USA Truck, Inc. - Van Buren, Ar.?

I'm suppose to start orientation next Friday in Vandalia Ohio (Dayton). Does anyone have any iinfo on my three day agenda at this thing? I really don't know much about the company at all since I did my CDL School last month at a community college here in Ohio.

I've read the other threads about USA Truck, but any and all additional info would probably help relax my curiosity :smt083

TIA,
Mark

 

Mark, when you find something out please let me know. There is very little info about USA Truck on most of the trucking forums I have been on. Not many of their drivers seem to post anywhere. Most of the info I do find is atleast a year or two old. I would like to get some up to date info myself. I have a option of going with them but have not decided yet. I got approval for the school in Arkansas and just waiting till after the Superbowl to attend.

Marty

 

i've not found out much either and i start school in richmond va monday. i know they don't pay much (28 cpm) but as far as anything else i have no info. i do see alot of their trucks on the road though.

 

First day of orientation all you do is road tests and physicals. Second and third days you watch videos and do paperwork. On the last day once you are approved and hired you will find out who your dispatcher is. At that point they are the one that you deal with. You might be leaving that night or the next day depending on where your truck is if you are an experienced driver. If you are a trainee you will stay there until your trainer arrives or they will have a driver take you to another terminal to meet up with them.

One other thing unless this has changed. They put you up at a Howard Johnsons it is a decent hotel but there are no food places or convience stores within walking distance. Also you will go to the terminal straight from the bus station. Unless you get there after 5 pm. If you go to the terminal first be prepared to start your paperwork and maybe do your road test a day early. They like to try to get those things out of the way as fast as they can.

 

Your situation is a little different. After school you will have to wait on a trainer. You will more than likely not attend orientation until you complete training. Then you will probably go to Fort Smith AR for your orientation which is a little different than going to OH.

 

Thanks littlebit!
This all sounds pretty straight forward. It's helps a lot!

Do you work for them?

Is there any kind of a test during orientation for my speed and endurance? ie: I'm talking about testing a person to see if they can load & unload freight, to & from the trailer? First off, I'm 54 years old. Second, I'm just getting over one heck of a few weeks of flue and pneumonia. I'm not breathing as well as I normally do :smt083 If some examiner or trainer is going to test me loading a half a trailer, I'm going to be hurting.

Sounds like I should pack a few sandwiches!? They told me on the phone that they supply breakfast and lunch... maybe some cans of beans and weenies would work for dinner

Thanks,
Mark

 

Marty,

I don't know a lot yet!? They sent me some literature via email. If you want to pm me your email address, I'll be glad to forward a copy of all of this to ya.

Also, if you just have specific questions, I'll be glad to answer what I can. I leave here Thursday, so after that all you guys, my family, and the rest of the world will probably never hear from me again <grin>. Just joking.. I'll try to update when I get some days off.

Mark

 

cdr,

Yep... .29 cpm for unexperienced to start. That money doesn't kick in until after 4 to 6 weeks acording to the papers they sent me. The papers says...

3 days of orientation - $150.00 paid
then 4 - 6 weeks of training - $400.00 per week paid
then .28 cpm for 90 days paid
then at 3 months .29 cpm
then at 6 months you start getting .32 cpm
then at one year you start getting .36 cpm
Then annual increases to a top pay of .42 cpm

BTW, they said all paychecks are held back for one week, so the first week will be two weeks after you start orientation. You get a COM data card when you start training and you can advance yourself $100 per week from that.

I guess everyone will see this a little differently. I've researched quite a few companies over the last 6-8 weeks, so I'm no expert, but imho, this pay schedule seems average to fair. They all start you a penny or two higher and lower... and they all end up within a few pennies of the same place too.
Seems like a year or two of otr experience will help a lot when it comes to making a little more and having more choices.

Hope I'm not too late with all of this. You might already be on your way to the hotel... or are you starting next week on Monday!?

Mark

EDITED: NOTE: I'm now in my third week of training and a few of the numbers above are incorrect. Here is what has actually been paid to me:

- 3 days of orientation at $150.00 total paid
- then 4 weeks of training at $400.00 per week paid
(My trainer said most people only do 4 weeks)
- Comdata card allows you to advance yourself up to $160 per week.
- Also, my first check reimbursed $94 for my Hazmat Background Fee in the State of Ohio.

 

I don't work for them anymore but I was there for almost three years. The physicals they give are a joke. They have you go into a room at the terminal and this little asian doctor asks you a few questions and that is pretty much it. As far a dinner goes the hotel shuttle will take you just about anywhere you want to go even to the grocery store so it is up to you what you bring.

 

I heard USA Truck Doesn't like fat people....


I applied for them a while back, just for the heck of it, and have heard that they don't like the big guys, and will turn you away, even if you can pass a DOT physical with flying colors....