Newdriver,
If you go back through this entire thread you'll notice I've not used any real names for company personel. The only real name I have used is my own first name when I sign a post. This has all been by design. I don't think we should do that, so I won't answer your question of 'Who is your FM?'
To answer your concerns a little:
1.) If you're not happy with your FM, talk to his boss and ask for a new FM. You don't need to point fingers or direct blame. Just say it's not working so well and you'd like to try a different FM.
2.) If your miles are down, try explaining you need more and ask what YOU can do to get more. They may have some advise as to what you can do differently. If it's souly their fault, they may suddenly realize this and give you some better runs.
3.) If you can verify the maintenance time you were off and it really was due to they maintenance on you're truck, try explaining this to the FM, then his boss (the Group Manager), then to payroll. Maybe they aren't communicating completely?
4.) Always use the Quall Comm!!! This is a written record of your communication and it carries a much greater weight than a simple phone call!!!! You will probably want to call on the phone too, because it's easier to explain things on the phone, rather than type it all on the Quall Comm.... but always use the Quall Comm if it's important!!!
5.) A couple times, in the beginning, I waited for a load longer than a half hour after I sent a mac 13 (empty call). I'd send the mac 13 and wait 30 minutes. Then I'd call the FM and ask about it. At the same time, I'd send a freeform asking about the next load (this is the written backup of the phone call). After 30 more minutes I'd repeat the process with another freeform and another phone call. Do this every 30 minutes. After about two of three 'late load' occurances, the FM realized I wasn't going to fool around with late loads. He quickly got his #### together, and I haven't had a late load since. I usually get another load in about 20 minutes or sooner. Many of them are pre-planned and come right away. The key here is to hold them accountable EVERY TIME, and do it in a friendly, cordial way. You are teaching them to get their #### together everywhere you are concerned. They have a reputation to keep too!!
Hope this helps!?
Mark
USA Truck, Inc. - Van Buren, Ar.?
Discussion in 'Motor Carrier Questions - The Inside Scoop' started by mykel58, Aug 22, 2006.
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Wow, guess I could have saved a lot of typing. <grin>.
Hope the new company works out well!
Mark -
just got back from my first 4 weeks solo! got an old truck with lots of miles but it pulls good. only thing wrong is the ICON idle is messed up, it runs all night long !! LOL i'm up to 40 % idle time fuel dept gonna have a cow LMAO! but i have documented proof where i've attempted to have it fixed. so far USA and my FM have been good to me. if i have to send another message after the 13 my FM says you're number 1,2,3,4 or whatever on the board.
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Just completed my training (5 weeks) and testing out (upgrade) as USA Truck calls it and I'll give you the straight coup for those who are considering going with USA Truck to start the driving carrer. But before I do, let me explain how I came to be a trucker. I've been a long time reader of the Truckers Report (October 2006) and have spent hours reviewing the treads in regards to trucking companies and the industry as a whole before I decided to jump in with both feet to make trucking my new venture. I currently live in the Detroit metro area and was a mortgage banker for many years. During the hay days, the money was rolling in faster then I could count it. Then all of sudden the bottom just fall out. As many of you know Michigan's economy has deteriorated the past few years but were still number one in many categories, employment, foreclosures, job losses, hosing values (going down), taxes, so on and so on
. The saying around here's: The last one out please don't forget to turn off the lights when you leave. Enough said there. Remember, there's no crying in baseball!!!!!!! Any movie buffs??????
Now back to my story. Before trucking became my new career and I starting talking to friends and family about my decision and would ya know everyone knew of or had a family member that was a trucker. This became very helpful to preparing me for what lied ahead. And beleive me, it certainly became valuable information. Everything from truck driving schools, to companies, the lifestyle and their own experiences!!!! Anyone who has #####, Moan ,Whine and Complained about the trucking industry certainly didn't do any homework what so every. Propably woke up one morning and decided to become a trucker. NOT THE BEST THING TO DO.
