Ask A TMC Driver

Yes you can. Smoking, chewing its all laid out before you are assigned a trainer. The drawback to being choosy is you may not get a trainer as close to home. No one will think less of you, it could just require you to drive farther to meet your trainer.

 

I'm fin

e with driving further seeing as tobacco smoke affects me after prolonged exposers. Chew doesn't bother me.what would you say are some set backs to the company is? ( every company has down sides) currently my complaint about my carrier is my last 10 pay check is only $375 a week... Everything is fine. We just lost a big customer is all

 

Setbacks.....weather sucks.
The things many people list as negatives here I view as positive. I don't mind keeping my truck clean because I don't want to live in a crap heap.
TMC has rules, but also a good thing. They are in place to keep you and the public safe and to protect the cargo from damage.
Most of the negatives you will find here are present at any trucking company. Breakdowns, equip problems etc. Those things happen and they suck. Just gotta deal with it and move on.
I have done better than most financially but I work my tail off. I think average 1st year drivers make about $55k.
I'm not leaving.

 

It's flatbed, I'm expecting to bust my ### every day. I'm hoping this helps me get back into shape. People who seem to be complaining about pay here look bigger, and normally but not always, means they don't enjoy chain slinging and all... Haha right now I sit at least 1-3 times a week for 15-72 hrs with no load assigned and gets hurtful at times

 

Yikes...that bites, big time.

In four years with TMC, I think the longest I ever sat waiting for a load was two hours...I think it was twice. Once was way up in northern Massachusetts waiting on a westbound load to get me back toward home (which for me at that time was Indianapolis), for which they sent up into central Vermont, of all places...the other was out in boondock Kansas trying to find something going back eastward. 98% of the time if I didn't already have a load pre-planned on me, I got my next load within about 15-30 minutes, sometimes sooner than that.

A lot of that depends on a/ the diligence of (not to mention working relationship you have with) your fleet manager and b/ their relationship(s) with the load planners. (Slight little secret there. ;-D )

 

Getting ready to go deliver in NJ at 11-1400 today. I still doubt have a preassignment and I started this load, on the 29th at 1800... Surely it can't get worse...

 

TMC recruiter came through school early this week. They seem like a squared outfit and they don't stand for bs. And as long as the drivers take pride in their work and want to hustle, the good pay is there and ready to be earned. Does that sound about right to you guys? Or are there still politics and back stabbing that goes on there?

Im about a month into cdl school right now, and of all the company recruiters I've met so far and the research I've done, TMC seems like the closest fit to what I'm looking for. Thanks for any info and stay safe out there. Happy New Year.

 

TMC is a class act . What they tell you at orientation you can expect to find out in the field. It is what you make of it. I have done well as most of all others who take pride in themselves and are self motivated. You can request a smoking/nonsmoking trainer. I was a nonsmoking trainer. I had one trainee that smoked, I would not allow any smoking in my truck. Comes to find out he complained to his training coordinator I didn't stop enough times for his smoke breaks. That's when I said enough was enough. Done being a trainer. When your out with your trainer for 5 weeks just remember, it's only 5 weeks. Once you in your own truck you can do what ever you want. Also remember your trainer may have certain rules with his truck. Remember it's his truck, you are a guest. Good luck, and be safe.

 

Last week sat 13 hours @ Atlas tube in Harrow, On need I say any more.

 

What would you recommend a guy to bring out with him besides to obvious, clothes and shower supplies? I only plan to be with a trainer for 2 weeks