TMC or PGT

Haven't you answered your own question? If hometime isn't a consideration, but money is, and the difference between the two are outlined as clearly as you just did, haven't you answered your own question?

 

Home time and money aren't the only considerations.... so no, I didn't answer my own question.

 

Then there is no question to answer. TMC would be the pick.

 

I called PGT Friday 9-21, Holly said they no longer take new grads and require 6mo experience. May sway your decision

 

Here is some food for thought. PGT's owner pat Gallagher owns part of TMC!!!! And the CSA scores you show are a bunch of crap. We all know the CSA score are bs it's all about who you are paired with in you peer groups and how often you get dot'ed

 

PGT is a really good company. They will treat you like a person not just another number!!!!!

 

It doesn't take 10 years to get to 28% if you start at 25.5% it will take you 3 to 4 years to be at 28%. Also TMC may pay a higher percent but they are a bigger fleet and a lot of the freight they haul PGT will not haul because it is cheap freight that you can barley make a buck off of. Pgt is the better option. Aside from the equipment. Comparing a Pete to a prostar is like apples and oranges.

 

I chose wrong.

I decided to try TMC. I talked with my recruiter over the phone a few days before I left for orientation. I told her my only real concern about making it through orientation was the tarp lifting. I told her I wouldn't be able to lift the 120 pound tarp and was planning to cancel my orientation spot becaus of it. She assured me that no one had do lift the 120 pound tarp for orientation and that we would be tested (for the "essential job functions" part of the physical assessment) with the 65 or 85 pound tarp. I was relieved. I was pretty sure I could lift the 85 pound tarp without a problem.

They do your physical, federal background check and "essential job functions" tests all on the first day. Much to my surprise, we were told to lift the 120 pound tarp (from the ground onto our shoulder), put it on the truck, then hoist ourselves onto the side of the trailer and lift the same tarp again and put it on top of a coil.

I could not lift the 120 pound tarp. I did manage to lift it up to waist height, but that took everything I had... no way I was going to manage to get that thing onto my shoulder. I managed to lift the 85 pound tarp just fine.

I was dismissed from orientation at the end of lunch for failing to lift the 120 pound tarp (along with two guys who did manage to lift it, but not with proper/safe form).

My recruiter has been recruiting for TMC for 17 years... there is no reason whatsoever that she wouldn't know exactly what goes on in orientation. She lied to me. I knew recruiters would exaggerate... but flat-out lie? Not only did she waste three days of my time (the day of orientation and one day each way of riding Greyhound), I now have to explain to every company I apply to why I only spent a day at TMC.

And since I went to TMC first, my tuition reimbursement benefits anywhere else are null and void. No tuition reimbursement. Ever.

My PGT recruiter had told me to let him know if things didn't work out with TMC. I called and emailed him as soon as boarded the Greyhound home. I explained why TMC dismissed me. I asked if he had any openings in upcoming orientations. He told me he'd look into it, but couldn't promise anything.

Unfortunately, my circumstances (have been out of work for several months now and am flat broke) will not allow me to sit around and wait to hear from PGT. I've accepted an orientation spot with another company starting in a few days (van, not flatbed) and will reapply to PGT in the future once I have experience (if I still want to do flatbed at that point). Maybe after six months or a year.

Every other person at TMC was absolutely professional. I did not witness a single person raising their voice (none of the screaming into students' faces stuff I'd read about on other threads). The head of the training program was polite when he called me into his office to explain why I was being dismissed.

I wrote my TMC recruiter an email asking why she had misled me so deliberately. I knew I wouldn't be able to lift the 120 pound lumber tarp and if she hadn't lied to me about it not being necessary, I would have just accepted an orientation spot with another company. She hasn't replied to that email or the voicemail message I left. Why on earth would you recruit someone when you know they would fail out of orientation? It's unethical, to say the least.

Hindsight really is 20/20. I wish I had gone with PGT. Now I will spend six month to a year with another company and reapply to PGT and hope they accept me.

I am really kicking myself. It was my choice... I chose wrong.

If I could afford to, I'd wait and see if any orientation spots opened up in next month with PGT. I can't wait.

 

Guess what? PGT has the same test. With the same tarp. And will do the same thing to you, if you had gone to them.

The reason I suggested you go with TMC was because of the training you'd get with TMC versus PGT, and the equipment and lower CSA scores to work with. Contrary to bigman77's point of view, CSA scores do matter, and now the industry has awaken to that fact and is trying to change it desperately. They want to judge you (physically unable) but don't want you to be able to judge them (maintenance unable, CSA scores), regardless of the reasons or capability otherwise, which is why as a new driver you have to watch out and read about the industry.

You can't keep a clean record driving bad equipment, and CSA scores is what will get a company truck pulled in to a scale...and as a new driver, who won't know a lot of the things to look out for on a truck during inspections, plus worrying about deliveries, etc.. you'll miss stuff and getting pulled in and faulted in an inspection for equipment the company won't maintain won't be to your advantage....and will dirty your record for future jobs, the way CSA is now dirtying bad maintenance companies.

Actually, unless you were paid and such, you never worked for them, and unless a company wants you to put companies that you went to orientation for, you don't have to list them as employers. If they do a DAC, they'll see that you applied but didn't work there. If they ask, if you choose, tell them you were told you failed to lift a 120 pound tarp, to their satisfaction. Not that you couldn't lift it, but you couldn't lift it to their satisfaction. For purposes of the DOT employment verification...you never worked for them. Period. Relax.

I have no knowledge of this little issue, but suspect that, again, employment is the criteria, that if you didn't work for them, you don't disqualify. Check into this with where you went, without excitement. Communicate.

Don't hold your breath on this one.

Because they were reading a script of questions they have to ask and then check out. They may not have any operational knowledge, and are only interested in getting the bodies in and then let the system shake them out. They will be friendly, reassuring, etc, because most applicants are hyper-nervous and their job is to calm them and get them in the door. Welcome to trucking.

They will do the same test, and if you fail, you will be shown the door there, too.

Now, take a deep breath, get some time with the van, learn the job, the truck and the inspections and conditions the truck needs to be in and pass, so you won't become a victim of bad maintenance. Learn the other parts of the job, driving in different conditions, etc. There is a lot to learn, and if you are needing physical improvement since you don't mention your age or physical stature, you can take the time to improve it...cause even flatbed activity won't stop you from putting on weight....it only helps keep you active...it doesn't keep you from putting on weight once your body and mind become familiar with the job. You will hit a physical plateau...and have problems getting past it, once you know the tricks and tips to make the job faster and more efficient. When you first start, you'll be working your butt off and lose weight like all gang busters... but then....it starts to slow down..and you need an additional outlet to keep in shape. Get in shape now...while you're learning the rest of the job and extreme physical ability isn't required so you can get into a routine that will keep you healthy and fit.

I'm sorry you had this experience, I've had it too. Don't let it get you down, and don't quit, if this is what you want to do. I didn't, and I love flatbed work.

Good Luck