TMC Transportation, Inc. - Des Moines, Ia.

We have a Nucor Steel in Houston, it doesn't seem to be a bad place. We haul mostly small coil on skids out of there.

I wasn't complaining about being "stuck" in DSM. If I'm not home for the weekend, the Baymont in DSM is as good a place as any and sure beats being stuck in the truck in this weather.

Sorry to hear you are sick and I hope you feel better soon.

I don't care about being home for New Year's Day, just for the weekend. Making money is always good.

I understood, his wife, to say it was a lease/purchase from TMC. I have never heard of TMC using Macks, although it could have been before my time with TMC. I doubt it though.

 

Most complaints I've read about TMC seem like they have an obviously disgruntled employee feel being filled with misspellings and unreasonable claims or are filled with "my husband this" or "we decided that", I only ever came close to having second thoughts when terry mentioned a hard days work getting a load of sod... my instigative side was kind of hoping I'd get that load and be asked to personally load it!

 

I want to say thanks to everyone who takes the time to post on this site, I have been watching this forum for the past couple of months, I am currently attending driving school and all I have left to do is take the road test. A TMC recruiter came to the school I am attending and I was very impressed. Most everyone from my school is going with Swift and Werner much to my frustration I have tried to inform them of this website before making there decision. Having an older brother who has been an O/O for almost twenty years I feel I already have some insight to this business. I chose TMC for several reasons. The first is something about flat beds, I like the challenge. I think anyone can pull a dry van. Second there equipment is second to none. I think that says a lot about their driver safety and morale. The recruiter asked our class if we heard the rumors about what TMC is often called, I raised my hand and said the Truckers Marine Corps, He kind of went on the defensive approach but I explained I like the idea of structure and learning the proper methods.I think he meant the part about to much chrome. After tens years in the Marines I think I can handle not walking on grass and not wearing a hat indoors. I am set to attend orientation in Columbia on the 14th of January.
My questions are what should I expect to bring with me? Will I be sent directly out with a trainer or will I go home and wait for a trainer in my area? and finally I live in Wilmington NC outside there boundries for linehaul so I will be in the long haul fleet which I dont mind at all but just curious if they have loads going to or from our port. I often see those black Petes in town and was told by the recruiter they do come here, can any driver confirm that for me? Again thanks for all the great information. Hope to see you all on the road soon.

 

I, too, am a former Marine. Siemper Fi! You will have no problems with the dicipline at TMC. I keep saying it is comparable to the Brownies or Cub Scouts. What dicipline there is, is there for a reason. If you can't treat people with respect at orrientation how will you act out on your own as a representative of TMC with the shippers, consignees and others you will meet out on the job. I think TMC is exactly right in weeding out these knuckle heads that can't act like decent human beings.

Most likely you will go home and meet your trainer from there. If you are really smart you will be prepared to leave immediatly from orrientation. This will give you more options.

Items you need to bring other than clothes and personal items are:

calculator
pens
notebook
Motor Carriers Road Atlas
money

It is Winter, so bring appropriate clothing. If you are sent home before meeting your trainer, you will have his number. Call him and ask what specific items he recommends you bring. Trainers have different trucks with different setups and some may have more space than others.

Some additional tips:

You will fill out another application. They are checking to see if you are lying or not. Go ahead and make a copy of what you have already submitted so you don't trip yourself up.

Know your checking account number and your bank's routing number or have a check with you.

Have no drugs or alcohol in your system, you will take a DOT Physical early on the first day.

Take your training seriously, don't be a smarta$$ in class. Knuckle heads get sent home.

Others will come along and give you their take. That's it for me. Good luck.

 

umm no it doesn't..lol

 

Terrylamar... S/F... Thanks for all the info, I heard about the filling out the app again. It had me nervous I just dont want to forget anything and get booted for some foolish mistake. Thanks again and stay safe

 

There is absolutely nothing to worry about in orientation or with filling out your second app. Just tell the truth. It amazes me how many losers try to lie their way through orientation. I did orientation in DSM. Discipline? PUHLEASE!!!! NOTHING like the Marine Corps. Period. You will be learning for seven days straight. Dont even THINK about going out drinking during that time.

Grab the TMC van, head over to the closest WalMart and get yourself a cooler to store food in while your their. Otherwise, you'll spend an arm and a leg trying to feed yourself during orientation.

Get out on the road with the trainers at orientation and take your time. Different trainers have different styles. If you shift a 13 speed well now, dont change it. Some trainers will try to get you to shift the way they want you to. That will screw you up, trust me. As long as your sheet shows steady improvement over the course of the orientation driving week, you have nothing to worry about. Listen to the instructors, especially when it comes to securement. The extra effort to OVERsecure frieght may save your life or someone elses.

Have fun!!

 

This has been along year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Mack came from TMC, they took it as a trade in on one of their Pete's. It came directly from the Mack shop going over it. We paid our lease trailer off early so we could get the Mack. Yes it was Tmc in Des moines. We started when it was Fortune xpress when they combined with Tmc it went down hill. When the Mack would not DOT after 3 months after thousands in repairs, I have the bills, Tmc told him to go get a job to fix it so he went to Alabama carriers as a company driver. TMC came and got the truck. He wanted another truck so we went to star truck in Birmingham. No problem with him, just the mechanic at Alabama carriers, Star fixed everthing Alabama carriers found wrong which was 3 burnt out lights and bad sway bar, all walk around stuff.The mechanic at Alabama Carriers did not apparently check the pittman arm. 9 days later that was it, in fact the direct quote from the Tennessee State Trooper was " Who in the hell inspected this truck."As a side note TMC inspected the mack before he got it. We still paid to fix exahust had to to get the trailer title back. Long Long Long year. In the quest to deal with all this I discovered safestat online, a mecca for information on unsafe carriers, and this web site is the bomb!!!! What is so bad he has been driving 38 years and we have had trucks the last 15 so twice in one year trucking life lesson

 

My Husband is to busy driving to deal with the bull I handle that so he does not have to worry. I believe this said you were a student and 23, listen to the vet. drivers, and wives.If you are married this is a 2 person deal, and a recruiter, no matter what company is a salesperson, enough said