Do any of you drivers know if TMC would have a problem if I brought an XM satellite radio into the truck? I know they supply a Sirius radio (if you pay the fee). Installation of the XM radio does not require any drilling or removing the dash, etc. If I mounted it clean, without destroying anything, would they still make me take it out?

The only reason I am partial to XM is because of the Open Road Trucking Channel. The information on that channel is priceless. I know TMC does not allow any power inverters. The XM radio runs off a 5 volt cigarette lighter adapter.

Also curious to see how their "fuel optimization" program is going to work out. I wonder when they are going to start it.

Safe travels all!

 

They will allow it, but are very particular of any external mounting of the antenna! The shop will have the bulletin outlining the detail! But what was allowed when I was there, was the small button XM antenna, on the metal mirror mount! Had mine turned inboard, so it was not visible from the front, back or side! Had to basically be under it to see it, thus, it did not detract from the image of the truck! None of the shops ever had a problem with it, as it met the criteria in the bulletin.

NO velcro, 2 sided tape, screws, or duct tape allowed! :-) - yes, that has been done - the shop bulletin has some quite interesting mounting pictures, which was the reason for the current arrangement!

Also used the suction cup window mount with no problems! Be aware, the suction type window mounts are illegal in Cali, and a couple of other states. I believe Maine was one of the others! Read the manual with your XM radios, there used to be a notice in the front legaleze section about it!

Some of the trucks, but not many, actually have the XM capable radios in them! Most of them may have been phased out by now!

 

I would like to thank everyone on here for the info about tmc, I'm new on here for as posting but I have been reading the posts on here for a while. I have some questions about the leased drivers at tmc.

1 Does tmc have alot of leased drivers
2 Which is the best percentage or mileage for a leased driver
3 Are they strick on the age,equipment, and look of the truck
4 Are the loads and frieght lanes better
5 Does tmc have a set fuel price that leased drivers pay, and is it a good time at tmc to be a leased driver

I would really appreciate the replys and comments on this subject thanks.

 

Now I will assume that you are talking about a truck that you are purchasing from an independent finance company and then entering into a contractual lease with TMC to provide freight and paperwork services to you.

It is NEVER a good idea to try to rent a truck from the same company that will provide you freight. You need flexibility to leave that company if they do not provide what you want, and you need that leverage as well. If you are indebted entirely to one company you have no choices and are trapped. Please have your head examined by a qualified professional before entering this type of arrangement with ANY company.

I don't think there are a lot compared to the total number of trucks. My fleet manager did happen to have several owner operators on his board, but he was a more experienced FM. TMC is not geared as much towards owner operators as some other companies.


Unless things have changed owner ops can only get paid on percentage.


I believe that they want a truck that will pass a DOT inspection every 90 days. The truck is supposed to be newer than ten years but I have heard that they will make exceptions if you have a good looking well maintained older truck.

It doesn't have to be show quality, but I have never seen one of our owner operator trucks missing parts or looking like it was salvaged from a scrapyard after hauling containers at a port in Mexico.

Supposedly you have first choice of freight. In actuality when my trainer went owner operator he had loads get dispatched to someone else while he was considering his freight choices. It isn't a perfect system. If your FM is on top of things you can be locked in on a load early though.

Now consider this: Lets say TMC has 99 company trucks and you in an area. Now lets say that every day in a slow month (jan, feb) they only have 90 loads available in that area. You are going to sit one day that week just like a lot of other drivers. First choice of freight or not a company truck left waiting since yesterday will get loaded before you.

Of course if you are pessimistic you will assume that the company hates you if they leave you empty one day. TMC does try to be fair with drivers, so the people who are having a bad week will get a better load than you. As a owner operator you are not given overly preferential treatment. All of us 2800 company drivers are not here just to take the freight that you don't want. We want a good paycheck too.

No, you are at the mercy of the posted cash or credit price wherever you go.

I would say no. It is not a good time buy or own a truck period. You can make more money as a company driver right now that as an owner operator. We usually haul a lot of building materials like lumber and shingles this time of year. Those items are moving slowly this year as housing starts are down, the fix it and flip it cycle has busted, the refinance and fix your house people are refinancing to fill their gas tank, and the rest of the people would only fix up their house if their neighbor started first.

Don't get me wrong we are still keeping busy but it is not the kind of environment that you can make a lot of money as an owner operator at TMC or anywhere in my opinion. There was a boom in trucking in the early part of this decade spawned mostly by the job creation tax incentives implemented by President Bush. That has slowed now and many people are waiting to see how the election and fuel prices play out before investing in new stuff. The problem with trucking now is that many people gambled on that new $150,000 truck at the peak of that boom in 2003 and 2004 thinking that the freight rates and availibility would continue that climb. They failed to remember the FIRST and only rule of business called SUPPLY AND DEMAND. The supply of trucks grew to meet the demand and people are stuck with this debt so they have to keep trucking to make the payments. When there are two trucks waiting for a load they will underbid each other to get the load so that they can salvage some semblance of cash flow and make their payments.

