MAVERICK

[whizbanger]

I was just wondering what type of auto is in their trucks. Also, if you don't have a cdl and you go through a school they sponsor will you be trained on a thuck with a automatic? Sorry, I can't drive a stick.

[GoldiesPlating]

Have you tried driving stick? If not, it's not all that hard especially after a month or two when you learn to "float" gears where you will hardly ever have to use the clutch. CDL training will teach you how to shift even if you never have before.
If a physical problem prevents you from driving a stick then I would rule out flatbedding all together as the physical demands are such that you may be denied work.

[redsfan]

I can't say for certain, but I'm fairly sure that even the school that Maverick uses will train you in manual shifts. Also, it is most likely that you will take your road test with Maverick in a stick.

I agree with Fred, it is not exactly rocket science to learn how to shift a truck. Plus, if it is just a matter that you have never drove a stick this could help you in the long run. You wouldn't have any bad habits to break in going to an unsynchronized manual transmission.

As for the autos that Maverick uses, they are fully automatic, no clutch. Put your foot on the brake and flip the switch to "D" like you would in a car and go. It will start out in 2nd and shift all the way up to 10th.

Good luck.

[arky]

The Newport school WILL train you on manual transmissions. Even at Maverick, they still have a few of the older trucks around with the 10 speeds, but they are dissappearing pretty fast.

I'm not sure about the road test at Maverick being taken with a standard, I think they may be using the autos now...I know the road test I took at orientation was in a brand new truck with an auto. I'll be taking my final road test next week, just have to wait and see what they stick me in.

Arky

[Deere29]

If you are a student from ASU new port you will test out in a automatic and they will assign you to an 06 or 07 automatic truck. But if you go to ASU they will show you ow to drive stick. It is not hard at all and you can request a standard if you like it.

[whizbanger]

The only time I've driven a stick was in an old station wagon. Once I got going I was alright, just the start messed me up. One problem I have is finding the time to go to school on my own. The guys I work for will kick you out if they find out you are looking for another job. I've seen it done, they just kind of weed you out. It's actually not a bad job it's just that I want to drive a truck like my dad. I would hate have to quit and go to either a school on my own (there's one nearby) or go straight to Maverick and fail and lose a decent job just because I can't drive a stick. I have been told that some people just can't shift right. I choose Maverick because of the autos. I kind of figured that it would be one less hurdle since flatbedding is hard for a noob anyway. If go to school myself and learn to drive a stick. I would go to TMC. Love the black and chrome. I am good friends with one of the supervisors (he drove trucks in the military) and one day we saw a TMC truck and he said he wouldn't mind driving for them because they have pretty trucks. It's probably stupid to want to work for a company just because they have shiny trucks, but from what I've read there a good company. The other problem I see may be the big city traffic. I have never driven in a city with a pop greater than 65,000 people. I would love to drive at night when there's less traffic plus I love to work at night (been on graveyards last 3 yrs). Does anyone know how much tolerance they (TMC or Maverick) have for someone like me that has never driven anything bigger than a car. Also do these companys do teams because I could probably use the extra guidance. Sorry if the post is too long, I tend to read, read, read, and then unload my mind at once. Thanks in advance for the help.

[GoldiesPlating]

The only time I've driven a stick was in an old station wagon. Once I got going I was alright, just the start messed me up. One problem I have is finding the time to go to school on my own. The guys I work for will kick you out if they find out you are looking for another job. I've seen it done, they just kind of weed you out. It's actually not a bad job it's just that I want to drive a truck like my dad. I would hate have to quit and go to either a school on my own (there's one nearby) or go straight to Maverick and fail and lose a decent job just because I can't drive a stick. I have been told that some people just can't shift right. I choose Maverick because of the autos. I kind of figured that it would be one less hurdle since flatbedding is hard for a noob anyway. If go to school myself and learn to drive a stick. I would go to TMC. Love the black and chrome. I am good friends with one of the supervisors (he drove trucks in the military) and one day we saw a TMC truck and he said he wouldn't mind driving for them because they have pretty trucks. It's probably stupid to want to work for a company just because they have shiny trucks, but from what I've read there a good company. The other problem I see may be the big city traffic. I have never driven in a city with a pop greater than 65,000 people. I would love to drive at night when there's less traffic plus I love to work at night (been on graveyards last 3 yrs). Does anyone know how much tolerance they (TMC or Maverick) have for someone like me that has never driven anything bigger than a car. Also do these companys do teams because I could probably use the extra guidance. Sorry if the post is too long, I tend to read, read, read, and then unload my mind at once. Thanks in advance for the help.

