Hi Folks! A while back I posted on the newbie forum that I was going to be begin my experience in the truck driving industry sometime this month (August) and I was hoping for Schneider. Well, things don't necessarily turn out the way that they should. I found myself looking at the unemployment line before I was able to get my resignation in at the end of the month. Well, with that also came the approval for unemployment because I was not fired - just laid off (business took a bad turn in our second quarter). My first thoughts are on life in general - I honestly feel bad about drawing unemployment. Someone may ask - Why would you feel bad? You pay into it! To me, being on unemployment places so many different people at the point where they can sit around and twiddle their thumbs and not go back to work - which defeats the entire purpose of unemployment assistance: help until you can get back on your own feet. My social worker at the office shook my head and thanked me when I told them I refused to be on it too long - just long enough to get through my CDL training and signed on with a company. Apparently, they don't hear about people really making such a great effort into changing their lives so fast that often. Back to the main focus of this - I wanted to track my experience on here within the USA truck forum since I have signed on to go through Driver Solutions Network training at C1 in Indianapolis, Indiana this September as soon as I get myself and my fiance moved into a new apartment and have my birth certificate sent to me from a land far far away (called vitalchek.com). I've read a lot of bad publicity in general about USA Truck on here. Yes, I admit it made me scared a little. However, I went up to a truck stop not far from my place recently and talked with all the USA Truck drivers that came through there (as well as others from across the industry). The thing I learned the most during those talks was that USA Truck wasn't as bad as the boards say they were. Of course, there were complaints - but all except for two guys said I was making a smart decision by going into USA truck for the beginning of my career. I have all ready began working on my eGears courses for my CDL permit and studying up to get my ready for Indianapolis. I look forward to being able to talk to other USA Truck drivers on this forum area and getting some advice from those of you who have all ready walked in my shoes to get to your current point. I look forward to being on the road soon with you all. God Bless.
There are definitely not very many people like you that do not like being on unemployment, so good for you! I will suggest when you are taking your CDL Permit test over at C1 in Indy, go ahead and get your tanker and double/triple endorsements. It will save you money if you decide to go with an LTL Company or Tanker company in the future. And with you living in Berea... I see a lot of scrap cans in your future as we deliver to that aluminum recycling place there lol. Just remember, a year can be pretty long... but I wish the best of luck to you and I hope you keep us updated periodically as you progress through the year. I've noticed with me and many others when you start out it seems alright then towards the middle/end its just a big PITA to deal with USA haha. Speaking with other drivers though it seems after the first year it gets slightly easier but I don't see that happening with me since they've changed the way they give out loads and the changes in hometime policy and stuff like that.
That and the glass place to Chilicothe OH...It's 2 lane for half the trip. Also I have to agree. Most are happy when they first go solo, because they are getting to drive and see the US, and it's all good. Then you sit a weekend and twiddle your thumbs and steadily tell yourself, it's just this one weekend. Then comes another and another. After a while you get 10 weekends back to back sitting at truck stops. Then you get another that keeps you rolling. It was probably an accident. Eventually this, coupled with a FM that has the memory of a gnat, doesn't help. FM:Why have you not delivered that load you picked up 3 days ago driver? Driver: probably because I told you, it was picked up the day before I got here, like I told you the past 7 times. FM: oh, well I got you a new load now and you can pick it up in the morning. Either way I have a new FM now, and am hoping for better days. Had a few bad days this week. Showed up to Walmart DC and the load wasn't there. Then I was told I was being taken off and a load would be given to me momentarily. 3 hours later, I realize the load isn't coming so I deadhead to the truckstop. Then I get a load that was supposed to pick up the day before. Send in a message to NightShift asking was this load assignment correct, as the date was off, and I didn't wanna drive 90mi. and it be a burnt trip like the one I just made earlier. Get a response back 2 hours later to go get it. I responded back, that was 2 hours ago. Out of time now, will get in morning. Went there yesterday morning at 09:30 and they told me, I was late by 2 days. I said I know, I just got the assignment yesterday evening. So they said they would try and work me in, but it would be a while. A while was an understatement. I was there until 03:00 this morning. AC was out in truck so I stopped off in Roanoke to get fixed, and now I sit and wait til the morning to get my new load. They said they fixed my truck, but they along with the dealer also said that the last 9 times. Maybe the 10th times a charm, but we will see in the morning when I get ready to leave if it is still working. Sorry just had to vent.
