USA Truck Driving School

You know what we mean - wake up, get ready for work, drive the same route each day, do the same job (such as operating a  forklift) over and over with seemingly no signs of progress or change.

Steven was in a similar spot before he decided to go after a truck driver job.  In fact, Steven went to another truck driving school prior to finding Driver Solutions.  He soon found out that a school with credit checks and loans was not the best option for him.  Driver Solutions, on the other hand, was able to find a company to sponsor his training (USA Truck) which meant no upfront tuition money and no credit checks. 

Not only was the ability to travel the country appealing to Steven, he also wanted to provide a better living for his family.  With a wife and 2 kids there were some upcoming expenses (such as dance school) he was going to have to take on and the first year potential salary that comes along with a truck driver job was encouraging.

We were able to catch up with Steven while he was waiting on this USA Truck Driver Trainer to pick him up.  Watch the video above for more from Steven! 

Considering A Truck Driving Job?
Are you ready to make a change?  If you like the idea of seeing the open road and getting paid to do it, go ahead and complete our secure online application to schedule a time to speak with a Driver Agent about your training and job options in the trucking industry. 

I started truck driving school in order to move into a new career field. I had actually wanted to drive for a long time and always talked myself out of it. This time I went through with it and completed the challenge of attending the truck driving school in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The course curriculum is intense and demanding, but very thorough and rewarding. When you finally test out and go to State to take the actual CDL skills exam that will give you a CDL Class A, it all pays off.

I am looking forward to starting my career with my carrier USA Truck.

Name: Mark D Pankratz
City: Cincinnati
State: OH
Approx Class Start Date: January 9, 2012

Driving trucks is something I always wanted to do. When I was a kid, I used to help my dad out on the farm an be at awe over the big trucks. Its was from then on I have always been fasinated by them.

When I was 12 yrs old, my dad passed away from a job accident and I was devistated. After I had gotten married I was laid off from a furniture retailer after being with that company for ten years. My wonderful wife told me 'You always talk about it, do it baby'. So I made the call to Drivers Solutions an went to trucking school in indianapolis, IN. A year has passed an I still enjoy every bit of my career, I'm with USA Truck and I'm about to enter there Driver Trainer program. Dreams do come true and if my dad was here, he would be so proud of my accomplishment.

Your Name: Timothy Seay
Truck Driver: Timothy Seay

If you are thinking about starting a trucking career, it’s vital that you have the right tools to help you learn and find success. The first thing you need to do is look for an effective training program that can teach you the skills and information needed to earn your CDL.

The best CDL training schools should have trainers with several years experience in the trucking industry, and should provide opportunities for students to learn rules and regulations in a classroom as well as get hands on driving experience.

Another great way to learn is from other drivers' experiences. We’ve put together a few quick links to some of the most helpful interviews of students that have gone through the Driver Solutions company-paid CDL training program.

Check out these articles and interviews to get some great tips on what to expect from trucking driving school:

•    Making Friends at Truck Driving School
•    Tips on Passing the Pre-trip Inspection
•    3 Part Interview with a USA Truck Driver
•    Getting a CDL License at Truck Driving School
•    Trucking School – It’s What You Make It

Driver Solutions is devoted to providing drivers with the right tools to start a successful career in the trucking industry. Our hassle-free training program offers an environment that fosters learning, allowing you to get your CDL and find great opportunities for your career.

If you’re ready to jump into the driver’s seat, take a few minutes to complete our online driver application and learn more about your trucking career options.

Are you looking for a trucking company that has a good compensation package and offers training that will help you improve your skills as a truck driver? There are thousands of driving jobs in the country today. When choosing a company to work for, it's important to get into a company that not only offers high pay and great benefits but also offer career growth opportunities.

USA Trucking is one of the leading trucking companies in the country that is continuously striving for quality service through on-time cargo arrival and efficient business processes. Just recently, they were given the 2010 Dedicated Carrier of the Year Award. This goes to show how serious the company is in assuring their customers that they only get quality service from them. Part of their quality service is proper training for drivers.

Drivers from this company are in demand in the industry because of the valuable training and experience they received. Be one of these drivers by getting into a truck driver training school that is affiliated with this trucking company. You can qualify for the company's driving positions if you graduate from a respectable school recognized by leading companies.

