Driving OTR with US Xpress

Discussion in 'US Xpress' started by Wedge, Mar 24, 2012.

  1. Wedge

    Wedge Road Train Member

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    Thanks, Craig.

    They keep me moving that's for sure. The only time I seem to lose is when I come home. I only ran 1937 miles the week I came in for hometime. But I get dispatched pretty fast when I head back out.
     
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  3. American-Trucker

    American-Trucker Road Train Member

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    Charlotte, North Carolina
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    you lost my number :biggrin_25523: i'll pm it to ya




    American Trucker
     
  4. Wedge

    Wedge Road Train Member

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    Hello There. :biggrin_25511:

    Well I'm getting my chance to try a different fleet for next few days. Here's how that all shook out.

    When I finished that run to Marcy, NY, they gave me a run that picked up in Tannersville, PA, 190 mile deadhead, at a Walmart consolidation center. That load delivered here in Shelby, NC at a Walmart distributionn center.

    Just moments after I pulled in to a TS for the night, USX called me and asked me to run on the Walmart Dedicated account for 4 days. It's a temporary gig but it's giving me an opportunity to find out what that side of the business is all about.

    Today was my first day. They gave me a brief orientation and then had me run a load to a Walmart store in Thomasville, NC, grab an empty at the store and bring it back to the terminal. All drop and hook. I made a second run to Tega Cay, SC and did the same thing.

    On the upside, you work a 3 state area, in this case, NC, SC, and GA.

    The negative side, for me anyway, is it keeps you very close to the DC. I like the OTR work because I get to visit family who reside in the Northeast and Midwest.

    It is fun though. If you take a dedicated account like Walmart, you'll only travel in the region where the DC is located. That's how they work it.



    So 3 more days of hauling Walmart trailers around, and then I go back to OTR.





    So AT, I'm serious. I'll be in this area until Monday. Send me that PM, buddy.





    That's it for now.

    Thanks for reading.
    -Wedge
     
  5. DREAMS00

    DREAMS00 Bobtail Member

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    Aug 3, 2011
    Darlington, SC
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    Wedge thanks for all the posts. I have been reading stuff on this website for a year or longer. It is good to hear some information about US Xpress. I have been approved for this company and should be going to orientation real soon. I almost went with Arnold only because of the mandatory 8 weeks teaming after training with US Xpress. I have a problem sleeping while the truck keeps getting down the highway etc. Plus it seems to me you would have less time for everything else as well. I also was told during school that the 8 weeks was if I wanted to do it or not. Plus not having anyone to team up with is another thing....not everyone out there is nice or honest.....I am both....Debbie :dontknow:
     

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  6. Wedge

    Wedge Road Train Member

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    Pleased to meet you, DREAMS00. :biggrin_25514: Of course it's easier to call you Debbie.


    I understand your concerns about teaming. Finding the right person to team with is difficult enough, and you will share a living space for 2 months. Don't look at that as a negative. There's still much you and your co-driver will learn, and you'll be able to help each other refine your skills.

    Sleeping while the truck is moving is difficult at first, but your body will adapt quickly. And if you're tired........you'll sleep, believe me.


    Choose your teammate carefully and you should be OK. It's only for 8 weeks and the time is going to fly by, you'll see.


    Good luck, and let me know how you make out with USX. :biggrin_25525:
     
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  7. Wedge

    Wedge Road Train Member

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    Hello Everyone. :biggrin_25511:

    Well I finished my 4 day assignment driving on the Walmart dedicated account. My last dispatch for them was a 600 mile 3 stop run that took about a day and a half.

    It's a nice fleet to run with. The people are friendly and their system is well thought out. If you are looking to drive in a fleet that keeps you somewhat regional, then I would strongly recommend the Walmart dedicated account.


    So I'm back with the OTR fleet, and I'm heading north into PA to Walmart DC of all places. But this load is a USX dispatch.



    I'll fill you on this run tomorrow. Right now it's dinner, route planning, and then ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. :biggrin_25518:






    Thanks for reading.

    -Wedge
     
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  8. Wedge

    Wedge Road Train Member

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    Hello There. :biggrin_25511:

    The run I was on yesterday picked up at a Walmart DC in Concord, NC (another of those consolidation centers) and dropped at a large Walmart DC in Tobyhanna, PA. It was a 571 mile run with some state roads in the mix which will always slow you down.

    I made it to the DC with an hour left, D&H, and made a mad scramble to find a place to park for my 10. Not a lot of choices on I80/ I380 unless you want to drive for a bit. I settled on a rest area just east of the 80/380 junction.

    Today I wake up to 2 preplans: first one picked up in Wayne, NJ, and delivered in Carlisle, PA, about 265 paid miles. The second one is a run that picks up in York, PA and delivers in Lugoff, SC, about 600 miles.


    The first run went smooth as silk. :biggrin_25525:


    I show up to the shipper to get loaded for my second run and it turns out they're 20 hours behind. :biggrin_25521: Looks like I'm spending the night here, because parking in PA is tough enough, but there is nothing near this shipper. This place is loaded with plenty of drivers who are in the same boat.


    I only had 4 hours left when I showed up, so I wasn't going very far tonight, anyway. Looks like they did me a favor.




    Going to hit the sack early tonight. I get my hours back at 0530 so I want to be up and ready to go..............just in case.




    I'll let you know how I make out tomorrow.





    Thanks for reading.

    -Wedge
     
  9. CharlieMoon77

    CharlieMoon77 Bobtail Member

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    Mar 9, 2012
    Saint Louis, MO
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    hey wedge,
    If your ever back in Tobyhanna again, and need a place to stop, go North about 5-6 miles and there is a nice little truckstop off the exit13 i believe. its the only one around that place :)
     
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  10. Wedge

    Wedge Road Train Member

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    I know which one you mean. By the time I got there it was packed. Not a lot of room there, so I boogied to the rest area.

    Didn't really care where I stopped that night, just so long as I could get a decent nights sleep.
     
  11. Wedge

    Wedge Road Train Member

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    Hello There. :biggrin_25511:


    It's funny how things happen sometimes.


    I was startled awake at 0500 while I was sleeping at the shipper in York PA. I was sure someone hit my truck.:biggrin_25510:


    I jumped out of the bunk, went out front and there was no one around but me. :biggrin_2556: I got out, walked around the tractor..........nothing....... not a scratch.


    So I started my day a touch early. And as soon as I start up the truck, the phone rings. "Good morning sir. Your trailer is loaded, you're all set to go." :biggrin_255:


    I guess someone decided it was time for me to get up, huh? :biggrin_25525:


    I ran that load into Lugoff, SC with out a hitch. and as it seems to be the case these days I get 2 pre-plans, first from Orangeburg, SC to North Wilksboro, about total 265 miles, and then a load from Eden, NC to Lawrencville, NJ, about 540 total miles, which is the run I'm on now.


    I wanted to update you on that SC run. I thought the pre-alarm thing was pretty cool.


    Nothing like prayer.......:biggrin_25525: Guess I didn't have to wait 20 hours after all.



    Oh yeah...almost forgot.......it only weighed in at 15K.......I love the light ones. :biggrin_255:




    Thanks for reading.

    -Wedge
     
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