Driving OTR with US Xpress

Discussion in 'US Xpress' started by Wedge, Mar 24, 2012.

  1. Wedge

    Wedge Road Train Member

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    Jun 20, 2010
    Griffin, Georgia
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    It gets better as you gain experience running alone. When you're in training, it's very easy to become dependent on your trainer, then forget everything when you get in your own truck........well, not everything, but sometimes it will seem that way.

    You have to stick it out and get past your probationary period. Get yourself organized so you can expedite yourself in and out of shippers and receivers. My students are always nervous about that. It's perfectly normal.

    Everything will fall into place as you gain experience.



    Just remember, use all the available room you need to maneuver your truck, backing or moving forward.



    Good luck Jethro. Stay safe out there.
     
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  3. Lee65

    Lee65 Bobtail Member

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    Jan 12, 2015
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    Lookin at US XPRESS here in TX, any info or advice would be helpful and appreciated. I just got my CDL last month after gettin out of the Army so I'm new to trucking. USX sounds like a good company so far though, I'm thinking of going team for my first year just for safety and peace of mind.
    Thanks
     
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  4. DenaliDad

    DenaliDad Retired Wheel Dog

    Start reading at Page 1.
     
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  5. Lee65

    Lee65 Bobtail Member

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    Jan 12, 2015
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    I'm asking specifically about Texas runs in Texas with USX. There are a couple of companies with regional routes down here but after some stuff I read
    about USX I was looking for someone currently working with them. I do realize a could call the company, but I would rather hear from a driver directly.
    Again I'm looking for anyone who has run for them in Texas
     
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  6. Wedge

    Wedge Road Train Member

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    Griffin, Georgia
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    Pleased to meet you, Lee65. :biggrin_25514:


    I can't comment directly on Texas regional as I'm an OTR driver. But I can say that I do see Texas quite often. It would be best to speak to USX regarding regional fleets in Texas.

    Because you have just received your CDL, I recommend that you sign on with a trucking company as soon as possible. Although many companies will train new drivers, some will place time limits on hiring you, based on how long you have been out of school. KLLM, for example, wants you onboard within 30 days of receiving your CDL. Other companies 45. USX, assuming they've made no changes to their policy, will allow up to 18 months.

    So don't beat around the bush.


    Now, USX is a good company to start with. Yes they're big, but not the biggest. People will treat you nicely. Solo OTR drivers operate mostly east of I 35. You will see Colorado and most high plateau states, and may even venture to the west coast as a solo truck. It all depends on where you are in relation to where the freight is when it needs to move. But teams, for the most part, get the loads that run east to west.


    I'm sure you've heard or read good and bad about USX. I'll put it to you this way: You have to start someplace. Sign on, get through orientation, and then training. Depending on where you received you CDL training, you'll spend between 175-200 hours BTW with your trainer. After that, you'll be assigned to a truck to team with another new driver for 8 weeks. Then, you can go solo or team, your choice. If you have a friend that is with USX and you guys want to team after you've completed your upgrade, I'm sure USX will work with you.


    Now for the friendly advice. :biggrin_25525:


    Regardless of how quickly you catch on, consider your first year as school. It may seem simple from the outside looking in, but driving a 70 foot truck is far removed from driving a car. There is much to learn, so don't be impatient. Treat this as a career, like being an electrician. No matter how much you think you know, there's always something new to learn. Don't look at truck driving as just a job.......it's not.


    I suggest that you complete the process of orientation, training and upgrade, before you settle on where in the trucking world you want to reside. It will benefit you greatly to get some OTR experience, get the "mechanics" of day-to-day truck operation down pat before looking into a specific fleet.


    And last but certainly not least. Make your truck comfortable. A home away from home. Organize yourself so that your day has a predictable rhythm.



    I'm a trainer with USX, so if you have any questions, feel free to ask.



    Good luck. Let me know how you do.
     
  7. DenaliDad

    DenaliDad Retired Wheel Dog

    Great advice. My experience in this strange world in which we exist is that everything you need to learn will happen somewhere, sometime in the first 12 months, as a new driver sees all four seasons, all of which bring challenges. And it is a very stressful career in ways that no amount of TTR thread reading can prepare a new driver.

    Plus, CDL school teaches one thing - to pass a test. Once that is done, CDL school becomes almost irrelevant.
     
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  8. DenaliDad

    DenaliDad Retired Wheel Dog

    QUESTION:

    Does the 8-weeks of team driving prior to solo OTR apply to experienced drivers, too?
     
  9. Ziegy

    Ziegy Bobtail Member

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    Mar 27, 2010
    Elwood, IN
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    No. Only applies to students or if you have less than either 3 or 6 months experience (can't remember which). There were new employees in my orientation class that went straight to solo because they had experience.
     
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  10. DenaliDad

    DenaliDad Retired Wheel Dog

    USX and their automated trannies might run right to the top of my list after I visit the orthopedic doc on Tuesday...
     
  11. Ziegy

    Ziegy Bobtail Member

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    Mar 27, 2010
    Elwood, IN
    0
    Don't count on an auto right out of the gate. I'm in a 2013 Pete 8-speed manual. One of the guys that I've kept in touch with from my orientation class that had experience (went straight solo) is in a 2012 manual Pete.
     
    Last edited: Jan 18, 2015
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