The TMC experience from my perspective

Discussion in 'Motor Carrier Questions - The Inside Scoop' started by Trileobe, Feb 4, 2019.

  1. Trileobe

    Trileobe Bobtail Member

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    Not sure if this is the best place to put this but I figure I might be able to help a few people looking into the tmc experience by doing a daily journal of each day I spend at the tmc school.

    Day 0: Saturday I picked up the rental car around noon said goodbye to the family and headed towards Iowa around 10pm. After picking up the other 2 students we got here about 10am I dropped the car off at 11pm and caught the shuttle back to the hotel. Overall the hotel is great I have 0 complaints I get along with my room mates everything is clean and I'm just enjoying myself.

    Day 1: got up around 5am ate a light breakfast and caught the 7am bus to the school. Today was a lot of paperwork the dot physical and tarp test took up enough time to get us to lunch. Now for anyone worried about the tarp test, the tarp weighs 10lbs less than I do and I was able to pass it so it isn't that hard. We watched a lot of videos after lunch and filled out some basic forms, around 4 we started going 4 at a time to the simulator which was a big learning experience (don't push the clutch to the floor I spent 30 minutes losing 3rd gear before I found that out) I still can't down shift very good and shifting up leaves a lot to be desired but in the 45 minutes of shift practice I learned a ton. We left the school about 8pm and got back here about 9pm. Maybe tomorrow I'll write a bit better I'm wore out now though so I believe it's bedtime. You all have a good one and don't overthink the first day of tmc school like I did it's not as bad as it seems just come prepared and ready to learn..... and stay off the grass
     
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  2. Texas_hwy_287

    Texas_hwy_287 Road Train Member

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    Get ready to park up on sundays.

    Good luck at TMC.
     
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  3. Lepton1

    Lepton1 Road Train Member

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    What's up with Sundays?
     
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  4. Puppage

    Puppage Road Train Member

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    Best of luck to you.
     
  5. Trileobe

    Trileobe Bobtail Member

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    Will do a day 2 and 3 update later on today fell asleep so fast last night that I never got around to it
     
  6. SilverBulletBand

    SilverBulletBand Light Load Member

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    Is it true us can pay an extra $20/night to get your own room ?
     
  7. Texas_hwy_287

    Texas_hwy_287 Road Train Member

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    I don't think so.
     
  8. Trileobe

    Trileobe Bobtail Member

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    Day 2: day 2 wasn't bad at all I got up a little earlier so I could get a few things done before class. Was a lot of video watching can't really say we done much else besides video watching.

    Day 3: since I got all the homework stuff done on Tuesday I got to class at the starting time today. We watched videos and learned hours of service. Took a personality test and signed our contracts. Got our first 50 today and went to Wal-Mart. Other than that today has been fairly easy. Tomorrow I think we are getting back in the simulators though
     
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  9. Texas_hwy_287

    Texas_hwy_287 Road Train Member

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    Excuse my ignorance but why would you have to sign a contract with tmc.
     
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  10. drumchaos

    drumchaos Light Load Member

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    I’m assuming to work for them for “x” amount of time in return for the trading they’re receiving.