USA Truck Training

actually usa is going back to the standard transmission. won't be fully implemented till sometime in 2012 though. the autos are having too many issues. (hate to tell them it isn't just the automatics that are causing the issues. )

 

I sure have enjoyed reading these posts, especially WVroadtrucker's. I applied with Drivers Solution 3 weeks ago but I started reading posts about how bad these company's are so I have not committed. I live in central Texas, I spent the last decade as a police officer, have no criminal record and a perfect driving record for the last 21 years. Driver Solution is burning my phone up to let them send me to the driving school in Fort Worth, Texas. I'm still trying to decide what to do? By the way I am 40 years old if that makes a difference. Any opinions would be appreciated...

 

Joeypayne, I went to Ft, Worth Drivers Solutions course. They did what they said they would do, and thats get me a CDL. Thats about it. If thats what you want, listen and learn, and keep an open mind. When I was there, about 5 or 6 of us kinda got together and helped each other out. Then theres the people that stand around and whine. Stay away from them, it will get you down. Its just like truck stops, cant go near one that someone is not complaing about something. With you being a police office, Im sure your very good at reading people. Surround yourself with good people and good things will happen. Good luck.

 

your right about that motofish! While i was with USA listened to lots of their drivers complain and whine.I would see the same ones at the terminals on a regular basis.Myself never had any problems with them .They kept me busy and got me home on the day i requested to be home.

 

the automatics have no power, and they break a whole lot more.
In any vehicle, an automatic transmission is a lot more complex than a manual. So it is going to break more.

Automatics just don't belong in trucks.

So usa is not buying any new automatics. Any auto-shift truck that they have now, they will still use it until it is 3 years old. Then sell it. 3 years or 500,000 miles. so there will still be some autoshifts for a few years.

 

After my upgrade training I was assigned an international 9400 with 10 speed transmission. I hated that truck and I am now in an International Prostar with an automatic. I thought I would hate the automatic but since last tuesday night I have become a bit attached to the automatic. I am broke down right now in Paris Texas. Friday night while at Campbells soup the ignition switch developed a problem. It won't let me "crank" the engine. I can't get the switch to rotate to the far right to crank, it stops at the on position. I also expect a dead battery too, when I locked the truck I noticed some instrument lights was lit and I could not get the switch to fully shut it all off. I think my fleet manager is going to love to hear how all of this happened right on the scales at the main entrance.

 

and knowing their breakdown department like i do i know they sent someone right out to get you fixed up lol

 

Hey I spent almost 2 hours stranded on the scales at the Campbells soup main entrance. I dropped the trailer right on the scale and after the wrecker pulled the tractor out a yard dog took the trailer away. I hope I can get it back empty once my tractor is fixed. If not its a long way back to Dallas to get one. My fleet manager is going to be so happy about all of this tomorrow. Plus I got over $200 worth of hotel bills.

 

thats pretty good for their breakdown department.So where did they end up taking your tractor?

 

the biggest problem with usa is not their tractors, it is their beat up trailers.
Almost every one you hook up to has something wrong with it.
A missing mud flap,
a bad break light,
a bad license plate light.
jacked up doors.
messed up landing gear.

and DOT is on USA so bad, that any small thing, like a bad license plate light, will get you put out of service.

And breakdown will try and get you to temporarily fix something, instead of getting it fixed right.