My US Xpress Experience!

Here is some advice for you: RUN!!!!!
Seriously, read this thread, and any other USX thread you can find. I have heard and read nothing but bad things about em. Good luck...

 

I'm usually one to form my own opinions. I read every post in this thread and as usual, I find it helpful. My team partner and I are leaving this Sunday morning, bound for Dalton/Tunnel Hill, for USX orientation and training. We're going to to through the usual sales pitch and try it out. I don't know if it'll work out, going by the comments here, but like I said, we'll try it out. They're telling us that we'll be in orientation for three days, out for three weeks (on separate trucks) with a trainer, and back in to Chattanooga to pick out a truck, then we'll be home for three days before our first 21-day dispatch. We'll see..... We have girlfriends at home, but I doubt that'll have any bearing on our dispatches. Since we ARE a team, I'm looking for no less than 6-7 weeks, as bad as I really don't wanna be out that long. I'll keep y'all informed, but any and all comments/advice is welcomed and appreciated. Y'all keep the shiny side up....

-Catfish

 

You've got nine years experience and going to be in training for three weeks? Being insulted like that, I think I'd tell them to shove it where the sun don't shine.

 

Yeah, I know, John. But I'll let them show off a little bit. Let 'em puff out their chest, strut a little, and tell me and the rest of the class about how they're the biggest and baddest freight hauler on this continent. Then I'll show them how to really do it....

 

That they'll do, good luck there, really.

 

sound like USA Truck. i did alot of free work for this pos company and i am officially done working as a driver. these companies should be reported and sued for unsafe practices including log violations and slow pays.

 

I agree, but these big companies always seem to be able to get out of it. They go by the old moniker: It's all in who ya know and who ya blow.... If the DOT would crack down on them as much as they do the actual drivers, they'd see that corporate bends the rules more than any driver. I don't care if you know how to play a log six ways from Sunday, dispatch is better at it. Sneaky little s***s.....

 

This has been a very helpful thread. Thanks to everyone. I have been recruited by USX and am having a difficult time deciding between USX and Knight as a student driver. Any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

I had a great truck (07' Volvo), good miles, and a good dispatcher at USX. My biggest complaint was lack of hometime. It was always a hassle to get home to central Fl. I jumped ship and went with a company called Skyline National, next to my home town, under the promise of more home time. The guy was like a car salesman, told me everything I wanted to hear and hired me over the phone. The problems started and the promises faded immediately. The dispatcher was the spawn of the devil, mean and nasty as they come. The loads were all live loads and unloads. I was expected to sleep while loading or unloading that was it. The dispatches were all for team loads they knew there was no way a solo could do it legally (a good driver drives 11 hours or more without stopping). Some of the drivers I met were awake for days. The truck was a piece of junk. After an hour of driving the AC spewed a sickening nicotine stink. The guy was to cheap to put proper tires on trailers. If I had a problem and reported it, it was my fault for not checking the air pressure. Weight was usually an issue because you could not adjust the tandems -- he would say get someone to help you. Didn't matter the suckers would not slide. If I did get a tire cause I would have one that could not be patched again he would send me to the cheapest place for the cheapest tire and the rudest people. I hit a bump once and both fender spot mirrors fell off. I bought one used for the passenger side for $15 and got a hard time for spending too much. I did get home for the weekend if I drove straight through from Akron, OH to central Fl. My home time consisted of sleeping. No pay for the first hundred empty miles .25 Per mile after that. I once drove from Orange, Ct to Berlin (near Akron) OH empty. I actually gave two weeks notice - to car salesman, he didn't tell the dispatcher (his wife) until I reminded him two days before I was supposed to be done. I ended up driving two extra days. I got back parked the truck and did a thank God it's over dance.
Luckily USX will take me back and I'm happy to go back. I'll check out the next place I work nine ways to Sunday. The grass wasn't greener.

 

I felt like I should give y'all an update as to my situation at USX.... They tanked me. The dang physical agility test got me. I tried to do the duckwalk (simulation of walking under a trailer). Done. Over with. Sent me home, so here I sit until I can go for my second try in 30 days. My team partner passed, and is still up there. I'm happy for him, but I'm going to apply at other companies in the meantime.

USX isn't a bad company. They're very straight-forward and to-the-point, which is admirable, especially in the trucking industry. I'd still recommend them in a heartbeat. I screwed myself.

Anybody who is interested in USX, practice lifting 70lbs (minimum) and walking 300ft with it, and lifting it over your head. Also, stretch a rope out 48" above the ground and duckwalk under it, end to end. That'll help you get a good start. Once you pass that, the pee test, hernia check, eye test, blood pressure check, and strength test, you're in. It's not hard.... I just ######### up. Good luck to y'all.