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- - TMC (https://www.classadrivers.com/forum/truck-driving-jobs-what-about-trucking-company/16152-tmc.html)

well im glad that everyone is playing well with each other. and yes Fred, i will have that drink...now please, i have run out here. :lol:

Weekends AREN'T the greatest in trucking. You are 1/2 right Buzz, at least the way I ran. I got home late Friday (around 8PM including 3 hours in traffic at the George Washington Bridge)
BUT TMC always had me go home LOADED and my delivery was within 150 miles of my house so I'd usually leave out at 4AM on Monday morning IF I wanted to make an early morning delivery.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skywalker

Goldie... I think probably the only thing I could ping you for is how you presented your income. While you may make $60K in 2007, to project it as if you had already earned is a little "disingenuous". Also, the fact that you are on a local and dedicated account that pays you a salary every week... shows that you have what the average driver will probably never see. Jobs like yours are far from the norm.

I think I am an average driver, I have been in my truck for slightly more than a month now, I have not even had a snapshot yet. My recent pay has been grossing over $1K+, or $1M+ for some of you. :D Those weeks where I'm not grossing $1K+ are the weeks that I pick up a load and it delivers for the following week. Eventually, the timing will work out so I am delevering on Monday and again on Friday or sooner and I will have close to a $2k gross. On average, it is a little over $1k. Remember, I am still at 23%. I am working my butt off, but I'm not alergic to work.

To address a few other issues, TMC explained the pay system to me and I agreed. I'm not going to complain now. I agreed to buy a camera, I'm not going to complain. They were out of bunk warmers, so I didn't have to buy one. Since Winter is ending I doubt I will worry about it until the fall.

Well, this week will see me in my 6th week in my truck. Everything is fine. I really enjoy the work. Long drives don't bother me at all. I listen to Sirus or my AudioBooks. I about to buy some language CD's and I'll be set.

I've had some long runs recently, Buffalo, NY to Boise, ID, bounce to Seattle, WA and run to Laredo, TX. I like these long runs, it is all driving and no work. :D I keep running out of CD's though and Sirus is the same thing day after day, no matter how many channels they have.

While the weather hasn't been horrible lately, it as been brisk some mornings. I have not ideled my truck yet. I have a Army sleeping bag good for - 40 and I haven't had to use all the layers either. I do like it cold. I'm not sure what will happen this summer. I can tolerate the heat during the day, but have a hard time with it during the night.

Lessons learned:

Arrive at your stopping place early in the day so you can find a parking spot. If that means leaving early, do so.

Don't leave home without your GPS, I've said that before, but it is worth repeating.

If you need help, ask, almost everyone will help you. I will help anyone.

I usually will nose into parking spots, whatever is easiest. Not for a lack of backing skills, but most of the time it really is more efficient to nose in. It saves time and when I leave in the morning no one is in my way backing out. And as was illustrated this evening, it makes it harder for other drivers to run into my truck, I'd prefer my trailer was damaged to my truck.

I'm still learning so I don't have a handle on my diet or exercise plan. I need to work on establishing a routine. I also need to work on staying out of fast food and truck stop resturaunts.

terrylamar said:

Quote:

I keep running out of CD's though and Sirus is the same thing day after day, no matter how many channels they have.

Here is a suggestion that I found helpful. Get an Apple iPod and use your computer to download podcasts. You can download the podcasts on the weekend or from the truckstop wifi locations. The variety is amazing and most of the podcasts are free. From politics, to science, to language learning, to comedy and there are even trucking podcasts.

Re: Questions for Fred Answered by me

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buzzdog

1) What is the actual average income of a driver at TMC based on division, ( line haul, long haul, specialized, dedicated ) Please do not state what the highest earners were, for this discussion please give average. 925/week for Texas Dedicated

2) What is the average revenue that the truck generates to calculate snapshots for each division. My truck made 18,588 For march. This includes tarp and FSC. I was chaecking because I want to buy my own.

