Question:
anyone have any info on KTL or TMC as being a good or bad company to work for. Thinking of going with flats and they seem to be the premier carrier. As far as trucks on the road.

Answer:
I used to work for TMC, sinse then they have gone from percentage based pay to milage pay, which can have it's good sides and bad. In the end though, I suppose it all averages to be the same.
About the company, I really never had too much trouble with them, I was usually home every weekend unless I chose otherwise, if I wanted the miles they would easily give them to me, I mainly operated in the midwest by choice just cause it was easier to get home every weekend that way, but if you really want you can run out East more and get more miles but your home time won't be as nice. Living in Texas I can't be sure what home time would be like anyway, but I live in Nebraska so home time was never a problem.
One of the greatest things I liked about TMC was their training. They are second to none when it comes to training you how to properly secure and operate a flatbed. They strive on safety and won't accept anything less, this is why they take a lot of time and effort to train their drivers thoroughly. They want only the safest drivers operating their equpitment.
You can also find a lot of usefull information on their website, in contains information on things such as the new pay scale, they're training process, all of that. You can find the website here... http://www.tmctrans.com or go to http://www.annettholdings.com This is the main site for all the sister companies as well
If you want you can also email me at steveo@midlands.net if you have anything else you'd like to ask me. You can also search the forums here at trucknet, their is a lot of info in past posts as well.
Have a good one and I wish you well in your choice.

Answer:
I am pretty sure I am going with TMC. I haven't seen any bad remarks about them except from someone saying they got paid at a diferrent time than when they thought they would get paid(or something like that lol)
I saw a TMC truck the other day and he had a tall load that covered the bed evenly from front to back from one end to the other from front to back and side to side and I wondered how he got the tarp to cover it. My idea was that he threw ropes over the load and drug the tarp....?
I also would like to know how you fold a frozen tarp?
Oh yes and how much money can I expect to make the first year at TMC(trainee)?
Where does TMC let you park on your weekend off?
Charles
[This message was edited by Charlesx on October 21, 2002 at 16:14.]

Answer:
My husband started out flatbedding with TMC. And I'll second Huskerman's word on the best training.
hubby doesn't drive for them now, made a big mistake, learnt a valuable lesson (and a very tough one b/c they fired him), but he now is doing quite well as an o/o leased on with Deaton.
A few months ago, he had to stop in Birmingham (Deaton's main hub) and one of the safety guys inspected his load to make sure he was securing properly and to talk and see if there are any concerns he had with the co. etc.
The guy looked at the load and was really impressed. He said, "Please tell me I trained you to secure this way."
Russell (my husband) had to be honest, and said, "no, I learned that from the best there is, TMC." The safety guy said that he wished all the drivers did so well at securement.
Needless to say, it is hubby's pet peeve.......when he sees a driver leave a shipper with one strap on a coil of steel.
If you're starting out in flatbed, my hubby and I would recommend starting with TMC because of their training.......and hey, you may like them a lot and stay. We would have. BUT he's with a good company now........the trucks just aren't as pretty.
Good luck and be safe.
Kris

Answer:
Kris,
Thanks for the info.
But, what big mistake did he make so we won't make the same one? lol
Charles

Answer:
Charles
Wellllllllllll just remember NEVER drive tired.
As a newer, inexperienced driver, in my huband's case anyway, and I'm sure this could hold true for most if not all new drivers, he pushed himself too hard (he's a perfectionist) after a long day anyway. With plans to stop in Lodi (off I 71 in Ohio -- and 2 hours from home) to sleep. He was on 271 Westbound and drifted off to sleep. NOT like close your eyes and sleep for miles, it was very quick.
In that realization, he jerked when he saw he was headed for the concrete divider between west bound and east bound, overcorrected and by then it was too late. He tried to pull out of it.......another mistake, and ended up putting his truck over on it's passenger side.
IT was an awful awful thing. He had some muscle strain in his back. HAD HIS SEATBELT ON!!!! and never drives without it on.
But that beautiful truck was a mess.
So, he made his big mistake early on. He's a great driver. But the biggest lesson he learnt is not to ever drive tired.
His load stayed totally on the trailer! in fact the trailer had gouges in it from the straps. But it was not deliverable. So not only did he total a truck and trailer but also the load.
My brother, who has driven for a lot of years, says that you can fall asleep and your eyes still be open. I believe him now. And it took a long time for us to realize that he actually DID fall asleep. The way I realized it is that my husband NEVER in situations that I am experienced in seeing him in, he never jerks the wheel. But you know how you fall asleep and will sometimes jerk? There ya go.
Don't learn the hard way. That's the only reason I share this.
(aren't ya glad you asked? )
Kris

Answer:
If you live in the service area that Riechmann Transport opperates, they'll take you on. Check out their web site at www.riechmanntransport.com. Good company with top pay from what I've heard.

