USA trucking company, how would you rate them?

That will screw you in the long run. Find a company and stay there. All that switching doesn't look good to companies paying 6 figures. Usa truck and all those companies are starter companies, neither one is head and shoulders above the next.

 

Try Schuster

 

Well...
After 2 weeks with this company I have had enough and am leaving. In the 12 loads I ran 10 of them were not possible to legally do within HOS regulations (so I declined them noting that as the reason) and I was bullied, threatened to be written up, and demanded to do them anyway. These loads ran my 14 hour clock out only leaving seconds to park and then I was written up for not doing my post trip inspection. After 7 loads of this straight I was exhausted (650+ miles every single day) and was almost un-wakeable so they called the stop I was at to knock and wake me 3 minutes after my 10 hour reset was up demanding "you need to either call me or get going"
When I replied "I'm not feeling well" DM called with more threats of write ups for a failed load that wasn't due until the next day - that I delivered. Me knowing this is a 49 CFR violation for them requiring me to drive fatigued I reached out to safety department only to be threatened and bullied some more:
"This isn't bullying but your options are to report and take the load NOW or go to the hospital. It's regulation law that if you repoert being ill I'm putting you on a safety hold until you're cleared by a doctor. Get going on this load or go to the hospital and be put on hold."

Who's going to pay for a hospital visit I don't need? I don't have insurance. I'm exhausted I just need rest, a shower that I haven't been given time to take, eat a decent meal other than hotdogs I haven't been given time to eat.
"You're repsonsible to pay. Today is pay day you've been paid, you can afford a co-pay I see your pay statement."
....co-pay without insurance?

They would start calling blowing my phone up every day 10 minutes or less after my 10 hour reset was done demanding I get rolling like I was some robot slave.

They only pay 40 to 46 cpm. They demand and ride you to operate like a robot driving a minimum of 500 miles per day (always over 500) running your 11 and 14 out then go right to sleep and be rolling again right after your 10 hour break.

I'm all for making money but this BS isn't for me. I've lost 20lbs in 2 weeks and my dog has lost 10 from not being able to eat or exercise.

If you like being treated like this...? USA Truck is for you.

 

Thanks. I'm learning that the hard way. Some companies I called to move on to passed due to how many companies I've been with in a short time (4 in 11 months).

My goal is finding one I can be happy with. I have a week of home time scheduled (planned it before I was considering leaving) so I have some time. What companies are good, at least treat you right? I'm not unrealistically looking for perfection or asking for much; I want time to get adequate rest and be able to shower and eat - not rush around 100% constantly and be treated like a human. Is that expecting too much?

What companies are decent that I can look in to?

 

Update on this situation: I'm not sure if the nasty fleet manager is still with the company or not (I did reach out and report her to FMCSA) but after returning from 4 days off she is no longer managing the fleet I'm on so I've decided to stay with USA Truck and see how it goes.

 

Sounds like you’re getting plenty of miles, I don’t see the problem here. Shower on your 30 min break and you can stop 2-3 more times for 10-15 minutes to exercise dog and grab a quick bite. Running hard like that will run out your 70 pretty quick then you’ll get a 34 to rest up.

 

I am trying to adjust to it knowing I may not get as many miles with some other company. Running fatigued like I am isn't safe (or legal) and they keep running me on re-caps. Not sure I'll be able to adjust to running this hard constantly. Giving it a fair shot.

It'a not always possible to shower on your 30 minute break sometimes there's a more than 30 minute wait and doing laundry takes about 2 hours I never get. Most of the time when I stop to fuel is the only time I can take my break with how tight they plan the trip appointments. By the time I fuel and pit-stop in the bathroom, get a hotdog or coffee and get through the registers I barely have time to swallow the hotdog without chewing it before I have to roll to be on time or be written up for a "failed load".

I'm sticking this out and suffering through it until I have over a year in which is 2 months from now but then I'm out of this BS. I can't see how anyone can stay healthy running like this constantly unless they have bionic parts. I can't and I'm not doing this to myself until retirement age.

 

I would say go to smaller mom and pop companies but you're going to run hard like that so gotta get used to it but your pay will double but if not do flatbed that be home every weekend some of those companies run 2k to 2500 a week but money want be as good but on the other hand you do get tarp pay and a little higher cpm so it may work out for you.

 

It doesn't seem like many people here understand how much money a driver can truly make. As a company driver an average cpm is around .46 cpm. When you calculate the amount a driver is paid for all of the miles they haul the frieght the driver barely even come close to getting 10% of the contract for each load they haul and deliver.
I'm aware and sure of that. I have seen several contracts.

Owner ops make more. Independent drivers make the most but we drivers are the bottom of the barrel. That #### needs to change in general!

I'm not doing this to stay where the ###### shovel doesn't even collect when it scrapes the bottom my goal is eventually owning and running my own (small) company and fleets so I CAN make life better for my drivers. I have to do it for myself first.

This crap with being bullied and treated like most companies treat their drivers...there's got to be some companies out there that actually treat and pay their drivers like the gold and diamonds we are.

 

You know why diamonds are so valuable, because you dont find them laying around everywhere.. you gotta actually work and dig to find them. Same thing goes for a good truck driver. It takes years and knowledge to actually know what your doing.

Wearing ear buds and flip flops while driving a tractor/trailer isn't any experience. That's why you see half these guys in the ditch. The trucking industry today has turned into a RV show.

 

@Ariel i ain't sticking up for usa, i think they are just another bottom of the barrel company. That being said, from reading your posts they aren't the problem. Imo you are having difficulty adjusting to the job and its requirements. For example you complain about 500 miles a day. Must otr drivers paid by the mile woukd wit if all they could average was 500 a day you also state you got written up for not Doug a post trip. Post trips are mandatory per fmcsa regulations, they are nor optional. You did say something about the 14 being up. The 14 has nothing to do with being able to do a post trip. The 14 is about driving time, not on duty time. You can stay on duty indefinitely, you just can't drive too you get a 10 hour break.

Maybe take a few minutes during your 10 hour break to research hos rules so you can better understand them.