Looking for information about TMC

yea i was at a shipper with my trainee. We had 4 inch straps for a 48,000 pound load, We needed to use roughly 10 straps. (maybe could get away with 9 but i over secure) The W.E. next to us with the exact same load couldn't figure it out so I explained it to him. He wanted to drive away with 3 straps. So I told him, watch how we do ours and just copy. He then was throwing straps through the wrong part and couldn't even manage to copy what we did. he threw a strap under the load that wasn't doing anything. After mine was done my trainee and I went over and practically secured his load for him to help him out. With 2 of us it didn't take long. We got him dot legal, but I did call his WE with his truck number to recommend more securment retraining. They didn't seem to concerned.

 

If you go nuts on idleing, TMC will ask you why, but they dont have any firm idle limits and you font get fired for idleing to much. There are anti idle laws in most states, but no one enforces them aside form in CA.

You can also buy an inverter through them for $150 and they will install it. This gives you 1500 watts of power to run a tv, laptop, fridge, micriwave or whatever you want. The new trucks will have built in inverter, built in diesel bunk heater (they keep you toasty and can go as hot as you want), 20 inch tv's, build in XM radio (you pay for service, like 7 bucks a month) leather seats etc.

Current truck have leather seats, some have built in Xm, all are inverter ready (for $150). All have no idle shut offs and can be idles all you want.

 

Read where Decker Truck Line just built a new $2,000,000.00 terminal in Bessemer, AL so they must have some good steel contracts there. Decent looking trucks on their website.

 

I've been driving for TMC for 8 months now. Got the job right out of driving school and didn't know a thing about driving a truck or flatbed. The training is very good, by far the best (I've heard) for load securement. After a few months, I was showing other flatbed drivers (non TMC drivers) how to secure loads.

That said, TMC is very strict. Very particular about their equipment. That's a good thing and it shows when you see those beautiful black and chrome Pete's on the highway. You may talk to some ex TMC'ers who will talk badly about how strict management is. If you can't work in that type of environment! don't apply to TMC.

hope that helps.

 

Prettymuch just be respectful and build a relationship with your FM and you wont have nay problems. Also dont hit lol. No mater how rude a customer is, stay calm, dont yell at them...and call your FM

 

There is a sub-forum just for TMC at http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/tmc/

 

Melton is a good company to work for. You will have your ups and downs.

The training is detailed to a certain degree. Some loads you will have to rely on your securement guidebook when in a jam. Id say 80% of the time you will be tarping and you get $20 to tarp and another $20 to untarp. So you make $40 tarping. Now your time there will also heavily depend on your DM. Some are easy to get along with and the others are just draining.

The trucks are pretty nice. They run good and very comfortable especially with the TK APU.

WARNING**** SAFETY, LOGS AND FUEL ARE STRICT! BE SMART ON YOUR LOGS, DO A GOOD TRIP PLAN AND BE A SMART DRIVER. THESE PEOPLE ARE NO JOKE. BE CAREFUL NOT TO DAMAGE LOADS BECAUSE IF YOU GO THROUGH A TERMINAL..., ESPECIALLY TULSA..., THEY RIP YOU A NEW ONE AND TAKE PICTURES OF YOUR MESS.

But if you do what you are supposed to do..., you can make good money and be better off.

 

I've been with Melton since last July. I don't have any complaints. I'm paid well, the trucks are nice, and from my experience, Melton doesn't micromanage drivers. In fact, I haven't talked to my DM since before Christmas on the phone or Qualcomm. Do what you're supposed to do and they leave you alone, that's how I like it! If you have a problem with your equipment and call the shop, their answer is always "I'll send you the address of a shop to have repairs done." Or something along those lines. APU's, Bunk heaters and inverters are on just about every truck now, I haven't seen a Melton truck without them.