you offered a position?
     
  5. JETTY0811

    JETTY0811 Bobtail Member

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    Mar 4, 2012
    Moberly, Missouri
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    Depends on if you have previous experience or not. If your brand new, you won't be hired until you complete their two week training. If you do have some experience, you'll basically be hired after orientation, which is a week. They can still can you if your trainer thinks your unsafe or unprofessional, but that's common sense.
     
  6. tablefor7

    tablefor7 Light Load Member

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    Aug 2, 2012
    Columbus, Georgia
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    It sounds like military life to me...and I have many years of that under my belt, so no big deal there. I think the thing that makes me sad is that you're giving up so soon. Why would sooooooo many people be doing this thing called trucking if it was all that horrible? They have families that they very much love....they're willing to make sacrifices. They choose to. And it is certainly a sacrifice for their families as well, so they accept it with loving humility and gratitude. Life is about sacrifice. It's about what we're willing to do for those we love. Yes, it's long ours, working muscles we didn't even know we had, blood, sweat and tears as we stand on the proverbial front porch waving good-bye. It's hard work, frustration and anger. It's not getting what we want the moment we want it. It's....tough. And then, when all is said and done, it's that moment of pride when your little girl is riding her brand new bicycle for the very first time, complete with training wheels, that Daddy bought just for her...that he couldn't afford to get her before, because he didn't have a good job. Or, as in my case, the FIRST Christmas home in TEN YEARS because for *ONCE* Daddy wasn't out of country, or doing some kind of military training that took him away from home....so the look of EXCITEMENT when his 11 year old son says, "Wait, WHAT?! You're going to be HOME FOR CHRISTMAS?!! Do you know what that means DAD?!! THIS IS OUR VERY FIRST CHRISTMAS TOGETHER!!!" Yep...life is tough, and we have to do things that we don't want to do....but we do them anyway, because people are relying on us. And they're worth it. ;-)
     
  7. BigRedBigRig

    BigRedBigRig Light Load Member

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    Sep 1, 2012
    South Bend, IN
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    I know they say you get paid for training, but how does that work? Is it all on the usual week or two delay, then you get paid... or do they give you part of it the first week?

    I've been unemployed for two months, so it'd be nice to know how soon I would at least have a little money in my pocket.
     
  8. ron1977

    ron1977 Bobtail Member

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    May 20, 2012
    axton, va
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    i believe....dont quote me on this....but if i remember correctly when i went thru orientation in 2005 that u will get paid at the end of week 2 for week 1..so u will have to "work a week in the hole"
     
  9. BigRedBigRig

    BigRedBigRig Light Load Member

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    Sep 1, 2012
    South Bend, IN
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    Thanks! If I find out that it's different, I'll post so that others will know.
     
  10. ron1977

    ron1977 Bobtail Member

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    May 20, 2012
    axton, va
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    sounds good....always good to keep info updated to help out other drivers!
     
    BigRedBigRig Thanks this.
  11. FlyMarines09

    FlyMarines09 Bobtail Member

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    Jun 25, 2012
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    I'm also looking into TMC.... The only real concern with trucking that I have is this... Realistically, will I have anytime to do homework when I'm not driving? I'm taking college courses now and if I decide to start driving will switch to online classes. Is wifi available to most major truck stops? Will I realistically have the time to do an hour or two of homework a night? Also, what exactly is the drive vs rest time now days? Is it any different company to company? I'm really interested in TMC, but this issue could male or break my decision to start driving. I'd appreciate any unbiased response

    Thanks and great post
     
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