Do they route you home after training?

Their training is 3 weeks? Wow, when I went with a trainer it was 8 weeks. I got turned loose after 6 weeks. They are flying them through now.

 

I just want you to be realistic. You will not be sent straight home after upgrade. They will get to work on routing you home but it takes a couple of extra weeks. You will be able to do laundry on the road so don't over pack. two weeks of clothing is more than you will need.

 

Some good advise here, Davect. You'll be happier in the long run if you keep your expectations in check. I've been with USX twice and can tell you that it's not likely you'll be seeing home as soon as you would like to, either after upgrade or after leaving orientation as an experienced driver with your assigned truck.

As a newbie driver from AZ I went to Colton for orientation. No trainers available so I came back to AZ for a few days before taking a bus to Irving and met with my trainer. After 19 days I had my required hrs and went to Tunnel Hill for upgrade. Two days there and then took another bus to Ellenwood to pick up my truck: needed cleaning but what-the-heck it seemed kind of fun at the time. Got my first dispatch about 8:30PM (a night I'll never forget!!) and realized they had me assigned to the Texas Longhorn Region - that did not include AZ. It took about five weeks to get that straightened out and I was finally able to get home for 3 or 4 days.

The second time I went with USX I had to go to Irving for orientation where Dodd told us we would be routed home right after getting our truck assignments. I was expecting to be based out of Colton, but found my self assigned to the Texas Region again. It took another month or more of running Texas and the southeast before I finally got a load to LA from Laredo and was able meet my wife for an hour at a truckstop in Chandler, AZ, on my way to So Calif. Eventually I was able to get assigned to a dispatcher at Colton and was told I was on the Western Eleven fleet/region. But still I was being given loads to MI, CO, KS, etc.

In spite of alot of very fustrating days and weeks, I enjoyed my time with USX. Some time ago I recall reading someone post on TTR that; "Trucking isn't just a job, it's a lifestyle." While at first glance that may sound somewhat simplistic, it's actually an acurate and comprehensive way of looking at what being a truckdriver really entails. The job demands a certain laid back and go-with-the-flow attitude that can be difficult to muster for many of us.

Being able to go through it all with one's spouse could perhaps make the initial adjustment to the 'trucker lifestyle' more tolerable than having to cope without having one's best friend along for the ride (and to help with the work too).

 

You are talking to a Roehl recruiter who is telling you that. A USX recruiter will tell you the exact same thing. You need to talk to Roehl drivers. Your home time will depend on where you live (CT should be pretty easy) I am just talking about your first trip home after training. After that, it will depend on your Fleet Manager. So my suggestion is build a relationship with your FM and treat them like a human being. You should be able to average 3 days off every three weeks if you work at it.

 

You definitely have to have the "Laid back and go with the flow" attitude. I delivered just west of Houston yesterday, was then sent to Freeport, TX for a load. Get down here and my load had left with someone else. Spent all afternoon waiting on dispatch and CSR to figure out what happened. Never heard a word. About 10:30 pm I get a pre-plan to pick up in Houston tonight at 11pm and deliver in the morning in El Dorado, AR between 7am and 9am.

So here I sit, halfway decent nights sleep, tried to take a nap, and it ain't working. I hate driving nights to begin with, but I can only hope that I can grab a nap sometime in the next few hours.

I tried the 12-14 out and 2 home....didn't work......now I just plan on being out at least 3 weeks and hope to get home soon after. I've been out almost 4 weeks now because my truck spent so much time in the shop this month...am hoping like the dickens to get a load headed towards home tomorrow.

 

Here is what i found over 12 years and several companies......

They may not route you "TO" the house, but routing "BY" the house shouldn't be a problem unless you live WAYYY off the beaten path.

I never had ANY trouble getting "BY" the house within a week or 14 days.

I told the dispatcher what I wanted, and was routed there ASAP.

I hauled a lot of "crap" with me, and wanted "my stuff" as soon as possible.

Music, cooler, bedding, clothing, emergency gear, Etc....

 

davect,

If you DO attend orientation at USX, just be advised to have a way home just in case.

Alot of folks get sent home for various reasons.

Just a FYI..........

 

They sent Kinghunter home I believe,

Good Luck !!