Welcome, Tyler. Yes, the first few days can load your brain down a bit. But remember, the classroom stuff you get this week is mostly the things & regulations truckers live with every day. It'll all come around eventually.
Those little things like the hats are there because TMC drivers represent a professional company. And the best way is to get you started on Day One.
Keep your updates coming!
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Good Evening everyone, I'm Tyler. I am a CLP holder training to get my license at TMC. I am going to try my best to give a day by day diary on this thread. I also plan to upload a weekly summary to my YouTube page. I'll link my channel once that video goes live. feel free to comment any question or pointers or I have my social linked on my profile. Feel free to shoot me a message. Hope y'all enjoy!
1/22/24
So, today was my first day training at TMC in Columbia, South Carolina. Their facility was way nicer than expected. Very clean all around. They have a very clean four bay garage that houses three trailers that they use to train load securement with. The garage is heated and cooled. Very nice and clean break rooms. The provide lunch today was a Philly sandwich and potato wedges, pretty tasty. The lunches are provided by TMC and are from a local joint. Today was mostly paperwork, took another DOT physical, and they made sure we could lift the tarps and climb on top of a loaded trailer for securing. Personally, climbing the ladder and lifting the tarps in front of twenty other guys is a little intimidating. Everyone did fine though. I am both surprised and impressed with how TMC conducts business. They are very strict on most policies. Not hats in the building. No backwards hats when representing the company. They have random inspections of our hotel rooms that they've put us in. Along with everything I've been told will be expected of me when I get into my own truck. One gripe I do have. I was told breakfast was provided at the hotel. It is... but at a price. Granted it's only four dollars but I had not planned on having to pay for breakfast. There was so much information given out today that my head hurts. All in all, it was a great day and I look forward to tomorrow!
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
DWI:
Driving While Intoxicated
CLP:
Commercial Learner's Permit
Before getting their CDL, commercial drivers will receive their commercial learner's permit (CLP) upon passing the written portion of the CDL exam. They will not have to retake the written exam to get their CDL.