Thanks for the reply, much appreciated.

I'll admit having some reservations about going back to a "large" carrier....I've worked for local companies for the last 5. It's been 75% local, with some occasional OTR runs.

I'm not afraid of the "road", I know what to expect.....it ain't all roses, but what is? Got over my "stage fright", so to speak, a LONG time ago.

I'm wanting to get my finances straightened back around.....no, I haven't gotten rich from pushing a diesel, but it beats the hell out of slaving on a 9-5 with someone looking over your shoulder.

Besides, I honestly ENJOY driving a truck....I'm sick like that, I guess!

Short plug here -- I had some questions on TMC - Called Fred and he answered them to my satisfaction with 0 pressure.

Good guy in my book. Being ex-squid my BS meter is pretty decent - didn't ring on it at all.

Perhaps I'll meet this guy.....

I'm a pretty easy-going guy......speak the truth, treat others as I expect to be treated. I give 100%.....and expect it in return.

This isn't my first go-round in trucking, and definitely like my profession....I'll admit to having had a few more companies having driven for than I like, but honesty is my policy.

I expect quality equipment.....have always held the belief of taking pride in my ride.....no, it doesn't need to be brand-new, but my days of cleaning condoms, piss bottles, and excessive filth out of a truck just to drive it are long over....


I give a day's work for a day's pay, and expect it when it's supposed to be there, in full. There are some outfits that still have an issue understanding this idea. I found out many years ago(I'm a second-generation driver) you generally won't make the Forbes's list for driving, but I'm not a non-profit organization, either.


I'm picky like that. :lol:

Thanks again........'slap....

Errrr... were the condoms used?
So, there is filth. Then what is excessive filth?

They were unwrapped.......one of the few times in my life I wore rubber gloves to work on a truck(I previously worked on trucks for a living..).

I can handle a little dust on the dash and floor to start with...they'll be cleaned promptly, but nothing I'll go ballistic about.

I've ran flatbed, lowboy and dump trailers before....muddy/dusty conditions exist, but my truck ALWAYS stayed showroom-new clean.....I take pride.

Excessive filth is when you remove 3 bags of trash, use 1 industrial-sized bottle of Simple Green, 1 bottle of Windex, 2 jumbo-sized rolls of paper towels, wear out a brand-new scrub brush, 2 buckets of scalding-hot water, 2 bottles of FeBreeze..take a scraper to the windshield to remove the bugs because hot soapy water won't even cut them...and that's before you even turn a wheel in it. When the skylight appears to be smoke tinted when it's actually stained with tobacco tar.....*ugh* The best part was when I discovered the piss funnel and hose routed through a hole punched in the sleeper floor.......P.A.M. #22493

Wish I was exaggerating.........was my very first drving job, this incident occured May 2001 at the Tontitown , AR home terminal....never could get the smell out of it, felt damned sorry for the next poor soul who got stuck with it.

Had the guys in the shop put a new matress in it, told'em leave the plastic on it.....was still on it when I turned the truck in at the end of my employment with that company. Still gives me cold chills thinking about it...*shiver*

HEY TMC GUYS! I am still curious about the "SPECIALIZED DIVISON" , I have seen photos of some black beautys with "SPECIALIZED DIVISON" and they were haulin' john deere stuff. so what is the scoop?

Kinda curious about that myself.....

As far as I know, to be considered for the "specialized" division, you've got to work 2 years for TMC, have a perfect record (safety and otherwise) to even apply for the division....

they haul cotton pickers and misc accessories out of ankeny, ia

Good deal.......definitely don't want a rookie hauling $250k-$500k+ pieces of equipment, I completely understand their reasoning.

Another question or two off the top of my head....

1) Safety/log policies. My days of running/logging illegally are far over. Too much on the line to take those chances....being on-time is important, of course, but not at the risk of human life.

2) Day cabs: I have noticed a few day cab TMC rigs.....are there any available in the Indy area? Will go OTR, but if there's a possibility of being at home with the family evenings, that would be the ideal set-up.

No, I don't expect to be given the keys to the kingdom right off the bat :lol: , but at the end of the day, my family comes FIRST.

Thanks again!