Comments By JanaBanana

So on day 4 we got our trainer assignment. I'm feeling very lucky right now, he is a state champion competition driver and went to the nationals last August. One of the ladies doing orientation dropped by and said she had been thinking about Jay and I, we were the only couple up for teams in this class. She said she had the perfect trainer for us because they REALLY want to build their husband/wife team ranks, and Nick is perfect for that. Family man, our age range, etc. We all hit it off right away. We've only been with him for 4 days so far and I have already learned so much! He literally taught me to float gears in less than 10 minutes. I freaking love it and will never double clutch again!

Yesterday I drove from just outside of Pheonix to the north side of the Grapevine... while the guys slept! In the last 3 days I have been from Inglewood,Ca to Nevada, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado and now blogging from Sacramento before we hook a reefer back to Pomona. I just have to say that despite the crowded space and missing my grandsons...I love what we're learning and doing, I chose wisely :)

Before I sign off I want to add to the ladies packing list for orientation and training.

Bring regular size hair products as opposed to travel size. Truck stops are sooo expensive, IF they have shampoo and such at all.

Bring a small supply of feminine products too. Same reason. Panty liners are your friend when you are sitting on your rear all day!

That's all for now, I'll write more when we have wifi again. If you want to follow this thread you can subscribe at the bottom of the page. Remember, I heart input!

Have a blessed day, ~Jana~

Hi RP and welcome to the forum! I don't have plans to travel with a child, but it sounds fun and educational for your daughter! I think most companies require that riders be over the age of 10 and that you purchase the rider insurance for them. Be sure to ask the recruiter when you start calling around to be sure of their policies. Also keep in mind that you'll be separated from her while you train and for up to 90 days after that while you are in the probationary phase (Schneider is 6 months no riders, May allows riders right after training). Good luck in your job search, I love your enthusiasm!

It is now day 3 of orientation, and so far so good. Yesterday we went to the clinic and did our drug screening, then on to the yard for our drive test. It was so very easy, since we are students all we had to do was drive around the block. I drove first and man, my hands were shaking! I missed a gear, quickly found sixth, made a pretty nice right turn and was told to pull over. I must have looked worried, the trainer smiled and said, "you're doing just fine and I'm not here to deny anyone employment". He had Jay finish the second half of the block, signed our pass sheets and we were done! I'm looking back at how worked up I was in my head, and I feel kinda silly.

So now we're playing a little waiting game with corporate. We're waiting for final hiring approval, employee ID numbers and trainer assignments. Now that I'm here I do have a few tips for those of you getting ready to head out to training. 1) Money- I know things are tight when you're getting started, but you need to have a little cash. A few companies feed you 3 meals per day but most only provide breakfast and or lunch. You may need food on the bus trip, during orientation and when you head out with your trainer (he won't be feeding you!).

2) Pack smart- You'll have weight and space limits. Most companies will require you to use a duffle bag or other soft luggage. Be sure to read all the pages your recruiter sends you! They have packing suggestions that are based on trainer/driver input.

3) Be Safe- You're a female, you're far from home and most likely traveling alone. Some of the orientation motels are in industrial areas and not all your classmates are nice guys. Don't wander off alone, stay in well lit areas and be aware of your surroundings!

4) Documentation- Double check your documents before you leave home. You'll recieve a list of required items. Forgetting something like your green card can get you sent home, you could be delayed as long as two weeks!

I hope that some of this is helpful to you. I'll keep updating this feed as my adventure continues. If you want keep reading my stories you'll find me easier if you hit the subscribe button below! If you have questions please ask, if you have advice to add... Please do it! I'm learning as I go and I love input!

Have a blessed day :) ~ Jana ~

Hi Starcar! Apparently in certain training situations 3 drivers are allowed when one is the trainer. We'll rotate driving, sleeping on the bottom bunk and side seat observation. On a little side note, my love life is going to tank for about 2 months But the adventures have begun! At this very moment I am in a motel room in southern Cali, blogging on a dang Kindle! I got a THICK packet in advance and filled it out while Jay watched 2 football games (remember the part about ladies and time management?). He'll get his done, I'm just saying... We'll have 3 days of orientation and testing, then truck/trainer assignments. I'm a little worried about the driving test. I graduated a month ago and haven't driven anything bigger than a pickup! Jay says they'll just be evaluating shifting and safety to see where I'm at. They won't be expecting me to jump in and blindside a parallel lol! Too bad, I'm like Rainman on the parallels... I'll add more as we go through the process and answer any questions the ladies may have as time and internet allow. Have a great evening everyone!

Glad to hear that you made it! Good job! I start school in January, some people are trying to talk me out of it because I'm a female but they said the same thing when I joined the army, now I'm retired. I am looking forward to training in a new career. Have fun out there and hope to join ya'll soon.

Don't let anyone tell you not to do this! We had 5 ladies in my class, we all graduated one right after another, and with great grades. I did more research than I care to think about and found that many companies want lady drivers. We do well in school, have (according to them) better time management, are nice to customers, take better care of equipment and are nicer to company personnel. Any men who are reading this... please know these are the opinions of company employees, no disrespect intended!! I wish you all the luck in the world Svetlana. It's an adventure for sure!

Have a great day Kathy :))

It is by a happy accident that Jay and I are still home for this holiday. We had a delay in closing out our rental apartment which put us back a week on the training schedule. We feel very blessed as our middle daughter and her hubby share their Thanksgiving celebration with us. I wish all the best of this day to each and every one of you. I am thankful for the drivers who are out there working instead of being home with their families, you keep this country going! Blessings to all

Jana and Jay

Hang in there PJ! I think you were just fated to have a holiday dinner before you hit the road. Happy Thanksgiving and good luck this coming week. I've really enjoyed reading your posts

Two young men who graduated from my school have been with US Xpress as a team for nearly a year and they love it. They are getting lots of miles as a team and have been rewarded for safety and on time delivery. They seem pretty happy and like to brag about the money, lol! It's a big decision to make, do a lot of research and talk to drivers whenever possible, not just recruiters. Good luck!

Thanks Starcar!

My fiance has a little experience but he won't be my trainer, we actually will be trained in the same truck! There will be 3 people in that truck for 7 weeks.

I have tried to imagine how it will work. My recruiter says we'll be rolling constantly. The trainer will drive, ride, sleep and each of us will drive, ride, sleep. My fiance Jay, he just says "cross your fingers for a trainer with a sense of humor!" (He'll need it). The good part is that when I'm driving one of them will be in the passenger seat :) We'll be running 48 states so if I am in your neck of the woods I'll let you know!