Let Driver Solutions help you get driving jobs from leading companies in the industry. Enroll in our training program today. You can visit us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more information on our program and company affiliations.

I arrived at truck driving school in Fort Wayne, Indiana on July 4, 2011 unsure of what to expect. I began classes the following morning and was hit with tons of paperwork to sign, a DOT physical to take, cups to pee in (lol) all after being talked to by John Triplett, the school director, (who was awesome!). Then Ivan (classroom instructor) came in after lunch and began our classroom training. He made the days fun with his uncanny charm and demeanor!

Week 2 began with all of us "newbies" on the range huddled in our own little group not sure of what to expect.  Then the roll call began and we were told which range we would be on during training. The range/road instructors were the bomb! I had direct contact with Ryan, Andre, and Kevin on the Range and Brian and Sam on the road.  I learned so much from those guys! They have a great amount of knowledge between them, but you have the have the right attitude and listen to what they have to share with you!

I am honored to have had the opportunity to attend trucking school in Fort Wayne, In through the Driver Solutions Program and look forward to beginning my new career with USA Truck.

Name: Melissa Johnson
City: Plain City
State: Ohio
Approx Class Start Date: 07/05/2011

Hi Melissa,

Thank you for taking the time to leave a review.  We're glad you enjoyed your time at training and wish you the best of luck in your new trucking career with USA Truck.  Please keep us posted on your progress.

Best Wishes,
The Driver Solutions Team

If you're looking to obtain your CDL and find a trucking job with no experience, you may be wondering:

• How do I get started?
• What does the process look like?

Here are 3 posts to help answers these questions:

• Are You Trying to Find Trucking Jobs with No Experience?
• How to Pay for Truck Driving School
• Getting a CDL License at Trucking School

The key to starting a trucking career is to secure an entry level trucking job and build your experience over the first year behind the wheel.  Once you've proven yourself in the industry, you'll improve your chances to advance or move on to something new within trucking. 

It's not uncommon for us to talk with a CDL training grad that's advanced to a Driver Trainer position with a company like USA Truck or PAM Transport in a year or less.  It's also not uncommon to talk with a graduate that has put in a year of over-the-road driving and moved on to a local trucking job with more home time. 

If you would like to start the process of finding a trucking job with no experience, complete our online application today.  This will allow you to schedule a time to speak with a Driver Agent about your trucking career options. 

Today, we have a guest blog post from Marsh Carroll.  Driver Solutions intitially connected with Marsh via a tweet about texting while driving.  Marsh was kind enough to send us a link to his new hit music video - Won't Start Texting. 

We checked out the video and decided we had to share this on our blog.  Marsh was able to connect with us via the Driver Solutions Facebook page to make this is a possibility.

Texting while driving is a serious issue that's definitely been a hot topic lately.  While not something to joke around about, Marsh does a great job of putting together a "fun" approach to a very serious topic.  Enjoy!

Below is the guest blog post from Marsh about his new texting while driving video (featured above).

Won’t Start Texting – A New Music Video About Distracted Driving.

Howdy!  My name is Marsh Carroll and I am a high school science teacher in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. I am also the safety officer so I train my co-workers annually about the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS).  This past year, to spice up the training, I composed a folk song called “The WHMIS Warble”. It became a YouTube sensation. A USA Today reporter saw it and asked me to make an American version – The OSHA “HAZCOM Song” was born. The HAZCOM Song became a huge YouTube hit. (As the trucking industry knows, HAZCOM is an important component in the transportation of dangerous goods.)

ZoomSafer, a company dedicated to reducing the level of distracted driving,  enjoyed that song so much that it asked me to make a music video about the dangers of distracted driving, specifically texting while driving . “Won’t Start Texting” was the result.

Won’t Start Texting tells the story of a trucker who has to transport 400 chickens and a pig from East to West.  There are distractions along the way but he makes sure to live by the chorus:

“Won’t Start Texting / Resisting That Temptation / Eyes on the Road / To My Destination”

I hope you enjoy the video and remember, texting and driving do not mix in any country.
Thank you.

For links to all my songs and more about me, visit www.marshcarroll.com.

