TMC or McElroy Flatbed haulers

Grumpy1 · #1 (**permalink**) 12-17-2008, 10:07 PM

I posted this in the Newbie forum but I gues it should have went in here. Has anyone out there heard anything or drove for either TMC or McElroy trucking? I am considering both of these companies and would like to hear from anyone who has worked for these companies or heard anything about them. Both offer the world but we all know how promises go. McElroy promises to have me home every weekend and this part is true, they d not let they're drivers work weekends. TMC says I will be home 46 weekends out of the year which is still very good but I haven't found anything to back this up. I have a family and would like to watch them grow up so being home most of the weekends is important. But making good money is also important, as it is with everyone. Alss TMC offers a pay scale in a percentage. The driver makes a percentage of what the truck makes. Has anyone had experiance in getting paid in this way? How did it work out? They also offer the regular cent per mile pay and I was just wondering which would be more profitable. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

RickyRicardo · #2 (**permalink**) 12-18-2008, 01:48 AM

I have never driven for either company, but based on years of observation, I would say TMC hands down.

The TMC drivers I have spoken with generally seem to have good attitudes about their jobs and take pride in their equipment. They have one of the best looking fleets on the road. Flat bedding is hard work and the nice trucks tend to attract more drivers. Having a larger pool to pick from allows them to be more selective about who they hire. I've heard all the sayings. Chrome don't get you home. That pretty truck don't put any more money in your pocket etc. But in the case of TMC, I think they care about their image and it is reflected in the drivers.

McElroy evolved from a company named Sumter Lumber in Cuba AL(Sumter County). In the early to mid 80s I drove for Builders Transport. My terminal was next door to Sumter Lumber and they were a cut rate outfit at the time. Low pay and lower tier drivers. I don't know when the name change took place or how much the company changed since then. What I do know however is that I have seen several single vehicle rollover crashes with their trucks in the last few years. I have also seen their drivers being rude and inconsiderate in truckstops and on the highway.

I hope that helps you somewhat. Just opinions and observations from an old truckdriver.

RickyRicardo · #3 (**permalink**) 12-18-2008, 02:19 AM

Forgot about the payscale question.
I've only had one job as a company driver that paid on percentage. I was inexperienced and it wasn't exactly a reputable company. We never saw the actual bills and had to take their word on what the loads paid the truck. It seemed a little suspicious that every load paid about the same rate. Sometimes less but rarely more. But I've known guys who did well on percentage. Depends on the company I'm sure. If somebody is out to screw you over, they can do it with mileage just as well.

As far as being given a choice, I just don't know. I've heard of other companies doing that also. I used to think that the company would benefit more with one or the other. But if that was the case, why give you a choice? Are they hoping you will pick the wrong one? It's a circular conundrum. I finally concluded that it probably doesn't matter or they wouldn't give you a choice at all. Make sense to you? Maybe not, but that's my guess.

Grumpy1 · #4 (**permalink**) 12-18-2008, 10:29 PM

Thanks! That helps ease my mind a little because I went with TMC. I had a hard time deciding which company and I have to admit the nice shinny Petes where really getting my attention. The pay, home time, safety and the reputation of the company is my main deciding factors but the equipment is also in there. I mean if I get stuck with a p.o.s truck that is always breaking down that wouldn't help me any. Also having to spend 24 hrs a day for 5 or mare days in a truck would get old very fast if it's ragged out. I still haven't decide on which pay method I will go with. I can see your point about why would they give you a choice if one pays more than the other. The only good reason I can think of is if a driver doesn't dog his truck it will get better fuel mileage and break down less, and if he sticks to his route he will get there on time and burn less fuel. Both of these will make the company more money by costing them less. I'm guessing they figure if they offer you a chance to earn extra money by conserving fuel and such that you will really try and make your runs as efficient as possible. This is just my guess. I might try it if I know I can switch to cents per mile if I decide to later.

Now for McElroy? They claim to be a Christain based company but I realize that doesn't mean all they're drives are. One of the things that was really attracting me to them was the fact that I would be running out of the Ennis Texas terminal and would be staying mainly in Texas. But in the end TMC won over them because I feel I will make a better paycheck and I feel I can really take pride in the Equipment I will be driving.

Hey thanks a lot Ricky

RickyRicardo · #5 (**permalink**) 12-18-2008, 11:00 PM

I was an owner operator for ten years. My last truck was a show quality Pete that was in OVERDRIVE MAGAZINE twice. I used to hang out sometimes at the big truckstop in Walcott IA, mainly because of the chrome shop and truckwash. As you know, that is TMC country, and I met a few of those guys. Always polite and seemed to take pride in their job.

I'm older now and thinking more about home time and health care benefits. Hung up my cowboy boots.LOL

I drive a slow truck and do a somewhat boring job for Averitt Express nowadays. It's OK though. Let me know how it works out.

Grumpy1 · #6 (**permalink**) 12-19-2008, 02:05 AM

I'll keep ya posted on how it goes.

I'm 45 with two kids and that was one of the things that almost made me go with McElroy, being home every weekend. I spent all my life working in the oil field here in East Texas, the last 16 as an electrician in a gas plant. I'm just ready for a change. I see a lot of TMC trucks running through our area so they must have a lot going on around here, at least enough to keep the drivers busy. I have to go to the training center in Iowa on the 29th and that should be intresting. I'm not a cold weather person! I like 90 to 100 deg weather. As a matter of fact me and the wife are planning on moving to the Cayman Island in about ten years, maybe open a small business down there. I sure pick the perfect time of year to head to Iowa! Just hope I can move with all the layers of clothes I'll be wear. I'm sure I will get ribbed about me being a wussy in the cold. But lets see how they handle 110 deg weather with 90+ humidity... j/k