STAY AWAY FROM XXXX

Interesting...

Hire a good accountant Brandon. Remeber the six figures of revenue must first cover all of your expenses, a set-aside account for maintenance and after all that, you pay yourself. Figure out very quickly if it's best to incorporate.

How is your truck registered? Might want to check if you need to change it. You are commercial now. And like Brett suggested, your insurance needs are very different when your vehicle becomes a revenue generating vehicle.

Assuming your runs are longer, how do you plan to take sleep breaks? You cannot just sleep in your truck, unless it has a sleeper bunk...I'd research several different options here.

What about the trailer? Do you need to provide that, or will you be using one provided by the company you are contracted with. Either way there is likely some cost associated with it.

This is a different game now. I know there a couple of folks in here who have run hotshot gigs like this... Hopefully they will chime-in with some useful information for you.

Andhe78 laments...

My trainer made me answer every question with a yes or no “sir”and never called me by my actual name-this has scarred me for life and really ruined flat bedding for me.

Somebody, please get me a tissue...

He made you do this? NO, you chose to comply with his wishes. Dude I am embarrassed for you...

Unless you are kidding, very thinned skinned. Trucking is an incredibly competitive and "tough" business. If that's all it takes to "scare you for life",...you are going to have a very, very difficult time with any form of trucking.

Andhe78 laments...

My trainer made me answer every question with a yes or no “sir”and never called me by my actual name-this has scarred me for life and really ruined flat bedding for me.

Somebody, please get me a tissue...

He made you do this? NO, you chose to comply with his wishes. Dude I am embarrassed for you...

Unless you are kidding, very thinned skinned. Trucking is an incredibly competitive and "tough" business. If that's all it takes to "scare you for life",...you are going to have a very, very difficult time with any form of trucking.

Of coure I’m kidding. It was five weeks, I can put up with almost anything for five weeks. Nothing my trainer did was a big deal because I knew it wasn’t for forever. Trying to use sarcasm to show what I think about the OP. Here’s what I really think, feel free to delete if too harsh.

I’m not like the rest of the respondents on this thread, I think the OP couldn’t hack it and is taking his petty angst public hoping to do a tiny bit of damage against a company that hurt his precious snowflake feelings. I think he’s pathetic and am glad he’s not trucking, don’t need him in the industry.

Andhe78 laments...

My trainer made me answer every question with a yes or no “sir”and never called me by my actual name-this has scarred me for life and really ruined flat bedding for me.

Somebody, please get me a tissue...

He made you do this? NO, you chose to comply with his wishes. Dude I am embarrassed for you...

Unless you are kidding, very thinned skinned. Trucking is an incredibly competitive and "tough" business. If that's all it takes to "scare you for life",...you are going to have a very, very difficult time with any form of trucking.

Of coure I’m kidding. It was five weeks, I can put up with almost anything for five weeks. Nothing my trainer did was a big deal because I knew it wasn’t for forever. Trying to use sarcasm to show what I think about the OP. Here’s what I really think, feel free to delete if too harsh.

I’m not like the rest of the respondents on this thread, I think the OP couldn’t hack it and is taking his petty angst public hoping to do a tiny bit of damage against a company that hurt his precious snowflake feelings. I think he’s pathetic and am glad he’s not trucking, don’t need him in the industry.

Okay andhe78, sort of...

There comes a point in time when you need to communicate any boundary crossed by your trainer. Although you are a guest on their truck, technically they are not your boss. I agree to give them the benefit of the doubt, but you must "stand on your own two feet"...

Requesting someone to call me sir is unnecessary and egotistical. However if your trainer requests that, use common sense and consider the bigger picture. Which it sounds like you did. My words to you apply to everyone though...you cannot let the small stuff bother or distract you.

As far as the OP, the first time someone called me BOY (I am as white as it gets), I'd stop them dead in their tracks and politely but firmly request they address me by my first name. And yes, it has happened to me more than once because I am definitely a "Yankee".

I worked in the Deep South early in my previous career, in my early 20's. Prejudice isn't always about color..."y'all ain't from around here are yah Boy?" That's what a white, local-yokel LEO said to me when he stopped me while I was out running (jogging) in the early morning before work. I sort of get how that feels...

There are two sides to every story, and I think as is usually the case, with this one the truth lies somewhere in the middle. I am not condoning racial slurs of any kind. Just saying that the OP is only telling his side of the story, and openly displayed his own level of racially motivated prejudice by the way he described his trainer.

No company the likes of TMC will tolerate racial harassment. However the presence of that type of thing must be quickly identified and communicated the first time it occurs. Read all your paperwork, somewhere you will find the companies policy on racial and sexual harassment.