Hey again folks. I thought I would give an update on the pre-process that I'm undergoing right now. Everything has been handed in, now I have to wait for certain documents to arrive to me here in Kentucky before I can go to C1 in Indianapolis. Since I was born a northerner in Delaware - I am waiting for a certified copy of my birth certificate. Also - I just recently moved into a new location with my fiance. She starts school for her final year of college next week, so I am waiting to get her used to her schedule before I go away for a while to make some money. The good thing about doing this through driver solutions is the eGears course I am able to take for the CDL permit. I have always been an interactive learner and using this course has helped me retain a lot more than just reading a manual. I was wanting to know if anyone can give me some more info on USA Truck's change to more of a Regional setting instead of OTR. I would greatly appreciate it.
As far as the regional thing goes, here's how I understand it (I hope someone will correct me if I'm mistaken): I think they are running everyone within a 500-mile radius of his home. This is supposed to get everyone home time every 2 weeks. I believe that home time is going to consist of the weekend plus 1 weekday (again, I may have misunderstood). I've also heard that the dispatcher is supposed to ask whether you prefer to go regional or stay OTR. I'm not sure how true this is because I have yet to be asked up to this point, and (so far) I've been getting a few long runs. Not that I'm complaining; I'd rather run 48 states anyway (er, make that 46 - NY and NJ aren't exactly my favorite states to run). Theoretically speaking, you could still average 2000-2500 miles per week. How that plays out in real life remains to be seen; I've heard quite a few drivers complaining about a drop in their average miles already. I also understand that these regional miles are supposed to be paying on a sliding scale - the shorter the trip, the higher the cpm (up to .48 or .50 cpm), which supposedly makes up for the proliferation of shorter average runs under this system. Once again, I may have some or all of this wrong, but I believe Heartland Express runs under a similar system. Might be a good idea to check out their threads on the subject and read on their experiences (I may just do that myself).
Five bucks sez you last six months, tell the trainers in Indy from the bus driver 5 years ago, and sorry 'bout the five dead at the Indiana State Fair, they know all about tornadoes, tore up C-1 8 years ago.
Wow. The bets are all ready up to see how long I'm going to last. And I'll make sure to say hello for you. By the way, I'll be making sure I collect after the 6 month mark from you. I guarantee that I will be there 6 months, and I'll definitely guarantee that I'll be there for the entire year. I like a good challenge.
WELCOME ABOARD WVUfan! My name is Ralph Haile and I'm a 19 year veteran at USA Truck and was born and raised in Nicholasville Kentucky. I moved to South Carolina about 15 years ago for the warmer weather but miss a lot of things about the Bluegrass State. Bubbavirus is actually making a pretty sound bet just based on the statistics. There's a lot of driver turnover at USA Truck. But there's a lot of turnover everywhere. When I started driving in 1992 driver recruiting was not nearly as cannibalistic as it is today. If you applied to another company and you had a good driving record then sure they would hire you but it was considered bad form to actively lure drivers from other companies as they do today. I blame this for the stratospheric turnover rates that we are seeing today and I think the companies have only themselves to blame. Every company is devoting far too many resources to driver recruiting and not near enough to driver retention. This has created a large population of job hoppers who are always thinking about their next job. Most of them got into the industry during this "grass is greener phase" and I don't blame them for the discontent. I blame the trucking companies. Truth is most companies are pretty good and I believe that the few bad apples will be weeded out under the new CSA rules. If you're looking for reasons to like your job you'll find them. If you're looking for reasons to hate your job you'll find those too. Yes statistically it's a good idea to bet against you. Are you going to be a statistic?
