TMC scumbags

Discussion in 'TMC' started by Aomalley27, Jul 17, 2018.

  1. McUzi

    McUzi Road Train Member

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    Jan 14, 2018
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    You guys secure coils with chains to the rub rail? Do your trailers have the chain pockets? The chain pockets have a WLL of 5,400.
     
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  3. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    Mar 5, 2016
    White County, Arkansas
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    Securement is no joke. Wait until you did what I did, a Ravens Covered Wagon versus a 24 foot long really tall coil at 52000 pounds. (I threw everything on that one. ALL the straps, all the chains all the binders. Everything I could possibly fit on that monster and make tight.

    Your DOT medical card has no value. Im glad you got one with the CDL. Hold on to that one. EVERY TIME YOU GO TO ORIENTATION YOU WILL BE DOT MEDICAL again, again and again and again. Repeat after me DOT medical card in your pocket is worthless to any employer. They WILL send you to their doctor. (It's really flat stupid sometimes, a complete and utter contempt for the entire FMCSA and DOT's medical requirements just to get a CDL in the first place. (Or keep one as you will find out later)

    As far as all the steps to securement etc, I have not been taught that way. All I am taught is really simple. Throw chains or straps or both onto a load until God can pick up that flatbed, turn it upside down and there is enough securement to keep it on the deck. All the little details such as WLL etc are well exceeded by myself. Many will tell you that my system is flat unnecessary, excessive and too much BS for most loads in terms of just enough securement to be lawful. And they would be correct.

    However. I have never had a load covered in securement get away from me when something does come up and I have to do something really drastic with that really big tippy mobile right now before myself or someone else gets killed. (In one case 7 came on with their car against me for a head on in my own left lane. I had a proper load of steel on. That load probably would have crushed me while they died under my engine block.

    Anything is possible. Including loads where you could not secure it properly for love or money. What I should have done in at least one case is bobtail downtown in Logan County and went to Lowes or something and bought 100 dollars worth of wood sized just so and a box of nails. THAT would have solved one load that became a royal MESS and YELLING once Busch in Williamsburg got a eyeful of what was under that tarp when a car cut me off 5 miles prior to arrvial. (One tiny chain on each in the front, promptly destroyed the pallets which I now have to pay for.) because the pallets are destroyed, the entire pair of coil is potentailly damaged and cannot possibly be accepted for use in making cans. (They took the coils anyway because they would be out in a few hours if they did not....)

    To this day they are still yelling about that one. Like I say anything is possible.

    Orientations are not a place to get messed up. YOU WILL however meet some very good people. And a certain percentage of them burn with fire and desire to make you a better driver in spite of what little training you got at school. (Which apparently consists of beating down a freightliner that wont go anywhere like a Crown Victoria Police car might.... teasing...)

    I don't know the cost of gasoline to and from Des Moines from Fort Wayne, but yes you have identified a number of points of failure within that company structure.

    Im just happy that my time in trucking has come and gone. I remember once I took a taxi near Raliegh for medical DOT exam. The cheating taxicab driver took a longer interstate route around town into traffic during rush to run up his meter. Cost a cool 20 dollars. He thinks to this day Im stupid and don't know small details like this. 9.00 to and 20 coming back to the exact A to B and back to A again with one exception, choosing a longer route to run a meter up.

    That pretty much stains the entire state of North Carolina to me. If the Locals cannot be honest and take the 9.00 both ways but have to make it a 30.00 cost because they are poor, then I don't want to spend any more time then than I have to. To me its the tiniest of details that will determine my permanent attitude towards something.

    Des Moines to me isnt much. A truckstop, a airport (Which I don't plan on using) and a Dow Jones Printer Outfit which demands their paper rolls from Bear Island near Doswell VA constantly. Ive managed to arrive there a few minutes past appt time because I am in a 61 mph governed truck on paper logs (Plural) to run the entire night to just be there. Company could care less in those days. Today's ELD would have made that kind of planning and executing that delivery impossible.

    As far as the specific companies? They have all something good, and something bad. You can do well not to stress about the difficult things you cannot fix. (Or should...) and you will do well to take 6 months worth of every forms they have to give you plus a mountain of envelopes for the courior etc. So you can be far away from the company yard for most of the year without needing much of anything. Any time you are in or near a company yard, anything can and will happen. What you think your day is going to happen will end up being someone else's decision when they see you walking and pull you aside to drop onto a 200 mile POS load that delivers in 5 days because they cannot get anyone to agree to go get it.

    My post is somewhat difficult being all over the place. The main idea I want to cross to you thinking is this. Orientations are not over until you have been issued a permit pack, cards, keys and your first load assignment to your tractor somewhere in the yard out back.

    Good luck!
     
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  4. IluvCATS

    IluvCATS Road Train Member

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    Dec 1, 2014
    Seattle, WA
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    Yes we secure to the rub rail. We loop around the spools. We are allowed to loop around the stake pockets if necessary. Our Utility brand trailers do not visibly say the WWL of the rub rail is, so we are expected to just do as told and consider all parts of the rub rail 4,000 lbs capacity.
     
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  5. Barricade52

    Barricade52 Bobtail Member

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    Sep 12, 2018
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    Sounds like Dave did a great job of weeding out the weak.
     
  6. DSK333

    DSK333 Road Train Member

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    Jan 27, 2018
    Pennsyltucky
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    Find yourself a local job, OP.
     
  7. AUfan78

    AUfan78 Light Load Member

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    Feb 13, 2018
    Mobile, Alabama
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    Every manufacturer may be different but here's what fontaine says the WLL of their rub rails is. The only hook method less than 5400lbs. is when hooking the hook onto an aluminum stake pocket(figure 5)and it is rated at 4000lbs when used that way.
    Screenshot (3).png Screenshot (4).png
     
  8. carterbeauford

    carterbeauford Medium Load Member

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    Mar 21, 2009
    northwestern PA
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    You did yourself a favor.

    They get all types in orientation there. I wouldn't say orientation was unprofessional when I went through it, TMC does whatever they want to so I can see how some red flags were raised.
     
  9. Fozen1

    Fozen1 Bobtail Member

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    Oct 28, 2018
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    Just like TankerP said. You really learn the job while doing it. Mike Fisher was just showing you BASICS!!!! But how those basics are to be done correctly. You said you studied and studied. Most people are on brain overload as it's all new to them. I drove for TMC for 2yrs. Made great money. They are like every company NOT FOR EVERYONE! Had to come home and am now going back. Even after 3-5 weeks of training your not going to know everything. There is so much to really know and learn in trucking in general. Most guys wont just get shoved on this load or that with out time under their belt. They even have certain loads you are suppose to call safety just to do a quick run through of the securement. Even if you've driven for them for years! There were still plenty of loads I had to call safety for or ask other drivers what the hell on securing but for the most part its straight fwd. Some other people have said the same as well. You quit... they already have time and money invested in you, so it's not like your going to get red carpet treatment if you walk out before trainings over. And some of the reason why George and Mike are the way they are is because life on the road you have to have thick skin. Some shippers are just nasty and expect you know everything about their facilities. Hopefully things work out for you, but really for as big as TMC is they truly are a good company.
     
  10. jeff18

    jeff18 Medium Load Member

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    Dec 8, 2014
    pittsburgh, pa
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    here is a thought??????????? don't do flatbed. drive dry or reefer
     
  11. jeff18

    jeff18 Medium Load Member

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    Dec 8, 2014
    pittsburgh, pa
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    agree.
     
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