Many people who are looking for better income opportunities have considered getting into the trucking industry. As a truck driver, you can earn as much as $40,000 in the first year.  And it gets even better as you gain more experience and continue to advance within the company to positions such as a driver trainer.  The setback, however, in planning to start a career in truck driving is the training cost.

A couple of weeks to a month's worth of training can cost you several thousands of dollars.  For many people, coming up with $4,000.00 - $7,000.00 isn't an option.  So, what do you do if you don't have the resources to pay for your training fee?  Do you just pass up on this great career opportunity?

If you are serious about becoming a truck driver, you can look for trucking companies that offer CDL training. Because of the demand for qualified drivers, trucking companies like USA Trucking are now able to sponsor drivers who have what it takes to be part of their growing team of drivers. With a company-sponsored program, you are able to train with no upfront tuition costs.  You are even pre-qualified for a trucking job opportunity prior to training. 

Get your training from Driver Solutions and we'll help you qualify for a company-sponsored program.  Take the first step right now by using the Apply Now button to complete your online application. 

I had a great experience with Driver Solutions. I attended CDL training in Indianapolis, IN.  I made many friends and made lasting memories. Of course being the only female in my class, made it memorable. I was lucky to experience training with a couple different instructors.

Donna was my main instructor, a totally awesome lady and full of information!  By the second week in trucks, we were better drivers and donna was impressed with our progress, as were we.

Another instructor, Amin, was my instructor for a few days.  He offered a different perspective, and a bit more detail. He is still a driver when he isn't teaching, which is kinda cool.

I will and have recommended it to friends and family who are considering a change in career. In fact, the day I came home, a friend asked for the phone number so he could attend as well.

Overall, this was a fantastic experience! I had a blast, and the friendships I made will last for years. I can't wait to start driving with my new company(USA Truck), and I am looking forward to orientation in a couple weeks in Arkansas.

Name: Kathy Schoenfeld
City: Cincinnati
State: Ohio
Approx Class Start Date: 05/23/2011


Kathy,

Thank you for your review!  We appreciate the feedback and wish you the best of luck with your new career.  Please keep us updated from time to time on the Driver Solutions Facebook page. 

The Driver Solutions Team

Today, we bring you part 4 of our interview with USA Truck Driver, John Henries.  To get caught up on this complete interview series, check out part 1 here, part 2 here and part 3 here.  The below questions and answers will help you learn more about the trucking lifestyle. 

Q: How do you stay entertained in your truck?

A: I have my computer, TV, and DVD player. I have a microwave and refrigerator for cooking. When I come to a truck stop, I will go in and eat, catch up on Facebook. Facebook is the main thing that I use and I really don’t use it that much – not as much as my wife on Farmville.


Q: How are you trying to stay healthy as a truck driver?

A: I stop at Wal-Mart when I can for groceries. I noticed some weight gain when I got started, so I’ve been parking further away to get in some walking. I also take vitamins everyday and am trying to get better.


Q: What advice do you have for someone considering truck driving?

A: If anyone is thinking about this, do it. Now, you aren’t going to get rich quick and it’s going to take some time. Once you start making the good money, then you can say I am glad I did this. If it weren’t for you guys (Driver Solutions) I would probably be in Virginia working in a coal mine. I don’t know what I’d do if you guys (Driver Solutions) weren’t there. I would be stuck with these nightmare driving schools. I promote for you guys 100%. You have one heck of a program.

Today, we bring you part 2 of our interview series with John Henries.  Click here to get caught up with part 1 of our series.


Q: What was your CDL training experience like at Driver Solutions & USA Truck?

A: Training at trucking school was good.  I would recommend it to anyone.  I remember the instructors saying to stay focused and not think too much – just act.  Especially with backing…don’t try to dissect it.  Every instructor was there to help you even if not working directly with you.

At USA Truck, I was my trainer’s first student.  He taught me the essentials to go with what I learned a school.  The biggest thing to remember is to watch everything going on around you and put it all together.  The day that you stop learning something new on the road is the day you want to hang up your keys on the truck.  In other words, when you think you know everything about truck driving...that’s the day to get off the road.  I have been out here 7 months and I'm still learning.  It could be backing, laws, things on my truck, but whatever it is I am learning every day.  I look at it as a big vacation…I can’t believe they pay us to do this.

