Should I stay with Schneider or head to TMC
Posted by bigdawg12342@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 23 comments
I’m a newer driver I’m with Schneider now only making .44 cpm which I knew I had to start somewhere but I’m only getting like 1500-1700 miles a week . I’m on their Walmart account so it’s honestly cake, huge docking areas, after I pull in I just get someone to unload the truck and peel out. I wanted to try flatbed and was told that TMC had some pretty respectable training(but I also heard that about Schneider when I got my cdl through them and it was terrible) TMC is offering 26% percentage pay. I know I could just switch accounts for Schneider but tmcs clean truck policy is kinda making me want to go there. Schneiders trucks unless it’s an assigned one are filthy. Piss residue on the sleeper curtains/fridge door toenail clippings on the bed(atleast 4 different people worth) I could go on and on about the nasty condition people leave these trucks in. Is this a grass isn’t always greener on the other side situation ? I hate to start over AGAIN but Schneider isn’t really filling my piggy bank like they claimed they would. If I was getting the miles they promised I could look past it for atleast my first year but this just isn’t worth what they’re paying
BrattySubSam@reddit
TMC requires its flatbed drivers to be able to lift both kinds of tarps. They’ll have you move the 90lb tarp up and onto a flatbed, jump onto the side of the flatbed from the ground without a ladder or any help, move the tarp over a steel coil, and move the tarp back to the starting area. You’ll also have to climb a 13’ ladder and balance on either leg
If you can’t do this, they won’t move you forward in their recruiting process
bigdawg12342@reddit (OP)
Yea they sent me a bunch of expectation videos I know what youre talking about with their little boot camp. Nothing looked that hard honestly
PraiseTalos66012@reddit
Few things with TMC, I haven't worked there but was going to and did a ton of research and read just about every forum and reddit post about them.
First 26% is only the starting and it's only for their low demand states, most drivers start at 30%(they have a map of it on their website).
Second it's only 26/30% to start, it's really easy to get 32% if your not joyriding and not a slob who can't clean his truck interior once every 3-6mo when it needs maintenance/inspection.
Third they are "strict", lot of people compare them to the military(I'm military and this is kinda funny, it's def nowhere near as strict), but if you can follow directions and are a hard worker you won't have an issue at all.
Fourth they have a good profit sharing/company stock ownership plan that can add upwards of 10% to your pay in the form of company stock, vesting is 20% per year iirc but not the first year.
Fifth don't walk on the grass at the terminal.
Overall anyone who's in decent shape and not afraid of working TMC is going to be just about the best mega to work for. Ofc it still depends on your dispatcher/management you get just like everywhere but they are overall much better.
boots3478@reddit
Theres also a few other things that can cause them to send you home during the orientation process. In my orientation group there were about 18 people. By the time orientation was over there were only like 7 of us left lol.
firemarshalbill316@reddit
All of this is 100% correct. Gone same day.
And rolling a tarp back up in the summertime is like working in hell with no pay. And you have to do it twice cause you have two tarps per load usually. After a while you'll get it though.
LongjumpingCat6642@reddit
Better than frozen in the winter lol
LongjumpingCat6642@reddit
Note, most customers know our lumber tarps are heavy and will move them with a forklift for you. But yes, you need to be able to do it. There is a correct way which makes it way easier
ShoebillJoe@reddit
Check out Melton. As I understand it TMC is practically run like the military. Seems like a pain to me. Melton will leave you almost completely alone as long as you're not messing up. mileage pay starting at 52 cpm but it goes up fast and they also just announced a company wide driver raise soon. You also get $100 tarp pay (highest in industry) stop, detention, layover, breakdown etc. most weeks you get two 600+ mile loads during the week and then a 1000+ mile weekend load. Training is a week? for securement and three with a trainer in the truck.
truckingham@reddit
Yeah if you don’t care about being home Saturdays (because that’s what it is, NOT weekends), I would go with Melton
sixeight@reddit
You talking about regional for TMC?
SexyWampa@reddit
I second Melton.
LongjumpingCat6642@reddit
TMC starts at 26%, you should be making 30-33% after 1-2 months
I don’t get loads paying less than (effectively) .65cpm my take home for this week is $1775. The trucks are clean and well specced. 65MPH isn’t the worst, but it isn’t cool. No inward facing cameras
Gonzotrucker1@reddit
Keep one turd or trade it for another turd that is the question.
LASTOBS@reddit
Why not just go to a different account?
bigdawg12342@reddit (OP)
I thought about that but I’ve seen a few other Schneider trucks hauling tankers,intermodal and flatbed and every single truck looks clapped out. So in terms of the truck condition/cleanliness I feel like that wouldn’t change much regardless of which account I’m on. But I have seen several TMC trucks on the road and they ALWAYS look pristine
BrattySubSam@reddit
Try to get Schneider PODS flatbed account. It’s easy as hell, no tarping, only strapping. Pays .54cpm. I averaged 1k after deductions a week
Pocket_Biscuits@reddit
To bad that account isnt around here. Im on honda, which is stupid easy. Huge yards. Actually feel im missing out on experience with this account because of how easy it is lol. But home daily 50 hours every week and off whenever honda is, like memorial day. They just switched it to cpm pay but I should gross around $1300. Was grossing $1150 on hourly.
Fishdude909@reddit
I started at .58 cents a mile and $60 a load, 2-4 loads a night and 2000 miles a week, also sitting around on-duty lay(thanks California)there’s better accounts out there.
Cobramelt_@reddit
I make 76¢ doing OTR teams it’s not for everybody but my pay is great
ju5tjame5@reddit
TMC is definitely a much more respectable company than Schneider. But if you have have 6-12 months of experience, you could probably do better than TMC. It may not be worth it to hop companies too much.
bigdawg12342@reddit (OP)
Sadly I only have 2 months and some change for experience
ju5tjame5@reddit
It's probably worth it to hop to TMC then.
chocolate_asshole@reddit
if you wanna do flatbed just go to tmc and get the experience now, percent pay there can smoke .44 if you run. cleaning up piss trucks for low miles sucks everywhere though