TMC

Because the commercial grade automatics I'm familiar with aren't. Like I said, I've only seen wet automatics which is why I thanked him for the informative post. I'm always game to learn something.

 

Here is link for Eaton Fuller site. You can click on many of the different models and there are instruction videos about their use. They can tell you more about them than any one here.
http://www.roadranger.com/Roadranger/productssolutions/transmissions/index.htm

 

Going to TMC on October 19 and was wandering if anyone else was.

 

I've got a question about TMC that hopefully someone could answer.

I'm really looking at them as being the company that I start my trucking career with. The only thing I am concerned with is their requirements in terms of physical condition. I'm a big guy (6'3" 280 lbs) and I noticed on their website that that ask that you be able to lift yourself onto a load at shoulder height. That's a bit high for me; Waist level is much more manageable.

Do you think that this will be a reason for them not to hire me? Could I just carry a collapsible ladder?

Thanks.

 

Their test involves lifting a 140 pound rolled tarp to your shoulder (that is laying on the floor behind the trailer), carry it around to the side at the highest point, which is just front of center and roll the tarp onto the deck. At this point, the deck is about chest height (perhaps a little lower for you with your height). Just place your hands on the rub-rail, crouch down a bit, and jump then pull yourself up. Then you lift the tarp again and push it up on top of a 6 foot tall steel coil, balancing it on top, walk around to the other side and pull the tarp back down to the deck and roll it to the side. Then you walk to the back of the trailer and climb down, walk back to the side, hoist the tarp back to your shoulder and carry it to the back and drop it on the floor.

I'm 5'8", 165 lbs and about as strong as a 10 year old. If I can do it, you can do it.

Once you get past training and out in the real world, you most likely will never have to jump up on the trailer (and the discourage you from jumping off for any reason, always climb down. Usually to get on the trailer, you'll climb up from the front on the steps of the tractor or up the back using the ICB bar. Sometimes you will have to climb on top of a load to tarp it, and that is what they are testing by making you pull yourself up on the side. If you can't get up on the trailer during the test, you will be going home. In my class, everybody made it past that part, it's really not as hard as it sounds.

 

I have always jumped on and off my trailers lol.
Just habbit I guess.
At the mid point of a normal spread axle the deck is around 5'.
At least we have always used that number, so if you see an object they are going to load that is over 8' you need to measure. So you know you do not go over hight.

 

That midpoint does lower considerably the more weight you put on, but measuring is a good idea if it's even remotely close. I pulled some machinery for Griffin pipe out of Virginia going to their Iowa location and had to ask them to take a couple of pieces off the machinery to get the height within non-OD specs. Wasn't much, just a couple pieces of conduit with the wiring and all.

 

I had a CNC machine I picked up in Maine that got me measuring.
It was right around 8'. We put it on the middle and they left. Since it was late in the day. I was on a ladder tarping it when I looked out over my truck and thought, man am I high.
So I got a tape and sure enough I was at 13'9"
I had to wait till morning for them to return and move it. Was not going to haul it at all, but it fit on the very back of the trailer, and was at 13'4" there. Only weighed 13 thousand so was not enough to flatten the trailer.

 

I am supposed to start cdl school first of March and TMC is my top choice. But their website says they are hiring drivers with 1 year exp. Are they not hiring grads right now?

 

Im looking for good info on TMC. I have been preapproved for them and have about 2 weeks left on my training. I have been told that they are a good company, get you home, and have nice equipment. But I want to hear the good and the bad so i can read the lines. Also preapproved for a dedicated werner but heard way too much drama from there so its bound to not be a "im fired so im griping about the company" routine. If it were one or two people then I would think otherqwise but... Anyway so Im thinking of giving TMC a shot but want to hear all the input you senior drivers are willing to give. Also if you have advice on another company that pays well for fresh cdls and can get me home on weekends is good to hear. Even those local jobs if there are any open for greenhorns but Im not putting faith in that, willing to pay my dues and all that. Living in Charlotte, NC if it helps. Thanks in advance.