Well guys I have a few questions for you TMC drivers/recruiters after my wife and I decided that I need to return to driving truck to fulfill our goals in life. Let me give you guys a little background on me and hopefully ya'll will be able to tell me if it is worth my time to apply with TMC.

I started driving in 2004 with Ware Racing Enterprises a Nascar Busch team, I had my permit in NC for 5 months while working there. Then late in the 2004 season the team lost it's sponsor and went bankrupt. So I moved back to PA and then went to work for Swift :roll: , where I went through their school since having my permit for 5 months meant nothing to them. After school I went with a trainer for 8 weeks and then went solo for about 2 months before I got tired of getting stuck out on the road all month. As well as sitting for days at times for a load, or to deliver. Once I left Swift I started working for a local concrete company driving a mixer truck and a day cab pulling dump/dry bulk tanker and over sized portable plant pieces. After working for them for 8 months I finally had to leave due to the fact that they would not fix my trucks after I wrote them up every day for the same problems. I also got stopped numerous times by DOT and they made the tickets out to the company as the state trooper told me I was in the clear because it was in my pre-trip logs. They then tried to make me pay for half of the tickets (my part=$700), at that point I left. I then went to work for a local excavating company where I drove a tri-axle dump truck and hauled a 30FT equipment trailer to move equipment almost everyday. But then one week I was having problems with my wisdom teeth and they told me to take the week off to get them fixed then come back to work the following monday. When I came back to work they told me there was no work and they would call me when it picked up. Well they never called and would not answer my calls.

I also went to work for Werner for a week, but that didn't work out because I was told I would be home every night. But once I did my first run I found out that I lived to far to run the account and I would have to be a regional driver, so I returned the truck with no hard feelings except for being a little upset they wasted 2 weeks of my life by lying to me.

After 3 weeks of trying to go back to work, I started looking for another job. Problem was no one in my area was hiring drivers at the time, and my wife did not want me to go back over the road because of how Swift had me out for months straight. So I ended up falling back to working full time as an emergency medical technician for the last 8 months. But my wife and I really need to buy a house to get out of her parents house and we just cannot do that with what I make as an EMT. Oh and I also want to add that I have an uncharacterized discharge from the Army reserves due to an accident where I ended up having open heart surgery and could not fulfill my duties as a soldier. Just want to through that out there to make sure TMC will still hire me.

Now that you all have my background, I have some questions for you all.

1. What would orientation be like for me, how would they classify my experience?

2. How long would I have to be with a trainer? I understand that I have to learn the TMC way of doing things and how to tarp and secure loads properly, but I am not new to driving tractor trailers.

3. My wife really wants me to be home every night, is that even possible with me living in the Pocono's of PA? I understand it may not happen right away but I need to be home every weekend for sure and eventually home every night.

4. Where is the closest terminal to Effort, PA?

5. How is the freight/pay since all that stuff with the logs went down last spring? Has everything worked itself out to where drivers can run legal and still make 800-1000 a week?

6. Is TMC for the driver or is it the driver for TMC? Am I going to feel like the company appreciates my hard work or will I just be a slab of meat in the seat?

I'm sorry for the long post but I am trying to do what is best for my family and don't want to jump into something unless I feel it will benefit myself and the company. Any replies or help would really be great, thank you in advance.

Edit: Added stuff about Werner.

I am sorry for the bump but I could use some help, thank you.

Jegzus, if I were to make a snap judgement, I'd say that TMC is NOT for you. But I've been wrong before. The ONLY way you'll know for sure how you will be classified is to fill out an application at www.tmctrans.com This is not wasting your time and there is no obligation. Only then could I say if you'd be a good "fit" for a dedicated position.
Also, if driving for TMC depends on your being home every night, I'd suggest finding a local-only company. OTR companies can not guarantee that even if you do get a local dedicated position. These positions change and sometimes vanish completely and then you'd be left without a suitable (for you) job.

Thanks for the help Fred, it was nice being able to speak with you on the phone. I will be filling the application out as soon as I return from the store.

Excellent and GOOD LUCK!! Call me tomorrow evening and I'll check it for you.

I will be submitting an application to TMC soon and still debating on getting the Hazmat endorsement or not. I know it is not required by the company, but I would assume there are advantages having it.

My question is does TMC pull many Hazmat loads? b/c I will be going OTR 48 state long haul, and if having Hazmat will help me getting more loads, I will get it.

Thank you guys.

Champ
 

I see that your looking at submitting your app. , when do you think you will do your orientation ?

I'm looking at 4/30, if all goes well !![/quote]

Re: Champ
 

[/quote]

Currently, I'm set to graduate in late May. So it would be at the end of May sometime.

Champ keep me updated ! through out class !!

I had hazmat when I started with the company. Never had one load. We do some hazmat loads. As to the advantage/disadvantage, I guess it depends on how much your state charges you for the hazmat. When I moved to NH last year I dropped it because I would have had to retake the test and fork up $300.