Answer:
Thanks for sharing that with us kris. Was TMC pushing your husband to hard or was he pushing himself too hard? Was he driving with the HOS? If not, Were they letting him drive over the HOS or were the coercing him to?
This is very important because I drove a straight truck for a company the did everything they could to coerce me into driving over the HOS and it got very old having to tell them HELL no all the time and then getting stuck out in the boonies.
But even driving within the HOS nodding off is very common with just the monotony of driving and jerking awake happens all the time and it is very scary. Drivers are very lucky when they don't have the disastorous consequences you hubby did and many times they do. I saw a truck that had a driver sleeping on side of the road and another truck just plowed into his rear. The driver that did the plowing was probably a victim of nodding off and you can't really tell whether you are asleep or awake when you do nod for a short time.
Charles

Answer:
Very true Charles.
No TMC in no way was pushing my hubby and yes, he was within HOS.
He was however a new driver (within 6 months) and has always been the type to 'go the extra mile'.
Working in a sheet metal shop for many years b4 trucking, he'd put in 70 hours a week.....WELL you can't push yourself like that SAFELY in trucking.
And since TMC worked on a point/percentage system then, he was pushing for the top...just his nature.
He was planning on stopping to sleep, about maybe 5 miles up the road (I'm not sure), at the Lodi exit on 71 in Ohio.
Hopefully this will help someone that reads this. It certainly is not meant to demean my hubby's good sense of judgement and driving skills. I trust him in that area 100%.
Kris

Answer:
I can vouch for TMC never pushing you beyond your limit, I mean there were a few times where I cut a few stops close but I was always on time and it was never because of dispatch giving me unreasonable arrival times. I, like krisb's husband, had a tendancy to push myself a little harder as well just to make more money but was always within HOS regs. It was never TMC, the only reason I cut myself close a couple times was cause of the weather, I would like to add that I absolutely hate FOG and ICE!!
It's very unfortunate what happened with your husband, cause I can also vouch for getting very tired while I was driving a few times, also my own fault, and probably decided to pull over just in the nick of time too. I mean there's only so many times you can shake your head and slap yourself to stay awake. Like I said though, that was only a couple times, but sometimes a couple times is all it takes, and in Krisb's husbands case, although very unfortunate, teaches us all how serious and unaware we are sometimes just how tired one can get out there.
Given the serious nature of the accident your husband was in, I can see how TMC had to let him go, yet the sad thing is, I bet he would have faced the same termination had he given TMC 10 years of his hard work and this had happened. It just seems that that's the way TMC works. They don't want ANY accidents, and there doesn't seem to be any leniency in this area, I mean I know of a guy who got fired from just cutting a left had corner slightly wrong and just nudging a car in the left turning lane across the intersection, no real damage or big claims reported over the deal, yet he was sent home that day.
And no, that wasn't me... I quit TMC cause of a lady friend I met back home. Kind of regret it now cause I couldn't stay off the road anyway, I'm back on the road now hauling feed commodities regional. Good money but still doesn't seem as fun as ol' TMC. I liked riding my skateboard around the midwest!!
It sounds like your hubby is doing pretty well for himself now anyway, so I'm really happy for the both of you. I'd like to buy my own truck some day as well and lease on with a good flatbed company. just need the funds and the right company. It's a good goal though. Anyway, have a safe and good one out there and I'll talk to you all later again I'm sure!!
Keep the wheels turnin'

Answer:
Tarp More Cargo.....
The "drawbacks" about TMC from what I have seen is that virtually every load that can be tarped will be tarped, and when you flatbed the less tarping you have to do the better.
Also the company is very strict on how every thing appears. The load, the tarp, the truck, the driver, etc must all meet or exceed company standards at all times or the driver will run into trouble.
The plus side is that you will learn about load securement and tarping. (Assuming they have not changed this). A new driver would spend several days doing nothing but securing and tarping loads before ever stepping foot inside a truck. After passing the load securement phase then the newbie goes out with a trainer for several weeks.
(Just for sake of info: NEVER DRAG your tarps across your cargo when tarping. Doing so is a great way to end up with ribbons. Instead you get the forklift driver to put the tarps on top of the load for you(while the tarps are still folded and rolled. When untarping be careful when pulling the tarps down. DO it slowly and be alert for any type of snag)
I have a name not a number. I am not cheap but I am resonable.
Answer:
WOW! This is the best TMC and flatbed info that I have read on here. Thanks! I was wondering how they got that 200lbs awkard weight of a tarp on top of some of the highly stack loads. I didn't think of the fork lift driver helping out. I hope all the fork lift drivers are willing to help. I have seen TMC trucks around here and the load seem to be scientifically tied down lol. The problem is I am not the neatest exacting person in the world so I hope their training shapes me up. They better give you plenty of time if what I here is true about it taking close to 2 hours (for new people?) to tarp. I really don't see why the tarping is so important because when it is raining the load will get wet before you tarp.
Charles

Answer:
Where are TMC's Frieght Lanes?, I live on the East Coast and am curious if they run over here.
Ike

Answer:
Same here. do they run East coast? I had called for an application and will get it soon.

Answer:
With cargo like steel, from where i've been you back into facility, they close a door behind you, load you, then you throw your tarp on before you leave.
If at first you don't suceed, get a bigger hammer