Considering TMC whats the Good, Bad, and Ugly about them.

Discussion in 'TMC' started by Cyclesdalecummins07, Oct 3, 2011.

  1. Cyclesdalecummins07

    Cyclesdalecummins07 Light Load Member

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    Sep 6, 2011
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    I am considering working for TMC. I have read good and bad things about them on here and am looking for advise on weather to go to them or not. I sent them my application today and talked to a recruiter (Gus) to see if i was qualified at all to work for them since I did not go to a driving school and I have a pretty large gap in my driving experience (three years) and i only real driving I have is that I jockey trailers at my work but its only about two to three trailers a day. The reason I am considering them is that they will take me with the very limited experience that I do have. The concerns that I have is that I have read that they run illegal (logs, and weight) I am a very strict person when it comes to my license being on the line, I refused to drive trucks and haul loads for my first driving job because they were illegal. Is that a bad trait to have because by what I have read it seems to be? And if I have to run illegal for a company to make a living I'd rather drive for someone else. Another question is that the first question I was asked was "are you willing to drive to all 48 states and Canada." I dont mind driving around for them but I am from just outside of New Orleans and having runs to Canada seems unlikely but I could be wrong. Would I be mostley running the south since I live here or would I be going to all the states? This leads me to my next question the hiring page for TMC says home every 14-17 days with one day off for every week out does that mean every five days for a week or is it the full seven days? Finally does it matter that I have limited experience on the use of manual transmissions? I drive a manual everyday but I know that the ones in trucks are completely different because they are not synchronized. I have taught myself how to drive a ten speed on the truck I jockey trailers with but it is floating not double clutching. Does TMC help train you to drive the 13 speeds they have since I have never been behind one.

    Im sure I'll think of more questions later on but any help, info, experiences, etc. will be GREATLY apperciated.
     
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  3. Ridgerunner665

    Ridgerunner665 Road Train Member

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    The good = pretty black trucks.

    The bad = pretty slow trucks.

    The ugly = I don't know, but it ain't the trucks.

    LOL, never mind me...I don't even work there, just couldn't resist though.
     
    DenaliDad Thanks this.
  4. dirtyjerz

    dirtyjerz glowing beard pouty kid

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    Ridge, not far from the truth.

    Cycles, i am a current driver for tmc. You will not run illegal. Period. If you run illegal logs, your in trouble. Yes they are paper but they can track you via QC. They also pay for up to $25 in cat scales a day on your fuel card. If your over weight its your fault. Contact your fm and they will work with the shipper to cut your load back to legal weight. Now you might have to play the how much fuel should i put in the tanks game every now n then but thats everyone. Now you might be dispatched anywhere but depending on your fm you prob will stay regional. And the 10-14 means 7 days a week. They will train you on the 13 speed, 2x clutching not floating, your trainer will teach you that. Probally be in the inexperienced class, 2 weeks orentations, 5 weeks with a trainer.

    Ok, think i got it all. Anything else just ask.
     
  5. PACARMONA59

    PACARMONA59 Bobtail Member

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    Oct 4, 2011
    GLENOLDEN, PA
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    STAY AWAY FROM TMC IF YOU WANT UNDERSTANDING, SIMITHY, OR JUST A GOOD JOB. THEY WILL PUSH YOU TILL YOUR JUST AT THE EDGE AND THEN SAY "TRUST ME" WITH THE LAST SHOVE. THERE ARE OVER 50 GUYS EVERY TWO WEEK IN FOR ORIENTATION. AND ABOUT 15 GUYS MAKES IT. NOT BECAUSE THERE NOT QUALIFIED, BUT BECAUSE OF THE HEAD GAMES THEY PUT ON YOU TO MAKE YOU QUIT AND THEN THE LAST PHYICAL EXCERSISE THEY HAVE YOU DO IS PICK UP A ROLLED UP TARP, 125 lbs, TOSS IT ON BACK OF THE TRAILER, JUMP UP ON THE TRAILER, MID WAY, NO LADDER, NO ANYTHING. JUST JUMP, PICK UP THE TARP, THROW IT OVER A COIL, TAKE IT OFF FROM THE OTHER SIDE, WALK TO THE BACK OF THE TRAILER, TOSS THE TARP OFF, THEN CLIMB OFF THE TRAILER THE "CORRECT" AND SAFEWAY, THAN YOU PASS. ABOUT 5-7 GUYS CANT DO THIS PART AND ARE SENT HOME. NO IF OR BUTTS.
     
