Returning back to USA TRUCK

surely,You must be speaking in the dry van world

 

awesome,great thanks

 

USA is going out of business? Hmm, hard to believe since stock prices are way up. But you never know. I've been here 7 years now, I gone through the hard times and the good times. Miles right now are pretty good. My pay has been nice. You'll get negative comments from people all the time, but in my opinion they are just as good a company to work for as many others. They have reduced the number of students to 35% instead of 65%.
There are some crappy trailers, but lots of brand new ones too. Avg truck age is 2 years or less, with a lot of new Prostars and Cascadias. One Lonestar is in the works for a top producer. Training program has been revamped again. Lots of positive stuff going on.

 

Alright let's get the facts a bit straight. I work for USA and for the most part don't mind my job, but the truth is the truth.

1: They reduced the number of students to 35%? Really? Care to show where you get that number? Seems to me they have been pleading lately for trainers as they don't have enough for all the new students that are coming in. A buddy of mine started with USA and was sent home after Orientation for 3 weeks while they waited for a trainer.

2: Lots of Brand new trailers? Where? We hiding them out in some cave somewhere so no driver can latch hold of them? Not saying we haven't gotten new trailers...but lots? Please.

3: Average truck age is 2 years or less....yeah right. As for a "lot of new Cascadias" that isn't true at all. The company bought a few and then switched right back over to buying Prostars.

4: Your right about one thing, training was revamped. No longer do trainers have to take a driving test to become a trainer anymore. It's a joke now. You wouldn't believe the amount of new trainers I've seen that can't even back up straight. "trapdoor" and I tried to help one guy (who is now a trainer) get into a dock door, and after numerous failed attempts on his part, we finally gave up and went back to our trucks. He eventually got into the door about 45 mins later. I was in VB the other day, and noticed pinned to a bulletin board was a note asking trainers if this is how we're teaching students to log. I thumbed through some of the stuff that was pinned. Ridiculous. Several of them were still on the trainer's truck while it was very apparent they had no clue as how to log. Talked with one guy in VA couple weeks ago, who told me that his trainer had instructed him that he could not run and/or work more than 8.75 hours a day. When I looked puzzled he looked at me and said "yeah, because 8.75x8=70 and I can't run more than 70 in 8 days."

Yeah, things are reaaaallllyyy starting to look up here. geesh. I run good miles, but it is because I work for it. There are others that try to work for it, but they're truck won't stay running long enough for them to even make a buck, and USA refuses to pull their trucks off the road. BTW, I was also told of the new policy that just took affect. No longer will trucks be pulled off the road at a certain mileage. It is now determined at their CPM, annd quite frankly I don't even swallow that.

 

Now as to the OP's original question. Yes, those of us that care to run, can and do run a lot of miles. But just like every other big company out there, there is the B/S to put up with. Along with the fact that USA is still (and prolly always will be) a starter company for new students. So do what you want, I don't want to influence you one way or the other. There are some that have been here for decades and absolutely think this company is the best one out there, and then there are those of us that have gotten the Reality check and realized that there is better paying driving jobs out there. But to each their own.

 

Reycer in response,
1. They are looking for trainers because the requirements have changed. Now you have to have a minimum of 2 yrs driving and at least 6 months with USA. YES, The goal now is to have only 35% students. You buddy being sent home was probably due to that fact.
2. Yes there are plenty of new trailers being delivered. Just because you don't have one doesn't mean that they aren't there. Many are taken straight to shippers to be preloaded. I've hauled plenty of them and know others that have also.
3. How old is your truck? If you have a 4yr old truck then its just about to be traded in. At 500k they get traded. If you have 1 truck at 4 yrs and 1 that is brand new, that gives you an average of 2. Simple math.
4. Trainers get tested and certified when they first become trainers and every 2 years after that. If you were familier with the program you would know that. The lenght of the training program has also changed. Students are right seat longer and all trainers are becoming full phase. This caused some grief among trainers that wanted to be right seat only, causing some to quit and there being less trainers. Plus with the 2yr and 6month requirement, its harder to fill training positions. Even with a reduction in students.
5. I understand we have some students that even after getting off the truck with a trainer, still don't have a clue. Just because they went out with a trainer doesn't always make them ready to drive. Know how to log is supposed to be taught at the driving school, but isn't very well. Like the kid in the U-turn Video. I'm sure he wasn't taught that's how you do things. Some people just aren't meant to drive trucks, because they don't have a clue.

I hear a lot of the complaints about the trucks breaking down. Some of these are brand new trucks so what can you do about that. Now remember, USA has 2500+ tractors. And you might see 100 or so at a terminal. So were are all the rest? Out running....but those that are having trouble with a crappy truck will definately be heard from more than those out happily running.

 

I work for Zenith freight. The owner owns 51%of Basset furniture stock. We haul there freight. Its furniture. I'm the yard dog. They do unload the trailers. But they don't work weekends. They stay in motels if they want to. No questions. Healthcare madical is paid 100% for driver. I make more as the yard dog than I did at USA. Talk to Ron. Conover NC. I work in the Flower Mound, TX facility. I think they get around 18.00 per hour. Yard dog doesn't get that much but I get allot of overtime. Equipment is kinda old. But they will fix it if its an issue. Talk to them. They are busy. They also have over the road runs. We also handle the Wayfair account.

 

Abilene Motor Express out of Richmond, VA. Call and ask for Sally. Excellent equipment, 3000+ mi a week and decent about hometime. Your location is on a major lane for us so no problem there. Good luck.

 

I checked out Holland Enterprises and was pretty impressed. They don't have the highest pay, but they keep the trucks moving.

 

You can say what you want about the other companies, but since most of those posting have never worked for USA they really don't know if its better or worse than the companies they are boasting about.
I've said it before, they all have their problems. You just have to figure out which ones you can live with.