Driver Solutions & USA Truck really changed my life.  Every time I am around Indy I stop in to see them.  It was really a great experience.


Q: What is the hardest thing about trucking?

A: The hardest thing is trying to adjust to life on the road.  One big adjustment is not being home every night and not showering every day (LOL).  Sometimes you don’t have time to do what you did before when you were home.  At home, you had the use of bathroom and shower right at disposal, and being a truck driver you don’t always have those things.  Out on the road you have to plan it.  All of the little things you are used to doing you now have to schedule and make sure you have time.  It’s all time management out here and you need to reprogram yourself to do that. 

There are ups and downs in this industry.  One thing I would say…you have your time when you are going to be broken down, but it happens.  I had DOT violation that needed to be fixed.  It was a headlight out with an electrical problem… one of those things that are out of your hands. 

The thing about USA Truck though, they will get you to a terminal ASAP.  If it is a DOT, they will make it priority.  They are good on break down pay so if you are sitting for more than one day you get paid.  I’ve only broken down twice and this is my 2nd truck. 


Q: How do you keep in touch with family?

A: I talk on the phone to my wife and my dog every day.  I keep in touch with my brother and sisters by calling them as well.  I update on Facebook so others can follow where I am and keep up with me. 

Check back tomorrow for part 3 of our interview with John!

A couple of weeks ago, we posted a 4 part interview with recent trucking school grad and USA Truck driver, John Carpenter.   We set this up as standard interview style with Driver Solutions asking the questions and John providing the answers.  This interview was designed to help those individuals that are considering a trucking career. 

What better way to get first hand information about life as a truck driver than talking directly with real truck drivers?

Overall, this series received over 20 Facebook "Likes" so we thought we would share links to the answers to some of the questions we asked in this interview series.  We want to make sure no one misses out on John's helpful information.  Just follow these links to get the answers...

• What Were You Doing Before Truck Driving? 
• How Do You Like USA Truck?
• How Do You Balance Family With Life On The Road?
• What Was Your Training Experience Like With Driver Solutions?
• What Are Your Top 3 Trucking Tips For New Drivers?
• As A Truck Driver, How Do You Use Social Media?

In part 2 of our interview with USA Truck driver, John Carpenter, we discuss life on the road, his training experience with Driver Solutions and advice for those just entering the trucking industry. 

Check out part 1 of our interview here and be sure to check back tomorrow for part 3!

Q: How do you balance your family time with life on the road?

A: Well, for me I have a brother in Houston, Texas and mother in Augusta, Georgia…so everything works out great.  I am able to schedule my visits and use them as home time while getting paid to travel out there.  I am a single guy, so this career gives me a lot of flexibility with friends and family.  They are always excited to see me and it’s good I am able to travel to visit all of them.

I also keep in touch with each of them by calling and using social media application.  I have WiFi in my truck along with 2 laptops, an iPad, PS3, and Smartphone…so you could say I am well connected!


Q: What was your truck driver training experience like with Driver Solutions?

A: I came through school back in July of 2010.  Overall, I think training was great. 
Keith was my first week instructor and he did a lot of the paperwork and book stuff.  His instruction helped us get our permit and everything that we needed to get started.  He was a great instructor with a lot of patience and good sense of humor.  This was important because each class has people with experience that have been in industry and others that have not been around it at all.  Keith was able to mesh everyone together through his humor while still being focused.  We were all very nervous at first and he definitely helped set the mood.  I also really like the idea of allowing graduated students to pop in and give some takeaways to students that were sitting in the same place they were a few weeks ago.

My second week instructor was Gary.  Gary was amazing.  He educated us through the process of driving out on the range.  He got his point across and he did it in a manner to where we would have takeaways to remember every day.  We were divided up into small groups during training.  Most students become good friends with their group and it helps you learn a lot.  I still talk with my group to this day.  We remember back to the things that happened back along the way and laugh a lot.    
 
One thing is for sure about trucking school - Darlene, Jamie, and Mike all run a tight ship and it’s amazing the way they work together.  There are some others, but I can only speak about those that I encountered.  I praise them…it was amazing.  My group of 4, we all graduated early - 100% on pre-trip inspection and no extra pull ups on the range.

