Great Debate, TMC vs Maverick vs Boyd

[wsclinger]

Is there really a difference between these 3 flatbed companies? I would think that they would all pretty much handle the same freight, maybe in different regions of the country, but all of them seem to offer pretty much the same pay, hometime, benefits, and opportunities.

Are there any current of former drivers for these companies that can shed some light on possible differences and maybe wish one is the best of the three. Please consider that I'm a newbie and exploring all aspects of the business before making the leap, which will be taking place soon and I don't mean leaping into traffic.... But I've always thought flats would be the way I'd want to go.

Thanks

[Drill]

It all depends on you, remember as a rookie yo will not make a pile of mney. Comig ot of school yo really don't know how to drivea truck all tey teach you is how to get your CDL. You learn ho drive a truck whie you a out ther withyour trainer.
That being said her is some food for thought Maverick has mostly auto
Tranies but pays you $500 per week in traing. TMC only pays you $360 per week but has an excellent tainig program. Really don't know much about Boyd. Hope this helps

[wsclinger]

Drill,
Thanks for the info and that $500/wk figure is what Millis Transfer starts out at for newbies for weeks 1 and 2, then increases, but that's for Van running. I understand what you're saying about being taught to get my CDL versus learning how to drive a rig. I've given this alot of thought and the flats seem to offer better hometime to their drivers, which is equally important to me as the pay is, and in flats it does seem to be better.
I'm going to be getting my trainning at a community college that does say they have flats to learn on, but I don't know how much possible freight securement and tarping they may get into....Looking forward to finding out though...

[Drill]

I to went to a local community colge course, 10 weeks long, 8 hours a night, 4 nights a week. At the end of th course the were still student havig trouble shiftig. Point is they rally don'thave much time to teach yanthing else other than diving skills.
I am a gas hauler so really don't know much about skate boarding.
Withthat being said I took a serios look at TMC. The first 2 weeks is nothing butload securement taing.
My situation was a lttle different thanyours becuse when I was in school I was still in the Army. When I started trai I ws using upunfinished vacation time from the Army. So Icould afordto take a little less money
BOL

[wsclinger]

Drill,
I totally understand what you're saying and if I was single, even at my age, I'd have my financial situation set so that I also could take less to start out. That said, I'm not loosing my family by doing this but at the same time I don't want my wife worrying needlessly about the financial life we share. Just looking out for all the people in my life, and that also includes myself, meaning that this has been a dream of mine for a long time and I going to move forward with it...

[terrylamar]

There is no debate, TMC is the only way to go.

[GTR SILVER]

http://www.driveforboyd.com/company_....html#students

[hamboner]

Drill,
I totally understand what you're saying and if I was single, even at my age, I'd have my financial situation set so that I also could take less to start out. That said, I'm not loosing my family by doing this but at the same time I don't want my wife worrying needlessly about the financial life we share. Just looking out for all the people in my life, and that also includes myself, meaning that this has been a dream of mine for a long time and I going to move forward with it...

TMC offers the best flatbed training in the business. Even though the training pay is a lil less than Maverick, TMC offers you the percentage pay option after you are on your own and that will allow you to make top dollar wages as a rookie driver. Also, TMC operates a damn nice fleet of equipment. Their trucks are equipped with manual trannys where Maverick runs all automatics. I would rather become proficient with the manual tranny as a rookie that way if you move on to another company down the road you will never have to relearn to shift gears after driving an automatic for years. TMC, also has many dedicated runs that seem quite lucrative to stay closer to your home area if you decide to go that route down the road. I personally like the fact TMC puts their drivers in the best trucks on the road. On a side note, Maverick, usually has quite a waiting list to get into there program and then start training. I dont know much of anything about Boyd Bros. None of these seem too bad, but I would go with TMC before any others. I just think they treat there drivers top notch. Best of Luck to ya, andplease let us know where you end up at! Maybe start a training thread like others here for us to keep up with ya!

[Snowman7]

My cousin has been at Maverick for 18 mos now and he has been treated very well. He really likes it there. I did flatbed for a year and both Maverick and TMC are good choices.

