USA Truck, Inc. - Van Buren, Ar.?

Breezly:

I work at a truck driver training facility, and many of our students go to USA after their graduation. Also, Vandalia/Dayton is fairly close to our training facility, so many of our students head out to the Vandalia terminal. The terminal has a bunk house that doesn't get used, so they put everyone up in a hotel and shuttle back and forth to the terminal every day. I have been to the Vandalia terminal myself for a few days, and the previous poster is correct; the people up there are very nice and polite and will treat you with professional respect and courtesy. Please write if you have specific questions, and I will do my best to answer them concisely.

Incidentally, there was a driver sitting next to the fuel island complaining that USA doesn't reimburse for scale expenses the last time I was up there (October of 2006). I asked him if he sent his scale receipts with his trip paperwork, and he said "no". I told him that could be a good reason why he doesn't get reimbursed.

Good luck to you.

 

Update....

I called in and requested a truck and some trips yesterday. I'm a few days early, but I'm pretty anxious to get going (supposed to be off till Friday). I've been home long enough to get my stuff together and my wife works full time, so working seems to make more sense than sitting around here waiting. Remember, my kids are grown and gone.

I did get to spend some great time with our new grandson. He's about 4 weeks old. My daughter brought him and his sister (22 months) over for a while yesterday afternoon!! <grin>.

Anyway, I'll call back this morning and see if they've had time to get me a truck and somewhere to go with it.

Just a thought....
Four months ago, I never thought it would take this long to get this far!?!? You read threads and articles and ads that say you can have a CDL in a few weeks. Truth be told, it's taken roughly 4 months to get to the point of starting to make money for mileage. All of this time seems to be legitimately spent. I have no complaint, but I feel it should all be mentioned in it's proper context. Let's see if I can draw a timeline for those who are getting started or for those just thinking about it:
It might take a couple or three weeks to get into a school after you sign up. They may have a backlog or waiting period. CDL School, for me, took three weeks, then another week for the appointment with the DOT Test Center, so we're at a total of about five to six weeks now to have a CDL in hand. Putting in applications to companies took me about two weeks before it totally sorted out to the point of "accepting an offer". Then there was another week of waiting to start orientation, due to a backlog at USA Truck. Orientation, Training, and Final Testing at USA Truck took almost five more weeks and is now finished. After that you could end up with another few days off (I'm doing that now).
In total, we're talking about four months or more... after you make a decision to sign up with a CDL school.
As a fact, I signed up with a community college for CDL school on 11-24-06. I'll be assigned a truck and some real work within the next couple days. I'll receive my first check for mileage in roughly two weeks, so that will be 03-24-07. That totals pretty close to 4 months.
You can see that most of this was pretty normal and legitimate, but I sure didn't expect it to take this long back in October or November.
One other thing to remember... I've been receiving pay since the beginning of Orientation/Training and USA Truck allows a $160 Advance each week. They also reimbursed my $94 Hazmat Background Check Fee in the first paycheck so all of this has been a big help in getting started.

Everyone have a great day!!
Mark

 

Hey again guys,boaterer[or anyone else] what kind of physical[heavy lifting,etc.]did you have to go through?I remember you posting earlier that you were a little concerned about that part.Did you have to lift so much weight over your head and/walk so far with it?I work out pretty regular,but,still my size has me really concerned about the physical part of the DOT physical!Although,I do NOT intend on doing ANY loading or UNloading!I know there are companies out there that put that in your contract.If anyone out there knows of just which comapnies do that,please post it here.Thanks to everyone for all the great & informative advice on here.All truckers.please stay alert and SAFE on the roads!

 

Hi grayco,

I haven't had to do any lifting or carrying yet. Not for DOT or USA or School... none. USA Truck says they'd rather the drivers didn't do any of it, but they do have some driver loading/unloading happening and they pay some small wage for the work. They issue each driver an invoice book and give they instructions to pay tolls, gas (if necessary) and lumpers to load/unload freight. They really seem to want drivers to avoid loading if possible. Of course this is all training... the real world may prove to be different!?!?

One thing I've heard a number of times is that you want to avoid any companies that will work you as a dock working while waiting for a trainer after their company orientation. I guess there are a few companies that do this. I've never heard of USA Truck requesting this kind of labor from any of their drivers.

