Sure ..how about is the transflo still going to have a turnaround time that matters to percentage calculation?

Do linehaul drivers spend at least 34 hours home when they're home on the weekends, or is 2 hours through the house to do laundry really considered a "weekend" home?

And last, but certainly not least (for today at least ), why do you guys haul so much COPPER, and why does it seem my husband gets stuck with at least 3 loads of it a month




does your husband currently drive for TMC?

Drivers in Stillwater, OK and anywhere else east of I-35 get home at least 46 out of 52 weekends a year and should be getting close to 48 hours of hometime on those weekends.

A lot of copper comes from new mexico and pays well. A driver hauling copper on % can make bank.

Yes, he does.

He is NOT currently linehaul, is debating it, but has been told from drivers that if you get through the house at all on the weekends, its considered a weekend at home and the 48 hours of hometime doesn't happen very often. He runs longhaul technically right now, with a rather nice agreement with his FM that has him home pretty much as often as possible. Just trying to figure out if linehaul would really be better than that.

If copper pays well, its the loads he's not getting, unless you're calling the equivalent of 35 cents a mile "well". His weeks with copper are almost guaranteed to be his shorter checks.

He is NOT currently linehaul, is debating it, but has been told from drivers that if you get through the house at all on the weekends, its considered a weekend at home and the 48 hours of hometime doesn't happen very often. He runs longhaul technically right now, with a rather nice agreement with his FM that has him home pretty much as often as possible. Just trying to figure out if linehaul would really be better than that.

If copper pays well, its the loads he's not getting, unless you're calling the equivalent of 35 cents a mile "well". His weeks with copper are almost guaranteed to be his shorter checks.[/quote]

Usually drivers make a little more money driving longhaul, but sacrifice that extra weekend home. A driver here should be seeing paychecks between $800 and $1200 weekly if they are getting at least 27%.

Dont know why those weeks with copper arent paying as well as others. You would probably not see as much copper driving linehaul though.

Weekend hometime averages between 44 and 48 hours. not going to say its never happened where a driver didnt get that though.

Does your husband seem happy driving here

Jerod,

I am interested in this also.

We are in the process right now to converting from trip pak to transflo and it is too early to tell how that will work.

Short term, are you going to suspend TripPak turn around times from the Snapshot calculations?

TripPak can be found in almost all areas. Although, there are none around Austin, TX and West New Mexico, there are many other areas. I have been routed to areas where you can't turn in your TripPak for two to three days. If you deliver late on a Friday you might not be able to turn in your TripPak until after that day's pickup and it will sit all weekend. This of course is charged against you, time wise. I'm concerned that there may be even more gaps with the new Transflo system.

I am concerned as a driver how it will affect me. I suppose you are right in that time will tell.

I know he hasn't seen quite as much copper since we moved up here (did live in Wichita Falls, TX).

For the most part he is happy, and so are we. He'd be happier if he could take his current FM into linehaul with him though! LOL. He knows he can't, and thats part of the hesitation. Even longhaul he's spent the last 10 out of 15 or so weekends home, and gotten through once more, but we do see the difference in the money.

I read your response to hubby and he's making me say he said "It's ok to say I don't know" :lol:

I read your response to hubby and he's making me say he said "It's ok to say I don't know" :lol:[/quote]


fair enough :) [/quote]

Well Im done with training.I am going to the terminal in SC to get my truck and what ever else they do when you finish training.I pick up 2 more guys on the way.I just hope they have a plan and get me home at a fair time for turkey day.I had a death in the family last sunday after I had met the trainer for the weeks run.I missed the funeral due to being out so there is no way I am going to miss turkey day with the fam.I told my training cor this so I hope he has a solid plan as it would ruin TMC for me if he did not.

Lets sum-up training shall we.....Its not bad by any means.It can be tough bunkin with another guy in a truck but over all its not bad at all.
Your training will come down to your trainer.If he is an ass or wont wash
your time is going to be very hard.I had several guys in my class that called me every week and had VERY bad trainers.Some asked for another trainer and were told no others were avail.So they quit.Could they have stuck it out?I dont know,what I do know is TMC should have done any thing to help the situation.So the number one thing is the trainer.any thing else you can make work.

Home Time.......Its not as great as they make it sound.I got home the weekends the trainer went home.I would say a 34 hour reset is about what to plan on.

I had 2 trainers in my 6 weeks.I would say if they do not have a trainer for you but offer a temp trainer take it.My first hauled lots of coils and sheets.My second never had a coil on in 5 weeks.Its worth it to see as many diff load types as you can.

Freight is slow now as I did run into lay overs and long waits for loads.It was not every day but it did happen.

Most TMC guys dont have the CB on so dont bother callin out to other drivers on the road.I yelled at every truck I saw and about 10% had the radio on.

What gives?When we went into Tamco and the like there would be several TMC guys around but no one was helping each other chain stuff down.I was planning on getting help from other drivers if I needed it being new but it seems that wont happen.