Marana, Az. That was it. I just looked on the map. It's in between Eloy, and Tucson.

Yeah...thats it :oops: My spelling ability wasn't working very well :?

Well only 18 days and 3 pages to get an answer :lol:

Home Depot Distribution in Norwood MA is the best in their category. They are a typical lumberyard distribution center with your load made up of a variety of random building materials and merchandise. I have visited Lowe's Distribution centers in Westfield MA and Henderson Colorodo, as well as the Menards in Eau Claire Wisconsin, and Home Depot Norwood is the fastest and best organized of any of them. It sometimes takes me less time to get live loaded at Norwood than it does to drop and hook with that mess at Lowe's Westfield. It isn't all that fast loading, but it generally takes just about two hours from entering the yard until I am leaving. I generally wait up to 20 minutes for an open door, and an hour for them to locate and load the merchandise from far corners of the 300 foot long warehouse. I can also have the load at least half straped at the moment they finish, getting several minutes between bundles sometimes. The forklift operators do know what they are doing though in that they never have to re-arrange stuff once it is on the truck. Once they tell me they are done with a stack and I can strap it they don't change their mind. They have a system for doing the work and it works well.

Sometimes I wonder if TMC would just employ me to study how and why some shippers are efficient and why some aren't, and let me try to fix the ones that aren't, but I doubt it.

There is nothing on the planet worse than Westfield. Either the freight is off the side of the truck, too high, generally dangerously loaded, overweight on the drives, and with ripped tarps and bad straps. Often, all of those things are wrong at the same time. It is amazing that they can operate so inefficiently. Alas, it doesn't affect them, it just makes our lives miserable--so why should they care.

Tank..... If you live in southern Cal. You could always call and ask about our Yellowstone Division. They run from Long Beach to Macon, Ga for Boeing. Most of it is oversized but it pays very good. I see alot of the O/O's running across Texas on their trip with big crates. Some as wide as 14'. :shock: If you can handle it give them a call. If you live in that area make sure you specifically ask for that division.

Guy's don't let DS get to you. He earned his nick name driving for Knight. Poor guy get's beat up on the other boards too because of his "fuzzy math". Just a short search for his posts shows the truth. He runs more miles to make the same money we make. He works just as many hours because of the extra miles for the same pay. At least I get a work out and I am in much better shape than I ever was pulling a box around. I've lost 30 pounds since I got into flatbedding. 8) Sure beats having to get a gym membership on top of my driving job to stay in shape. :wink:

If anyone is going to in Joplin this tues-wed come find me and we will have lunch/dinner together. I have to go up there for service and repairs. These cattle paths and corn rows that I drive down to get to some of these rigs caused my truck to fall apart this month. One jeep rated trail that I was on last week took me 2 hours to go 22 miles from the paved road to the drill rig. Man I sure envy you line haulers for getting to drive on paved roads some days. Even the rattle snake that I scared moved faster then I drove.

Terry...did I scare you away from joining us?

If anyone else wants to compare dollars to donuts I average $1041/week and I don't work weekends. I work harder and longer then most...but that's part of my division. Even DSM doesn't want to acknowledge that we exist. :shock: :roll: I love what I do and I really love being home every weekend and spending time with my wife and 4 year old.
Be safe out there.

Keith
91803

No, hard work doesn't bother me. I added up my pay for this past week. It came up to $901.00 I got 5 deliveries in for the first time. Monday's was only for $96.00. While not great, I'm not going to complain about it. I've told my FM what I want to earn and we seem to be getting closer. I deliver this Monday for $340.00 something, so I'm giving them a little more time. We might be able to make this work out yet.

Tank...
 

I'll be interested in what you find out with TMC and hopefully post. I to live in Cali, So-Cal near Riverside. I'm OTR right now and making my way home after being out 8 weeks. 5 1/2 weeks of that being out with a trainer. I have a week coming to me.

As far as me calling TMC. I called them while I was in school back in May. I was put on hold and then the recruiter acted as if I was bothering him. I thanked him and hung up. Maybe it was an after hours recruiter since I was calling around 3 or 4pm. Since then after reading this list and seeing the trucks on the road it has me thinking maybe I should call again..

pb

Hello long time reader first time post! :D

I am looking at 3 company's TMC, Maverick, and Millis, yes I know millis is the odd ball but I am fairly close to the Cartersville terminal and they seem to a pretty good outfit from what I have read. Have a few questions about TMC.

First does TMC train, non-cdl folks, such as myself? I tried finding info on here but no luck.

Also does TMC provide lodging while in orientation?

What would you say the % pay equates to in CPM?

TMC does not train for a CDL but they do have preferred schools that you can attend. Any school will do as long as it has at least 160 hours of instruction. Schooling is paid back and I believe the rate of payback is $100/month while you work for them.

Lodging in Des Moines is at the company hotel at the terminal. It is a nice setup just a short walk from the classroom and training yard. The hotel is clean, has a pool and gym, and you would share the room with one other person, usually another student but could be transient drivers. Any time a driver is at Des Moines they can stay at the hotel for free.

Most drivers opt for the percentage and it varies from starting out at 23% to a very difficult to hold onto 32%. I think the starting CPM is 37 but I'm not sure of that.

If you do get hired by TMC the Des Moines terminal is preferred by most over the SC terminal for orientation.