Driver Solutions

I had two accidents in my past when I started with USA. They were in my personal vehicle and I was at fault. One was 3 years and one was 4 years ago. Still working for them.

 

Well I'll give you my best shot. For USA, DS is basically their "company school". Yes they will weed the heck out of people during the school. Expect to see 30-50% disappear for various reasons. Basically what they do is get a large group in, then pick the best to continue. Pretty typical for company schools.
It has been a while for me, but it used to be that when you graduated from DS you went straight to a training truck...more or less. It was after your time on the training truck and passing your company test that you attended orientation. If you make it to orientation, you are most likely good to go. Other potential drivers from other driver schools take a slightly different route in trying to become a driver.

 

All total, the school, training, and orientation is about 2 months. Not long at all.....and best of luck!

 

Yes I went through DS Barrett.

Also here is what will happen in this order...

C1 Schooling - Paperwork/Drug Test + Physical, bookwork, and in truck practice/testing
USA Truck Orientation - Happens at either VanBuren, AR or Vandalia, OH. Another drug test, more paperwork, more in class information and then you either get sent home (if there are lack of trainers) or you get assigned a trainer and you wait for him/her.
USA Truck Training - There are two phases. 1st phase is you driving and trainer in passenger seat. 2nd phase is team driving. You have to complete so many hours in first phase and so many backs and turns and etc... before moving onto phase two.
Upgrade Test - After completing your in truck training with USA you will be sent to VanBuren for your upgrade test. They've changed this since I've done it, it used to be only a day long course now its 3 days or something like that.
Assigned Truck - After upgrade you will have a choice to go home for 5 days or so or you get assigned your truck right there and have it on the lot or be bussed to one of the other terminals. You will also be assigned a fleet manager at the same time.



Thats the basic run down on what will happen, I may have missed a few points but I'm sure that will give you somewhat of an idea of what to expect. There's nothing to hard about all this as long as you are honest off the bat. If you hide something of importance and they find out you will be gone, have heard it happen a few times before. If you do choose this path, I wish you the best of luck and I hope you get a good trainer(s)!!

 

I'd be nervous going with USA or PAM. In the last month a USA driver drove against traffic in Colorado and killed innocent people in a car. In the last six months a PAM driver rear ended a senators wife. I would think LEO's are paying extra attention to these companies.

 

Rear end collisions are happening every hour of ever day... And with the USA driver killing someone, well that could be any company. But USA failed to see the previous DUI on the drivers record. USA has been on the bottom of the totem poll, so no new news there haha.