Poorboy,
We live in Port Huron. You can email me if you want. My Husband drives for TMC. He likes to run hard, as Fred put it. He feels he could be working harder than he does. But he was driving while also working for the city, in supervision. He likes working at TMC. He is very happy there but he is also a hard worker. So am I, I work at ups, so for us it works that we both work so hard. Otherwise one of us might feel like the other was a slacker He gets along great with his fleet manager and everything seems like its working out at TMC to him. He isn't much for staying at truck stops, he tries to overnight t the consignee's place, so he is unloaded asap the next day. That saves him a lot of time. He will be home here in Port Huron on the 22 of dec.

 

Poorboy,

There are weeks that you don't get home until Saturday and have to leave Sunday. There are also weeks that you get home Thursday or early Friday and might not have to leave until Monday. It all depends on the freight and sometimes the freight sucks.

Yes, you get paid by performance. It is based on a number of factors-mileage, revenue, out-of-route miles, and some minorish things. Your fleet manager can't really change these things. If you are a whining jackass or you and your fleet manager can't get along, it is human nature that someone won't work as hard for you. No company rewards whiners. You also have the option of changing fleet managersand as Fred says there are many opportunities for communication with managers and bosses. There isn't any real reason for a FM to punish you, it doesn't pay for him to make his or her drivers look bad. The freight is dispatched according to profitability. At times it seems like the load coordinators are there to make you both tired and poor, mostly my imagination.

Basically, communication is the key. If you get slowed down by traffic or shippers, you communicate your issues to the FM. Sometimes they can do something about it sometimes not. If you don't communicate to your FM and sit there and assume that they are know exactly what is happening in your day, you will be a dissappointed young man.

I tell my FM everything. If he gets me a good load or knocks himself out getting me to the house, I give him a compliment or a thank-you. If the loads are bad, etc. I don't piss and moan. He is not a freight god and many things are way beyond his control. He is just often a messenger.

As far as logging and HOS, TMC's policy is to run legal. If you are going to go over on hours and violate DOT because your FM said run it, your FM will get his a** handed to him by safety.

 

My surgery went well. I'm back to normal now. The Surgeon has given me a full duty status release as of December 18Th. I had the Surgeon fax all the information to Rebecca today, I need to confirm she received tomorrow, and I should be back in Orientation on the 18Th. That sucks because I will be sitting in DM for Christmas, but good because I can be working sooner. DM is only 14 hours from Austin, so maybe I will drive back for Christmas, who knows.

 

Damn, I thought we'd be starting at the same time (Jan 2). Well, good for you! I can tell you're dying to start working! Keep me posted, I can't wait til Jan 2nd!

 

Glad u made through surgery ok!!!! Welcome back (soon)!

 

It is not a done deal yet. I need to make sure TMC's doctor will release me on the 18TH. Rebecca checked, I think. She said she would ask Martha, then offered me some dates. The 18Th is the earliest, the day the Surgeon release me.

 

I'm happy for ya terry, Bless God, that you're OK.

What a day I've had...

Quick recap. I'm here in Burlington, IA @ American Truck Training, getting hours in, so they can get me my diploma. I've been here a week and a half now, working 24/7 to get this done. I'm pleased to say, that I'm doing pretty good... I can shift almost as smooth as butter now (including double clutching) and today we got to the part, where the instructor tried to intentionally disrupt me from driving while on the road. My only mistakes (while him busting my balls for every imaginable thing) was that i grinded 5Th and 7Th a little bit... :lol:

Than my day turns even nicer, b/c a TMC truck decides to show up, and show off a 387 :shock: man was I in aw... I could not believe how fricking nice that truck was... 8)

So after giving him a small interrogation on how TMC life is, he took off... And I be damned if i remember the truck number, or his name (I'm really bad with names and faces)

So there goes a little update, and me being happy for having the chance to do this... Can't wait for SUNDAY!!! b/c I'm going up to Des Moines to start orientation on MONDAY! < Terry, I'm gonna see you down there... I'll be finishing up just before Christmas, so that after the Holiday I'll be able to go straight into training with my trainer...

Sorry guys for the long post, but I just couldn't contain myself... I'm so excited, and happy all at the same time :wink:

See you guys on the road, and keep the rubber side down... That's all that counts.

Cheers

BND

 

BND, do you have a start date at TMC yet?

jeff (starting orientation Jan 2)

 

This coming monday. December 11 can't wait...

 

BND

I was gone this morning but am back in the office, give me a quick call when you can, just to check in


Terry

I know Rebecca is dealing with your medical stuff but I can say that anyone that has had to get hernia surgery done, they've always been able to come back in when they get released from their own dr. I wouldn't worry. Martha just usually makes sure enough time has passed to fully heal.


Matt