dollar tree account

I don't think being a trainer would be easier EXCEPT for the extra hands to unload the truck-yes. The responsibility alone of training and mentoring and new driver? Being in the same truck for weeks on end.....remember that a trainer can make or break you for your futrure career. I hope your friend thinks hard about this and is going into it for the right reasons. My husband LUCKED out and his trainer had 35 yrs under his belt! and was a great great guy too -they still talk a 1-2 times a week.
No- my husband would probably not want to train that I know -I think he just happy he gets home on weekends and is not out weeks on end doing strict OTR.

 

Naw my hubby did ALL the driving from day 1-trainer handed him the keys. Trainer stayed up front for awhile but after he felt comfortable would move back to the sleeper but I don't think he slept. They did runs during the day slept at night. The only time that the trainer drove I know of was when he took the rig home on weekend and dropped husband off at the hotel (paid for) on weekends for the rest.

 

So if you come to USX and want to be on the Dollar Tree account, you train on the Dollar Tree account not training OTR? ...and are off the weekend and put up in a hotel by USX if you don't live in the same area as a trainer? What's training o this account? 2-3 weeks? Is it hard to get into this account or do they always need drivers? I live in the Northeast if that matters, Long Island to be exact.

 

I think (not sure) that you are suppose to have like 6 mo experience w/
USX to get this account but since hubby trained on it and they needed someone right then-he got the route. I have no idea what the other training is as this was who he trained with. It's not like he was set up this way cuz he was originally set up w/a different trainer -(asked to come home after orientation) and couldn't get back to Ohio d/t snow storm. Next available trainer happen to be on Dollar Tree Acct. Training was the same at OTR 160 ( I think give or take) hours but since the miles/drive time is less (you may be doing 100 miles some days between stores) the training took about 5 1/2 weeks total to train. Yes USX put him up every weekend in a hotel near the D/C (distrubution center) since we live Western NY and the D/C is in PA. The trainer lived close to the D/C so it worked out. Dollar Tree can be tough as you unload the truck by hand each piece....so you spend much of your time doing this. You do get unload pay so that pretty makes up for miles. If he was doing straight OTR his pay would be comparable to what he brings home now.

 

I've been on this accout for almost 4 years now out of Berwick, Pa.

$170 per 53' trailer unload
$95 per pup trailer unload
miles based on exp - anywhere from .32 to .37
$55 for backhauls

Here's my experience...

1st year was only 9 months from April to December. $34,000 earnings
-took about 2 months to condition my body to the stress of unloading a 53' trailer box by box (usually 2500 to 3500 boxes per trailer) with a weight of 35,000 to 44,000 pounds. they supply 6 sets of rollers (8 foot lenghts) that lock together to extend into the trailer as you unload.
-you get pre-assigned the morning before a load has to be deleivered unless a monday load which is pre-assigned friday morning
-mileage and number of loads was random at best. some weeks 2 loads and 1200 miles other weeks 4 loads with 2400 miles.
-rarely ever went to same store, hated this because directions not always good
-seemed to get crap runs, always 3,4,5 or even 6 stops.
-wow will some locations challenge your driving skills, big trucks shouldnt be alowed at some locations but thats half the fun sometimes

2nd year - $54,000
-started getting a sort of schedule meaning every Monday Boston and Thursday Long Island. started going to same stores more often - learning what stores were fast unloaders and which stores were slow unloaders
-got a lot of 3 stop loads and consistant 3 or 4 loads per week averaging 1,500 miles per week

3rd year - $70,000
-4 or 5 loads a week , 1800 miles per week, maybe 1 or 2 backhauls
-started getting some 1 stop runs and usually 2 or 3 stop runs
-got same store to unload at 2 days a week and unload other days in the same areas. actually like a consistent schedule. knew exactly when I'd be home - 90% of the time - home Friday about 6pm and leave Sunday about noon and deleivered near the house during the week so was able to eat with the family at least one weekday night and shower at home

4th year - pacing same as 3rd year
-4 loads a week, 1700 miles per week, 2 to 4 backhauls per week
-haven't been to a different store in a long time, same schedule week after week, home during week one day and every weekend
-love my job now - much more healthy from constant unloading, people at stores are like good friends now and regularly talk on phone with them
-see my family a lot compared to most drivers

Basically pay your dues, don't run late and they will eventually take care of you. First name basis with store employees and even some of the district mangers.

Trucks seem to experience many mechanical problems but a lot of the time they have loaners you can use so you dont miss work.

Also new company wide at US Xpress are e-logs and no longer an all auto-shifter fleet. (new 10 speed freightliners)

 

i fail to see why anyone would want that kind of job. Then again, thats why i started hauling stuff i can unload with a hose.

 

So at 170 a stop, how many stops a week? I used to deliver next door to a lot of those Dollar trees, and see them putting the boxes on rollers, looks like job security to me. How is that terminal, I know where it is.