USA Truck Paid CDL Training Review – Company Sponsored CDL Training

If you find that you need a new job, but you lack a degree in a new field, the paid CDL training program at USA Truck may be the answer. As a nationally recognized trucking company, they can help to provide you with the chance of a lifetime at top company sponsored truck driving schools so that you can get your company paid CDL training.

You see, it works like this. USA Truck has created long-lasting partnerships with eight of the nation’s best truck driving schools which help men and women with absolutely no trucking experience get the truck driver training they need to become a professional truck driver.

All you have to do is fill out an online application at USA Truck and, if you qualify, they’ll set you up with a truck driving school, free of charge. USA Truck will pay your tuition, and when you complete the program, you’ll work off the cost of the program by driving full-time for USA Truck for at least 1 year.

USA Truck will only deduct $20 from your weekly paycheck your first year, up to $1000. At the end of the year, USA Truck will then refund the $1000 back to you.

USA Truck has partnered with the following schools:

• 160 Driving Academy
• Central Tech Truck Driving School
• ATDS Truck Driving School
• Northwest Technical Institute
• University of Arkansas – Fort Smith
• Chattanooga State
• Houston Community College

Don’t like any of the truck driving schools that USA Truck has partnered with? No problem. USA Truck is flexible enough to allow you to choose your own truck driving school to train at. The bad news is you’ll have to pay your own tuition costs up front.

The good news is USA Truck will reimburse you, up to $5000, once you graduate and start driving for them, adding an extra $100 to your salary each month. Please note that, if you received any kind of federal grant money while attending truck driving school, you will not be eligible for tuition reimbursement.

Once you graduate from the truck driving school, you’ll then attend the USA Truck orientation program. You have four different locations to choose from:

1. Tipp City, Ohio
2. Atlanta, Georgia
3. West Memphis, Arkansas
4. Van Buren, Arkansas

Your recruiter will arrange for your transportation. Just make sure that you arrive early at the bus station. Once you arrive at your destination, you’ll call the hotel or taxi service that’s listed on the directions provided by USA Truck. All hotel accommodations are double occupancy, with upgrades being available. The next morning you’ll meet in the hotel lobby at 6:30 a.m. to catch the shuttle to class. A continental breakfast and lunch will be available.

You must bring:

• Valid Class A CDL License.
• Social Security Card.
• Two forms of identification as required by the I-9 form.
• DOT Physical and Medical card.
• Truck driving school diploma.
• Deposit slip or voided check to set up direct deposit.
• Names, SS numbers, and birth dates of any dependents you may have for insurance enrollment.
• Money to cover evening meals and personal expenses during orientation.
• Medical items such as eye glasses, hearing aids, CPAP machine, 30-day supply of medications.
• 7-10 changes of clothing for different climates. NO tank tops, sleeveless shirts, offensive items.
• Work boots/shoes. NO flip-flops, sandals, cowboy boots. Proper footwear required for road test.
• Soap, shampoo, toothbrush, tooth paste, deodorant, shower shoes, 2 towels, and 2 washcloths.
• Bedding such as a pillow, twin-sized sheets and blankets, or a sleeping bag.
• Sunglasses, alarm clock, flashlight, work gloves, calculator, Rand McNally Road Atlas/Map.
• Do NOT over pack or use rigid suitcases that are hard to store in a truck.
• You’ll most likely be limited to 1 piece of luggage under 50 lbs. & 1 carry-on that is under 25 lbs.

Orientation lasts 4 to 5 days and will cover employment benefits, pay, safety procedures, and operational procedures. You’ll also be required to do some lot training, such as backing and shifting, as you get affiliated with the Smith System inside the trucks. The instructors will also go over the electronic logging procedures with you.

Other topics discussed include:

• Hours of Service
• Hazardous Materials
• Injury Prevention
• Cargo Securement
• Truck Permits
• Fuel Economy
• Maintenance Procedures

Here is a quick breakdown of the orientation schedule:

Once you complete the orientation program, you’ll then start your one-on-one over-the-road training. OTR training consists of 4 weeks on the road with a personal trainer. The trainer will observe and guide you from the jump seat while you are dispatched on solo runs. Once you accumulate 9,000 logged miles, you’ll be ready for your own assigned truck.

You’ll get paid $525 per week during your OTR training. Please note that you’ll only get home time if your personal trainer gets home time. Either way, you should expect to be away from home during the entire 4 weeks of training.

Since the trucks are double-bunked, you will not have to worry about lodging. However, you will be required to provide your own meals. Newer trucks usually have a cooler or small refrigerator on board so, you should be able to pack your meals. You can also request a personal trainer who doesn’t smoke.