Student drivers are exactly that. STUDENTS. MANY MANY drivers start out with ZERO experience and a lot of times those are the guys who become the BEST drivers because they have no bad habits to overcome or "un-learn". When I went to TMC, I too never drove a big truck before and my shift experience was ONLY with a car. Truck shifting is VERY different than a car so sometimes it's actually better to have NO shifting experience instead of some CAR shifting experience. The instructor TOLD us that too. If you choose to drive, you WILL drive in traffic and at times there is CRAZY traffic even at night in construction zones. As far as night only driving forget it. Your drive times will be dictated by when you must pick up and IF you have a specific delivery appointment.
IMO team driving SUCKS. You have to share EVERYTHING with someone else and space and quiet time are at a PREMIUM in a truck. Especially if you have to be on the road for a week at a time. (Think SMALL, SMELLY, CRAMPED quarters to begin with, THEN cut it in HALF). Team trucks are typically ROLLING 23 hours a day. Sleeping while bouncing around gets old real fast. Plus half the day your life is in another person's hands. NOT for ME!
Feel free to call me anytime w/questions.

[whizbanger]

Thanks Fred, maybe it isn't so bad. I just when to TMC website and they said they have a Texas dedicated division. Is this like what your doing? Only thing is I live about 60 mi south of Austin and they want to hire north. Do you have some info on pay, hometime, and equipment? Also, do you think I could slide into this after training or would I have to build senority? Is there anyone here with Maverick? If there is, do they offer any dedicated services in or around Texas? Thanks again.

[classicxl]

last i heard is if you test on an auto they will put in on your CDL as auto only as a restriction dont know if it is like that in all states

[dieselgrl]

There are quite a few drivers on here from Maverick.... when I was looking at them as a company, they told me about a southern regional encompassing the areas between I-75 west to I-25, and IIRC not much further north than Kansas or so. Every Maverick driver I've spoken with seemed to get home just about every weekend like they are advertising.

Also, if you're willing to go through a CDL school prior to hiring on, you may wish to look at Arrow. They will train you as a student, but don't have a school persay. They also have TX regional, and even divide the state up into Dallas/Ft Worth Regional, Laredo Regional, and Houston Regional...

[GoldiesPlating]

Thanks Fred, maybe it isn't so bad. I just when to TMC website and they said they have a Texas dedicated division. Is this like what your doing? Only thing is I live about 60 mi south of Austin and they want to hire north. Do you have some info on pay, hometime, and equipment? Also, do you think I could slide into this after training or would I have to build senority? Is there anyone here with Maverick? If there is, do they offer any dedicated services in or around Texas? Thanks again.

You're welcome. I don't know anything about the TX dedicated unfortunately. :sad: You can call TMC's recruiting dept. and inquire there for specific info. Often dedicated accounts will take students provided said student drives well and did well in training. It also depends on IF they need someone there when you graduate or you may have to wait until a slot open up.
There are lots of Maverick drivers on here and you can also check out the Maverick thread on here..

[terrylamar]

[quote="GoldiesPlating
There are lots of Maverick drivers on here and you can also check out the Maverick thread on here..[/quote]

This is the Maverick thread!!!!

[GoldiesPlating]

LOL I KNOW this is the Maverick thread. What I MEANT to say was you can check out the OTHER Maverick threads on here. LOLOLOLOL I'm not THAT burnt!

[whizbanger]

Maybe this is now a TMC thread or maybe ARROW. I guess i can hijack my own thread. Now I'm thinking of Arrow. Wouldn't be bad staying close to home. Then again read on another thread they are having problems. I have another year to pay off my bills then I'll make my move.

[GoldiesPlating]

Maybe this is now a TMC thread or maybe ARROW. I guess i can hijack my own thread. Now I'm thinking of Arrow. Wouldn't be bad staying close to home. Then again read on another thread they are having problems. I have another year to pay off my bills then I'll make my move.

LOLOLOLOL

[dieselgrl]

Maybe this is now a TMC thread or maybe ARROW. I guess i can hijack my own thread. Now I'm thinking of Arrow. Wouldn't be bad staying close to home. Then again read on another thread they are having problems. I have another year to pay off my bills then I'll make my move.

lol, I supose so!

The guys at Arrow are a good crew, but like anything else, you've got to find the right company for you. Best of luck to you, and feel free to PM if you've got any questions. I was a Dallas Regional runner for them.

[whizbanger]

Anybody on here work for Arrow out of the Laredo or Houston terminal? Can you work at a terminal that is farther than another? For example I live closer to Houston but I want to run out of Laredo(better freight)?

I was just wondering what type of auto is in their trucks. Also, if you don't have a cdl and you go through a school they sponsor will you be trained on a thuck with a automatic? Sorry, I can't drive a stick.

this seems the be the trend lately....nobody wants to take the time to learn. Will be hell if you switch companies down the road if you dont learn it.

[stevedb28]

If you are a student from ASU new port you will test out in a automatic and they will assign you to an 06 or 07 automatic truck. But if you go to ASU they will show you ow to drive stick. It is not hard at all and you can request a standard if you like it.

I went to ASU Newport and they didnt even give me the option of testing out in an automatic. Neither did anyone else there. We all tested on Eaton Fuller 10 speeds. I did my first road test during Orientation at Maverick in a 10 speed as well. I'll have one more road test to get my own truck. We will see what I drive then.

ASU has a few range trucks that are autos but all road trucks (for the road test) are 10 speeds.