Now, one other thing to understand about training is that they focus on the skills needed to pass the CDL test.  We covered straight backing and parallel parking mostly, but I’ve had to work on alley dock backing as it’s used in more real world situations


Q: What advice would you give to someone just entering the trucking industry?

A: Give it a fair shot.  This is very important.  Sometimes when you are in school for something it doesn’t always make sense at the time, but you will understand it over time.
It’s also very important to have a good attitude.  You need to give it time before you make a decision on if it is going to work. 

I offer suggestions and advice to my friends all the time.  I was the guy that was a cheerleader and coach.  I was the sideline guy, but I was always on the field helping others as well.  That’s just who I am.

Remember, to look at yourself first.  Are you the one to blame?  Do you always deliver late?  Do you just have a negative attitude about everything?  It’s not always going to be easy.  There are a lot of frustrations in the world, but a lot of it can be cured by looking at yourself and giving it that fair shot.

Tomorrow, John will provide his top 3 trucking tips, so be sure to check back!

Today, we bring you part 1 of our 4 part interview with John Carpenter.  John came through the Driver Solutions training program in July of 2010 and has been driivng with USA Truck ever since. 

Find out more about why John decided to get into truck driving, what it's like working for USA Truck, and how many miles he's getting each week. 

Q: What were you doing before trucking and how did you get into it?
A: Well, I will be 36 this year.  Back when I was 18 or 19, I was working for Coca-Cola and got a taste of driving trucks.  My grandfather drove trucks and I’ve been around trucks a lot of my life because other family members worked jobs where it always seemed like trucks were around.  I always found trucks to be very interesting, but at the time you had to be 25 to drive a truck for Coca-Cola and I didn’t want to wait.  So, I went into restaurants and bars business doing some management.  Later in life, I decided it was time to look back into the truck driving.  I ran across Driver Solutions & C1 Training.  They had a trucking school campus near me and it seemed to make sense.  I filled out the application and talked with a recruiter.  Everything worked out for me and I got started with USA Truck.  


Q: Why truck driving?
A: I am a business savvy guy.  From a business standpoint, the trucking industry is almost recession proof.  There is always going to be a need for trucks and deliveries to be made.
From a personal standpoint, I love the travel, freedom, and flexibility that come with a trucking career.  I have the sense of being my own boss and for the most part, I am.  Now I do have a fleet manager, but on the day-to-day there is a lot of freedom.


Q: What is it like working for USA Truck?
A: USA Truck is a very supportive company.  I have a fleet manager that I talk with on a daily basis and he assigns me loads by working through the freight coordinator.  Right now, I am usually out around 5 weeks at a time and then I get 5 days off.  It’s almost like a mini vacation after putting in several weeks of hard work. 

As far as miles, I am getting about 3500 miles per week and for the most part other drivers I talk with are getting right around 2200 or so miles on average.  Last week was my go-home week and I was still able to get 2100 miles working Tues-Thurs.  I take my breaks, don’t abuse my time, and stick to my schedule. 

There are some times when things don’t work out as planned.  Just last week, I wasn’t able to make it home when I was originally scheduled.  That’s to be expected in this industry, but the important thing was my fleet manager put forth the effort and I could tell he really tried to get me back home – it just didn’t work out that way.  It still meant a lot that he took the time to try to work things out.

Overall though, I have a blast with my fleet manager and he keeps me moving.

Be sure to check back tomorrow for part 2 of our interview with John to learn more about his training experience and how he balances life on the road with family time. 

Over the next 4 days, we will be posting an interview series with John Carpenter...

John came through the Driver Solutions Training Program back in July of 2010.  He has been driving with USA Truck ever since. 

We reconnected with John after he stopped by trucking school to visit and checked-in on Foursquare (an app that shares your location with friends).  We were then able to connect with him on Twitter, to schedule an interview to find out how things are going.

•    What was truck driver training like? 
•    How does he like working for USA Truck & how many miles does he get? 
•    What's the hardest part about trucking? 
•    How does he stay connected with his friends & family while out on the road? 

John will answer these questions and many more in this 4 part interview.  Be sure to check back each of the next 4 days so you can follow this must read interview series. 

There are many reasons that motivate individuals to become a truck driver.  Some are tired of their 8-5 jobs.  Others were laid off unexpectedly and looking for employment.  Others have retired from their main profession but are still looking for a "second career" to make some additional income.

