TMC Transportation, Inc. - Des Moines, Ia.

Hey folks, long time reader here......im in the concrete construction business here in the midwest. Just waiting for the right time to jump into a truck, not sure if ever but have always wanted to try. Anyways, ive unloaded most of these big flatbed company's and most yall are great, funny people. Just wanted to know if freight is picking up for flat's yet or not?

 

From what i'm hearing it is picking up in some parts of the country, but you still need to mind where you're headed.

 

I keep in touch with my friend who is a dispatcher for a flatbed company and he says, its a hit and miss alot. I used to run flat otr but left it for regional van work. Right now its a tough time for flatbed unless there is a dedicated account you can get on. I would say the watering hole is very crowded for flats looking to drink and not enough water for everybody to drink

 

the time you sit really depends on where you drop at. if you empty in chicago you reload fast and if you empty in penn you go to dubois and sit with 25 other trucks waiting for a load. As far as going 20 miles to the house they would not say much since it is so close but it is your oor miles that go up if home is the wrong way. TMC policy is within 150 you can bounce home for a WEEKEND, they dont have a policy about going home for the night. i have a friend in the saftey dept and i asked when i saw that post and he said not much would have happened to the driver since it was only 20 miles, now if you bounce home too far without auth tmc can charge you for it.

 

I had a friend who was a trainer and we talked alot. Apparently he had a trainee that would literally drive home empty whenever he had to wait longer than 2 hours for a load, it took them over a year to finally fire him for it.

Apparently his out of route was around 180% lol.

 

Well it should teach the planner to have a load for him then soon.haha

Better yet give him a load that he has to wait for 2 days, but hey he's dispatched.

 

Because that helps to solve the sitting problem others have, right? Encouraging the problem to persist!

You, sir, have a future in dispatching!

 

lol, niiice!

 

I was just joking about the sitting for 2 days.
Figured it would keep him from bouncing home.

 

again i am dedicated with a #### good FM, if i dont call him in the first 10 minutes or so, he calls me to say he just sent a load. this whole week from 8-3 to 8-7 i have not had to sit. now there has been big bounces but i had something to deliver everyday. when i say big the biggest was 204. as far as what the load pays all you have to do is ask, they are more than willing to give it to you at least my FM is.