USA Trainer Shortage?

I haer ya nwbiefornow, USX has me all set to come in for orientation this wed the 11th. Now my recruiter is MIA! She won't return my emails or phone calls! Can't wait around for a few simple questions that can eaisly be answered for days can I? Follow up there as far as recruiters go, is not that great. I no I won't wait for much longer. Then it's on to the next company that qualifed me.

 

Something tells me this driver will do alright. Just remember to take your time. When your taking an exit, "Shut that truck down". I've seen so many people roll trucks. They don't realize if your going a little to fast the load will shift. When that trailer rolls, guess who's rolling with it?

 

I just noticed this post. It's my understanding the phase one trainers get paid for the miles just like if they were a regular 1st seat driver PLUS the trainer pay.

 

That just got bumped up to $400 a week

 

Ok I am entering my second phase with USA

Training is $350 a week for the student untill you are issued a truck

1st phase trainee drives and trainer rides in the front. Helping you with what you need help with and in my case generally passing the time with convo and the in's and out's of the company and trucking. My trainer had been with the company for 7 years

2nd phase the trainee and trainer team drive. The trainee still makes $350 a week and trainer gets paid $45 a day plus all the miles on the truck.

Depending on how all works out you will be training 4 to 6 weeks untill you get 175 hours total drive time.


At this time you will be taken to a USA terminal and they will conduct a written test, a pre trip test, and a driving/backing skills test.

Then you get a truck and make $0.28 a mile with a min. paycheck of $600 a week for your first 6 months, by the time your 6 months are up and you have kept your nose clean then you should be making $0.30 a mile and established enough to know how to make money.

 

wow when I was at USA back at the very beginning of the year....they only gave me 26 cpm and the worst truck EVEN Satan, himself, wouldn't ask for! I since have left for a waaaaaaay better company! Home EVERY weekend and enough money to pay all my bills and that dang DS contract....plus we have matching 401k! I do have some friends that are still with USA and REALLY, I mean REALLY "toughing it out". HATS OFF to you guys that are doing that! Especially, since if you're NOT getting miles...you're stuck in one of the many terminals getting....*cough* "fixed" by the joke of mechanics they have!

 

USA is no worse than any other "starter" company from what I gather. And really the 2 terminals I have been to have been decent. Plus every and I mean every 2+ year USA guy I talk to says that they are getting 2500+ miles a week. I have talked to I dont know around 70 or more USA drivers in the past 4 weeks. The complaints I hear the most are that maint takes to long but atleast here in Vandalia they have nice big leather recliners to kick back in with a good sized plasma on the wall, Direc TV, good sized laundry room, and decent bunks. Plus there were a couple guys that didnt have any money and they got food ordered for them from Papa John's pizza.

Only thing I have really seen that I didnt care for was my trainers FM outright ignoring him and being generaly pissy/vengfull because my trainer made them pull him from his route and get a alignment and steer tire for the truck

 

that was another REALLY BAD situation for me at USA was the most god awful, uncaring fleet manager. A buddy of mine, that went back to USA actually has a GREAT FM. I didn't. Just a heads up if you get fleet 43 or Tracy Copeland! RUN!!!!!!!!! ASK FOR SOMEONE ELSE! Trust me, you'll understand.

 

Tracy copeland is now a planner

 

REALLY? Wow, I guess too many guys tried to get someone else. Since he HAS to be a favorite there they either switched him or he got into planner.