almost out of school thinking of TMC good idea?

I can't comment on Boyd, I have never worked for them and haven't heard anything good or bad.

I have worked for TMC for the past year. Both, Long Haul and Line Haul. I am Line Haul right now.

I think TMC is a good company and I am happy where I am.

Generally speaking, the pay is best in flatbedding. There are exceptions to this rule, just as there is in any rule. Flatbedding does slow down before other segments in the trucking industry and usually picks up faster. If, and it is a big IF, we are heading into a recession, flatbedding will be hurt faster than the other segments.

On Long Haul my take home was on average between $1,200.00 and $1,800.00 per week, rarely was it below $1,000.00.

On Line Haul it is averaging about $800.00 each week.

The difference being that I am home every weekend. On Long Haul I would stay out three weeks at a time.

Flatbedding can be physically challenging. In the summer it is hot, in the Winter it is cold. You can be tarping and securing your load in 115 degrees in AZ in the summer and -40 degrees in Michigan. It can be windy anywhere and tarping in the wind isn't fun and can be down right dangerous. I was in OKC not long ago with the wind gusting to 40-50 MPH. Luckily, I was untarping and not tarping. It can be frustrating trying to keep the tarp to stay where you want it in that kind of wind.

Depending on where home is, hometime can be great or it can be horrible. There are times when you will get home early on Friday and not have to leave until Monday morning. Other times you will get home Saturday and have to leave out midday on Sunday. Usually, you will get home late Friday and have to leave late on Sunday. If you are right in the middle of a shipping lane you might be able to stop by the house during the week. I have had weeks where I have been able to stop by the house for a few hours to staying overnight.

I hope this helps. Others will be along to give their take. Good luck whatever your decission is, but I hope to see you at TMC.

 

I am starting training on the 25th at a local school in Mo. and will be submitting a prehire app. within a couple days with TMC. That way I can keep TMC, Maverick and now Roehl within reach. Those choices by the way are in order of 1 2 3 as far as who I would want to drive for. This is a big career change for me and I cannot wait to get started in the schooling and hopefully in TMC driver training after that. Just hope the recession doesnt totally kill off the business. I m tired of working in dead end factories for what I now think is poverty wages.

 

I worked for TMC for 3 years. They treated me well. 4 hours asleep a night over the road.
Just remember that 1st unloaded gets pick of loads next day. That why you need to run. Or you get what is left. You make of it as what you want. If you do you time you may be put on a dedicated run, which is easier. Great company!!! If my wife did not have back surgery I would probably still be there. Good luck!!!

 

Roehl has a yard in Cincinnati area. if you like working outdoors they have flats and curtain side. good training program. decent pay. The main reason I would recomend them is, if you end up not likeing flatbed work they also have dry van and reefer and a variety of time off plans. 7days on 7off, 7/4 7/3, 30days out 6 days off. lots of options.

 

Reohl sounds like it has good time off.

 

With TMC I was home every weekend and 1 or 2 times a week. I see that they have drivers with day cabs running around Cleveland, Oh.

 

Do all the drivers get home every week-end.

 

Absolutely not, and for a lot of us that's as much by choice as anything else. I try to stay out a few weeks at a time but freight has been slow enough that I've been sent through the house many times when I've asked to be run. There is plenty of home time though depending on where you live.

 

if you are look to go to school and work for a student tranning company.
be warned your chances @lasting 1 year is about 20%. been their done that
and got fired. and did every thing thay told me to. almost went broke running
1800 mpw.(miles per week) watching the new students run their buts off
for 22 cents per mile. still want to try it ?