TMC Drivers, I have questions

With ATS telling you upfront how to get there per each step.

 

Seems like most of the larger od hauling companies are going the route of hand holding. We have cameras at transport, but they refuse to get the rest of the "safety" crap. I'm staying where I am. I love what im doing now and enjoy my hometime.

 

If the OP doesnt know how to tarp he might be fine at Melton for 6 months. We do oversized and overweight and hazmat. We have APUs or allow idling. Our trucks already have fridges.

But we also have much micromanaging. The drivers have a camera watching them if they brake or turn hard.

I’m m generally happy there. I make decent money. A lot of the negative things people say about Melton are admittedly true. It’s very corporate on the driver management side. But so are many companies.

The Company president did hold a round table discussion to hear from drivers what they wanted. He gave them positive signals and was a good listener..but then never implemented a single suggestion. Sometimes Melton is a mystery to me.

 

If you're interested in open deck with minimal tarping and lots of interesting freight(lumber and sheetrock ONLY to get you back to the good paying stuff) give Hunt Transportation in Omaha a jingle. Been several years,but I have stayed in touch with several drivers. They ran my buttocks off. Only left because family situation changed and I needed to be home a bit more than every couple months.

 

Yup, I was never that way. I think the triangle gives some drivers the macho high thinking they are better then others. I was there to help someone out to get them down the road safely. Never got into anyone's business unless asked.

 

That they do.

The entry level companies are primarily stick and brick haulers. If your going to haul sticks and bricks. Building materials, sticks and bricks, fencing...anything used in construction. Odds are pretty good you’re going to tarp ever day. Now, the specialized companies do tarp, just not as much, but the tarp jobs may be freakin crazy. BUT, if you ever plan to heavyhaul, you will need that experience. The tarp jobs may pay more than what the average driver makes in a week driving, but may take an entire day to do. @kylefitzy, show em one of your best tarp jobs, if you don’t mind. Yes, it is work, but if you ever plan to be at the top of the food chain, pulling high end freight, you have to be able to do all aspects of open deck work.

These companies will start you out with the smaller loads, like 10 wides. Then 12 wides. Then 14s. Then the overheights. Then the overweights. The bigger the load gets, the fewer the drivers there are. The A Game drivers. You will see the same drivers from different companies, at the same truck stops and the same routes...the heavyhaul routes. When pulling superloads, there are very few routes and very few stops. I always recommend that drivers be cordial, because everyone in the top of your field will know you. So don’t be a peter just because you’re under a big trailer. They will know you, your truck and your reputation, before you know them.

“Who is ‘THEY’”?

Other heavyhaulers, cops, DOT, truck stop managers, restaurant managers, waitresses, and quite a number of the locals. Be on your best behavior. That’s part of that A Game.

Had a friend call me and told me that he had a heavyhauler help him out. He said the guy was super nice and extremely helpful. I asked him to describe the guy’s truck. He described @Rontonio. I told Big Ronnie that he made a lasting impression on a new driver. I’ve had friends that ran into @superhauler...same type of guy as Big Ronnie. They get it...the professionalism that so many on the bottom of the industry lack, they bring it with the rest of their A Game. Another is @haulhand, cut from the same cloth. A friend of mine, new to OSOW needed help, and haulhand reached out to aid him.
By that stage of the game, the only person in the world that can help you is the driver who went before you. So, don’t be a peter if your aim is to pull OSOW.

 

That's it in a nutshell.

Except you forgot one thing. No filthy trucks allowed.

 

Loaded Miles: 2087
Deadhead Miles: 82
Transportation Revenue:
: $3,483.15 - GROSS LINEHAUL
: $730.45 - FUEL SURCHARGE
: $1,450.00 - TARP CHARGE
: $2,856.77 - OVER DIMEN CHARGE

I DONT WORK FOR TMC.

 

Those gotta be owner op wages?