TMC Exit Review And Update On New Company.

As some of you know, I started with TMC Transportation. I was trying my best to do a good update on the schooling but just was hard to keep up with. My apologies. I worked for TMC for a year. I will say that I am very grateful for the opportunity to work for them because I found my current employer because of a shared customer.

TMC was a good company. They honored what I was told by the recruiter 98% of the time. I was home weekly, generally speaking I was not forced dispatched. They kept me rolling and I had a good relationship with my dispatcher. My first solo month with them was really rocky. My truck was in the shop 4 times in two weeks for the same issue. Ended up making more in breakdown pay than I did with loads. However, my FM got me into another truck and everything went upwards. I did have some issues with them giving me loads that delivered 11-13 hours away for a Monday run that I wasn't pleased with because it did not allow me much time with family or even church. I ran it though because it was my job to. Plus if it got me through the house, then I wasn't going to complain. I did have a few close calls with four wheelers and did have a couple incidents. But overall, I ended up with a good 120k miles. I was near that mileage the last I checked with TMC. Before I quit, I was the top 5 on my FM's board. Which I was proud of. I made decent money and was trying this career out. I will say the only negative things I had with them, was the fact that I was instructed to schedule my wife to be induced with my daughter because it was easier for them to ensure I was home for it. Even kept me within 250 miles of home close to the due date, but also had a load removed from me because I was trending to do more than 5 loads that week. Is what it is. The other negative thing I have with them was the fact that I sent receipts in for essential items for Oversize loads or replacement parts. I was 4 hours from my truck and they wanted a receipt that I sent them 4 months ago otherwise I was would be charged for the items. That $150 killed my pay especially being off on paternity leave. Other than that, overall I would give them a 4/5. I would go back if I needed to.

Now, while working for them, I was picking up at a customer about 30 mins from my house and made the comment that I wanted to see my wife and daughter but couldn't because of the load. The shipper mentioned their in-house carrier was looking for a driver and to give them a shot. I called them and was told I needed 2yrs min of experience. However, the insurance put me on and I got a job working locally. Well, within a 250 radius. To say the least, I have been here since October and I have learned a lot. Especially truck maintenance, as well as the things TMC never wanted you to mess with unless you was specifically instructed to. This company does not tarp loads and hauls rebar and wire mesh. An occasional steel billet or steel fence posts for filler. It is a small outfit with 5 drivers. The owner, myself, and two other drivers. The fifth is the owner's son who just turned 18 and has his CDL. He stays within the state but he also serves as our mechanic. They do a lot of maintenance themselves or reach other if needed. IF they cannot do it or figure it out, they send the truck to the shop. As of today, I am currently at 54K miles. I make similar to what I did for TMC and earlier this year, before my 6th month with them, they bought me a truck of my choice. Since Marmons are hard to find, I said a w900. All of his vehicles are ELD exempt due to their year. Mine is a 97 and I think the newest truck is a 99. I had my share of oh man moments when I started because I was use to having a governed truck lol. Idk how many times I noticed my speedometer buried. I quickly learned how important cruise control is lol. However, I do help TMC drivers out and give them advice with loads. Some listen some mock me but when I get loaded after them and are leaving the shipper while they are still securing I do chuckle. I will say that they was right when smaller companies do become demanding. I am currently top 3 every week with gross to the truck. Even though I am beat out by the owner and his boy, the other guys have me beat in exp so I take a lot of pride in that. His boy usually runs two loads a day due to his restriction, which is ok, but I still love beating him and the boss lol. I am making the same percent as I did with TMC and at my 1yr mark, they have an incentive for pay depending on how much the truck grosses. IE 3200 pays 30% 4000 pays 35%. Anyways, If you have any questions, feel free and respond and I will do my best to help!