My DS, C1,and USA Truck experience

Been a couple of weeks since i have been able to get onto wifi. I refuse to pay for it at a truck stop. However im sitting in a little truck stop in the middle of nowhere in New York state that has it for free. Ive been on my own now for 1 1/2 weeks. Pulling my 7th load. I have an excellent fleet manager. Hes keeping me busy and well informed. Most of my loads are in the NE, as i expected. I got extremely lucky and my newly assigned truck is an 09 ProStar auto shift, 200k miles. I prefer a manual, but this truck pulls like a dream, and i don't have to do a thing but hit the gas pedal. Perfect for mountain driving. I still don't have any complaints about this company. Everything so far has been good. My only complaint is being on hold for sometimes up to an hour in order to talk to my FM. I'm keeping busy, mostly short haul stuff. Ive had 2 loads that were over 1000 miles. The rest 200-600 miles.

I read through some of the previous posts on here and it is true- C1 only cares about 1 thing- " Getting you a CDL". I had the same problem, i was wanting to drive and be more comfortable for when i started my new job. However once you are with your trainer you will get plenty of practice moving forward and backwards. That is where you will refine your skills and become more comfortable with the job you are doing. However- that still isnt enough time. 1 month later i am still just as nervous and make just as many mistakes. It takes time, and practice even on your own. I will say that i have gotten much better while on my own. I dont have anyone there to hold my hand and tell me how to correct my oopsies. So now when i make a mistake I make #### sure that i realize what i did wrong so that i dont do it again- or at least know how to do it better next time. I still have no regrets about the route i have chosen. There are many good and bad things said about C1 and USA on this site as well as others. As ive said before- typically "someones worst enemy is themselves". Im not saying that something hasnt happened were a driver was screwed. But i do believe that most people bring misfortunes upon themselves majority of the time. I have been 100% honest throughout my new adventure here and just giving the details i have experienced first hand. Attitude is everything. Respect is everything. If you come into this business with the right attitude, and show respect for those people that also have a job to do, then everything will work in your favor. Dispatchers and FM's are very busy people. I will never get mad and disrespect any of them, even if they don't treat me with the same respect. I know in the long run things will pay off for me. Right now i cant stand being in the NE, it sucks horribly. Crappy terrain, tight corners, cars everywhere. But I am making money, and eventually that mother load will be sliding onto my 5th wheel. So for now im putting in my time, not complaining, paying my dues.

Not all trucks have APU's. Mine however does. I'm not that fond of it. If your truck doesn't have an APU, it has ICON. I wish everyone good adventure, and ill be back on when i can be.... Cheers and be safe out there.

 

Trucks have ICONS or APU's. ICONS are basically a system with a control box in the sleeper where you adjust your hot and cold temps. Once the computer senses the temp isnt where it should be then it starts the truck and cools or heats. The APU is basically the same thing, except it is ran from a generator that is mounted to the truck. The APU also has a low battery sensor that will charge the batteries on the truck. Thats really all i know about the systems. Im sure someone can get all technical about em, but i know what i need to work em.

I believe the passenger policy is 6 months solo with a clean history. Meaning dont wreck or do something stupid. I believe the insurance is 7.50 a month. Could be a lil more...

I cant really comment on pocket change paycheck yet. However i can see that happening on a low mile week. Once you figure your deductions of 45 for tuition, 25 to escrow for the first 6 months, any advances of up to 160 a week, and taxes... Then ya im sure there are drivers out there with pocket change or negative checks. Heres what i do- every Tuesday i take a 160 dollar advance. That is my money to get by for the week. I budget that for food and scale tickets. Any left over then i save that money. I put all my pocket change in a gallon water jug and save it. Whatever my paycheck is, then thats what it is. My first mileage check was 468.00 for my first week driving 2300 miles. So that 468 will sit in my bank account and ill pull another 160 dollar advance on Tuesday. Thats after all my deductions. I'm ok with that amount. Of course i prefer more. But it is what it is.

 

I have T-mobile and considered one of their broadband cards. Im a cheap ### and didn't want to pay the 45 a month for it. They work as long as there is a signal to their tower. So therefore im not going to spend the money. If i get really bored or desperate for internet ill pay the 1.99 for an hour. But considering im paying 17.00 a month for PrePass and 17.00 for satellite radio ( gotta have my playboy channel) ill just save the money on the internet.

 

Ive heard that as well. Im not sure how to do it...