driving for us express

all the usx trucks i see seems there arent to many volvos left i see alot of petes and casscadias

 

From What I hear most of the Volvo's are going and they are nit investing in any more at this time . They are buying mostly new pets and freights but I see them buying new internationals pro stars and KW's t700. Just not as much as freights and Pete's. They have only been buying super 10's in the frieghts. Directions suck they are are submitted But other drivers and are always difficult to understand there GPS always takes you some where completely different. Than where you want to go or need to be they use driver tech. And most of the trucks have the old system which can't handle the new software they use causing you to pull over and restart the thing manually by going under the bunk and unplugging it. As for runs its usually 300-400 mile runs a day and sometimes its takes hrs to get a preload and other days the stack preliads on you as soon as you get then new load info . I have been Orr with them for 2 1/2 months and average 2200-2600 miles a week. Trying to stick it out untilled a dedicated run

 

Okay that trip mile average sounds reasonable. I know some people like to run hard but I'm not really into doing 700 mile days frequently. Especially if I'm going to be on Elogs.

I had heard about them having some kind of GPS. To bad it doesn't seem reliable.

I always bring along a laptop though with a GPS kit and aircard. Maybe I'd just have to use that and lots of customer phone calls. Does USX have a lot of the same repeat customers? I suppose after a while with experience you learn where most of the main shippers are.

Also are most of the customers actual normal warehouses with docks? I hate to sound picky but so many of my current company's customers are tiny hole in the wall places with crazy docks. Or even better does USX do more drop and hook?

 

If your looking to get home on a weekly basis,,then your best bet is EPES Transportation,,,,you are routed home every week ,be it on Friday/Saturday or Thursday/Friday,,unless you REQUEST to stay out longer.

http://www.epestransport.com/

 

Any automatics?

 

Pete or Kenworth would be interesting I've never driven either of those.

 

Just how long is the training?

 

150 hours behind the wheel. 10 hours backing. This usually takes about three weeks as your trainer is not allowed to drive at all until you have 75 hours.

 

Ok, I haven't posted here in a while, with what few posts I have. I've been pulling tanks for the past few years, and decided to do something different and take my wife along. I wasn't able to have her with me hauling chemicals and going into refineries with the company I was working at, so I've had to make decisions regarding companies that do. There are some good posts on this forum, containing useful information aimed at helping others make a more informed decision about who they'd like to work for and who they wouldn't. I personally have formed my own opinion and chose to go to work for US Xpress. While there are those who might discourage me, I have chosen to keep a positive attitude and do the best I can with the information I have, and the circumstances surrounding me. I start orientation in Irving, Tx. on Jan. 24th. Man I hate greyhound, but that's my ride. After the three days there I hope to be rolling. I would like to thank all of you who have made your experiences available, whether good or bad, to help me make a decision. I realize USX isn't perfect. No company is. I've had 12 years of trucking to teach me that. However, I'm glad to have a job, depending on what happens at orientation, where I can make a living, even if it means living the life truckers deal with. A little encouragement to those of you starting out... don't give up. At least with me, trucking gets in your blood. Just hang in there if this is what you want to do. Everyone has a bad day or bad week or month. Freight will go up and down, and dispatchers will piss you off. Calm down and work the problem, don't let it discourage you. It's just trucking. Take care everyone. I'll try to keep you updated as I can.

 

I agree there are many days I just want to quit and get home asap. Then once home home after a day or 2 I want back on the road