unhappy in PA with TMC

I agree with standing up for your rights. I also hate how most drivers are treated like crap in this industry. And by all means, Home time and family is the most important thing to me... But if I don't do the job I invested so much in and I chose to do in this life, I won't have a home and family to come home to. I honestly don't have a clue what the difference between Monday, Wednesday or even Saturday is anymore, unless its a pickup or delivery day. I get home when the road brings me there and I cherish every minute I get to be there... And so does my family and friends. They say loneliness makes the heart fonder, huh?

I have been home for 2 weeks now because of situations with my truck... Man I am ready to kick the tires and lite the fires right now, but it could be another week plus.

 

Back on topic upsetinpa there no way he should not beable to get home most weekends with tmc there heavy on the newengland, ny,pa and nj freight most of the guys i've run into are home most weekends pa is a pretty central spot for freight in either direction he should just talk to his dispatcher or manager and see if he can get it straitened out untill he says something it wont change.

 

your right rbht. i got a friend that still drives for tmc and he is out of PA, he says he is still getting home most weekend. even with the freight being slow

 

With a little patience you can have both. I had a wife, and 2 little babies when I got into trucking. Yes it does suck at first. I was out for 2-3 weeks at a time, and home for about 1 1/2 days. I stuck it out, and kept my name/MVR clean. Now I have a nice little city job. With some time you can too. Tell him to play by the rules, make his OTD, and AVOID job hopping! CSA 2010 is here, and I think that it will open a lot of doors to the drivers that can come thru ti.

 

Dang.. it is truckin period.. he is OTR.. live with it or leave.. hate to be a jerk.. but it has been this way forever.. unless you have dedicated or local.. forget being home.. dispatchers dont care.. an are not going to route you out of the way , just to get home.. they run you where the freight is.. I still laugh my ars off.. all the new drivers getting in trucks.. have no idea what a truck driver is.. they want to work 9-5 monday-friday.. they see these pretty trucks like TMC has.. an think how cool it would be to drive one..
I got out of the truck for 15 years..while my kids grew up.. why?..because it was better that way..now I'm heading back.. but I know what I'm in for..and so does my wife.. you can't be an OTR driver an have your cake too if you guys are really that unhappy.. he either needs to stand up. an get crappy miles or get out of trucking.. with only 5 months. .. local will be like pulling teeth.. maybe in the spring get on hauling blacktop.. or sand for concrete.. again i know I sound like a jerk..but no matter what ppl say.. drivers are slaves..always have been always will be.. oh an one last thing.. an it does happen.. not saying it is happening.. but it does happen.. does he really wanna be home?? I know bunches of drivers that would rather stay out..then come home to a nagging wife.. LOL.. sorry but it is true.. an I know more then I will agree with it.. again not saying that is what is happening... just saying

 

Anywhere in PA should be a home-weekly proposition with TMC unless he signed up specifically for longhaul (if they even still do that). I live in NY's southern tier and unless I wanted to run I was home every Friday afternoon or early Saturday morning.

Some of it is proper trip planning, like leaving Sunday to take a 10hr break at the reciever, starting your week with a full 14hr clock after unload. Others are knowing where to go if offered multiple runs, and where to avoid like the plague (Texas, Oklahoma, Florida are bad for northeast drivers).

My advice as a former TMC driver: stay in the northeast, VA and north, Ohio/Indiana and east. Outside this range I had trouble getting home and more trouble making money. Complete 5 trips/week and you'll do well and its absolutely doable with a little help from your DM.

 

well, I'm guessing he's employed at will. if so, he's free to quit any time. then see how "old" it gets not having an income.

 

Exactly.. A lot of drivers would love to have his job ..getting a pay check..getting miles.. Granted TMC wouldn't be a choice job.. but it is a job... with 11% of US ppl with out jobs now.. or something outrages like that... Stick it out for aleast a year.. then he will have more options.an maybe more jobs in a year..maybe is the key word