starting with tmc 11-2-09

Yes, if he can't get it backed in during the alotted time he will flunk. It's the backing test that kills the majority of those testing out.

The thing is, backing up out in the real world is so much different than it is in DSM. Sometimes when you are backing up at a truck stop, you don't have as much room to back as they allow at "school" and that makes it harder to do the manuvers they teach you. I had the straightline down pretty good, but needed work on the 45. So work on it we did. Anytime we stopped at a truck stop, I would spend about 1/2 an hour at least backing into different spaces. I always aimed for a spot with a truck to my left, but open on the right side of the lane so I would be sure not to hit anything. Eventually, on my last couple days on the truck, I finally got going in pretty good. I could even get it in without dumping the air, but this was also at a truck stop that had a lot of room to move. If I was at a different lot, it might be a different story.

The important thing to remember, at least when doing the test, is to remember the steps they teach you during the backing training before you left out with the trainer. Those are the steps you need to know to pass that test. If you can forget everything else you learned while with the trainer and remember the steps you learned at their school, you'll do fine. Then once you get your own truck and you are out on the road, you do whatever you need to to get it backed up. The important thing then is that it doesn't have to be pretty, as long as it was safe.

In the mean time, ask your trainer for more backing practice, and fine a truck stop that has an open area allowing you to have enough room so you can do it like at school.

 

I wish you the best. I drove for them for 8 months and nothing they promised happened. I averaged 1 weekend out every month and only got 2-3 loads a week. While you're with a trainer he's making good money to impress you, but when you get the nice black n chrome watch out! I had 1 check for just over $500 in 8 months the others were from $150-$350 not what you expect being gone all week huh? You may think thats my fault from messing around, but I didn't. I ran illegal 4 out of 5 days just trying to get loads. Shorting breaks back logging all that. Killing myself to pickup and deliver a load only to just shut down for a day or sometimes 3 days waiting on a load. And if you decide to leave them be carefull, i gave a 2 week notice that was disreguarded and thus I was terminated 1 day after the notice. That termination went on my DAC report so now I'll be lucky if I ever get to get behind the wheel again.

 

Flatbedder, I'm sorry you had such a sour experience with TMC. I can tell you that not everybody has had similar experiences as you. Some have had better, some have had worse. And as you read thru the threads on this forum investigating other companies, you'll find that that is true for every company out there.

Others might find it odd that I say this considering my previous experiences with TMC, but I still feel they are a decent starter company, and after I gain some experience, I would even consider going back there if they would hire me. I only spent two weeks on the trainers truck. And it wasn't like you said. The trainer didn't brag at all about his huge pay checks. In fact, one driver I talked to before going there made more money than my trainer. Of the three weekends I was there, my trainer did get to go home every weekend, although the second weekend did require some thinking and my generousity in allowing him to use my own personal vehicle to get him home. But it all worked out and we were home at least long enough for a 34 hr reset. The second week, we were a bit short on miles and my trainer was getting progressively upset about it and I feel that is what led to my departure. He was getting frustrated with his situation and was thinking of quitting training or leaving altogether, and I believe he told my training coordinator I sucked in order to get me off his truck. The reason I believe that is because he told me I was doing a good job, though I did need to work on a few areas (which is what I was there for), and the TC told me they felt my training wasn't progressing fast enough. The only way they could tell that would be by information told them by my trainer. Other than being terminated that way, I still feel I had a good experience there. It's all in what you make of it.

I have to ask, before you gave your to weeks notice, did you have another job lined up? If not, there was your first mistake. I never quit a job without first having another lined up, and I always assume that I will be terminated after giving notice. Yes, I can tell you from experience, getting a job now is going to be a b1tch, but at least you have over months experience. There are some companies that will look past the termination, but many of the better ones, and even some of the worse ones, will not. Of the ones who have looked past my termination, none of them is doing anything until after the new year, so I would just kick back and enjoy the holidays and lok for a job after the new year.

Good luck!

 

Just look for some small flatbed company's.
Many will take you if there insurance will let them, and most smaller company's do not use DAC. I have been driving on and off for 19 years. I have only worked for 2 company's that use it.
So DAC cannot hurt anyones driving carrier if they do not let it.
You just have to look harder for the good smaller company's
I have high hopes that we will soon see the end of DAC. With CSA 2010 coming out it will have more info that the company's need. True actual driver data, not the BS that these company's put on DAC.
Also, most company's look at DAC with open eyes. If you do not agree with what is on your DAC then post a retraction on your DAC, so they can see your side.
The whole industry knows that DAC is a crock.
I can say this because DAC is not part of the industry, it is just another company making money off trucking.

 

I'd really like to hear a labor law attorney's take on this. I have seen a lot of things at this company, but making it impossible to quit is a new one. this deeply concerns me as I do not intend on working for TMC indefinitely. it's a driver's decision to quit a company, it's a company's decision to terminate a driver. they can't continue make their own rules and get away with it.

when the time comes, I was planning on serving them with 2 weeks notice and asking my FM to sign off on it so I had some sort of documentation should they pull something with my DAC. seems we don't even owe them the courtesy of giving two weeks notice if this is what they are going to pull.

 

also, I don't recommend doing this for your test, or in a truckstop if you've never tried it, but the big Pete and spread axle are much easier to back up if you idle in reverse, open your door and step partially out of the cab and watch where your trailer is going.

 

My DH gave a two week notice to TMC. He unloaded(personal items) his truck at the house and was given a load to Joplin on the last day of his two weeks. They even made sure he had a ride to the bus station. They did not put any negative information on his DAC either.

 

That is kinda what my trainer did as well, and I also found it easier. Except we didn't actually step partially out of the cab. Just kinda hung out the door. Of course you probably don't want to do that at the terminals, especially at DSM. Or maybe they just don't care. We did do at truckstops. Helps to see around the stack.

 

Sounds like a crock to me.

 

this is the part that makes me wonder...

this sounds more like a trucker sob story than anything, if this really did happen, why did you not contact DAC, your state's department of labor, or an attorney? if TMC thinks they are going to compromise my professional driving career they are in for a rude awakening.

sidenote, this is the only industry I'm aware of where things like this allegedly happen, it makes me have a hard time taking anything seriously anymore.