Need some answers from TMC drivers

Cardinal Logistics has several contracts in GA & TN. With that company you may be home every weekend or 2 or 3 nights a week. Their website shows what's available in each state. I drove for them briefly during a transition period just to help out until the transition was complete. Good company. I know drivers that have been with them 15 yrs. or longer.

 

I am a CDL student and am going with TMC as my first company. I can answer some of these based on my speaking with actual drivers on here and at truck stops where TMC stops.

Their trucks have inverters, I believe their older trucks either have them, or you have the option to buy one from them and their shop will put it in for you, their new 579's all have a small 22" television mounted into the bunk.


Every driver I have spoken with has never had one bad thing to say about the company. I know trucking recruiters are like military recruiters, they will tell you the good long before they mention the bad, and the bad is usually sugar coated. However Ive been talking with TMC drivers for over 3 months over the CB, and at truck stops. Everyone has been very forthcoming with information, and not a single one of them have told me anything that I would consider bad. Every company has their shortcomings, but so far, TMC seems to have the fewest in my research.


And there is a recruiter/former driver from TMC on here that is active a few days out of the week. Hes got some great information, I am sure he will be along and can corroborate some if not all of what I said above.

 

TMC will get you home most week-ends. They will miss every once in a while because your in the wrong area, or the planed load fell through, but for the most part you will get home. Make sure your FM knows how important this is to you.

With TMC you do much better on the % plan. You should be able to hold 28% pay (the % varies based on performance) Average driver makes 3250/week to the truck plus 50-100 in tarp and stop off fees. .28*3250=910+approx 75 bucks....around 985/week. I would be shocked if someone with 7 years experience can't beet average though. I would expect you'd average 1000/week or more. if your willing to work as hard as you can, you can make more. Use time management and you can easily beet the average. Keep in mind that average includes guy right out of CDL school

Lol, never heard them called round nose lol. First off, most new drivers are getting the 379 pete. These are "short nose" but square. After 6 months or less you will be upgraded to a 579 which is a more "rounded" nose. We no longer driver the 387 football helmet truck. They are selling off all the 379 trucks and giving everyone a new 579. (the 579 is on petes website if you want a look) So, you may get a square truck to start, but will be upgrades quickly to a aero truck. All trucks have blind spot mirors, and its really not bad once you get used to it.

Currently there is no restriction on idleing. The 579 trucks are equipped with bunk heaters, so you shouldn't need to idle in winter. As for summer, idle however much you need to. MPG is one of the many items that factors into what % pay you get though.

Trucks are prepass equipped (for scale bypass) and ezpass equipped for ipass and ezpass tolls. For none ezpass or ipass states you need to pay cash and save receipt, although tmc will advance you money at the pump to cover tolls. (i think up to 25 buck twice a week , total 50)

I had a 2am delivery last week and the one before that was 4 months earlier. Its rair, but does happen. I only drove 350 miles the next day becuase i did not get great sleep. If your tired, dont drive. The fleet managers understand that. Dont let them pressure you...your the boss and your not gonna get fired for being to tired to drive, even if you log says your legal.

Newbies are supposed to follow routing for a year, but none of us ever did. As for fuel, any flying j/piliot in us is fair game. they recomend a stop, but you odnt have to take it. They will be angry if you didnt take a recommendation and then request to buy off network fuel becuase your to low. So use common sence. Don't blow buy their recommendation when there are no other autherized on your route. they have a few t/as and loves autherized to, but most t/a.petro/loves are not on the list..[/QUOTE]

They will only let you use an inverter that they install for a fair price. (i think its like 150 bucks for a 1500 watt) If you quit you keep the inverter. The new trucks may come pre equipped but the rumers aren't clear on that. You are not aloud to install your own.

Any other questions? I drove for TMC for 1.5 years and now am an Owner Operator with them.

-Cody

 

Your not talking about me are you? Im not a recruiter, Just a happy driver lol.

 

My bad, i thought you said 7 year. you said 7 months......you are except from the i80 rule Gunner75 mentioned as long as you let your fm know first. You will be asked to follow company routeing, but wont penalized if you don't. As long as you dont get lost or stuck somewhere, or drive on a non truck road, they could care less what routing you take. That goes for you to Gunner75. Within your 1st year, just ask and they will authorize 80 for you.

 

If you want extra job security, aim to get hazmat and passport/card. These will also give you a few bonus points and help you get higher pay. As for securment, they will have a short drawing test of when you would add securment for certain loads when you go for orientation. (art skills are not judged) If you pass your good to go, if they feel you need more training, you go to a week or 2 in dsm and some road time. Since you were with mavrick, you will probably need to go out with trainer since you will probably have trouble jumping back to a manual trans, especially a 13 speed.

 

1: Yes, policy is every weekend if that's your choice.
2: Little effort: 850-900. Good effort: 1000-1400. First year students can expect 50-55,000 if that helps as youre experienced.
3: Most of our fleet is now round (579's) and will nearly all be soon.
4: They have heaters but no a/c. However, there is not an idle "policy" preventing you from it in the summer... We just encourage wise decisions.
5: EZ Pass and PrePass on all trucks, no charge
6: most p/u and Del are in normal working hours, especially delivery...nearly all.
7: Routing is up to the driver, as is fuel. We have suggested routes and fuel ( I never used them unless they worked on the route I was planning on)
8: All new trucks have an inverter from factory and if you have an old truck while waiting for the 579 you can get one.

Hope that helps you out bud.

 

Lol, I'm the Richter who's now a recruiter on here for us. Was a happy driver for some years and have had a blast. Gunner is a #### hot recent grad who just graduated from one of the schools in OH. Great guy and TMC material all the way. One of my orientation buds is also an O/O out of Lowes Westfield. Loves it.