Concerned about US Xpress (newbie has questions!)

Try 800-830-3834 and ask for a recruiter.

 

And clean or replace your BS filtre every 10 minutes.
Probably shouldn't have posted that, but read it humourously. Really, my experience with USX was not a good one, so I am a bit negative, but ya, call them direct like 123456 suggested. Your mileage may differ, good luck to ya.

 

Just remember the number one rule, most school or company recruiters will tell you what you want to hear. They will let you talk about what you want and then twist the facts to meet your desires.

You have to be realistic though, at 21 and living in Florida you will have limited opportunities.

If you wait too long, your training will be of little value. I question the logic of the school that would send you through training to get your CDL three months before you turn 21.

Steer clear of lease/purchases as they are completely one-sided.

 

You can read about companies here:

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/trucking-company-dac-reports/

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/discuss-your-favorite-trucking-company-here/

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/report-a-bad-trucking-company-here/

Here's my standard advice. Take it for what it's worth.

You need to research and find out what the important questions are. You can make an above average living but you will make sacrifices that other jobs don't require. Read the "good companies" and "bad companies" section on this forum and get an idea of what company you want to work for and what kind of trailer you want to pull. Don't just go to school and then try to figure out where to go.

I don't know your financial situation. Don't take training from a company if you can afford it or get it with financial aid. You will be their slave for up to year. If you leave they will trash you DAC and credit record. Check out your local community colleges and employment office.

Just know that most training and trucking company recruiters will do nothing but lie to you. They will let you talk about what you want and then tell you what you want to hear. Trucking is about moving freight to make money for the company. Your home time, family, paycheck and everything else comes second.

It is not like any other job. Local is usually backbreaking delivery work 10+ hours a day, 6 days a week. Often you unload dozens of times a day or you are a salesman. In my area most dump truck jobs pay less than a good factory job. Regional is lots of loading and unloading time, fewer miles than OTR and not as hard as local but will wear on you and push your HOS limits. OTR is out 3 - 5 weeks with 3 - 4 days home, less manual labor and more miles.

You'll probably have to pay your dues before you get the gravy job. Weekends off, if you are lucky enough to get something like that starting out, may be home Thursday afternoon and leave Saturday night or home Friday night and leave Sunday afternoon. Loads deliver on Monday early and you leave in time to get them there. Often your home time will be in the middle of the week.

Regardless of your driving choice, after school you will go through company training. For OTR this can be six weeks to three months with little or no home time. The first phase is usually $400 a week and the second phase is $500-550 a week. Some pay less. One company pays 12 CPM for training.

You don't want to wait around too long after training or you'll have trouble finding a job. If you get out before you have a year in, when you try to come back a few months later you will find they want you to start over.

One last thing, if you have anything that makes you less desirable than your competing job applicants, a phone or in-person interview will often bring the best results. Even if I am the best candidate I will choose face-to-face if at all possible and phone if not. Sure you may have to fill out that online application but that isn't the best way to get a good job. You have to do something or be someone who stands out from the crowd. Do regular follow-ups by phone on the jobs you really want.

Welcome and good luck.

 

Well, you're gonna eat crap the first 6-12months that you are there. Its the paying dues portion of you're career. If you can tough it out the first year and get that experience under you're belt, more companies will open their doors too you. And the money gets better. They will most likely run you OTR the first year, its rare to move in too a local job as a new driver because you are placed in tougher traffic and docking situations. The odds of an accident are very high, so they may not wan t too risk it until you have a years experience. But with a large company you never know. They take risks that smaller companies can't.

 

I am not sure but you might have to do a refresher course since it has been over a month from school. I think some of the info you were given is wrong it was not what I was told and read.