TMC Questions

I don't start until June. And yes, I'm drawing my GI Bill.

 

Been with the company over 4 years. Yes you can make good money. On the other hand clearing 1000 a week is few and far between. Usually between 700-800. and that's leaving sunday around lunchtime and getting home friday evening. Don't think your weekends will be much over 34 hours. Mine average about 40-42 hours and right back out. Your Dispatcher has EVERYTHING to do with the money. If he only gets you cheap loads, no matter how fast you secure and tarp. you can only drive so fast. Most TMC loads on the East coast are your usual 650$ for 400ish miles. Usual weekly revenue is about 3200$.
The certification point system is set against you. You only get certification points for out of route if its under 10%. Well, they use PC miler to calculate milage, and guess what. Your 10-15% out of route before leaving the shipper. Idle time is same way. But guess what, not just when you are idling in the parking lot. Stop lights, stop signs, traffic. If the engine is running and the trucks not moving it counts against you.
Now on the plus side. TMC has very good equipment and they do not mind spending the money to keep it up. Training in orientation is very good. Trainer's on the other hand are hit or miss. Some work hard to teach you as much as they can and set you up for success. and others use you for a extra logbook for five weeks. It is a good company to learn with, but after awhile you will look for a smaller company. No matter what they say, you are a number. I have never been treated badly or talked down to. With freight slow and cheap prices, they will grab what they can you keep you moving. Even if it doesn't pay worth a ####. Bounce miles ( deadhead) are unpaid unless it is over 150 miles. So that two hours of driving for free. then two hours at a shipper ( on good day) for free. then a hour to hour and a half to unload for free. So you can spend 5-6 hours a day working for free. They will tell you its all wrapped up into the percentage. But if you do the numbers, it just doesn't work.

figured at 28%
650$ = 182$
450 miles @ 60mph= 7 1/2 hours
Bounce= 2 hours
Load= 2 hours
Unload= 1 1/2 hours
waiting to be dispatched 1/2 hour ( usually a hour plus )
13 Hours for this load @ 182$= 14$ a hour
Didn't even add in time to fuel, scale load, load checks, traffic

 

Tolls are usually reimbursed the next pay period after you transflo them in along with any other receipts ( headlight, gallon of oil, washer fluid). EzPass covers almost everyplace except OK, KS and parts of Florida. I spend my time east of the mississippi unless I feel like streaching my legs for a couple weeks out.
Boat division pays .44-.46 a mile ( all dispatched miles). Boats is a good gig if you can sit a seat for 11 hours and watch you eating habits. All boat loads are preloaded and secured. 30 minutes to hookup, verify securement and serial numbers and back at it. Boat division does ALOT of miles Texas to canada is not uncommon or Lebanon, MO to the north east. When I ran boats, my first load was from Lebanon, MO to Bangor Maine. ( 5 different drops) 1750 miles there and the bounced 1600 miles back for another load. But there is absolutely no physical work, so you have to watch what you eat or you will swell up.

 

I've heard a lot about boats. I'm from Lebanon originally, and will be settling down nearby after the army. I'm going to do my time on flatbed and try to change over to boats in due time. Thanks for the good info.