Anyone drive for D.M.Bowman.

I am very experienced with DM Bowman. I started off in Flatbedding out of Frederick Maryland for a year or so then transitioned to van regional south division out of Williamsport Maryland. Equitpment was a CH Mack Day cab that was first made by mack for flatbedding as a reward for my loyalty after a difficult week with a broken 87 freightliner COE and a Freightliner long nose. This was back in the early 90's

Williamsport gave me a Sleeper Mack which also was brand new that first year Mack made them I forget the exact model letters.

In regional southern freight, speed is 55 mph. Strict. 70 mph is automatic firing with predjudice against you. anything over 60 is verboten. You do not do 60 plus whatsoever. It's 55.

There was in those days a tripmaster. It records everything that downloads to safety. It's 70 dollars extra cash a week for 3% or less idle time. That means every time you stop at a stop light, end of ramp etc and have to wait more than 30 seconds, you shut engine off and sit. Start engine then move.

You do not shift that truck during turns, it creates a unusual engine event recorded against you. You are only allowed three events before counseling, subsquent events get you fired.

You will maintain your hours. Running outside your hours got you fired.

There is no point in talking about pay. Except in my time early 90's flatbedding several loads a day earned me 600 net dollars for the week and plus up to 70 dollars trip master bonus. That's close to 3000 dollars net a month. A very good money back then when the apartment rent is only 300, electric another 50.

In regional south, the payroll approaches 700 net after taxes each week. You can live in the truck and not go home on weekends if you choose.

In williamsport, there are three passes eastbound on 70. You will learn to tolerate them and like them You will be crossing those passes often back and forth. Frederick has a aluminum plant to the west, about 9 miles or so as the crow flies. If you want the best, they load you with a block of aluminum 40 feet long, 6 foot wide and 4 high. Strap it and go to Lancaster PA on route 30. There is a mill there that takes that big block and makes many things with it. Back and forth all day long. Good good good money.

My information is limited from the early 90's I took the tractor home without permission one weekend, got caught by a dispatcher who saw it and reported it (Snitch...) and I was fired. Due to it's Unauthorized use, DAC banned me from being hired 3 years.

I went into dump trucking for paving blacktop and stone. That completely and totally bypassed DAC for the three years of my life investing in small time local dump trucking. Eventually that DAC cleared off and I was hireable again.

It worked out well.

I like DM Bowman. But one thing I will never ever do again in life is creep at 55 mph while getting run over by 80 mph Charlotte NC traffic. No more of that. Ever.

 

Bowman has their own cdl school now?

 

I don't know.

I heard they establish Allentown potentially. Maybe Ohio too.

If that is the case, then these are smack dab dead center, carefully selected to be where the freight is. Very useful if you ask me.

 

Check with your DHS or Workforce Center in your area. If you can find a unemployement office, you can find a DHS and or Workforce assistance office in your area. Uncle Sam has from time to time invested in truckers.

 

Bump. In today's climate of trucker shortages, is DM Bowman still requiring a contract?

Anyone teaming for DM Bowman?

 

I would be very surprised to see them team. In my time it's 55 mph load in the morning regional deep south at a slow pace. The only account they might team is for Mack Assembly with the bodies going to NC from Roanoke area over Fancy Gap.