Question about TMC

I`d like to thank SGTMAC and Taylormade407 for asking just about all the questions I had about TMC as I`m starting school on Monday and would like to go to them when I`m finished. Also a thanks to cplmac2 for answering them too but I do have one question...the 13 spd transmission..is that a set-up where it`s 1-4 then 5-8 have a low and high setting and reverse? Cause if that`s how it is that`s exactly what I drove when I was in the Air Force. Also how is the trucking up by Cleveland Ohio for them since that is where I`ll be out of hopefully.

 

That's it for the 13 speed. It's got 6 shift gates with the two left gates being reverse and granny, with the Hi-Lo selector in low the other four gates are 1-4 with the high low in Hi they are 5-8 with a thumb button to split each gate in 5-8.

 

Exactly as I remember and was trained on...thanks for the info. That should make things a little easier for me.

cplmac2 ...anyway you might become a trainer in a few months? lol. I would be honored to drive with you....it`s seldom you find somebody on a web forum that knows what they are doing/talking about, isn`t ####y about it, and doesn`t mind sharing the info also.

 

I appreciate the compliment, thanks. Probably not going to be a trainer though, as much as I'd like the bump in pay I like living solo in a truck a little bit more. I like the 10 speeds a lot more but all of TMC's Petes are the 13 speed.

 

Training isn't for everyone. It's very stressful and frustrating sometimes, i've come close to kicking people out on the curb but i never actually did it. I'd just find something we could do for a while to get the hell away from each other and come back refreshed. Usually every night we'd take a break and go our seperate ways to do whatever and meet back at the truck, it worked out good.

In fact, all of the people i trained are still with TMC. Man, they made a killing by firing me, I get none of them bonuses! =(

 

What hits go you take on your paycheck from the company? I heard they no longer have the APU in their trucks and or the driver paid for them in the first place? By what I have seen for the bring home pay it isn't worth the hassle of going OTR. I recently got laid off but I made $46,000 last year and was home everynite. What is the advantage of being away from home for less than that? If it wasn't for the slow down in flat bedding freight last year I would of made close to $52,000 easily last year. I want to go back to work but I don't feel it is the drivers responability to pay for the EZ Pass and or the APU. I want to know what I'm getting into before I do anything.

 

TMC Never required drivers to pay for an APU, They only had them on specialized trucks to see the cost savings, which diddn't add up, so they never put them on anything else.. Not sure where this info came from.

You do pay for EZPass (Even though they don't have it anymore) From what I understand if you want the one to bypass scales that will still run you around 2.00 a week, which I don't happen to agree with either personally.

You'll need to pay for your hazmat, passport/twic. Insurance comes out weekly, and 80/90 through Indiana and ohio if you chose to run it without consent.

Can't think of anything else. From the people I still talk to (Trainee's etc) that still drive for TMC, They aren't doing very good in the money department, and i doubt you'll make 46k this year, let alone the 52 you mentioned earlier. But i wouldn't specifically say that's -only- TMC. Everyone is having a hard time right now.

 

The only solid reason to come to TMC as a new driver is to put in the requisite time to get a good job. I'm staying put until I have the time I need to run my own truck, hopefully by next summer. There are definitely worse driver mills out there, but if you are an experienced driver I would look elsewhere.

 

Thanks for the info guys. I got laid off 2 months ago and am itching to get back in the truck. I have right at 3 years experiance which 2 years is flatbedding. I looked at Maverick and a couple other dry van fleets. I think it would be hard to go back to dry vans. I enjoyed flatbeds and is the only thing I prefer to pull. Thanks for the info anyhow.

 

Ok one more question....what is TMC`s policy on DUI`s? I started school today but have been researching alot and on there website it says none in 10 years, but on 2 different papers at my school it say`s 5 years....so what is it ? I have to do a 5 week externship after I`m done at school and really banking on TMC.....cause if not them then I`m looking at being another one of Werners horror stories. But unfortunantly I feel I don`t have much choice.