USA Orientation

when i went to USA at the beginning of '07 after C-1 i went home to wait for a trainer. then after 4 weeks driving mostly team, i was dropped off for orientation. drove through some TIGHT turns in downtown Van Buren. then had to back between barrels. that was IT.
i heard they cut out the 2-stage training program, guess the profit margin wasn't cutting it for them.
i did 18 mo. with USA and was happy for the most part. (i had a FM that was cool) ran PLENTY of miles and was a trainer for 3 months before i left. their equiptment/breakdown/maint dept is CRAP!!
all in all it was what it was, it was a foot in the door.

 

Makes sense now. Have a nice day.

 

i hear USA runs all automatics now....how do those work exactly

 

Vandalia does not have the course set up together like the one in van buren but neither one of them is an issue, just a few basic turns and bumper stops. Do Not forget to get out and look before you back that will get you sent straight from orientation back to school. The starting pay for students is 26cpm and all trucks are not autos but they are heading in that direction. If you get put with a 2week trainer then you'll spend the first 2wks running the same 14hr clock as your trainer then if upgraded you'll be placed for the remaining 2wks with a trainer to run team on a dedicated account then to van buren for upgrade to solo. If you are placed with a 4wk trainer like myself then you'll spend the 1st week on the same 14hr clock and then if upgraded to 2nd seat driver the remaining 3wks will be run as team then off to van buren for upgrade to solo.

Hope that helps.

 

long time no see driver. how are things these days?

 

Well I can't complain(nobody there would listen) lol, Training is alright, getting bout half the miles a trainer should be but still twice as much as a solo so.....all in all I'm still plugging along. Arnold still treating you right?

 

not too bad. kinda in a bad spot right now though. there are 30 trucks in this area waiting for a load

 

Just graduated from C1 Little Rock, and going to van buren on the 28th. Thanks for the info.

Jake

 

I assume North East? Lol.... I got hungout there for a day then they deadheaded me 300mls to get in a better freight location.

 

Good luck to you. Oh...it seems to be taboo to tell the trainer you've never quit a job a day in your life, the last 2 that told me that both quit.