[Drill]

Some more food for thought. by the time you go through your CDL course and Company trainng program it will be almost November to Mid December. Tucking gets slow that time of year and doesn't pickup until mid Febuary. It wold be best to time your CDL course so that you graduate aroud Chritmas and Start your Company Traing the first of the year. This will alow your trainer to work on the thigs you are strugglnig
with and when freight pcks up you will be ready to rock and roll

[Jimbpard]

I dont know much about Boyd, but between TMC and Maverick, I'd personally go with Maverick.

TMC has beautiful trucks, apparently some of the best training in the industry, but they seem to be really strict with alot of stuff from what I've read and heard from people. Apparently if you pull into a terminal and your truck is not squeaky clean, they will chew you out. Then they are paying percentage. Some people say you can make better money on percenage than you do milage but I've worked for % once for about 3 weeks and I wont do it again.

Now onto another thing and this is just my personal observation and I could be wrong but like I said, JMHO.
*TMC always has an advertisement running in my local paper for drivers, not to mention ads everywhere else. That CANT be because they're growing so fast and freight and that great. You can pretty much get a job with TMC anytime. Oh, and they $$$$ to may for those fancy trucks is comming out of someones pocket...Probably yours (Lower wages?).
BUT, just from my observation, TMC has FEWER tarped loads, which is a good thing for the driver.

*Maverick on the other hand actually has a waiting list if you go to their school, which tells me they they probably have a slightly lower turnover rate. They also get you home on the weekends. They seem to be a more low-profile company, and personally thats another big reason of why I'd go there.

Like I said, just my opinions, and I'm not badmouthing TMC, as I have never drove for them and cant speak first hand, but thats just what I would do. Also, doing flatbed you have more opportunity to get more miles for the most part. Flatbed loads/unloads are USUALLY a pretty quick process. Usually just a forklift or crane dropping something on, or picking something off your trailer, and your done.

Have your checked out the company PGT? They're near Pittsburgh. I know they used to hire rookies out of school or I possibly even did their own training.

[Mr. Ford95]

To clarify, TMC also gets you home on weekends unless you WANT to stay out longer.

Around me, I see more TMC trucks than any of the other 2 but they are a tad bigger than Mav and Boyd. I haven't seen a Boyd in almost 6 months now.

[downriverrob]

i drove for tmc for bout 8 months. i can say this, they do have the nicest equiptment on the road. but for me thats where the bus stops. very pickey bout there trucks not just on the outside, but on the inside as well. my buddie who is still ther got written up at the joplin terminal for having a pair of jeans on his bunk. they also went through his bunk area with a blacklight. whats with that? i guess there is a reason there is bout fifty to seventy five new heads of cattle in oreantation every monday. imagine if they didnt have those shiney trucks! YIKES!!!

[Snowman7]

According to my cousin, Maverick quit doing the cdl training. I dont know if they still hire someone out of school though, they used to require 6 months. I would agree there is less BS at Maverick. Both are good though. Just depends on whether you want percentage and manual trans with a gorgeous pete or mileage pay and automatic with freightshaker.

[downriverrob]

how bout melton? they seem like a prety good outfit. always loaded and moving from what i can see.

[harleypiper]

went through his bunk area with a blacklight. whats with that?

Don't you watch CSI, the black light shows the stains, hahahahahaaa

[DDCavi]

went through his bunk area with a blacklight. whats with that?

Don't you watch CSI, the black light shows the stains, hahahahahaaa

According to CSI, theres "stains" EVERYWHERE!

[jerod]

Hello, my nam,e is Jerod and I am a recruiter at TMC and just wanted to address a couple of things. first, we pay $500 a week for orientation and each week with a trainer for EXPERIENCED OTR driver coming in here, $350 a week is for students coming straight from a CDL school. Also, we dont go overboard with inspecting the inside of the trucks, drivers here are expected to treat their trucks with respect and always act professional. I have never heard about any black lights being taken in the trucks. A truck has to be pretty messy inside for a driver to get written up. Also, TMC is always looking for drivers on te eastern half of the country, not because we have high turn over, because we need drivers to haul freight there. I hope that clears up a few things. thanks

[Drill]

WSCLINGER you got me thinking of going skateboarding I have applied at 2 cpmpanies so far. By the way the reason I have been posting so much lately is because I am out whith a broken wrist.

[wsclinger]

Drill....
Sorry guy to hear about the wrist. Get healed and get out there skateboarding....