Thanks for the info and now I see why you may be anti-TMC. You are non-hireable in their eyes and that probably burns your butt. (Whether you deny it or not, it would pi$$ me off too). Not saying you're a bad guy, in fact you seem downright humerous and fun loving and I'd probably be able to hang out and have a few beers with you. But PLEASE leave us cheerleaders alone since you couldn't even make the CHEER LEADING SQUAD let alone the driver's-crew with your record. ("Phantom" preventable accident or not.)

My first choice in driving would be VAN not flat Bed , But my Driving record isn't keeping me from TMC ,As I have no tickets on my DMR for the past 3 years And only 2 minor speeding tickets on my 7yr...The 2 preventables are now anywhere from 1yr to over 1.5 yrs old ,and were parking lot incidents NOT DOT ,and the one that happened was only $100.00 in damage ...so I'd be willing to bet my Record is on the same level as many of the drivers running at TMC ...Now what is keeping me from working at TMC is the termination ...However I only put in at TMC , because I was told by Crete , And CFI that i would need 6 months with new employer then they would hire me , So I put in at TMC just to keep all options open , But had no intentions on staying there more than 6 months , and going to CFI or CRETE as planned before my termination . Now my posts in this thread were nothing more than thinking some of the policy at TMC are rather silly , And that a few posting seem to have vested interest for Cheerleading the company... like a recruiter ,Or a driver that recruits both of which will paint the company in the most positive light possible side stepping any negative ...For example you have guys posting here from TMC about customers that are always shipping overweight loads , And the driver knowing he is over gross then cutting around DOT scale houses to run the illegal load ...Now this might appeal to some ,But I see it as a gamble that could cost me fines/tickets ,Which is hardly a plus , But the content of these posts dictate TMC is on board with it has knowledge of it , And expects it . Now these are the things I pick apart in posts when people post them ,but up talk the company like it the best thing since sliced bread ,and pre-mixed peanutbutter/Jelly ....So don't take my bantar personally , As I have no grudge specifically with TMC ,And would pick apart any thread that peaks my interest for the same reasons this one did....However I'm currently schedueled to attend orientation for Gainey in KS City KS on the 7th of JAN the pay is actually only a couple cents less than if I went to CFI ,And they run some T-600's in their fleet so it's a possibilty I could get another T-600 ,which is my truck of choice , And if Gainey will let me run hard ,and get 2500-3000+ miles a week I will not leave them after 6 months to go anywhere ...In the future I will CMA much better where dispatcher are concerned rather than letting them put whatever they want in my file without protest , And then having it used later on to their advantage when feathers are ruffled. :arrow: :wink:

"...For example you have guys posting here from TMC about customers that are always shipping overweight loads , And the driver knowing he is over gross then cutting around DOT scale houses to run the illegal load ...Now this might appeal to some ,But I see it as a gamble that could cost me fines/tickets ,Which is hardly a plus , But the content of these posts dictate TMC is on board with it has knowledge of it , And expects it ."

It ,too, is a concern of mine. I don't like to do it and I give safety a hard time every time it happens. I even turn off my phone and make them send instructions over the qualcomm. In defense of TMC, this is an agreement with these shippers and TMC. Only Texas dedicated are supposed to be running these overweight loads. Those drivers, more specifically, their trucks are supposed to have the Texas Overweight Permits making it legal for them. Occasionally a Line Haul or Long Haul driver might be assigned one of these loads, either to get the driver home, there are no dedicated drivers in the area or this is the only place that has a load available for the driver. When I say routing around a permanent weigh station I mean I will select an alternate route that does not take me close to the weigh station. I don't go up to the weigh station and try to sneak around. This is one of TMC's faults that I would like to see addressed. This is not a moving violation and evidently TMC finds it better to pay the occasional fine than paying for permits.

Well I guess if TMC pays the fines it's ok being that Texas doesn't put it on you CDL ...try that in California :shock: being 1k over isn't much of a safety issue just a monetary issue if you get fined .

