What exactly is Truckmaster/Training NCO?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 08:22:03 -0400

I am new to my position however, I'm having hard time understanding what it means, what are my responsibilities, what is my lane and what is not? I'm supposed to be replacing someone but im not getting much of support and guidance.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2015 9:16 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 09:16:03 -0400

I am in no way an expert on the role/responsibilities of a TM - however, I do have experience with one as a transportation PL in Iraq. He essentially was the one who figured out a rotation of truck crews, trucks and such for upcoming missions per FRAGOs from the battalion. If my PSG or myself had an issue, we would de-conflict with him - whether it was re-assigning personnel or different trucks. It worked for us, as it allowed me to focus on the more intricate details of the mission planning (routes, intel, med/casevac plans, etc...).

ATP 4-11 has a more definitive answer though:
"The truckmaster is the operations assistant to the operations officer and the company commander. The
truckmaster assists in the coordinating, supervising, and controlling of company transportation. The truckmaster
participates in convoy planning and enforces march discipline. Truckmasters supervise, through the unit
dispatchers, all dispatching and routing of company vehicles. They assist the operations officer in creating
operational plans, preparing reports, conducting inspections, and maintaining visibility of employed company
assets and personnel. The truckmaster coordinates with platoon sergeants and the maintenance officer on all
maintenance related matters and coordinates to ensure complete knowledge of statuses, vehicle availability and
maintains documentation on unit accident reports. The truckmaster also enforces environmental laws,
regulations, and reconnoiters routes.
3-50. The truckmaster supervises vehicle operations and enforces safety rules, and reports evidence of vehicle
neglect, abuse or operator carelessness. The truckmaster maintains driver qualification records on unit
personnel, ensures each Soldier is properly trained before being licensed and should be satisfied that training is
conducted according to standards. For this reason, the truckmaster is normally assigned the additional duty of
the company master driver. The truckmaster records safe driving mileage accumulated by unit drivers and
advises the commander of personnel eligible for safe driving awards. The truckmaster is required to be licensed
on all available company vehicles and conducts road testing and qualifications."

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Oct 18 at 2015 2:15 PM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Sun, 18 Oct 2015 14:15:54 -0400

SFC Private RallyPoint Member I would like to explain Truckmaster in my experience as an former 88M. I would say it is the epitome of an Motor Transport Operator as being MOS specific, next to Operations Sergeant. You are the go to guy for all truck missions, training and setup for the motorpool in garrison/field and combat. It is a powerful position. This is a typical NCOER scope when I was Truckmaster. This is big step in going to E-7/E-8. You even have Senior Truckmaster in M915 companies with 60 trucks/120 trailers. Please see my profile: https://www.rallypoint.com/profiles/106303-sfc-joe-s-davis-jr-msm-dsl
Serves as Truckmaster in a Distribution Company (Alpha) 15th Brigade Support Battalion, 2D Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division responsible for coordinating, supervising, and controlling all company missions and operations; coordinates and controls the availability of 25 M1074 LHS trucks with trailers, 10 M1078 LMTVs, 16 M969, 15 M1088, 3 M1075 PLS, 24 MRAPS, 10 Water Handling Units and 6 M1097 HMMWVs valued at $125,000,000; supervises administrative functions for the Operations Section to include drivers training and licensing program, operational records, mileage reporting.
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For more information reference DA PAM 600-25 for any duty scope in the Enlisted side of the house.

(h) Truckmaster (88M). The truck master is accountable to the OPS Officer and manages all motor pool OPS. Supervises and checks vehicle OPS. Maintains visibility of employed company assets and personnel, (20–180 drivers and senior drivers).
1. Truckmaster (DA level/WHCA). Assigned to the WHCA and responsible for the world wide TRANS of personnel and highly sensitive communications equipment that deploys on-call in direct support of the President, Vice President, and the First Lady of the United States.

https://www.google.com/#q=da+pam+600-25

Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL at AMSEC Cheatham Annex - NAVELSG (Navy Expeditionary Logistics...

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL, Army | RallyPoint professional military profile.

Response by SSG Peter Muse made Oct 19 at 2015 1:16 AM

SSG Peter Muse — Mon, 19 Oct 2015 01:16:48 -0400

Truckmaster is a term from back in the day. When I was coming up I was a Sp4 in the 37th Transcom, one of the biggest and top line haul outfits ever in the Army. The Truckmaster aka "Truck" (official title was usually Sr. Motor Transportation NCO) was the NCOIC of the Motorpool. Truck managed motor operations, line haul missions, Motorpark, driver records and everything else in there. If it was separate company or separate platoon or Battalion, the position functioned the same - it was not the training NCO. That might combine in a smaller outfit but I never saw it. I was a Motor Opns NCO under under the Truckmaster for a time in a later assignment. Truck didn't answer to the 1SG or CSM for operational issues. Top ran the company, Truck ran motor opns. That was how it was. This pretty much only happened in a pure trans outfit, not a Logistics or S&T or ordnance unit. Not even sure how they put it together today.

Response by SGT Richard Swanson made Sep 14 at 2016 10:51 AM

SGT Richard Swanson — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 10:51:26 -0400

A Truckmaster is the person in charge of all the equipment trucks, trailers, route recons, drivers training, safety on the road and on convoys, they are also in charge of training, YTC, YTBs, APFTs, schools, week end drills. They are a go to person for everything, some Units have SSG as assistant Truckmaster/ Training NCO with a SFC or MSGT as Truckmaster. I spent 7 years SGT as Assistant Truckmaster/ Training NCO for a Transportation Unit out of Dayton Ohio when the SFC was deployed I filled in as Senior Truckmaster, my other duties included safety officer, accident investigator, just to name a few extra duties.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Dec 29 at 2019 6:06 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 18:06:53 -0500

I suggest you look online for the Truckmaster and Training NCO SOPs.