3) Why does the company choose to charge new drivers $5 for a disposable camera that is used for load claims or accidents? Some people use them for personal things or keeps them when they quit.

4) Why does the company tell the driver an ammount for freight charge when the BOL the driver recieves states a higher ammount. Because the loads are brokered from one division to another. More on that later.

5) Refer to question 4, What is the companies stance with regard to decieving their employees of the actual revenue? You division makes that gross pay. You are not being deceived. That is the actual gross to your truck.

6) What is the cause of AHI's unsatifactory safestat rating? Too many drivers choosing to run illegal and too many brokers not scheduling deliveries that compensate for wait time. This is an industry problem not specific to TMC.

7) What is the companies plan to obtain a satisfactory rating? Tell drivers to run legal. DUH!!

8) What is the turnover rate for AHI? What is the turnover rate of employees with less then 6 months? We lost 20 in Texas over winter out of 80 drivers.

9) What is the average experience level for the fleet? 1-2 years avg. for my fleet.

10) Why does TMC consider a driver with less then 1 year experience with only 1 winter driving qualified to become a trainer? That's an industry standard.

11) Why does the company state that all rates will be determined by Rand McNally Practical miles in their Rate and Tarif guide but tell the drivers that milage is calculated on HHG short miles. Paid miles are Rand McNally but not practical miles. Their miles are much better then HHG.

12) Why does AHI's pay package still reflect pay packages from 5 years ago? Are there any plans to update the compensation package? Don't know.

13) If TMC were truely concerned about safety, why do they still allow the qualcom to be used while the vehicle is in motion as opposed to lockinng it out? I'm glad they don't lock it out personally.

I look forward to your response to these questions. I am sure that I will think of other questions in the future. I will continue to use the format to make it easier for you to respond. Thanks ;)

Thank you in advance for your reply.

First off I can't stand buzzdog but he is right about one thing....brokering.

Here's an example. If you come to Texas and get a load of sheetrock or if you get a load of copper from Morenci or El Paso then those loads are brokered from KTL to your division. If you get a load from any dedicated division then you are getting a brokered load. They don't share loads between divisions they broker them. The rate that you see in your load info is the gross paid to your division not the rate paid to the company. Each division takes a percentage of the pay that they get from the shipper before brokering the load to another division. If the load stays within the division that secures the account then that division keeps 100% of the pay. IE Texas dedicated keeps all of the pay for the loads that our drivers pull. They keep 10% for the loads going to linehaul, londhaul. Each division is responsible for their own accounts and profitability. This is very similar to the way most companies work. Most companies don't pay percentage so you will most likely never know what each division makes.

I've seen this in other companies. Even JBHunt does it.

btw...in case you don't know. You will usually make more money on a dedicated account then you will running general freight. That's an industy standard.

1 more thing. The truth in leasing regulations contains a line that says that anyone making a percentage of a load (this means OOs and company drivers) has the right to see the rated freight bill on each load that is hauled but you have to verbally or in writing request the info. If you want clarification on this contact OOIDA.

shadowsknight,

Thank you for answering for your particular division. I am still looking forward to numbers for the entire company as soon as Fred gets a response from Des Moines.

I do have to differ with you with regards to the Practical miles. If you are interested in knowing why I say that the milage is based on Rand McNally Practical miles please send me a PM with your email address. Fred can also verify this as I have sent him the same pdf.

chilling in houston, tx. Got to the consignee, where i have a load out of the same place leaving out, and got to know that i have an appointment time of 1PM. yayy for getting up early. haha

If any of you guys is around here, i'm doing a wehole lot of nothing. I may start polishing my truck though, been planning for a while.

cheers

BND

Chris Buzz.

Let me just say this, I have read your posts and your entitled to your opinion. I will say this, you're misinformed on how TMC collects tarp pay and I don't care what website you got it off of but we don't always charge $80 to tarp. Sorry things didn't work out.

Matt