TMC

I got the shaft once for reporting ety # a WalMart (Akron) before I went to flats. They unloaded half of me and pulled me out of the dock. Made a few people mad.

 

For clarification, all radios are Sirius capable, though depending on what year model you have, you may not have a Sirius receiver or antenna. I don't know what the exact cutoff for year models is, but I think 2005 and before you will have to provide your own receiver and antenna and 2006 and later it is preinstalled at the factory. You have to activate and pay for the service yourself regarless of the year model.

 

How does TMC handle time with a trainer? Do the student and trainer operate as a team (lots of miles for the truck but they don't spend much time together) or do they work the same hours? Do the trainer trucks have dual bunks?

 

I am not a trainer so I may get some of this wrong, just small details. Training time changed from when I was with my trainer from six weeks to five weeks.

For the first three weeks (I may be wrong here, it might be two) you run primarily off your (the trainee's) log book. The trainer should be in the front seat with you. That does leave time after you get your 11 hours in that the trainer can drive before yours and his 14 hours are up. In the last two weeks you can drive as a team. The trainer would make this determination. If he trust you, he will, if he doesn't, he will still be in the front seat with you.

There is debate about whether the trainer should be in the sleeper while a trainee is driving. It is my opinion that as long as the trainee has show himself capable in the first three weeks it is ok. My reasoning is that when you are given your own truck, you have no one to fall back on that is an arms length from you. Rather than wake up your trainer up over triviel issues you will begin to use your own judgement. I think this will serve you better than someone sitting next to you holding your hand. It is only my opinion, so don't beat me up over it.

All trucks have two bunks.

 

Makes sense. Thanks!

 

TMC owns TDT, and primarily uses their tractors to service some dedicated accounts, usually hauling a curtainside (NE region anyway). They're nice tractors, a bit spartan inside compared to the Petes though. Lots of them are auto-shift 10spd's, which I don't like, but they have low-level exhaust which I do like (quieter than stacks behind your head).

 

Yeah, they're grass-burners. The TDT T-800's all have 'em, I've driven T-800s with and without, and my perception is that they're quieter, from an in-cab perspective.

I do like them in certain circumstances....but then again I have a decided preference for late-80's/early-90's Pete and KW flattop cabovers too. Guess I'm somewhat atypical

 

Get 4 loads in a row that require smoke tarps and you may be wishing you had a 'grass burner' exhaust, also. And they are quieter.