TMC should i get my CDL first?

[anothermic]

Heya guys,
I'm new here and have found your post to be very helpful!

My question is that i'm considering going onboard with TMC, i've never driven a truck before, but my grandfather was an Old Timer trucker for 40 years so i've been around them and have always loved em (off the subject sry)

My question is should i study and get my CDL and then sign on with them or just let them send me to the school and sign the year contract? which would be more profitable right off the bat?

Also the schooling program that they are going to give me works like this,. i put about $200 down,. go through the class, after ONE year of working with TMC they pay the school $1000 of my tuition, and $150 a month afterwards, which would mean that i would have to work for them for atleast 20 more months after the first year,. not including interest....

This is why i'm wondering if i should get my CDL then just go through they're orientation/driver program.

[JBenson2]

TMC requires a 150 hours of truck schooling before they will pre-hire you. Just having a CDL with no experience will not cut it.

[GoldiesPlating]

Heya guys,
I'm new here and have found your post to be very helpful!

My question is that i'm considering going onboard with TMC, i've never driven a truck before, but my grandfather was an Old Timer trucker for 40 years so i've been around them and have always loved em (off the subject sry)

My question is should i study and get my CDL and then sign on with them or just let them send me to the school and sign the year contract? which would be more profitable right off the bat?

Also the schooling program that they are going to give me works like this,. i put about $200 down,. go through the class, after ONE year of working with TMC they pay the school $1000 of my tuition, and $150 a month afterwards, which would mean that i would have to work for them for atleast 20 more months after the first year,. not including interest....

This is why i'm wondering if i should get my CDL then just go through they're orientation/driver program.

Incorrect. The program TMC offered for your consideration is as follows:
They will get you financed through a school at a $1000.00 discount off that school's regular tuition loan amount. TMC will pay $150.00 per month towards your school loan beginning IMMEDIATELY. Your up front cost will be a $200.00 payment.

[downriverrob]

hey fred is that the total out off pocket cost for a student?

[GoldiesPlating]

That is the particular deal THAT candidate was offered. Based on your location, credit score, specific needs and more, your deal will vary.
There's a sponsorship program, a loan program, a tuition reimbursement program, certain state or federally offered grants/loans, and more. Everyone is different.
Don't forget you'll need pocket money while at orientation and during training and for any silly stuff you may buy along the way.

[BoyNextDoor]

That is the particular deal THAT candidate was offered. Based on your location, credit score, specific needs and more, your deal will vary.
There's a sponsorship program, a loan program, a tuition reimbursement program, certain state or federally offered grants/loans, and more. Everyone is different.
Don't forget you'll need pocket money while at orientation and during training and for any silly stuff you may buy along the way.

How much "slack" would one need for the extra stuff (silly stuff or w/e)? I might be off to the same school in IA that you attended, so i'd rather plan ahead. I'm also planing to pay it all upfront... (I talked a crapload today with Matt, and tomorrow will be the big day. We'll see what happens)



cheers

BND

[GoldiesPlating]

That is the particular deal THAT candidate was offered. Based on your location, credit score, specific needs and more, your deal will vary.
There's a sponsorship program, a loan program, a tuition reimbursement program, certain state or federally offered grants/loans, and more. Everyone is different.
Don't forget you'll need pocket money while at orientation and during training and for any silly stuff you may buy along the way.

How much "slack" would one need for the extra stuff (silly stuff or w/e)? I might be off to the same school in IA that you attended, so i'd rather plan ahead. I'm also planing to pay it all upfront... (I talked a crapload today with Matt, and tomorrow will be the big day. We'll see what happens)



cheers

BND

People are advised to bring about $15.00 per day, I spent about $40.00/day. But I ate like a pig, went out a few nights/week and generally wasn't frugal.

[BoyNextDoor]

another Q... how did you manage to go to the school in burlington? did you get a different hotel room, or were you staying in Des Moines? I'm a bit confused...

[GoldiesPlating]

TMC paid for a hotel near the school.

[redsfan]

TMC requires a 150 hours of truck schooling before they will pre-hire you. Just having a CDL with no experience will not cut it.

Not calling you a liar, but this is not true at all. In my area here, there are 3 "local" truck driving schools. One offers a 160 hour course and two of them are 120 hours. TMC has hired several drivers from all three schools and even "sponsors" the training at one of the 120 hour schools. I know this for a fact, they offered to sponsor me at one of the 120 hour schools and I personally know 2 guys that they hired out of this 120 hour school. I'm not saying that this is necessarily a bad thing and they may advertise differently, but they do not require 150 hours of training.

Unless this has all changed in the past few months, and in that case, ignore everything I just said...

[motman68]

god i wish the school i attended was only 120 to 160 hours i was in a 480 hour course we had 10 weeks in the classroom which we studied HOS,Trip planning,Log books,Air Brakes,Highway watch,Defensive Driving .Then we had 10 weeks in the trucks we did drop and hooks,Shifting drills,manuevers and one on one instruction on the road

[GoldiesPlating]

TMC requires a 150 hours of truck schooling before they will pre-hire you. Just having a CDL with no experience will not cut it.

Not calling you a liar, but this is not true at all. In my area here, there are 3 "local" truck driving schools. One offers a 160 hour course and two of them are 120 hours. TMC has hired several drivers from all three schools and even "sponsors" the training at one of the 120 hour schools. I know this for a fact, they offered to sponsor me at one of the 120 hour schools and I personally know 2 guys that they hired out of this 120 hour school. I'm not saying that this is necessarily a bad thing and they may advertise differently, but they do not require 150 hours of training.

Unless this has all changed in the past few months, and in that case, ignore everything I just said...

TMC will hire with 120 hours... BUT... you will then do the normal 2 week orientation at TMC which includes 1 week of "yard training" The 150-160 hour guys will only have to do 1 week of orientation provided they pass a road test when they get to TMC. There are also other determining factors, such as how many students per class. If class size is real small then each individual will receive more "wheel time" and so can do in 120 hours what others can do only in 150 hour classes.

[dpatt]

god i wish the school i attended was only 120 to 160 hours i was in a 480 hour course we had 10 weeks in the classroom which we studied HOS,Trip planning,Log books,Air Brakes,Highway watch,Defensive Driving .Then we had 10 weeks in the trucks we did drop and hooks,Shifting drills,manuevers and one on one instruction on the road

That's not necessarily a bad thing. I'll bet by the time you went to a company for a driving job you were 100% confident in your abilities...

I see a lot of just-out-of-school folks on this board asking questions they should KNOW the answers to by the time they apply for a trucking job.

[redsfan]

TMC will hire with 120 hours... BUT... you will then do the normal 2 week orientation at TMC which includes 1 week of "yard training" The 150-160 hour guys will only have to do 1 week of orientation provided they pass a road test when they get to TMC. There are also other determining factors, such as how many students per class. If class size is real small then each individual will receive more "wheel time" and so can do in 120 hours what others can do only in 150 hour classes.

See, I told you so...

I also agree very much with Fred on the class size. My class consisted of myself and one other guy so each got a ton of yard and road time.

[jefster]

Flatbed Fred, I talked to David O'Leary and mentioned you and he said he never heard of you..lol must have been a glitch

[GoldiesPlating]

Flatbed Fred, I talked to David O'Leary and mentioned you and he said he never heard of you..lol must have been a glitch

I will "straighten him out" on Monday. He MUST have been kidding.