TMC Transportation, Inc. - Des Moines, Ia.

Sorry to hear of your bad experience, not all trucking is like that. I just have one question most of what you posted was about the trainer and the way he did things (and it sounds like you had a lousey one) could you possibly post about what was wrong with the company?... Did you report any of these problems to the company?, if so how did they respond to your complaints?

I hope you will not judge all of trucking or all trainers by this bad experience there are good companies to work for and there are decent trainers out there that do care about showing people how to do the job safely/correctly.....they may be few and far between but they are out there.

 

I have mentioned before and I guess it needs repeating. There ARE some bad trainers at TMC. There are some VERY BAD trainers at TMC. There are also VERY GOOD trainers at TMC. I am sorry for what happened to you. Did you report it to the proper people? Jeff W. in charge of training is VERY interested to hear about any bad trainers. Bad trainers can not be eliminated if the right people do not speak up.

TMC IS a hard company to work for. They expect a lot from drivers. In order to be sucessful you need to be able to be productive within the hours of service. You WILL NOT be running illegally at TMC. I run legally always and make sure that my truck is always where my logbook says it is within that 15 minute block, usually specific to the minute.

I secure my loads properly, and I have a real problem with drivers who cut corners with load securement. I am in charge of that load, that truck, and that logbook. My trainer was not, My fleet manager is not, Safety department is not. The responsibility is MINE and MINE ALONE. If you choose to operate unsafely at TMC or anywhere they may not catch you at first, but someday you will wish you had done the right thing. I make good money at TMC operating by the book and there is no reason that you can't as well. You need to be prepared to work hard at TMC. I make the most of my 11 and 14 hours that is possible. That may mean sleeping at a rest area rather than a truckstop, or closer to a city than you would like. I am prepared to do what needs to be done to make the load legally and efficiently because that means money for me. With the right mindset you will make money at any company, but trucking is not a vacation. (well it is for me, I was used to 18 hour days as a dairy farmer, 14 on and 10 off is easy.)

 

hey rawlco. i did report this to jeff and he said he would take care of it. he also said this wasn't his first complaint about this trainer. i tried to get tmc to get me out of the truck in houston. at that point i was willing to stay, but when they refused to do anything, i called it quits. i am not afraid of hard work and have no problem doing my job, but when you are battered on an hourly basis by a jerk who is "training" you, you tend to wear out quick. as far as running legal, i'm glad you do, but this buttface never ran a legal log book, and only x-strapped 1 load at my insistance. it was a load of haz-mat material that was very heavy in the front, and extended past the rear of the trailer. i told my fm that i wasn't happy at all and he said he woud get me another trainer, but i didn't want to wait another 2 weeks of being stuck in that truck with that guy. (which would have been my only way home) i have two other friends that are finishing up with tmc and it has been good for them, but for me it was a terrible experience and one i wish never to repeat!

 

This is National Volunteers Week, so maybe they just celebrate it all year

They are only hard to work for 'cause their rates SUCK!
I know, I lasted right at 90 days and SEE YA. I am NOT going to donate my time, I will however work for money

 

That's odd. When I was researching companies to work for, I found a few 'problems' with TMC, but I don't remember money being one of them. From memory, TMC seems to offer decent starting pay compared to most companies. If they actually deliver on the miles, that is. Or were you suckered into the percentage pay program? That didn't make much sense to me, I can see how that would work out UNFAVORABLY for some drivers, in spite of the propaganda in the TMC brochures. -Dave

 

Any other ex-TMC employees being bombarded with calls by a company doing surveys for TMC? They were calling me like I was some unemployed bum who didn't have anything else to do but think about why I left TMC. Finally got a day off to get back to them and basically told them to pay their drivers better for non-driving duties. Hope it helps those who are still there working hard. If not, I tried!

 

I received a questionnaire in the mail and the same day got a phone call from the survey company wanting to ask questions "that would only take about 10 minutes". I declined unless they wanted to pay for my time. They didn't.

 

I agree with Rawlco I worked for TMC Last year, the training was very good, and if alot the new recruits would of listened to the instructor they would have learned more.and I agree with the log issue.there were alot of guys talking how they were going to run two log books I just sat back and listened to them make fools of themselves. But the safety is there TMC training is very good,the people that work their were also helpful and the lodging was excellent.But the main thing was they showed you the correct wat to secure a load.And the older gentleman I cant remember his name but he was awsome at backing a trailer at any angle,and to this day its pounded in my head everytime I drive a car or truck you name it.G.O.A.L.TMC they are a very good company and I would gladly work for them again.
And another thing that I fogot to mention was the equipment they had was excelllent and you were issued all the equipment needed to start your new career.