Yes - Women drivers do well at USXpress - they are willing to take a job driving a truck with an automatic transmission, knowing they will probably forget in short order how to handle a 13 Speed. It's a trade-off. I went there, as I failed to explained in the earlier post, BECAUSE even though I felt funny committing myself to an automatic, I thought the company was female-friendly, and that counted for a lot. My point, which you misunderstood, WAS NOT that they discriminate against women. My point was that the man who gave me the driving test and who failed me BECAUSE they had too many rookies come into orientation that week (we're talking CLOSE TO A HUNDRED BODIES) -- he felt he might as well let me go, because, like a lot of other men I have met up with in this industry, he judged from my appearance and quiet manner that I was too much like a school marm type. Some guys simply don't care what your driving ability and work ethic may be -- if they don't think you are going to fit in with a rough kind of lifestyle, they don't want you around. The reason for this is that they perceive THEY may be judged by a lady because of their language, cleanliness, and entertainment preferences. They're like bad little boys who know better, but figure they would be embarrassed if they were caught. That psychology goes for TRAINERS, too. Aside from this issue, BigBlue19, I generally get a lot out of your good comments. Too bad you decided to go fishing for red herrings, instead of focussing on the real issue. USXpress fires people arbitrarily, men and women, with no appeal, and often for the flimsiest of reasons. Many people are left stranded and in shock. Period.

Too bad you decided to go fishing for red herrings, instead of focussing on the real issue.

I prefer trout when I go fishing which I find numbing boring anyway.

USXpress fires people arbitrarily, men and women, with no appeal, and often for the flimsiest of reasons. Many people are left stranded and in shock. Period.

The real issue is they do not need a reason to fire you. Which by the way they did not do in your case since you are not hired until you complete orientation.

Employment at USX is "at will" employment. Neither party needs to give notice or a reason not to hire or fire you There is a long list in their employee manual on ways to get terminated but NO one who enters USX or any other carriers property is hired prior to successful completion of a road test and a physical. It's Federal Law.

I worked there 6.5 years and came into work one day (was driving local then) and told by the security guard to call my new bosses at the Colton terminal ( they had recently laid off my boss and the rest when they closed the SLC term) they simply said they were terminating my employment due to pattern of confrontation with management and that was the end of my days with USX. No appeal no severance package, no write ups or warnings. Did I go beat my kids? No I was sitting in Orientation at IDC 2 days later.

By the way IDC is female friendly, have you considered them? Better equipment and all Auto-shift also. Life is to short to start analyzing every scenario and dreaming up conspiracy theory's. Just move on. Thats what I did.

Ok, it's now my turn. Right now I'm sitting at Olive Branch, MS, once again, and as usual waiting for a load. As for why I joined this company a month ago, here it is, I'M AN IDIOT. I could have gone with a better company (or a different bad company) but I wanted a Volvo. As you might imagine, I got stuck with a Freightliner (rather crappy one, but that's not the reason I write)

First off, I didn't do my research, simply believed what the recruiter told me. I always have, but usually they are telling me of local jobs and more hometime, which does not interest me, while Joe of US Xpress told me of western runs and Volvos.

Any rate, I get to the hotel in Tunnel Hill. I notice there is about 60 people signed up for orientation. Quite amazed, I ask a fellow there with a USX shirt about this, and he said don't worry, they will DQ more than half of them. I was hoping half of us would be going to Dairy Queen, but he meant disqualified. Unfortunately for me, I wasn't DQed (disqulified or fed ice cream). I had to wait an additional day for my truck. Since there was at least 20 other folks waiting for a truck, I asked if I could trade mine for a Volvo. The liaison incharge of handing out trucks went into a 10 min discussion on what an idiot I was. Granted he didn't use those exact words, but other drivers listening to it said they wouldn't have taken that. But I figured he had a point, I wouldn't have been at US if I wasn't. Considered quitting, but I needed the $$$, and usually big companies have more miles than you can handle (or log). Well, I got out to my new truck and waited. Picked up a load, and waited some more. After about a two weeks, I decided I was sick of that crap, and asked to go to Tunnel Hill. They asked if I was quitting, and I told them "Afraid so" and told them why. They sent me directions to the Mechanicsburg, PA drop yard and told me to leave my truck there. Told them my car was in Tunnel Hill. They told me I wasn't authorized to be in my truck. Finally got a driver liaison to resend my resignation so I wouldn't have to find a ride back from PA. This week I've gotten about 2200 miles. That's a lot compared the first weeks. I met a couple that used to drive for US. They said the teams are teated far better than the solo drivers. When they were ready to quit, they simply turned in their two week notice. Think I'll give that a try next time I get home (if I get home). So, lesson learned, DO YOUR RESEARCH!!! That's why I'm here, and how I found this page. Hope this helps.

