Thanks for all the info guys,I live in Arlington smack dab between Dallas and Ftworth. If i'm not mistaken when i looked at the map on TMC's site i'm right on the border. Betweem longhaul and linehaul, I can't pm anyone yet not enough posts but my email is in my profile so feel free to shoot me one

 

There should not be any trouble at all getting you a trainer close to home. DFW is in the linehaul area, so no issue there either.

Most of the newer trucks have the Sirius built into them, although my 2006 did not (no bother, I had XM, that can be used with a button antenna and approved mirror bracket)

All 379's come equipped with Cobra 29 NWST CB's, messing with these is prohibited, they work rather well for stock units, especially when chatting with another Soundtracker unit!

Get some time under your belt, and you could run Texas Dedicated! But those guys run hard! Sheetrock out of Sweetwater, Pipe out of Houston. Some love it, some hate it! Just depends on your work ethic.

Oh, at the time I left, they were in the process of installing Lane Departure Warning devices on all trucks. Ugghhh, those things can be a pain, especially in construction areas and the lines keep moving!:?

The interiors are great and comfortable, although the sleepers are a little smaller than I liked, they are workable. Had a Coleman Cooler on the floor and still room to move.

Good Luck! And like the others said, going through training during mid-winter can be a real blessing. Your trainer will be there with you to help through the hairy stuff!



:?

 

Another question when do you guys find the time to get the truck washed. Every week

 

Is it required to get the truck washed weekly ,and is there a truck wash policy stating truck washes must be performed ...If so does TMC pay the driver for the time spent in doing this ?

 

It is required to have a weekly truck wash. Weekly you'll request via Qualcomm a truck wash P.O. number. In their fuel book TMC also lists truck wash locations (there are TONS of them). When you get to one give them the P.O. number and get it washed.
No you are not paid for the time spent getting it washed but I enjoyed having an always-clean truck. Besides I used the time waiting to wash productively by doing in-truck house keeping, updating my records, emailing, giving the truck and my securement devices a good once over inspection or any number of things that needed my attention.
When a driver works for a company that doesn't do this, drivers bitch about having to drive a dirty truck, when a comapany like TMC does do this drivers question if they are going to get paid for it. :lol: I guess drivers just like to complain! :wink:
After a while you'll learn when and where to get it washed so it takes almost no time at all. Flatbeds wash up real fast unlike a reefer or tanker.

 

I won't complain about a clean truck, And the hour it takes is no big deal

 

GoldiesPlating wrote:Fred, what exactly are you referring to here...an external wash or the actual interior cleaning of the tank? Concerning an exterior wash, it's no big deal and is completed within minutes of the tractor being done. Getting the actual truck washed at a Blue Beacon generally takes the same amount of time, depending on what, if any, extras you add in. All who've been out here at least a little while know that.

Concerning tanker interior cleaning, yes, it can be time consuming depending upon the product being cleaned out. In the case of juices, milk, cream, and/or eggs, generally you're done within 30-45 minutes at worst. Though in the case of the many "easy" food-grade companies hauling these products the driver is not compensated.

Switch to any chemical tank company though, and you will be paid for this interior cleaning delay, as well as everything else work related. Just that some companies obviously pay much better than others...
:roll: :wink:

 

I am sure what he meant, was that a flatbed, has less than 1/4 of the exterior surface to wash. Unlike a van, reefer or a tanker! Less surface, less fuss over those missed spots.

 

Yep, true. I was thinking more about the chemical guys. I talked with a driver once who was NOT happy at all about how long it took to clean his tank between deliveries. As you know they wash them until NOTHING (fumes, residue and all the "nasties") are gone. I didn't know they got paid for that but good to know!
Generally TMC trucks get a good once over on the cab exterior with a BRIEF spray to the sides (all 6 inches of them) of the trailer.

 

Saw 3 or 4 TMC trucks down the street in Fredericksburg, VA delivering some of that black gold. Wasn't anyone here was it?