  6. Cyclesdalecummins07

    Cyclesdalecummins07 Light Load Member

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    Sep 6, 2011
    slidell, la
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    Thank you for this information. I am used to have to do manual labor like that everyday I am currently an order picker at a DC. Im still young so I should be able to do this I am in pretty good shape (thanks to work) and my first driving job was like that I had to climb on the top of debris trailers and walk my tarp back over the remains of Katrina damaged houses and whatever else was instead the trailers (nails, jagged metal, re-bar, etc) without the use of ladders it was just climbing up the side of a trailer and hang off the side and hope for the best. Besides the head games was there anything else that you had a problem with them? (home time, pay, etc)
     
  7. DenaliDad

    DenaliDad Retired Wheel Dog

    And cute, too.
     
  8. Cyclesdalecummins07

    Cyclesdalecummins07 Light Load Member

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    Sep 6, 2011
    slidell, la
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    Ok as long as they are willing to work with me on the double clutching I should be fine. Also what types of loads would I be running if I am classified as regional? I have experience hauling pilings and machinery and would like to be able to get back into that because I really enjoyed it. The time with the trainer is it a mandatory five week or if someone picks it up quickly could they be sent out solo faster then five weeks say like three? And do all TMC tractors have super singles on them? Those do not seem good to have because if you pick up a piece of road debris and get a flat you can limp it home you are stuck where you are unless you want to do damage to the truck. Finally I am very anal I guess is the best word to use about maintenance on what I drive, how are they about that? The last guy I worked for would NOT put new tires on my truck until I ended up curb checking a the rim on a bridge due to the completely bald steer tires, also oil changes were few and FAR between and unless I did all the maintenance to my truck it would not get done. So what am I asking is if you have a maintenance issue is it solved quickly or do you have to run on it for a while until its fixed?
     
  9. DenaliDad

    DenaliDad Retired Wheel Dog

    Never trust an email sent by someone who can't find the CapsLock key and knows how to operate it. :biggrin_2556:
     
    dirtyjerz and lonewolf4ad Thank this.
  10. dirtyjerz

    dirtyjerz glowing beard pouty kid

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    Umm, doing the tarp on the coil is a JOB REQUIREMENT! Your not bumping docks and shutting doors. Flatbedding requires physical fitness. Would you not tarp $50k of aluminum coils cause the tarps too heavy. Can you jump a fence? If so, you can get on a trailer, no ladder needed. Climb safely off a trailer? Your ankles will thank you. As far as head games, they want to see who are worth training and who arent. TMC is a performance driven company. They dont want lazy whinners. Sounds like George sent you home.
     
  11. dirtyjerz

    dirtyjerz glowing beard pouty kid

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    They want to see improvement. If the first day you stuggle but do better the second day thats good. The 13 are nice, coming of a 10 in school to a 13, a hour or so of seat time you get the hang of it. Also will give you time on the simulators, which have an actual 13 speed gear box in em. As far a load a bit of everything, lumber, coils, shingles, insulation. They have a specialized division hauling john deer, might be a thing for you after some time with them. Super singles arent so bad. Never had a flat with em. Little tricky empty on snow but they do have good traction. Maintence is good. If its a little thing itll wait till your next service, like a misaligned door on your headache rack. Big stuff will get done. Remember, with the csa, bad roadside insp counts against the carrier too. They dont want you getting pull in a scale with a bald tire or brakes out of adjustment. Time with the trainer is up to the training dept. Might be 2 weeks for exp van guys to get securement training to 5 weeks for those like me who were straight outta school. Once again, anything else just ask
     
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