USA Truck Driver Newbies, this post is for guys who are wondering what usa like

ME:
I'll start off with myself. this is very important. I'm 22 years old.(recently turn) i have no kids or wife at home. i did c1 schooling like any other newbie. it was kool that pre-trip do help you in the long run. i went to community college and graduated with associates in business. i have no prior experience or knowledge other than tractor trailer was in my way whenever i had to get to places. but having CDL is a great safety net. trucking will always be here because it the cheap mode of transporting goods in bulk.

Training:
i start with usa in September(training). my first phrase trainer was sloppy. this guy actually told me not to kill the flies in his truck. that was something you gotta deal with or wait for another trainer and prolong you becoming a first seat driver. Beside that he was a great driver but his attitude got him bad loads i mean all our loads where 150 miles or less. i had learned he had curse at dispatch out too many times, plus he has a strong African accent too.but he taught me how to drive and back in to docks so so well he would fall asleep whenever i drove cuz he trusted my abilities but due to the nature of getting bad load he ended up quitting usa n went else only to come back a week later. in that time i got another trainer. he had a dedicated load. he was a little weird but a good guy. i dislike when he was rushing me into the docks so he could get to the clients. these docks were difficult because Toyota motors(client) had crap in your way so i learn by the second week how to deal with very limited space to back up. my first phrase trainer told me in the beginning before you do anything think it out. that is what i did. by the time i got my full 175 hrs i got my own truck in October. By then i learn from usa and i believe in any trucking company things will happens and you will be late DO NOT STRESS YOURSELF. don't make plans for special events chances are you wont make them. Sometime you will argue and not agree with your trainer. just remember your here to learn and get thru training because when you get your own truck you will feel so free, its so rewarding getting your own truck.

Company as an hole and my trucks:
My overall experience with usa as a company is not to bad. i will rate them an 8 out of 10, base from all the horror stories i heard from people. USA Truck has been pretty good to me. i also learned what you put in, is what you get out. TREAT PEOPLE WITH RESPECT AND SAY THANK YOU, AND I CAN ALMOST GUARANTEE SOMEONE WILL LOOK OUT FOR YOU. expect your truck to have issues!!!! my first truck was a 2011 prostar(love the space inside) but broke down for good. then they gave me and 09 keniworth. i love the look. it different and i felt usa hook me up cuz that truck is a lot faster then the other trucks and i got sum kool features on there. My fleet manager and i get along fine. since i been on the road by myself. i recently recieve my first tickets and they came in two, they were thru my first dot inspections. they were very minor and didn't affect me too much. they were overweight and trailer brakes.(they were my fault) trust me i learn my lesson after that. once it over 32k pounds get it weight at the cat station. lol but you will make mistakes. JUST don't get into accidents, sometimes people will do stupid stuffs, you miss your turns and think you can make the u turn and find out your too long. but i learn you take it one day at a time and it will go by so fast, you will be home for home-time. Trucking can be hard if you have kids or a family but if you have a cell phone talk to them while your driving, it will ease the blow a lot. if your like me single, young, nothing at home but mom and dad and chicks. i talk to girls all day or listen to music. BTW I STRESS THIS A LOT, DON'T WORK FOR USA BELIEVING YOUR GOING TO MAKE 800.00 GROSS every week. other than than you will be fine. i like usa as a company.

Essentials:
if you get these items you be fine:

1.trucker base atlas (mandatory) trucker base atlas tells you what road you could be on and it paper.
2.Trucker base GPS (optional but worth it) gps is great to navigate but can make you do unnecessary stuff.
3.Smartphone with internet access Iphone preferred (mandatory) sometimes the shipper address change and you could just Google it.
4.Pilot Card (mandatory) it free and you get free showers, and points systems it become better than a debit card lol
5.mini fridge (optional) this can help you save money.
6.hand-free headphones (mandatory) the reason i said headphones cuz you wanna talk on the phone or listen to music the headset doesn't let you listen to music.

Pay:
the first 60 days as an first seat driver it 600 gross unless you had 2500 or more miles that week.
those cash advance will bite you in the ### later but you will need them if you been behind on bills. i had about 4,000 dollars in bills to pay. but by the end of November i finally caught up. it was rough. and that from sept to the end of nov
the pay 28 cent a mile isn't too bad but make sure you run and you read that hand book. If you breakdown ask if your fleet manager can you receive break down pay. if your at a pilot on a weekend(Saturday to Monday morning) with no load ask for weekend pay. (they do have it)

Wish you guys the best of luck. and welcome to the family. feel free to post your experiences or questions I'll tried to answer them!

 

They sent me to forth wayne, in

 

Hey They sent me to forth wayne, in. I drove up there

 

Thanx brother