getting an auto at USA

You should probly start a thread too in the USA threads if you don't get the answer your looking for but my personal opinion is that if you don't like this company after driving for them for awhile you may be rusty at driving stick so make sure you practice it before going to the next job but anyways good luck to you

 

I've already reported the thread, so hopefully a mod/admin will move this thread to the appropriate section of the forum.

When I worked for USA, you had little to no choice on the truck they give you. I'm sure now their auto/stick ratio is close to 50/50 or maybe slightly more sticks. I can't remember how many shakers they bought with the 10 spd sticks.

 

If you want an automatic, tell them you want to work there if you can have an automatic.

 

Judging by your other thread, you have an issue with shifting. Give it time and practice and shifting will get easier.. do not avoid learning to shift, it will really bite you in the future.

 

Don't listen to recruiters crap. You will more than likely get an Auto. They are trying to get and go go back to stick. But I wouldn't count on it. I drove an Auto when I was there. A stick would be better. I have never had a driving test in an Auto. We use ten speeds where I am now. 15 speeds on my last job. So you'll want the experience. When I drove a flat top for USA back around 2000, I had a ten speed. Luck of the draw. You will not be choosing trucks. They will probably send you to pick up an abandoned truck somewhere. I have done that several times.

 

I was told by an instructor in Vandalia early April that USA is currently 60% automatic and decreasing that portion of the fleet. However, having been in four trucks since then, I found none were automatics. Three of the four were trainer vehicles. Two Pro Stars. Two Cascadia's.

A friend just took a Cascadia ten speed for USA last week. A fella here at the hotel said he was offered a T660 automatic and declined (yesterday). I never heard of such a thing. He picked up a 10 speed Cascadia this morning.

Good luck

 

When I was there, veteran drivers who hired on could decline a truck assignment for that reason but student upgrades could not. They may have changed recently but I was always told that you could only decline a truck assignment if it was not mechanically safe to operate or it was filthy. Both of those cases generally were trucks that had been recovered somewheres or left in a drop yard.

 

I heard the same. The fella that declined the T660 was an experienced driver and believed the truck was unsafe/in need of repair...... marginal tires, air leaks, etc. USA tried replacing most of the tires (I hear) but gave in to the driver's argument which afforded the Cascadia in its place.