Newbie with USA

I passed my upgrade test! It was a little rough at first. On one of my first right hand turns I nearly took out a stop sign. However, the examiner could tell that I was nervous so at the end of the test he allowed me to re-take the troubled right hand turn. The second time was a lot better. He told me that I did a good job and just need to work on my turns. He also told me that my problems with turning should be overcome just from experience. I guess I can change the student status on my profile. Ha! Ha! Oh, and that wasn't the only good news. Right after I passed the driving test, I got called into the office. The first thing that I thought was that I had failed the other test that was issued (logging, mapping & routing tests, etc, etc, ect.). But when I got into the office it turns out that they had some openings for their midwest regional division. This basically means that I'll only run Monday thru Friday and I'll be home on Saturdays for at least 24hours. It'll be a little less money and about 200 fewer miles a week, but I'm footloose and fancy free as they say. I don't need a whole lot of money to live comfortably. If not I figure I only have to last a year. I'll keep you guys updated. Drive safe out there.

 

Some regional drivers that I talked to that have been with the company for about six months say that they get 800 a week. I was told to expect between 700 and 750 a week until I start getting my raises in five months.

 

Just a little update, I should be getting assigned a truck tomorrow. Will let you guys know the number asap.

 

Its been a little while since the last post, but heres what happened. I picked up my truck, 8040, on the 27th and was dispatched a load to Milton, PA. Nice enough town just not at all "truck friendly." Almost every street I encountered was only two lanes wide with the lane only being wide enough for the truck. There were also very few shopping centers or places wide enough to turn around in. I found this out when I went past my street twice and ended up going the next town over both ways to find a wide enough spot to turn around in. I still delivered the load early however, and was dispatched to pick up a load in Baltimore. Picked that up on Friday, delivers on Monday in northern IL, so I am sitting at home right now. Now for my complaints. Not to many. My truck overall is pretty nice. 06 International with about 370000 miles. Better than my classmates trucks. However, when I stopped at a rest area yesterday it gave me a hard time starting back up. I was already heading to the Vandalia terminal, so I had it checked out. They told me that they found something, but fixed it. Fine, I set the idle, went to sleep, and headed out this morning. Trip went fine until Lebanon, IN. Stopped at a rest area, shut down, used the facilities, and when I went back out the truck didn't want to start back up. Tried a few times then called breakdown. After about an hour and a half the tow guys show up one of the mechanics announces that I have a dead battery. This despite the fact that the radio, lights, windshield wipers, etc still would run when they were tried. Either way they pull start the truck. Breakdown sends me to the TA in Gary for an Electrical Systems Check. The mechanics told me that they found no reason for the truck to be acting up. They did say that the ground wire on the starter was a little loose, but that the batteries were almost brand new. Maybe the truck is just weird.

 

Other complaints
I would like to know who comes up with USAs directions. They actually use landmarks. For example I was told in one line that I should turn left after crossing two railroad tracks. Very few street names are used. When giving highway directions they'll list exit numbers or route numbers but with no distinction. At one point I didn't know if I was looking for exit 147 or Route 147. Talked with a few other drivers at the terminal and they say they have the same problems. They told me to invest in a navigation system and save a lot of hassles. Well I guess I've typed enough for now. I have to get ready to leave in the morning. I'll type again next week.