What to expect when you go to USA Truck. This is my experience and depending on were you live and what school you attended, your encounter might be different. My orientattion was in Vandalia, OH. Bus out thru Greyhound (hate public transportattion) Monday morning, traing starts Tuesday @ 6:30am, don't be late!!!! First day consist of your DOT physical (CAN'T LEAVE THE ROOM TILL THIS IS COMPLETE). Next road test (7miles long) , backing (90 degree) and you have only 15 minutes to complete, no brainer there, just don't forget to G.O.A.L. several times. The rest of the O is paperwork, qualcomm, log books etc.etc.etc. Then back to the hotel by 5:00pm. Hotel accomendations: Howard Johnson. Basic rooms nothing fancy. Continental breakfast, lunch company provides and dinner, you're are on your own. The hotel does have a shuttle bus and you can go into town. Walmart is there and all kinds of restaurants. Smokers (I'm one), ask for a non-smoking room and go smoke outside. The second floor hallway and your room stink so bad for all the past smokers, that I even couldn't stand the smell OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Orienatation is completed by Thursday afternoon and assignments to your trainers is dispatched from the terimal. Some guys leave right away, some later that night and some bye Sunday evening. C-1 students go right from school to their trainers, then you have your 3/4 day orientation in Van Buren, AR.
My experience. Left Vandalia, OH for Georegetown, KY. Mircotel is where I stayed with about 8 other trainees. Left for training @ 11:00pm Sunday night. My trainers runs were all regional and was back in Georegetwon every Saturday morning. Hot shower and a big bed. You need to take your wash next door to the Comfort Suites because the Microtel doesn't have a washer and dryer. The people at the Comfort Suites are realy nice and they'll allow you to use their facility, just ask them first. Training last 4/6 weeks depending on your route. This is also team driving not team training, whice means your trainer sleeps while you drive and vise versa. So, get use to driving 95% of the time by yourself. Depending on your trainer, it could be day or night. ME, I drove all 5 weeks at night. I enjoyed driving by myself. Gets you used to solo driving. Just remember, asked lots of questions and get involved in all the other daily activities, qualcomm usage, counting the inventory before being loaded, backing into the docks, scales, fueling etc.etc.etc. And most of all, get plenty of sleep, you'll need it, especially if you drive a night.
Next, arrived back to Georgetwon, KY after my last day of trainig, 7:00am. Did the usual that day, as I have done the past five weekends. Then to the Greyhound bus terminal 9:00pm. Left for Van Buren, AR. Arrived at the hotel @ Midnight. 4 hours of sleep and then to corp. for the final upgrade. Real simple, take a road test log and general quetions (most of the answers are in your road Atlas) and route planning. I failed the log and routing part of the test, how PATHELIC!!!!!!!! :smt075 What was I thinking, 26 hours in a Greyhound bus/terimal and only 4 hours of sleep. Next day, no problem there. Done before lunch. Spend the rest of the day at the terimal, meet my fleet manger and was on my way home.
Home for five full days of some much needed R & R. Have to call on Tuesday for my truck and 1st assignment. I'll update when I get back home again, 5 weeks.
Have a safe and happy holiday weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Sounds like quite an adventure. Glad you endured it and good luck with your career!:smt023
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(BTW: thanks for sharing your story)_ -
Good question!!! I'm sure many of you have asked yourself the same thing. What was this guy thinking or smoking!!!! The past 20 years I've been in some sort of sales capacity or another, for the most part retail. You name it and I've sold it. Everything from vacuum clearners to mens and women cologne (the early days) to RV's (motorcycles, atv's, snowmobiles) I really enjoyed working in that indusrty, to motor homes, yellow page advertising, telecom, like I said, you name it and I sold it!!!! 95% of these companies were all 100% commision, no base salary. Mostly it was here's your desk, there's the phone, go get'em!!!!!! I haven't use a time clock in those 20 years. Do companies still use them????? Well, the past 10 years have been spent sitting in a office cubicle, some no bigger then an outhouse or for the ladys, a linen closet. After a while that gets to be really boring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! After the mortgage bust, I had to retool and it wouldn't be the first time of starting all over again.