I always maintain two basic thoughts to training:

- Own it, it's yours

And

- Be your own advocate

Don't let things just happen and allow it to continue. Be professional and learn to effectively communicate, both proactively and reactively.

Take ownership of the training process.

G-Town: I definitely can relate to your experience. In 1994, I moved from Ohio to the mountains of Western North Carolina. On occasion, I was on the receiving end of "Yankee" and other rude comments, and these were from the fine, older Southern ladies! When I replied that I was from Ohio or the Midwest, they would counter with "who'd y'all fight for during the (Civil) war?" I'm speaking of the type of attitudes seen in movies such as Deliverance and In The Heat of The Night . I can only say it could have been worse; I could have been from New York and the other NE States. The locals really hated people from "them parts", especially if they had permanently relocated to their "fine" community. Local law enforcement was similar to the Buford T. Justice character in Smokey and The Bandit. Thankfully, I wore my hair short, or I would have been mistaken for one of those "long-haired hippies." Ironically, by the time I returned to Ohio 15 years later, it seemed as though half the area's population were transplants from New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and other States. Attitudes towards "Yankees" changed radically during those years, but it is still present.

And yes, it has happened to me more than once because I am definitely a "Yankee".

I worked in the Deep South early in my previous career, in my early 20's. Prejudice isn't always about color..."y'all ain't from around here are yah Boy?" That's what a white, local-yokel LEO said to me when he stopped me while I was out running (jogging) in the early morning before work. I sort of get how that feels..

On occasion, I was on the receiving end of "Yankee" and other rude comments, and these were from the fine, older Southern ladies! When I replied that I was from Ohio or the Midwest, they would counter with "who'd y'all fight for during the (Civil) war?" I'm speaking of the type of attitudes seen in movies such as Deliverance and In The Heat of The Night . I can only say it could have been worse; I could have been from New York and the other NE States. The locals really hated people from "them parts", especially if they had permanently relocated to their "fine" community. Local law enforcement was similar to the Buford T. Justice character in Smokey and The Bandit. Thankfully, I wore my hair short, or I would have been mistaken for one of those "long-haired hippies." Ironically, by the time I returned to Ohio 15 years later, it seemed as though half the area's population were transplants from New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and other States. Attitudes towards "Yankees" changed radically during those years, but it is still present.

He's not joking, folks! It doesn't compare to experiencing discrimination due to skin color or gender, but the first time you come across something like this or similar, it is definitely an eye-opener. And something akin to a journey through a time-machine.

I've been through some fine Southern towns and locations, all very modern and very awesome. Hospitality can be first-rate, I mean some folks down south will treat ya like royalty (even if they don't like you!) But when my brother was a commerical diver down in Louisiana, HOLY SMOKES! I personally never experienced anything that made me feel uncomfortable or unwelcome down south, but sometimes you will see things that are comically right out of an old movie. True story!

Hey Diver, tonight I was just telling my brother about your name and avatar here on the site and he was wondering if he might know ya... His name is Jesse and he used to dive with Bisso down in N'Orleans. Ring any bells...?

I know a couple divers by the name Jesse, but they didn't work for Bisso. (When I worked with them anyway.) (I hear they might have a good pipe lay job coming up over at Bisso)

I know a couple divers by the name Jesse, but they didn't work for Bisso. (When I worked with them anyway.) (I hear they might have a good pipe lay job coming up over at Bisso)

Aye, sorry about that. Might as well asked if you knew a guy name Joe, lol.

Not much more I want to post publicly, being an open website and all that. He used to dive with Logan over in Jax, then came over to Bisso for awhile. Now he's mostly doing contract work, currently freezing his ass off up in New England.

Do you think you would learn to be a better driver and flatbed operator if you sat and watched cat videos on YouTube while he did all the work?

I just laughed so hard woke the wife up. Oops. Thanks Brett I needed that.

This bothers me because TMC told me no 3 times. They wouldn't tell me why, but they did. I applied every 6 months for 18 months and the OP just blew off such a great opportunity.

My trainer would frustrate me by calling me "part time dock worker". He later explained to me that I do better when I'm frustrated so he would get under my skin.

As my trainer it's his job to teach me in a way that works for me. If it was hugs then he'd give me hugs, if it was pressure he'd apply and if it was frustration he would frustrate me. He said I was indifferent to him being nice, I wasn't doing well with pressure applied and I was amazing when frustrated.

Quitting was never an option and it never will be. I don't care what you say to me or what you call me. I want this too much and have worked too hard.