There is good and bad associated with ALL companies. I do hope you are not referring to ME when you suggest I may be "Padding my own wallet" I own a VERY successful busines in NYC and do not need the handouts paid me for recruiting new drivers. I'm driving a truck now because it's something I've always wanted to do since I was a kid. I'd do it for FREE. I put all that work into my website to help other drivers get through what I went through a little easier. You seem VERY nervous about being a truck driver period and perhaps these posts are just what you may have needed (or sought out subconsciously) to stop you from doing something you really don't want to. I am going into recruiting (temporarily) to HELP shine an HONEST light on things unlike what I've heard other recruiters do. How can you read my website, see all the pictures I take the time to crop and paste, and read all that I've written on there for all to see and think i do it to pad my own wallet??!!! :shock:

 

I'll be in Des Moines to assist TMC in opening up a new dedicated division in the NY area and learn the procedures involved in performing such a duty. They'd like my input on the market here and I feel I can help them find some COMPETENT NYC drivers to fill a few openings they will have available here soon.

 

Fred,

don't take the post as a personal attack. you have been a great source of information regarding flat-bedding & TMC. you are extremely motivated and seem to be a good-guy. your web-site as i told before is outstanding and is a testament to your dedication to the industry, yourself and the company you work for. as far as being nervous, I'm not, just trying to make an educated decision. i try to sift through the posts to get some kind of idea. i don't want to be a job hopper like so many people out there. i would like to choose a company and stay for a long time. maybe 20 years as an upper level manager as me skeptical of all companies. for me it's about the journey not the destination. your help has been appreciated, you too Brandy. i still have a week to decide.
Best of Luck to All.

 

Remember this.

That is your truck when you get it, every decision you make comes back on you and you alone. Loads logs etc. Do the right smart thing and in the end you decide how to run your truck.

Like I tell my kids, do not do anything your not willing to take the consequences for.

TMC is a good company to learn flatbedding. They do a whole lot of things right and have there head up there arse on alot of things as well. Welcome to trucking the whole industry has that problem.

You can make decent money running legal and very very good money running illegal. If they see your running illegal saftey will call and shut you down. Eventually it will catch up to you. The best way to go is choose your freight wisely and utilize your time wisely.

Dont know how the rest of the folks do it but a friend gets empty in the afternoon now and seems to have a better choice of freight at that time then first thing in tghe morning. Again things you will learn as time goes on.

 

Pappa,

Don't sweat it! Like everyone mentioned there are bad apples no matter where you go. TMC is no different. Once you get your own truck you run the way you feel is best. With the HOS mess there is the letter of the law, and there is the intent of the law. Blatant violations of the law are going to get you and possibly others in trouble. Do your best to run safely and try your best to work within the rules. I don't think TMC is a bad company, and from what I can see they offer many of the things that most drivers want and need for the road, for hometime, for your paycheck. Don't let a few bad apples scare you away. TMC looks like an excellent choice if your wanting to run flatbed.

There are some that choose to just flaunt the rules in the persuit of the all mighty dollar. Don't get sucked into the trap. Use your noggin and things will work out fine.

For example(boy is this going to stir the pot!):

If your running down the road on route to your destination(drop, pickup, whatever) and you run out of hours... Do you:
a. Stop the truck where ever you are and she doesn't move another foot because you ran out of hours.
b. You have already planned out your route and know where the next safe place is for you to pull off the road and had anticipated the stop.
c. Heck, I am not tired so I will just keep going until I am tired, and will just fudge the logs a "little".
d. I am close enough that I can probably get to my destination and not get caught, and heck I got this logging thing down pat... Nobody is the wiser. So I bypass a chicken coup or two... No big deal. Besides I have to be there waiting in the morning to unload, first in line ya know! :shock:

Answer key:
a. is the letter of the law, and frankly cannot and will not work. You cannot just shutdown anyplace and you will get ticketed if you try to do so. Plus it is just unsafe.
b. This is trying to live within the intent of the law, so yes you may have to keep going for a short time so that you can safely, and legally park your truck and shutdown. Obviously try to anticipate this before it becomes an issue, but "stuff happens" and can sometime create problems with your route plan(delays at shippers, road construction, traffic accident, traffic jam, etc).
c and d. This is the driver making an error in judgement, because this is a blatant violation of the law both in letter and intent.

People will come up with all kinds of examples of HOS lunacy and the BS that drivers have to put up with. Just remember "Letter" vs "Intent". Do your best to plan and anticipate your work and you will be fine. Making excuses and then basically ignoring the law because it "isn't workable" is unacceptable.

Longsnowsm

 

Hehehehehe. :wink: I agree 100% (for a change lol) with someone! Yippie!!!

Actually, what Longsnowsm said is correct. Well spoken!

 

This is TRUE!!! I've been doing tha same lately and so far, it's worked out GREAT! Go figure??? Anyway..... WAZZZUP Tcurr!!!! Hope all is well with you!

 

does TMC come through memphis TN alot as one of thier lanes. I have seen quite a few TMC trucks in the memphis area in the last few days. How "regularly" do yall come through here. Im just trying to find out b/c i live here and am interested in driving for them and a few other companies and tryinh to figure out home time and such. Thanks in advance guys.


by the way the truck i just saw at 3:20 or so today was a pete 387 headed west on I-40 carrying a single roll of something with a tarp over it.

 

Regardless of where you live or if our trucks run through your town on a regular basis, if you are in their hiring area for line haul, you'll be home at least 46 of 52 weekends per year. They will see to that.
You are welcome, no problem at all.

 

Freddy,
What's shakin' with that new dedicated thing?