Profile For Adam K.

Dear Old School, Thank you for setting me straight on trying to find whether or not a company is good. I have always been a person who strives to prove to a company that I'm a good worker and will always do my best for the company. My fiancee and I have talked and continue to talk about me going to get my CDL and driving for a company. I plan to go get my CDL this October and I have talked with a recruiter from TMC and have decided I will go with them because I want to show them that I can be a great driver for them and that I have what it takes to drive for them. I will continue to look through the articles here on Trucking Truth and appriecate yours and others feel back and advice. Thanks Adam

Adam, don't let yourself get all distressed over this conflict of whether a company is "good or bad". This really is a false premise that has been kept alive by a bunch of malcontent cry babies in our industry. Trucking is such a radical change of lifestyle for most folks when they first get started that it hits them from the blind-side without them even being properly prepared for what they are getting themselves into. Then when they fail they start posting all this garbage on-line about how this or that company treated them wrong and no one should ever go to work for those guys because they just don't care about their employees.

I'm a flat-bedder that started my career at Western Express. If you've been researching on-line for flat-bed companies that hire newbies then I'm sure you've come across some reviews on those guys. I would be willing to bet that you have never seen anything positive unless I posted it! Most of these companies that take on the risks associated with training rookie drivers are going to get slammed unjustifiably on their reviews simply because they have a bunch of losers that they gave a chance to and then those same folks who blew their one shot at getting into a decent career turn around and bite the hand that was trying to feed them!

There's a lot of opportunity out there flat-bed driving. TMC is just one of the many great options available to you. If you like what they have to offer, then go for it and get in there and show them that you have got what it takes to be a great driver for them. But, please don't let yourself get all stressed out over whether they are a good company or not. Any of these trucking companies who are being unfairly slammed on-line have also got a great core group of drivers on their team that are out there busting their tails "getting er done" day in and day out. It has nothing to do with whether the company is good or bad - it has everything to do with whether the driver understands what he is up against on a daily basis, and has the fortitude to get out there and make something positive happen in his favor.

People who are new to this career always think that the company has to prove itself to them, but that is 180 degrees out of phase. The burden of proof is always on the new driver. The reason I put it that way is because all these big carriers have a wall of photos of their best drivers who have put in millions of miles of safe productive driving for the company. That should be enough for anyone to realize that the opportunity is there for the taking.

Oh hey, I got so carried away with wanting to help you get focused in a new direction that I forgot to say Welcome to Trucking Truth. I'm glad you're here. If you'd like some great information to peruse that just might help you understand this whole new career choice you are making then take a look at our Truck Driver's Career Guide. If you will follow all the links you come across in that thing you will just about have a masters degree in truck driving.

Welcome aboard, and feel free to jump in here with as many questions as you like. We are happy to put your mind at ease about any concerns you may have, or we will be glad to just answer all the questions that are nagging you.

I have looked into TMC Transportation and from there website they look like a good company. I like that they do simulator training as well as training in there own yard and facility. Also they make sure you are comfortable before going on the road with your own. I'm 5'3 and would like any information anyone can share. Thanks