Back to your question! When I was a young boy, I always had an ambition of becoming a truck driver. Don't ask my why (I know you just did), just wanted to be a trucker. Here I'm, ready to turn 44 years old this August and I can't wait to get my first truck and assignment. How ironic!!!! Talk about a mid life crisis!!!!!
The main reason I've chosen the trucking indusrty is that I've lived my entire life in Michigan and even thought it offers a variety of activities, it just gets old after awhile. Winter sucks around here (no snow anymore), summers weather doesn't show up till late June, oh boy!!!! Called the family while training and they had to turn the heat on in late April to stay warm. Here I'm in the Carolina's in my SHORTS and T-SHIRT getting a tan. TODAY is the first day we haven't had any RAIN. Started Friday morning and didn't stop till yesterday evening. Start packing, were out of here. Besides. how many jobs do you know of that let you live anywhere in the county and you don't have to worry about the unemployment situation, the economy, downsizing. If you're sitting, it's by choice, not design. So basically, trucking is my way out of Michigan.
As you can tell, I'm not a "one line" answer guy. If I'm boring anybody or rambling on to much, sorry, just my personality. When I get my truck number, I'll have my girlfriend post it. If you happen to see me, stop by and say hello!!!! -
Thanks for sharing. I get wordy too... good luck out there. -
Also, I am not a "big fat, lazy, dirty slob" - I am big, fat, and sometimes a bit lazy, but not a dirty slob -
It's amazing...
I'm new to this board and just about to go to work for USA after a hiatus from the industry for 10 years.
From 93 to 95 I worked for Arrow Trucking out of Tulsa. And ya know something... Things haven't changed one bit. I see more complaining and whining from people in this industry than any other industry I have come in contact with.
I left trucking because of spouse problems. She couldn't handle me being out, not even regional where I was home at least every two weeks, most of the time every weekend. Needless to say, she's now history and I got the itch to get back to what I loved doing. You might ask... Why not go back to Arrow... Well, I am a little older now and flatbedding is, IMO, for the young guys. Twelve years ago I didn't mind getting out there and tarping a load in 20 degree weather. Not sure I feel the same way now, lol.
Anyway, what I am saying is this... I have to go back to step one, yeah, school and all because I let my CDL go. New guys, take this advice from someone who has done it before... Keep your mouth shut and your eyes and ears wide open as you go through your training period. You'll have your chance to essentially be your own driver soon enough. Act like a PROFESSIONAL. Remember you are a newbie (as I have to be now even though I do have previous experience). If you are told to take a load, take it. New York, Chicago, LA, whatever... Those cities will give you valuable driving experience that you will NOT find anywhere else in the US. Any moron can hold a wheel and guide a truck down a major interstate. It's the tight areas where you REALLY learn how to drive a truck. Get to know your dispatcher... You dont have to become chums, but it is always better to be on their good side than their bad side. You will get better trips, better miles, and get home with MUCH more ease than if you constantly whine and ##### to them... Did I mention, ACT PROFESSIONAL? Not only with your dispatchers but also with your shippers and recievers. Remember... All they have to do is pick up a phone and complain about you and you will wind up on the short end of the stick. The biggest thing is that you need to understand is that you are just starting in this, there are multitudes of people in the industry that have more experience than you do and 90% of them are happy to share their experience with you if you just ask. Last thing, believe only half of what you see and none of what you hear. Most of the whining and complaining done on these sites or on the CB (ESPECIALLY the CB) is done by people who couldn't follow these really simple guidelines to becoming successful in this industry. Sure, you are gonna have to take your lumps as a newbie, just as in any industry. Keep a good professional attitude and you will go far. Whine and cry about everything and you will find yourself sitting at a lot of truck stops waiting for loads.bigpapa7272 Thanks this.
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