Getting "cold feet" after having applied to US Express yesterday...

How much of their "promises" can we actually get in writing?

 

Look you have to learn to assert yourself. The hotel thing, just go to the hotel and tell them you re a team and they will put you in the same room. Second on getting done with training and the 8 weeks of teaming. The reason why they say it "should" happen is a few things. 1) you guys are going to have different trainers that means one of you is likely to finish before the other. That means might be asked to team with someone else while the other guy finishes. tell them you would rather solo until he is done, if they don't want you to do that then tell them youre going home until your team mate is done. Second, They know that not everyone makes it through the system. What happens if one of you makes it and the other doesn't? They are going to ask you to team with someone else for that 8 weeks if you decide to stay. That one is up to you you can always say thanks but no thanks and go home.

Now as to the 8 weeks of teaming being a scam? yes and no. Yes they will get a team truck for a little while, but it also puts 2 rookies in a truck and they can cover for each others mistakes that ARE going to happen, 2 heads to figure things out and 2 sets of hours to cover for that extra 2-3 hour screw up that comes down the pike.

 

You may get a few "promises" in writing, in the form of an existing brochure, or a screen shot print out of what is already written on their website. But they are not going to offer, nor oblige a special set of written demands in a contract form.
And; the literature that currently exists, is in no way gonna help you as ammunition in future complaints against the company once they DO screw you.

Someone mentioned team trucking with Tyson. If I were to choose between a van company (US Express) or a reefer company (Tyson) as it pertains to teaming...it is a no brainer. Food is perishable, and has to move, and has to move quickly. Tyson has the resources and necessity to keep you moving as a team far more than USX.

 

We're not trying to be a pain in the ### for anyone, just want a smooth transition. The main reason we don't want to team with some other random rookie is we have known each other 15 years, have very similar goals, and trust each other.

The hotel thing is a non-issue, it's only 3 days... My complaint is how hard is it for a company to get on the same page?

The main concern with Tyson is CPM (.42 CPM compared to .48 w/ haz at USX), plus we've heard USX has more "Team freight", and they have a lot of advertised bonus'.

At the end of the day (or month ), we want to go home to our families safe, and with money in the bank.

 

Has China seen this thread yet? He could probably rattle of a dozen more companies to check out.

I can't guarantee what USX will do, neither can they, lol. Just go with it, see what happens. If one of you finishes early, wait for the other one, then your a team just needing a truck and freight. I think USX should be able to figure it out. Wouldn't surprise me if it went the way you hope it doesn't.

Only a dumb mega could turn down a team that's been vetted and trained, and ready to roll.

 

Fling-Wing,

Wife and I have been at US Xpress for 2 years now. A team who actually works at US Xpress can answer your questions. LOL

1. The two of you can be in the same hotel room. That's not a problem. Just tell the hotel when you check in. We live near the Markham terminal so we didn't get a hotel for orientation but when we did our upgrade at Tunnel Hill we shared a hotel.

2. The two of you will team together after training. My wife got done before me so they put her up in the hotel until I got there. If one of you is way behind then tell US Xpress that you'll wait at home for your partner to be done.

You guys are over thinking too much

US Xpress is a good starter company. They don't micromanage drivers like other companies.

1. They give us a route they prefer we take but we have the freedom to go our own way.

2. Trucks have all Toll passes and we can take toll roads if we want to.

3. Trucks have Pre-Pass, we don't go into weigh stations a lot.

4. Every year we've been here we've gotten a new truck. 2013 ProStar, 2014 Cascadia, 2015 Cascadia

5. Allowed to have a 1,500 watt invertor which they install for free

6. They don't say anything if we Idle. This is very important when picking a company. There will be times you will sit(you don't have hours, load isn't ready, customer isn't open yet, etc.), a lot of companies get upset with their drivers if they idle. Some charge their drivers for the fuel wasted idling. Why do I make a big deal about this ? When your in Phoenix and its 100+ degrees and your waiting on a load to be ready......you want ice cold A/C. LOL

7. Wife and I made $60k/each this year and we were home 6-8 days a month.

8. Company has great health and dental insurance.

Hope this helps ! If you got anymore questions, feel free to ask !

 

Thanks so much Duo! I sent you a PM.

 

I teamed for a few years at US Express and I enjoyed it. I never understood why so many drivers bash them.

The money is there if you want to work for it, the equipment is good at least if you team. Disptach is dispatch, its not perfect but its not nearly as bad as people say it is.

There is miscommunication, but that happens at EVERY OUTFIT, get to know you disptach and learn how the operate youll be fine. Dont turn down "short" runs! alot of drivers turn down loads they dont like and those are the drivers you will see sitting at the terminals griping they dont get miles. You might get a few less than stellar runs but then you will get a great run and miles are miles so just take the loads and run.

Undestand that you wont always get home on time, they will try if you give them enough of a heads up, but its trucking, things dont always work out perfeclty. Every OTR outfit is like that and if someone tells you otherwise they are probably a recruiter. I got home when I wanted 8 times out of every 10 I'd say, and the days I didnt get home on time were generally just a day or two late I probably could have fussed and made a stink and got home sooner but Im old and in no hurry.

Go with a good attitude and enjoy it

 

Thanks for the response! We decided to pull the trigger and go with Tyson Foods. So far we have been happy with our decision. We finished orientation yesterday. Now we are going to coordinate with our respective trainers when we leave out.