This is incredibly common I think. Just last night I was reading a couple of threads where a particular individual wanted to go to work for x company because they drove ___________s. Thank you for your post because it underscores how INCREDIBLY stupid this line of thinking is. I would drive the ugliest, biggest piece of crap on the earth if it a) ran well and b) allowed me to get the miles I NEED to support a wife/family c) and was for a company that paid me a fair wage and provided decent benefits.

Turns out I am going to work for Swift so some of this may not come to fruition, but at least I am semi-informed on what it's like to come to work for them and I'm not going to work for them because they have x kind of tractor in their yards.

Someone should x-post TempoDrivinMarty's response to other threads as it is a valuable lesson to be learned.

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And it's official: I Start school in Lewiston, ID - 15 Oct 08

Looks were not the issue. The new Volvo is actually pretty ugly, but very comfortable, and in some ways easier to operate. Type of truck is often a deciding factor because it's pretty easy to see what kinds of trucks a company operates, whereas other issues are easier to hide. Wish I knew about this site before joining US Xpress. I plan to use this site to find my next job (if I can ever get away from US). If I had more information about US before hand, they definetely wouldn't have been in my top three choices. In fact, after visiting this site, I decided that all of my top three choises where bad ones, and one of those choices only had flat top frieghtliners.

P.S. I hear Swift is better than US, but only marginally. Good luck. At least their trucks seem nicer

This is incredibly common I think. Just last night I was reading a couple of threads where a particular individual wanted to go to work for x company because they drove ___________s. Thank you for your post because it underscores how INCREDIBLY stupid this line of thinking is. I would drive the ugliest, biggest piece of crap on the earth if it a) ran well and b) allowed me to get the miles I NEED to support a wife/family c) and was for a company that paid me a fair wage and provided decent benefits.

So you don't think it matters what make of truck you drive and that it is stupid to give consideration as to what you may want to drive? This is why wannabes should not be posting on issues they have no experience with. Not all trucks are created equal and the type of truck you drive could have a big impact on whether you make it in OTR driving.

This will be your home more then your house if you choose to drive OTR and different company's have different options on their equipment so it is an important consideration when going on the road.

Looks were not the issue. The new Volvo is actually pretty ugly, but very comfortable, and in some ways easier to operate. Type of truck is often a deciding factor because it's pretty easy to see what kinds of trucks a company operates, whereas other issues are easier to hide. Wish I knew about this site before joining US Xpress. I plan to use this site to find my next job (if I can ever get away from US). If I had more information about US before hand, they definetely wouldn't have been in my top three choices. In fact, after visiting this site, I decided that all of my top three choises where bad ones, and one of those choices only had flat top frieghtliners.


IDC will put you in a Volvo 780 and Knight trans will put you in a VN 670. USX when I was there only issued Volvo's to team drivers or if no other truck was available.

hey, go back and re-read the post. he went to usx BECAUSE they had volvos ... and for no other reason. the truck is not the reason to go to a company, it's logic. i'm not saying don't consider the truck, i'm saying that it cannot be the #1 reason why someone goes. otherwise, they'll probably be disappointed.

because this is simple logic (one should not go to any company for any ONE reason, rather multiple reasons), i feel that as a wannabe it's okay to assert my opinions. a forum where everyone is the same would be pretty boring, don't you think? if you don't like it, you're always free to go start your own forum.

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And it's official: I Start school in Lewiston, ID - 15 Oct 08

hey, go back and re-read the post. he went to usx BECAUSE they had volvos ... and for no other reason.

Really? I won't tell you to reread the post wannabe. I'll just highlight one of the other reasons.

[QUOTE]First off, I didn't do my research, simply believed what the recruiter told me. I always have, but usually they are telling me of local jobs and more hometime, which does not interest me, while of US Xpress told me of western runs and Volvos.
[/quote]

Quote:

the truck is not the reason to go to a company, it's logic. i'm not saying don't consider the truck, i'm saying that it cannot be the #1 reason why someone goes. otherwise, they'll probably be disappointed.

But that is not what you said originally. You said it was a stupid reason with all your vast experience as a wannabe.

Then you said this,

Quote:

I would drive the ugliest, biggest piece of crap on the earth if it a) ran well and b) allowed me to get the miles I NEED to support a wife/family c) and was for a company that paid me a fair wage and provided decent benefits.

Yet then you said this,

Quote:

Turns out I am going to work for Swift

I thought you were going to work for a company that paid you a fair wage and decent benefits with miles to feed a family?

All I can think of is a quote from Apocalypse Now-

LOL. That's funny. And who is IDC? Do they have western runs? I think I might just have to save up and buy me a Volvo. Was considering driving a Freighshaker for Marten until I can afford to buy a Volvo, and then maybe going with Landstar.