For all of these reasons and many more, truck driving is a great career choice to pursue.  The rewards of becoming an employee for a company like USA Truck begin in the job description itself - you get paid to travel from point A to point B and see the country.  There is a true sense of freedom that comes from seeing things behind the wheel of a big rig without a boss looking over your shoulder.

Another big reward is the opportunity to earn up to $40,000 in the first year behind the wheel.  More that the truck driving pay, in that first year you also acquire truck driving experience that's priceless and will allow you to advance your career.

Here is a Driver Solutions' graduate who can tell you more:



The best truck driving school is one which can provide the best opportunities there are in the industry. It is also one that offers a complete program to meet and exceed your training needs.

Be it in a classroom setting or on the field training, Driver Solutions fits the bill. Complete our online driver application and start your new career just like Steven!

With most CDL training programs, the road leading to a truck driving career is paved with initial expenses.  Even before you can start applying for jobs, you must first attend CDL training and pass the CDL tests.  The fees for enrolling at such schools are not exactly cheap.  In fact, with most trucking schoosl you can expect to pay $4,000 to $6,000 to get started.

As you can imagine, the upfront cost is the main reason that company paid CDL training is very beneficial for someone who's looking to become a truck driver.  Reputable companies such as PAM Transport and USA Truck cover these tuition costs for CDL training making it much easier for those looking at a new career to make the switch. 

If truck driving is something you are considering, having the ability to get started without taking our a loan or dipping into your savings is something that offers a very nice added bonus to getting into a new career.  Having a trucking company that will cover your upfront tuition costs in exchange for just 1 year of employment with the company is something that not many other truck driver training programs offer to their students. 

The bottom line is that company paid CDL training can help you get a new career started that will help find the job stability that many people are looking for.  Whether you are just getting started in the workforce or have grown sick of working a dead-end job with no advancement opportunities - getting the proper training is essential.

To get started, just complete our online application. 

Ok, here is a summary of the past year and a half of my life.

I was in the mattress business for 10 years before I was laid off in Oct. 2009.  I was on unemployment for 5 months before I was hired by a telecommunications company.  I was laid off again after the massive flood we had in May of 2010.  I finally decided to pursue one of my two passions in life and that was the U.S. Army.

After being in the Army for 6 months, my childhood asthma came back and I was medically discharged.  I served my country proudly and would do it again in a heartbeat.  After that, I decided to pursue my other passion and that is truck driving.

My dad was a driver for years until his untimely death delivering a septic tank in 1990.  Everyone was very supportive, especially my wonderful wife.  She is my rock.  We have been married for 7 years and known each other for 15 years total. 

I attended truck driver training school for a wonderful 3 weeks.  Matt was my instructor and he was very professional.  Really, just a wonderful human being.  Everyone working there was so nice and supportive.  I passed the state CDL test on the second try and felt like I finally accomplished something in my life.  I am so proud of myself.  I leave for USA Truck orientation on Dec. 26, 2010.  Life cannot get any better and I'm looking forward to a wonderful an prosperous career with USA Truck.

Thanks again Driver Solutions for making my dreams come true!


Truck Driver: Timothy Seay

If you are considering a truck driving career with USA Truck, now is the time to get started.  2010 is winding down and USA Truck is still looking to fill truck driving jobs heading into 2011.  In order to provide an incentive to encourage new drivers to attend the company-sponsored truck driver training this year, USA Truck is extending their $1,200.00 sign-on bonus to December 27th, 2010.  So, if you get off the couch and get started with the Driver Solutions trucking school program on or before December 27th, you will be eligible to receive the bonus.

Many students that come through truck driver training school tell us they wish they would have started earlier.  The fact is, the faster you get through CDL training, the faster you can get out on the road making great money.  The $1,200.00 bonus gives those that are on the fence about starting a trucking career the extra perk to start now.  Talk about a great gift for the holiday season!

At Driver Solutions, we can help you get signed up with truck driver training to make sure you take advantage of this limited time bonus.  Just complete our online application to get started.  Once we receive your application, we will begin working to get you scheduled to start training on or before December 20th.  We will also work to pre-qualify you for a trucking job opportunity with USA Truck.