I think the most strenuous part of this whole process has been two things:
1.) During the DOT physical, the doctor asked me to touch my toes, reach for the sky, and bend sideways to each side. (Easy stuff)
2.) They asked me on a number of occasions during school, training, and final testing, to drop and hook the trailer. (Again, pretty easy stuff)

No worries!

Mark

 

One note:

In the above post I mentioned paying for fuel or tolls. This, as far as I can tell, seldom happens. Our trucks have EZ Pass in them, so you just breeze right through the toll booths. You don't pay, the state bills the company without your interaction. They also give you fuel cards for Pilot and TA truck stops, so you don't have to pay for fuel either. I guess there may be a rare occasion when you'd have to pay out of pocket, then use an invoice and a receipt to be reimbursed for your expendatures. The invoices are mostly for lumpers or repairs.

Also, keep in mind, USA Truck claims about 90 or 95&#37; drop and hook, so there isn't too much loading/unoading for lumpers to do either. It just depends on the runs you're doing.

Mark

 

Hey everyone,I just got off phone with USA recruiter.She says USA[& most other companies]require at least 18 months of employment history in last three years.I have been full time mom for last 7 years or so.I am beginning to think that I may not be able to get into trucking because of this!Which really SUCKS!Does anyone out there know of another trucking company that does not have that requirement?BTW,I do not have several thousand dollars to put out.That is why I need to find a company that pays for training for me and lets me pay them back thru payroll deductions.No Swift or C R England,please.Have heard wayyy too many HORROR stories[alot from this site] about them!Any info would be greatly appreciated!Thanks.All you truckers stay safe out there!

 

Maybe try Roehl. ..Actually I thought most companies did this... Before I started the whole training thing I had been off work for over 4 years. Call it semi-retirement, playing in the garage, whatever. The biggest reason was that I was laid off and the whole country decided to ship my career type out of this country. As it were, I explained this to a number of companies, and they didn't seem to have a problem with my lack of work history (including USA Truck, obviously).
The one thing that makes me bring all of this up, is that Roehl DID have a slight problem with it. In return, they wanted me to get an affidavit signed by a couple close friends, stating that I had been "unemployed" for the past 4+ years. After that Roehl was happy with everything.

It seems the companies are under a lot of pressure from Homeland Security and the TSA to make sure they are not dealing with any terrorist (that would have no employment history). All they need to prove is who and where their prospective employee is. A signed affidavit would do this.

Also, try going through a company called Trucker's Dispatch. Her website is just like it's spelled minus the appostropy and the space, then add the dot com (or shoot me a pm and I can give it to ya).
This lady works directly with USA Truck to get your application to the right recruiter. Also, this is all done at no cost to you.

Mark

 

Gray:

I used to work for USA and now for a driver training school that sends many students to USA. Being a stay-at-home mom is fine. Our school only requires an affidavit from three people stating that you were a stay-at-home mom. That is not considered a break in employment. We get students that were stay-at-home dads and moms all of the time, and many of them go on to USA.

Hope this helps.

 

Thanks Kingpin & Boaterer & everyone else!I am going to call USA itself in a few days.Dealing with recruiters is a pain in the but,to say the least.I have talked with many of them and most seem to know basically nothing about the actual trucking companies.Please,no offense to any recruiters out there.Just my personal experiences with some of them.Does USA run West coast?I live in NOrth Carolina[East coast----unfortunately].I am even willing to relocate just to be able to drive Weat coast!And,NO NYC!Does USA allow drivers to take their rig home or what?I have so many un-answered questions.But,for some reason,USA still sticks with me.Is there an even better company out there?I recieved some info from Werner in the mail today.I have some real HORROR stories about them,tho.I live only 2 inutes from Future Truckers of America.They deal with Werner,but,I don't think Werner actually pays for the training.Anyone out there know?I know Swift deals with them too and does pay for training,but,I am staying away from that company!C R England,too.Anything anyone can advise would be very greatly appreciated!Trucker's,stay safe out there!!!

 

USA runs East of the rockies. no NYC, and a specific Co. recruiter will know/disclose more info than a multi-company recruiter