Team starting out with US Xpress

the volvo we just got is a auto.. as craig said you never EVER want to use the jakes on ice, snow or wet roads.. yes you can lock the auto into manual and up/down shift as you wish

try this http://www.google.com/search?q=1750...7&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=&oe=

we use a verizon myfi and just love it, work anyware your cell does, speed is sometimes slow in BFE.

as far as the auto's on snow or ice it all depends on the truck. in the two years we had the 09 pro-star we had to get towed 5 times (and yes one time in a flat parking lot) and the pro-star has a differential lock...!!! never had an issue with the volvo's we had in winter... the volvo has more weight on the drivers and puts the power to the drivers a little slower....

 

Downshifting while decending a hill in an autoshift really is similar to downshifting a manual. The key is to get the engine RPM at the right match with the road speed. While driving with Watkins Shepard and decending a hill in a FL Columbia with a manual trans and finding it necessary to downshift, I would brake to promptly bring the RPM down to about 1150, slightly blip the throttle on the second clutch stroke and the stick would slide right into the next lower gear. If one tries to downshift an auto trans, even when in manual mode, and the engine RPM is too high it won't shift. Instead the dash, or somewhere in the cab, just emits a shrill electronic squealing sound and the trans refuses to shift. But braking to bring the RPM down to about the same 1150 and then pressing the down arrow on the autoshift console smoothly drops to the next lower gear.

I'm not an experienced enough driver to claim one trans type is any better than another. But I would venture to say that when used thoughtfully, the auto trans is sufficient to safely handle most situations a driver is likely to encounter. Although, Craig certainly brings up a valid point about trying to ease the rig off the ice without spinning the wheels. My only real compalint with the autos was trying to back smoothly, since the clutch wouldn't engage until the RPM's were up to a certain point and then the tractor would want to lunge suddenly. Not pretty when the tractor is jacked relative to the trailer. Being able to feather the clutch in certain situations is a definite advantage with the manual. But for manuevering a big rig around on crowded and tight side streets in a place like East LA or Compton while trying to find an unfamiliar shpr/rcvr, its nice to be able to concentrate completely on avoiding hitting or scraping anything.

 

Before I started team driving with USX with my hubby I worked at a Verizon wireless call center for two years half that time being a supervisor....DONT WASTE MONEY ON THE MIFI OR AIR CARD! You have a limited usage on them 5GB and it's 59.99 dollars a month. What you want to do is get an andriod device....then download an app called Easy Tether (it's free) This will allow you to plug your phone into you computer, and tether (which is supplying an internet connection to your computer.) You do have to pay 29.99 a month for unlimited data on the phone, but it saves you 30.00 AND gives you unlimited internet usage on your computer...and where every you have data coverage (which the mifi and air cards need) you can tether!

 

we've had verizon for over 6 years pcmcir card, usb card and now mifi (love the mifi) both if us can be online at the same time, don't have to plug ANYTHING into the laptop and in over 6 years we have never EVER hit the 5 gb limit....

the mifi sits in the overhead and i don't have to tether it to the ltptop unless i am charging it off the laptop and even then i can still have the other laptop online at the same time MIFI RULES

 

I am using a droid from verizon, it has 3g and i tether it to my laptop because I refuse to pay for wifi when I'm on the road. It's pretty fast but at some times it can feel sluggish, how much faster is 4g? Worth getting? How many cities is it in that you've seen?

 

SO very happy for you both! My husband and I have been following you guys from the beginning and what an inspiration! We have completed our entire WIA process and are about to start our 8 week training. After researching many companies, USX stood out. We are already communicating with a recruiter and welcome any advice as we venture to Tunnel Hill. Congradulations to you both !!