I rember sitting at the PILOT off ex 188 in hermiston Oregon in DEC 2005 , And getting a message to go 6 miles over to the SpaceAge truck stop to get a load from a driver out of hours...1 there was an ice storm ...2.I'm bobtail...And 3. I don't have chains ,and the law was up so getting caught without them is a $1600.00 dollar fine in both Or and WA ...well the load was going to Puyallup WA , and my FM insisted I just try running without them , And hope for the best ...Yeah right like Werner is going to pay a $1600.00 fine ... At Werner we don't carry chains we pick them up at chain banks well I didn't come by a chain bank , And wasn't near one , So they issued an EFS check for $300.00 for me to buy them at the PILOT ( 3 sets ) just enough to be in the spirit of the law :lol: ...Then I turned the receipts in ,and yet they still took 300 dollars out of my pay ...To date I have never got that $300.00 back despite turning in the receipts 5 times and making many phone calls per the company handbook ,and then after 4 months eventually just losing interest .

"Now my posts in this thread were nothing more than thinking some of the policy at TMC are rather silly , And that a few posting seem to have vested interest for Cheerleading the company... like a recruiter ,Or a driver that recruits both of which will paint the company in the most positive light possible side stepping any negative"

Silly or not TMC's policies are TMC's perogative. If you don't agree with them don't work for TMC. You are always free to start your own business and have every employee or potential employee sharpshooting your policies.

I guess you have never worked for a company you believe in. I have no vested interest in cheerleading for TMC other than I think TMC has more positive attributes than negative. If my "cheerleading" attracts quality drivers to TMC more power to Me, the driver and TMC. I have never asked for a referal online and only one driver has listed me as a referal. I did not ask him too. I actually don't see anything wrong with that practice. If I, or any other driver, help someone, why not get a referal. TMC and most other companies have a budget for this, if not used it goes unused or goes back into the Race Car Fund. :D I do see TMC in a primarily positive light, I do not side step any negative aspect of TMC. I will discuss it rationally, I won't rag on TMC though. Through out life, especially while in the military, I have found if you make best of your situation you will do so much better than being miserable.

nope never worked for a company I beleived in as far as their ethics or honesty towrds it's employees , But I do agree with being as positive about a situation as you can sometimes the most positive thing you can at an employer is leave if you have that option .

[quote="terrylamar"]"...For example you have guys posting here from TMC about customers that are always shipping overweight loads , And the driver knowing he is over gross then cutting around DOT scale houses to run the illegal load ...Now this might appeal to some ,But I see it as a gamble that could cost me fines/tickets ,Which is hardly a plus , But the content of these posts dictate TMC is on board with it has knowledge of it , And expects it ."

Like Terry stated, only occasionally does a non-Texas dedicated driver get the overweight loads. My truck, though I was Long Haul, was permitted, paid by myself, to run the extra weight on the load restricted roads, due to where I lived, and the fact that I preferred to have my truck sitting at the house, then at a truck stop.

I am not currently driving for TMC but do have the option to return at whatever time I am ready. And once a few things are settled around the house, will more than likely go back with them. I enjoyed my time with them, and the friendships I made while with them.

Flatbedding is not for everyone, especially this time of year. Also, in defense of TMC and the heavy sheetrock loads, every carrier that hauls in-state loads out of Sweetwater or Rotan, have the same issue. If a non-dedicated driver wants to get home for the weekend, and that is the area you are in, they can almost always get you a load going to or thru your home town.

TMC's policies are their's, and for myself, are very good policies. I just wish the recruiters would do a better job explaining them before some of these non-conforming people get to DM. But again, that is not just a fault at TMC, all the major carriers give the sweet, but leave the sour until they have ya hooked.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all! Louis

Same to you and your family. It seems like just a month ago since I saw you in Sweetwater. Hopefully you will get your stuff settled and return soon. Hey..just look at it this way...you don't have to drive thru the ice and snow like say...Fred.

Cheerleading aside. I found something much better than a job. I found friends. That's the real advantage to working for a great company on a dedicated contract.

Merry Christmas to all my fellow TMC drivers, and a happy new year as well.