Driving OTR with US Xpress

Merry Christmas to you and your family, vikingswen.

Glad to see you're maintaining that truck. Now I won't have to worry about you....lol.



I'm heading back out myself tomorrow morning.

 

Speaking for myself, I use the route solution and local directions that are sent with the load information. If my GPS and USX's Driver Tech navigational system happen to agree with the route solution, then it's a bonus. I put no faith in any GPS system. None are 100%, therefore you can't depend on them.


I prefer using maps when I plan my trips.

 

It's great to be home celebrating Christmas with the family. I hope you and Dave got all kinds of neat stuff.



Yeah, I suppose I could embellsh on my very successful career in industry, as well as my un-documented driving experience, but I think this poster is interested in comparing his "lengthy" driving experience to my presumed "limited" experience. It's not something worth the band width debating.


Actually, vaughncanter, the purpose of this thread is to answer questions for those thinking about signing on with USX and to assist drivers that currently work for USX that are running into difficulty.

 

If you run OTR you'll have to stay out, at least 3-4 weeks depending on your operating region.

And as ritchieryan pointed out, the regional gig will have short hops. Only advantage there is a higher CPM. I've never tried running regional except when being loaned out to Kroger or Walmart, and I was being paid by the day. I have no idea how good your regional miles will be.

 

Happy Holidays, Everyone.


Trips and Stats.

Before I lose track. Settlement sheet from "Last" Friday, 2,260 miles. I think I had a day layover in that week so I might have lost a day.

This week: 1,340 miles. That was to be expected with the Christmas home-time. I only had 2 runs: from Albany, GA to Columbus, OH, and then from Marysville, OH to Hogansville, GA.


Now for current news: MY DIXIE'S BUSTED!#!

Headed back to my truck on the 26th and got a call from my FM en route asking if I could run a load down to Lagrange, GA. No problem. It's a short hop but it gets me a load and out of the terminal with a trailer.

I do a PTI on my tractor before starting her up (Snowball's been sitting for 4 days) to build up some heat into the motor. What do I see as soon as I pop the hood? Low coolant level.............Dang. I've been watching it like a hawk, but with the cold weather I've been in she's been running most of the time. When I shut her down and she cooled down, the level dropped big time.

Ran over to the shop. Wanted them to top it off so I could make the run. They were not thrilled with letting the truck go. But after holding my breath until I turned blue, they agreed to top it off, if, I brought the truck straight back after I was empty.


No Problem.


The trailer was a pre-load at the terminal. Ran it down to Duracell in Lagrange, dropped and hooked to an empty and hauled my butt back to Ellenwood, gave them the keys and went back home.

Called in last night and was told I was ready to go. Roll up there this morning, my truck is not in the complex. It was taken over to a Cummins dealer. Earliest I'll get it back is the 2nd of Jan.


The 2nd? I don't think so.




So my FM and her boss are trying to re-seat me.



I hope this gets sorted out quickly because I doubt a replacement tractor will come out of Ellenwood. Which means traveling to get the tractor, and then tracking down Snowball so I can get my stuff.





Well, it does gives me something to write about.





I've had so many tractors I feel like I'm slip-seating.






Hey......maybe this some kind of record! Quick, somebody call Guinness.







Thanks for reading.
-Wedge