Once you accumulate the required 9,000 miles, you’ll then be ready for your own vehicle. USA Truck will assign you your own truck and you’ll start doing solo runs on your own.

As a starting driver, you can expect to make 32 cents per mile for the first 6 months. Then, after 6 months, you’ll receive a 5cpm increase, making 37 cents per mile. After 1 year, you’ll get a 1 cent increase per mile.

USA Truck is also a very beneficial company to work for when it comes to time at home with your family, as they are aware of the importance of spending time with the ones you love, especially after being away on the road for days on end. That’s why every 5 days that a driver is out, they get a 34-hour restart at home. For every 12 days that a driver is out, they get every other weekend at home.

All in all, USA Truck offers company paid training for those who don’t have their CDL and if you already have your CDL, you may still be eligible for a $5,000 reimbursement.

We like how USA Truck has set up their paid CDL training program because it’s like going to a free truck driving school, since they’ve partnered with the private truck driving schools but they pay your tuition so you don’t have to.

Benefits:

• No-cost training with your choice of 8 different company sponsored CDL schools.
• Guaranteed full-time employment for at least 12 months upon graduating.
• If you drive for USA Truck for at least 1 year, you’ll get $1000 tuition reimbursement.
• Tuition refund up to $5000 paid out at $100/month if you went to a non-sponsored CDL school.
• Absolutely no experience required to qualify.
• No credit checks.
• You’ll get paid $535 during orientation.
• You are paid weekly and get to choose your home time.
• You’ll earn up to $40,000 your first year.
• You’ll average 1,800 to 2,000 miles weekly on a 51/2 day work week.
• You’ll operate newer equipment that is traded in every 36 months.
• You’ll be assigned your own late-model Freightliner, Kenworth, or International truck.
• Most trucks have APUs, electronic logs, GPS Navigation, and driver comfort systems installed.
• All trucks are governed at 63 mph.
• USA Truck is a medium haul carrier meaning most of their drivers have regional routes.
• Most of the time, you’ll only drive within 500 miles of your home.
• The majority of drivers are given a dedicated route within 6 to 12 months of employment.
• Safety & performance bonuses every quarter, from $500 to $1625, based on miles driven.
• Veterans are eligible to receive a $1000 Hiring Heroes bonus.
• High value “add-up” pay for layovers, detention, breakdowns, extra stops, and NYC pay.
• You’ll get layover pay of $75 per day after the first 24 hours.
• You’ll get a maximum of $75 detention pay.
• 65% to 75% of all freight is drop and hook and there are no multi-stops.
• No forced dispatch.
• You’ll get to select when and where you take time off.
• You’ll get full benefits, including major medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.
• After 1 year you’ll get 1 week paid vacation. After 2 years, 2 weeks and then 3 weeks yearly.
• You’re allowed 1 de-clawed cat or 1 non-violent dog with a shot record and a $500 deposit.
• After 60 days you can have a 12 year-old passenger during the Summer. $10/month deduction.
• After 60 days you can have a 16 year-old passenger during the Winter. $10/month deduction.

Requirements:

• You must be at least 22 years of age.
• You must possess a valid driver’s license.
• You must live within 25 miles of USA Truck’s sponsored schools in order to be considered.
• You must be a U.S. citizen or legally allowed to work in the United States.
• You must have a recent satisfactory work record that can be verified.
• You must pass a criminal history background check.
• You must pass a FMCSA Pre-Employment screening report.
• Your driving record cannot contain any DOT violations within the past 3 years.
• Your driving record cannot contain more than 3 moving violations within the past 3 years.
• Your driving record cannot contain any drug/alcohol related convictions within the past 5 years.
• Your CMV report may be reviewed.
• You must be able to pass a DOT medical examination.
• You must be able to pass a drug test.
• You cannot have more than 1 moving violation within a year of your application date.
• In order to be eligible for the $5000 tuition refund, you must not have received school grants.
• If you quit within your first year as a USA Truck driver you won’t receive a $1000 tuition refund.

USA Truck Paid CDL Training Locations:

160 Driving Academy
320 S. Greenbay Road
Waukegan, IL 60085

Central Technology Center
Truck Driver Training
3 CT Circle
Drumright, OK 74030

ATDS Truck Driving School
124 Truckers Lane
Elm Mott, TX 76640

Northwest Technical Institute
709 S. Old Missouri Road
Springdale, AR 72764

University of Arkansas – Fort Smith
5210 Grand Avenue
Fort Smith, AR 72904

Chattanooga State
4501 Amnicola Hwy
Chattanooga, TN 37406