?'s on US EXPRESS

Dude, I read a lot of negative things about USX on here, but heard few. So I ask LaPurr, if he's still on here. One thing I can tell you is that you should get more practice on that shifting first. It will help in the long run, trust me.

 

I am still around, however, only in passing at this point..

USX is a great starter company. And with the automatics, you will love it. But it does come at a price. You wont learn the shifting abilitys for a stick shift. But this is also a very negligable thing. Most of the industry is switching to automatics. USX, Falcon, Fed EX, and many many more. USX will also teach you how to become a hermit, how NOT to be able to asociate with standard "polite" society, and how to be just a number. Which as a whole, the "Company" based drivers, this is all the company really wants out of a driver, or as we refer to them, a seat warmer.

Most of the better companys out there wants something like 2-3 years experience, befor they will even consider you. So you have to bite the bullet somewhere. USX has alot of technology, ALOT of technology. Camera systems, GPS nav/qual-com systems, Collision avoidance systems, Anti-roll over systems, etc.

But where they have technology, they lack some simple things that really make me scratch my head. NONE of their company trucks have a trolley valve. This can sometimes make sliding tandems really irritating, and also just checking to make sure someone hasnt messed with your 5th wheel or tandems while you were in the rest room.

But back to the question at hand. Fresh out of driving school, would I consider USX? Hell yes I would. You just have to be prepared to be let down alot, and there isnt a company out there that isnt going to let you down. So why not be let down with the comfort of a automatic, and a decent pay (assuming they keep your wheels rolling).

Things to be prepared for:
Most of their freight either comes to, or from, a rail yard. Not the most pleasant of places.
The night/weekend time dispatch are pretty much useless
breakdown is about useless. Dont ever let your truck breakdown at a terminal. It will come out worse than it went in.

Become good freinds with your dipatcher, and you will be set. Every dispatcher I had, that I made freinds with, kept me moving, kept me preplanned, got me home on time, let me stay home longer, and didnt push me harder than I wanted to be pushed. The dispatchers that I didnt get along with, well, lets just say I fired them pretty quickly.

What are your other choices out there besides USX, that is a nationally accreddited training company.. Swift? thats suicidal at best. JB Hunt? Wearing a uniform kinda scares me. Schneider? second highest rate of winter time truck accidents in the industry. USX is just a screwed up company all the way around. There isnt one thing that is worse than the other companys out there, and I cant say that for the other companys.

Any questions, dont hesitate to ask. And just so you know, Yes USX did fire. They also fired me unjustly. Keeping this in mind, would I consider going back to USX if I wanted to? Yes I would. I am not a disgruntled Ex-Employee. There were things about he company that pissed me off to no end, but there were other things that made my life so much easier thru it all.

Good luck with what ever you choose, and the biggest thing I can say to you, dont hesitate to ask questions. To the recruiter, to us, to your dispatcher. If they dont kjnow the answer, find someone that does. Knoledge is power, ignorance is bliss.

 

I've been giving alot of thought to US Xpress as a solo driver. I have my CDL but really no experience except 1 month at a flatbed company. The last 21 months has been with a class B driving position. I am wondering how their training is for someone like myself with little exp and what to expect after training ( miles, hometime etc. ). I also saw on the website about a veterans program that brings a driver in at the pay rate of a driver with 2 years exp. If anyone can provide any feedback about the company, I would greatly appreciate it.

 

I don't know anything about them other than they're moving terminals here in Springfield..... and....... they have a sliding pay scale that pays you less per mile the more miles you drive.

 

My husband has been working for them for about a year now and they will promise you hometime and everything else but they are like all large trucking companies. THEY LIE

Do not believe anything they print regarding pay or promised time home. They do not even follow their own handbooks , truly a sucky company and I have no respect for their business practices.

Will not even work with you on trying to get back for funerals. I really do not like this company and the dispatch are a pain in our butts. Being lied to on a daily basis by the dispatch (day shifts) really gets old. Their night shift dispatchers are great , easy to work with and laid back.

My husband is trying to get away from this company asap. I thought they were not hiring solo drivers any longer.

Good luck. I would really try to go with some type of construction or local job before going with a large company especially if you have a wife and young children at home. It is hard on the entire family.

 

You may want to call US Express to hear it for yourself but US Express is requiring 6 months otr experience.

 

Like most big companies they have their problems. Some people do just fine there and some fall through the cracks and it can be a nightmare for them. If you read about any other large company on this site you can basically get the idea of what is good and bad about this company.

The one downfall for you I would think is that all of there trucks are fully automatic. It is just like driving a car and that could hurt you in the long run if you do not at least have a year experience driving a manual transmission truck. I'm sure you can remember how to drive a manual and you could prove it to another company if they would let you. The thing is these companies will want it on paper that you have most of your experience driving a manual transmission truck. If you go to US Xpress it may be a hindrance to you in the long run if you switch companies.

 

What is there idle policy? What are there trucks governed at?

 

during the day ucan idle if its above a certin temp or below a certin temp. trucks vary from what my dad was tellin me i will know more in a few days when i go...but you are allowed to idle while down for your ten