"Destination Excellence" Or Old School's Training Experiences At TMC

Old School,

How are you coming along at TMC?

Dave

Dave, to answer your question, I'm sorry to say that I've got to end this training diary. My time at TMC has come to an unexpected end. My recruiter called yesterday to say that someone in management will not approve my return visit. I think the recruiter was more exasperated than I, but that's trucking sometimes - there are so many layers of management at some of these companies that it's often hard for the grunts to really know what the heads are wanting them to focus on and accomplish. Am I bummed out? Oh definitely! Am I feeling cheated and resorting to posting disparaging reports on the web about how this company cheated me and ruined my life? NO! They did no such thing, they simply made a decision that didn't include me in their future, that's it. I got thrown off my steel horse, but I'll get on another and ride again. I'm already pursuing another pre-hire. (now you see why those things are important)

A professional driver is no stranger to adversity, in fact, much of the time it's his constant companion. He does what has to be done without being urged or supervised. He's got a rugged independence about him that keeps him moving against all odds. He doesn't need that occasional pat on the back, the pins in his hat, or the patches on his jacket for a reward. The pure satisfaction of knowing he got the job done when others couldn't cut the mustard is worth more to him than fifteen plaques on the wall. Knowing he did his job safely and on time while dealing with treacherous weather, ludicrous four wheelers, clueless dispatchers, relentless regulations, and agonizingly slow delays due to unexpected dangers on the road is his solace at night when he lays his head down alone in his cramped sleeping quarters.

Satisfaction, for the professional driver, is his purple heart badge that he wears proudly, not on his jacket for all the world to see, but deep in his soul it pulsates and animates his remarkably independent persona. He's an independent soul, known well by very few, and understood by even less. He pushes on with cautious optimism knowing he's providing a great service to people he will never meet, providing goods to people who will never think twice about thanking him, and doing all this, at times, in perilously dangerous situations. He presses on because he's a professional, and the need for his skills and talents propels him all across this vast and prosperous land.

Oh, I'm sorry, I think I just got carried away. I need to take a deep breath and slow down this intractable flow of prose that's coming out of me. Okay, I'm better now. I just want all of you to know I will still be around for help, advice, and maybe a little entertainment every now and then. I'll keep you apprised of my situation, and look forward to hearing about your experiences.

Sorry to hear that. Don't worry. There is a company out there...FOR YOU. If I can get hired on...AND NOT FIRED...YET AGAIN. Then you should have no problem getting hired.

I jokingly tell people. "Keep it it all inside. Let it simmer...DEEP DOWN INSIDE." I tell people it keeps me warm at night.

Dave

Sorry for the "news" OldSchool... but hey, it is and will TMC's loss...

I know you will find the company that will work out for you. People with your kind of "character" will always come out the better.

God bless and keep you.

Oh man after all that??? Geeeeeeeez.

Well fortunately you're the type that will toss this aside and move forward like it never happened and continue on with your career. Thank God you have the character to see this through!!!

I really don't what to say, which is rare. But as much as I hate to see you having to push through the troubles you've had the past few months, I'm more relieved than anything to know you're the last person anyone has to worry about quitting or getting down about it.

Throw a pillow at the wall, scream "darn it!!!" at the top of your lungs one time, and call the next company. That's about all you can do, ya know?

I've faced my share of adversity in my life like anyone else and I can tell you without a doubt that "forget about it like it never happened and move forward without looking back" is the best approach I've found. I'm confident you'll do the same.

Thanks guys! Hey Brett it looks like, if everything works out right, I'll be taking a job up closer to your neck of the woods than mine. I'm getting on the bus Saturday morning to go to PGT trucking in Monaca PA. I'll be pulling a flat-bed after orientation and training. I'm really looking forward to this, as it's taken a little bit long of a time for me to get everything started due to the various delays I've been through. This company does all types of flat bed work, but they are pretty heavily involved with the steel mills. Like most flat-bed jobs, there is more work and risk, but it seems like a really great opportunity with a sound company that has a strong freight base. The money is good, and so far I'm impressed with the people I've been in contact with.

I don't know that I would recommend most people to start out in flat-bedding, but it suits me well. I will do my best to keep y'all posted on how things are developing for me. They basically spend the first week on load securement training, then put you in a truck with a trainer for four weeks where you'll be developing your driving and load securement skills and learning the company procedures for turning in your paperwork and things like that. Then you go back to Monaca to test out before getting assigned your truck.

CONGRATS! Old School!! Good for you! I look forward to your "updates" on your new chapter in life. God bless and be safe!

Hey that's awesome news!!! I guess you'll have to start a new topic for your new company, eh?

I will - there's not a lot of information floating around about this company, but I'm gonna share my experiences here with y'all in the hope that it might be helpful to others that are just getting started on their "professional driving journey".

Can't wait to follow along. You have handled everything really well and I think that's awesome.