For company drivers we don't have the costs like you do. A bad week will be balanced by a good week next week ususally. If our truck breaks down we get breakdown pay and TMC pays to get it fixed. If you own the truck and it breaks down you get no revenue to pay the repair bill or youself while it it fixed. I don't think it makes sense to own your own truck at this time.


You are welcome. Now that I have you discouraged I will soften the blow a bit. IF you own a truck and have no payments I think TMC would work out well for you. I do believe that hauling windmills or other oversize stuff will pay better but that is not for everyone. The best time to buy a truck is when the cycle starts booming again. Of course that is hard to see until it has happened but I predict that next spring and summer will be better. After all the politicians stop their election year posturing and actually get to work providing us with the solutions they promise everything will be perfect. :lol:

 

Many people do have XM radios. They do not mind the radio stuck to the window, but like CH said it is the antenna on the outside that can cause you problems. If it does not meet their specs just remove it when you stop at terminals and you should be fine. If you are asked to remove it a little respect goes a long way. They don't put up with the "what does it hurt" attitude one bit.

We are all waiting for those answers. I predict that it will cause some drivers to quit if they make it too complicated or restrictive. I know that if we are forced to fuel at say the Pilot in Ruther Glen VA instead of the Petro accross the street to save a penny per gallon I will have some harsh things to say about it. That pilot is one of the top 5 never again fuel stops on my list. I predict fueling now will take at least an hour instead of the usual 15 minutes just because EVERY single other trucking company has the same idea of finding the cheapest price. My hour of time is worth the $1.50 TMC will save on that transaction. We need to all ask for ETA changes based on time it takes to fuel at stupid places and they will drop that program really quickly. If they have to reschedule 300 appointments or so a day some heads will roll.

 

I'm in the process of buying a used truck myself. In certain areas of the country we are moving the same amount of freight now as we were 2 years ago. TMC is finally demanding higher freight rates and giving up accounts that don't pay enough to haul (ie Phelps Dodge copper). TMC pays 70-73% of the gross and 100% of FSC. This percentage is better than 95% of the other companies. Do your own numbers and decide. Most company trucks make 3-4k per week with weekends off or 3500-6k running full weeks. It all depends on where you run and what runs you get. Just from my own experiences DON'T deal with truck sales in Joplin.

 

Thanks for the replies countryhorseman and Rawlco. Have to say I'm addicted to the XM Open Road programming. That is a great thing to know for me if TMC ever hires me.

Don't get me wrong though. The XM radio question is extremely minor. There are a lot of much heavier options I am currently weighing before trying to drive for TMC. I truly hope it happens one day. If it's meant to be, then it's meant to be.



Jeffro

 

Thanks rawlco and shadowsknight for that detail info on the trucking industry and on the working of tmc. I hope by february of 2009 I'll be ready to head to tmc from my current job of driving cube vans. I've been following tmc from the time you guys ran freightliners up and down I-20 and I-75 with your loads looking like a will straped and wraped christmas present. So I hope you guys don't mind me asking more question about the company and the industry. Thanks again for the replys I appreciate it.

 

Can someone tell me what TMC starts new drivers with no experience on milage and %? Also which would be better?

What kind of miles do they avg/wk

Are TMC goals for bonus hard to reach

What are avg length of haul on their loads. I know the site says 530. I just want to get some feedback from a actual driver.

Do dispatchers really try to run you like you like to run.

 

New Driver, no experience was starting at 26% - Percentage will be best in this situation! Mileage pay was only around, I think .28 cpm (memory lapse on that one) A new driver, with driver, determination and good work ethic, can be at 29 - 30% at first snapshot (uhmm, I think that was 8 weeks), making the same as many of the experienced drivers!

Line haul expect 50 - 100 mile bounces(deadhead), with 300 - 500 loaded runs!

Longhaul - 1200 - 1500 mile loaded - I think my longest loader run was 1950! Bounces about the same on average, I had a couple that were almost 300 miles!

My suggestion - unless you absolutely have to be home every weekend! Go to the long haul division for the 1st 6 months, then switch over! You will get accustom to loading/unloading, trip planning (i.e. time management) in a slightly less demanding environment, and will break in easier!


For someone that is serious about excelling in the industry! NO
For a slacker (not for a better term)! Yes

Follow the principles they have built the company on, that they teach you in orientation, and you will do well!



Communication is the total key! If you and your FM cannot connect, there could be problems! FM's come and go, but the good ones, that have drivers on the board that communicate well, are happy, and take care of their drivers. In return, you take care of them! You may have to take a crap load, ever now and again. Do it, bare it, and with any luck, your will have one of those fleet managers that will reward the help! If a driver is constantly whining and complaining, turning down loads, etc. The FM can and will develop a hard spot, and can make your life real rough!

In the off chance that a driver and fleet manager just do not click, and after trying to work through the differences, request a new FM! Preferably out of a different terminal! You do not want a new FM, that is buddies or across the aisle from the one you just ditched!

In order to make the above questioned goals, the truck is expected to generate X dollars revenue a week! Making that goal revenue, is part of the snapshot, that determines your percentage rate for the next month!

Good luck!