Questions about TMC Training

I agree that first starting off percentage will be the way to go, but do you think that the trainers FM will give the numbers on how much the load pays to see if you want to do percentage? and also your trainer might be doing the paid by miles thing but don't go by that cause you two might be teaming a load and your only getting paid what 500 a week but he is getting paid all the mile that you two drive but i might be wrong don't quote me on that

 

You get $500.00 if you are hired as an experienced driver, if you are a new driver you get $350.00.

This is part of the training process, they want you to figure both mileage and percentage. I can't say if he will give you what the load pays or not. I guess you can call you training coordinator to make it happen. I didn't have that problem because my trainer was on percentage.

You are correct, you have to interject a little common sense into figuring mileage pay. You have to figure it as if a solo driver was running the miles. Also, remember two can secure a load quicker than one, same with rolling your tarps and putting up your securement equipment.

As far as Out of Route miles go, you have to adjust for the area you live or run in. A fair amount of bounce is normal. I have bounce 149 miles more times than I care to admit. It pissed me off every time because I was, actually, driving 160 miles. Roll of the dice.

 

See that is probably going to be the only thing thats going to make me mad is deadheading alot of mile and not getting any kind of pay for it, so terrylamar you drive for TMC?

 

I did for 20 months, then I quit about six months ago to open a Martial Arts School.

It didn't work out so I'm trying to return to driving. TMC moved it's hiring boundaries about 200 miles away, so they declined me.

It looks like I will be going with ATS.

If I can toot my own horn, I can game the TMC Percentage Pay System with the best of them.

There are some things that you cannot affect. Those that you can, you better learn real quick. It will mean more money in your pocket.

 

I was looking into ATS but i want experience in the flatbed area cause from what i hear they pay real good pulling in there specialized division. So you have any pointers about TMC cause ill be out there the end of april

 

Well, I'm going to ATS' flatbed division. I wanted to get experience with heavy haul. ATS is one way to do that, more so than TMC.

As far as pointers, I have so many suggestions that are applicable to driving and not only at TMC.

You are a step ahead of most drivers because you are on this forum. Just read as much as you can.

When I was out with my trainer, I had drivers coming up all the time with questions, I always had the answer for them. They couldn't tell by looking that I was a trainee. Read everything.

While you are training, your load comes first, once it is taken care of get out of the truck and help other drivers. Do it the way your trainer wants, but look at everyone, even drivers from other companies. You will learn a lot, even if it is how, not, to do something.

I, always go out of the truck to help others while training and as a driver.

 

Thats a good way to sum it up ill keep that in mind thx a good luck with ATS hope everything goes well.

 

We got up this morning and headed across the river to the shipper and picked up a load of steel bar stock. The yard we were picking up from is a full on PPE yard, so hard hat, safety glasses, reflective vest the whole nine yards. No biggie, I've had to do that for years now in my previous job. Cold this morning but I brought my Carharts with me so it wasn't bad. Everything was going pretty smooth until the fork driver reminded us of why you are always standing a safe distance from the loader and keeping an eye on him, one of the 7000 pound bundles of steel bar came tumbling off the end of his forks onto the ground while he was trying to load it on the truck. If anyone had been hit by that it would have killed them without question. We choke strapped, chained and bulkheaded the load then headed over to the tarping area and off we went. Drove in some beautiful sunny weather, on mostly good but occasionally very crappy roads down to central IL. Good day, week 4 is in the books. Sunday I start the 5th and final week of training and everything is going very well. My trainer has been good and seems to be comfortable with me driving. I thought for sure yesterday in that snow storm he was going to tell me to pull over but he let me press on and it was a good experience. Monday we deliver in MO, then we pray to the Qual Comm god.

Todays whell time 419 miles, training total 7343 miles.

 

Hey terrylamar, its good to see you posting again on the forum. Sorry to hear the Martial Arts studio didn't work out for you, but I wish you nothing but the best with ATS. Information that you had previously posted regarding TMC was very influential in helping me to decide to seek a pre-hire from them prior to attending driving school. I am scheduled for orientation on March 16th and am excited for that day to get here. I appreciate your input on percentage vs mileage and, after reaching the number of posts required before I'm able to pm other members, would like to contact you for some ideas on how to make percentage work for me. Good luck and I look forward to contacting you soon.

 

cplmac2
Was wondering if TMC is a company to look into. Mainly wondering if you are having any issues surviving financially while going through oreintation and driving with a trainer. I only live a couple of towns south of you on the fox and what I saw being paid for the first few weeks isn't much, especially being on the road. I do understand that you need to start somewhere and that you do not make the big bucks right out the gate. All one could hope is it would work out in the long run.