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want to be a truck driver need advice

Discussion in 'USA Truck' started by cr62269, Sep 17, 2013.

Page 1 of 3
  1. Sep 17, 2013 #1
    cr62269

    cr62269 Bobtail Member

    17
    4
    Sep 17, 2013
    Belleville, IL
    0
    hello, Im trying to become a truck driver and i have an agent suggesting USA Trucking to me. the training program looks great. They promise UP TO $36000 in your first year. I will need $30,000 to maintain my current standard of living (maybe less but not much). I've been reading forums and reviews and I am hearing some very negative things about working for USA trucking. The one that concerns me is that former USA truck drivers are saying they only made $200 or $300 a week. That is tragic if it is true. Is it? I understand that you don't make much while you are training (after school) but what about when you have been with the company for a couple months or longer. Do the drivers get enough miles to make a living? I'm looking at going over the road and I was hoping for around 2400 miles a week (at least)

    thanks.
     
    cr62269, Sep 17, 2013
    cr62269, Sep 17, 2013
    #1
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  3. Sep 17, 2013 #2
    SweetDaddy2

    SweetDaddy2 Light Load Member

    77
    26
    Sep 15, 2013
    America Communist Republic
    0
    With all due respect I can promise you an elephant can hang over the side of a cliff a use its tail to hold onto a twig branch but does tht mean the elephant can really don it
     
    SweetDaddy2, Sep 17, 2013
    SweetDaddy2, Sep 17, 2013
    #2
    D.Tibbitt, Truckergirl0720, Reycer and 1 other person Thank this.
  4. Sep 17, 2013 #3
    D.Tibbitt

    D.Tibbitt Road Train Member

    19,660
    130,560
    Apr 26, 2013
    Gettin' down westbound
    0
    a point of advice. when somebody says UP to $36,000. They mean anywhere from $0 - $36,000
     
    D.Tibbitt, Sep 17, 2013
    D.Tibbitt, Sep 17, 2013
    #3
    Truckergirl0720, cr62269 and blairandgretchen Thank this.
  5. Sep 17, 2013 #4
    falcon241073

    falcon241073 Heavy Load Member

    997
    360
    Oct 25, 2011
    Germantown, TN
    0
    I made $34, 000 my first year solo at usa. And I didnt get the $600 a week gurantee for 2months like yhey new guys do now. There are good, bad, and great weeks. It depends on your hustle and your DM. Good luck.


    Oh and don't believe half stuff you read or hear. Good or bad. Especially the bad.
     
    falcon241073, Sep 17, 2013
    falcon241073, Sep 17, 2013
    #4
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  7. Sep 17, 2013 #5
    capper17

    capper17 Light Load Member

    136
    145
    Sep 6, 2013
    Stuart, IA
    0
    Well I can't yet speak from experience from a drivers perspective, I can pass on some sound advice that I have received while researching my decision to enter the industry. First, decide what kinda of hauling you want to for the most part. Second, put in the time and due diligence to research a lot of different companies while understanding that no company will have a perfect reputation, especially on the internet, but try and weed out fact from fiction the best you can. Third, when considering pay look at what the companies/recruiters are advertising and take that as a best case scenario and then decide if you can survive comfortably on 75% of that figure to be safe and realistic. Finally, after all that is said and done go with the company that you feel will be the best fit for "you" and not necessarily the best one for someone else. Due your year, pay your dues, then re-evaluate as needed.
     
    capper17, Sep 17, 2013
    capper17, Sep 17, 2013
    #5
    blairandgretchen and cr62269 Thank this.
  8. Sep 17, 2013 #6
    cr62269

    cr62269 Bobtail Member

    17
    4
    Sep 17, 2013
    Belleville, IL
    0
    Thanks, I'm sitting hear waiting for them to call me back. I like the training I'm going to get. I cannot survive on 2 or 3 hundred a week, but i can survive on 5. I want to go over the road. I currently work retail as an assistant manager. I don't want to do that anymore and I am really looking forward to being an over the road truck driver. I hope it works out and I hope I get miles. I will be signing a one year contract and if i'm stuck there for a year and can't make any money it will not be good for me financially.
     
    cr62269, Sep 17, 2013
    cr62269, Sep 17, 2013
    #6
  9. Sep 17, 2013 #7
    Muleman55

    Muleman55 Medium Load Member

    667
    226
    Mar 29, 2011
    Hot Springs,AR
    0
    I suggest you look at a different career. This gets crazier every year. The new generation of drivers are careless, bad attitudes and a lot of thugs and majority poorly trained.
     
    Muleman55, Sep 17, 2013
    Muleman55, Sep 17, 2013
    #7
    cr62269 and blairandgretchen Thank this.
  10. Sep 17, 2013 #8
    cr62269

    cr62269 Bobtail Member

    17
    4
    Sep 17, 2013
    Belleville, IL
    0
    Driver Solutions called me back. USA has put some sort of hold on hiring. A few of the current students are getting in but some will have to be told they have to wait.
     
    cr62269, Sep 17, 2013
    cr62269, Sep 17, 2013
    #8
    Chinatown Thanks this.
  11. Sep 17, 2013 #9
    blairandgretchen

    blairandgretchen Road Train Member

    12,048
    60,659
    Dec 9, 2011
    South west Missouri
    0
    Then forget them. Research other companies.
    You'll fare better if you get your own CDL , the $3k investment is worth it. Look at Schneider, they pay u back for your training after a year, rather than give you training and hold it over you.
    Check Prime. Stay away from lease purchase.
    Good luck.
    I made $34k my first year at .32 CPM running all I could, averaged 2900 miles. (10 years ago now). Good luck.
     
    blairandgretchen, Sep 17, 2013
    blairandgretchen, Sep 17, 2013
    #9
    cr62269 and fr8te_sh8ker Thank this.
  12. Sep 17, 2013 #10
    DGStrong71

    DGStrong71 Road Train Member

    1,279
    407
    Feb 22, 2013
    70° west
    0
    I believe USA has a problem with a lack of trainers and available trucks right now. It would probably be pointless to bring in more students than they can train or have available trucks for.
     
    DGStrong71, Sep 17, 2013
    DGStrong71, Sep 17, 2013
    #10
    cr62269 Thanks this.
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