My US Xpress Experience!

Pablo, I live about 30 minutes from the Greer terminal and have actually thought about going with Swift flatbed. I've tossed around and entertained the idea for a little over a month now, but the more I hear, the less I want to go. Thanks for the great info.

 

Catfish:

That experience was 15 years ago; it might have changed. There is a yard just four miles from me and I would go back but ...... I am "persona non grata" there. My "mistake" is so buried in their safety databases that I processed all the way through orientation (again) seven years ago with "welcome backs" and "high fives" but after being sent home to wait for a brand new volvo the recruiter called back and said I could not be assigned my driver number because of the "mistake". It all turned out good however... I was back at another computer job in no time after sucking up unemployment insurance. The "mistake" should anyone be curious can be discussed for educational purposes offline.

I always heard that the best situation is a family owned trucking company of maybe 15 trucks where the owner still personally relates to drivers. Guys in the midwest hauling oil drilling equipment will tell you often how happy they are. Big companies are where you have to start but then look for a boutique situation. Flatbed definitely offers you that.

 

Lease drivers, like owner-operators, can refuse loads to the Vortex I think. It might not be advisable, though, at least in the short term. It's company drivers who are subject to forced dispatch. Unless you're driving a day cab and hauling a short trailer, though, it's too high-risk on those narrow streets with unmarked truck restricted routes, low bridges and other hazards. Overall my USX experience was good, and it would have lasted longer if not for their absurd, high-risk policy of using over-the-road equipment for local delivery in "the New England Vortex."

 

I think the thing that bothers me most about USX is getting the "Load not available" message. Usually after I have set up locally to pick it up on time. At first I just said "Oh, OK. Where to next". then I began to notice it only happened with really good runs. Then I stated calling shippers who would say that the load was still available. It turns out that most of the time, the load has been pulled from you the company driver to feed a Lease Driver miles. On one such load I had driven 140 miles and was within 5 minutes of the PU. I went fn nuts on them for that one. Happens often here.

 

+1 to above. Unless you lease (which is basically "buying USXpress a truck") or team, you can count on getting fewer miles and more time in the New England Vortex. Company drivers are at the bottom of the food chain. I'm sure it's not unique to USX though. It's probably true of all the big companies.

 

I noticed the same about repowering loads. I'd have the hours to do the load, pick it up, drag it a couple hundred miles, then it would be repowered. Of course the sliding scale played into that. I repowered many loads as well, for just a couple hundred miles. Then when company was asked about it, they would tell one story, and the other driver would tell another. Usually the other driver didn't know either.

 

Well I guess I shouldnt even try, I cant duck walk, my knees hate me, after all these years of lifting more weight then I ever should have for 5'4" 150# (something had to give) so did my shoulder from throwing straps all these years. My thumbs have been replaced by ligament (the basal metcarpal joint)yea I know I am overweight but I bend over and walk under the trailer why duck walk? I get shots in my knees I guess I have to stay where I am now, I wanted to go down to USX but I guess not