Driver beware before goin black n shinny. Plenty of info here and personal posts as well. I advise against going but that's just me. Unless you're lucky you'll be in the same shape as I was in 6 months. Never home and bankrupt. Gotta love those $150 wks!
What exactly is wrong with them. They sound like their sticklers for the rules, but Im ok with that. I've read some bad things on here, but it seems like most of it is from drivers who messed up and don't want to man up. Im not saying there arn't people who legitimately got screwed, it just seems like from what I've read most of the drivers who have posted bad things got canned and were on the war path. If I am mistaken, please enlighten me. I mean no disrespect, just stating my observations.
Yes they are strick. They are thr truckers marine Corp after all. Let's see, my FM thought that just because I was in Ky I was home. It took a meeting with him and his boss to enlighten him. After I'd been with them for over a month and only had 1 34 reset at home. In that time I was lucky to get my 10 hour at home. I spent more time sitting than driving. There were wks I'd deliver Monday and sit til Thursday or Friday before my next load. I begged for loads. When I needed time off for Dr appts it never happened. I would give notice atleast 2 wks in advance most times it was a month. Sometimes I'd get in on day of appt but in the late evening. No drs are in at 2100-2200. But most the time I wouldn't make it in til the next day. Months that I'd get my pay bonus up loads would slow down even more. Wks I'd bring home $150-175. My taxes for 6 months at TMC was just over $12k. I could make that flippin burgers and be home everyday! I spent a month with no AC. 2.5 wks of that were in TX with temps over 100*. Finally got routed to a terminal and they didn't have parts to fix it so I was sent on down the road. At the same time I had gotten an air leak on tractor. Tmc's response, can you hear it with truck running? If not they won't know at the scales. WTF!?? So after calling in for that month atleast twice a day 3-4 days a wk I called a local Peterbilt dealer. And set up an appt awaiting TMC approval. I called night road repair and talked with a guy that later become friends with and he couldn't believe I hadn't been fixed and approved dealer repairs. When I dropped the truck off I called into night dispatch and was asked if I needed a motel. That's when I found out FM failed to mention that with temps so high it was standard to put drivers in a motel on their 10 hour breaks. That call must of got FM in hot water cause that Monday I got chewed up and down. I done a trailer swap with another driver and at time and during 2 days of PT's luck had had a fist sized chunk of missing rubber down when it wasn't seen. When I finally noticed it I called FM and asked for repair before next load. He said I didn't have time I had to pick up the load then we'd worry about repair. So I loaded and shut down for my 10 hour. Later that afternoon I called night dispatch told them the story and how bad tire was. instead of sending me in the same direction load was going for repair they send me the opposite way having to cross a scale. Bright and early I head out hoping the scale was closed. Nope. I get pulled around for overweight on spread. While I'm waiting on TMC to arrange getting load moved officer come to truck and asks why I'm sitting there still. I tell her and as she starts to walk away she looks back at the trailer and SOB that bad spot was visable. Said she wanted to have a look something looked off. I told her ill save you the walk. Told her the story and handed qualcomm to her showing all the messages over the last few days. I got a verbal OOS. She couldn't believe I'd been sent across scales in the opposite direction with a tire that bad. 8 hrs later I get a new tire and a thorough chewing for something not my fault.. I did everything I knew to try and make the best out of it being my 1st driving job but nothing worked. I loved the job and some of the ppl I met but hated how I was treated. More than once I was talked to like I was ignorant because I didn't have yrs behind the wheel. Most times it was on DOT issues that if you don't know you don't need behind the wheel. I understand your concern about whinny drivers but I don't have anything to hide or lie about. If things had been different maybe I would still be there. Best advice, talk to as many drivers as you can and read threads here and make the best choice for you. And good luck.
Student ....what? Lol no whinning only facts. Lose everything you own then come back and leave me a comment.
Who's cryin hotshot? He wanted facts of my account and I gave them. Don't like what I say don't read it! Student or rookie or exp idc you're a know it all nuff said.
Nobody can force you or make you drive a truck that cant pass a DOT roadside inspection.... If you dont feel safe with it or dont want to get put OOS because of something you can help then do yourself the favor and sit there until it gets fixed. If your FM does not listen to you about it, call the shop. If they dont want to listen call Todd, I would bet he would love to hear that a FM is telling you to drive in an unsafe TMC truck. That FM would be out on his #####. As for the checks being so low, I have never had one ever that low. Infact I have had multiple checks for over a grand so far this year and last year my average check was probably 8-900 a week and I was home every weekend except maybe 8 for atleast a 34.
This was 3 yrs ago and at the time I tried every1 I had a number for and no1 seemed to listen til it was too late. Roy on night dispatch and a guy on RR wish I could remember his name were only 2 that ever listened and helped me. As for the pay you are in a group of few that I know and have seen proof of their pay being what it should be. Some ppl have good luck at TMC others don't and its not always the drivers. I had big plans while I was there but they never happened. Times several of us would unload at same place and wed callin in order of empty. Times I'd be 1st to call in and last to get a load. Drivers that do goo there I have respect for and 1's that got what I did I feel for. When I started I was bringing home 600-800 a wk after 2 months they hit bottom and stayed there. In 6 months I got 11 34 hour at home rest were pulled on the road. I wrote down and still have my dates and times and logs. And get sick when I look at them. I averaged 12-1400 miles a wk. When I talk about TMC I just tell what I went through. If someone goes there and is done right I'm happy for them.
