Tmc Trucking

Merry Christmas all

 

I thought TMC stood for Too Much Chrome too!

 

As being a former owner\operator I haven't driven in 4 years I'm looking forward to being a part of the TMC organization.
I'll be headed to Des Moines in Feb. I will get a driver test I guess from what they say to see what I've forgotten!! Then will be assigned to a Trainer for a couple of weeks, Im pretty lucky the guy lives a few miles from me and is a very professional guy, seems to enjoy what he does.
I'm retired Navy and TMC seems to be a well disciplined and organized company. I have met a few TMC guys thru the years and all seem to be what you would want driving your trucks if it was your company. Anyhow I'm looking forward to my upcoming experiences and challenges, I'm tired of my current job as a Production Manager in the electronic/DOD industry. Tired of the people problems!!! Just want to get back at worrying for my own actions if you know what I mean;
Might be looking to get back in the owner operator regime again if $$$$cost come down. Any how I've been reading opinions on this sight and enjoy them words of wisdom and info you all have expressed here. So any more info you care to divulge feel free, I'm reading it!!

 

look at there web site and you will see there awsome Peterbuilts. 1st yr students can make $60,000

 

That is why people say TMC stands for Too Much Chrome.
The majority of there fleet is Long Nose Pete's.
Very well maintained, and very good looking. I have heard nothing bad about them, and I have actually been thinking about talking to them. I drove local for a long time, and I enjoyed working with the type of people they deliver too. I am getting tired of the attitudes of many at the warehouses. When I worked running a building supply warehouse I was always respectful to any drivers we had deliver our materials, and when I have been a driver delivering to construction sites I was always treated with respect. It is a different world than what I am seeing now.
I have driven trucks since March 1991, but I took a few years away from trucking here and there, but it keeps calling me back.

I would not hold my breath for 60k a year though. That is above the industry standard for company drivers by quite a bit. You may get it over the road, but you will probably normally not bring home more than 50k with any company as a company driver, and to get that you will not be home allot. I think the standard is closer to 35k a year.

 

20 is a massive group to have finish.
From what I have seen usually companys will have a class of 20 weeded down to about 8 by the end. Then normally no more than 4 or 5 of those will make it past 6 months on the road.
The way they do there pay I am sure there are first year guys making allot more than they do at the dry and reefer companys. It is a flatbed company, so there is allot more work involved in the job, and the drivers are compensated for it.
Trainers pay is not one I would look at though, triainers make allot more money at every company. Mostly because they can run the truck as a team after the first week or so with a student, so they can rack up some miles. I will say that I totally agree with that after the student is ready for it. They have allot of stress on them taking students in there trucks, and desirve tomake some extra money, espically if they are good trainers.

I have read allot of info about TMC. I think that people making a big deal about there rules is just plain stupid. It has been closse to 18 years since I got out of the army. I still rather use a walkway than walk on someones well tended grass. I still do not wear a hat inside of buildings (normally I just dont wear one).
I shower as often as possable, normally every other day. I just cannot afford to pay $10 every other day for a shower. It cuts into my income too much. But if for one reason or another I dont have any showers on my fuel cards, I will pay for them, I probibly paid 50 for showers since christmas. Just becuase I could not get fuel that day.
Anyway, sorry for the tangent. I run into so many drivers at shippers and recievers that stink, it makes me totally understand why some companys have to try and keep a higher standard. I am sure that TMC has some sloppy undiciplined drivers, there are some in every larger company. But maybe the numbers are lower there.

The main reason for this post though, is dont believe the hype. When it comes to weeding out new drivers, all the larger companys do it. I showed up at Central for orentation in a group of 8. I was the only one to finish. I and I have seen many other groups do about the same. It is extremly rare to have more than half a group in a company school or orientation group finish. It is not just TMC. Central, Swift, Wearner, England, Schnieder all are training companys. All are extremly carefull with the people they put in there trucks. TMC may be a little more picky, but only a little.

 

parr3 i start training in columbia,s.c. on feb.4th, having just finnished , can you tell me what to expect. or what you thought of the training. thanks lee