U.S.Express "DON'T DO IT"

First off i've been with the company for 14 mo. They had me start as an ORT, starting at .49 1/2 per mi. ( Top of the food chain, with 40 yrs. driving) That worked out alright for the first mo at which time I was told that as I lived out west (az) that my home terminal would be Colton, Ca.(no problem). Once I got out that way again I went in to the dispatch office to introduce myself to my FM and was asked if I had seen the terminal manager yet, at which time I had said I hadn't.

When the terminal manager showed up he took me into a cubbiehole and threw a contract down on the table and proceeded to tell me that since I was now a regional driver I would take a 4 1/2 cent cut in pay, there would be no layover-detention-load or unload nor any breakdown pay. Should any of this take place it would be on my nickle. ( For this company it is not uncommon to get a run on average 350-400mi) and find yourself once delivered to sit a minimun of 1 1/2 days waiting for your next load. They also love to run you as a local driver for $50 a day. (DON'T DO IT)

They will tell you that frieght is slow (must be dead) because i've only averaged 12-1500mi a week in the time I have been here. Left out Wed. for a 700mi run, delivered Fri. 8am. Here it is Fri. night still no load nor does there seem to be one in site for the whole weekend. ( You figure out what that comes to, alright that comes out to 120mi a day). COULD YOU SURVIVE ON THAT KIND OF MILEAGE.

Enough said. (JUST DON"T DO IT)

 

I just posted a friend that's having a miserable time there also...Says he can't stop at a truck stop when close to out of hours but has to run and stop whenever he runs out, which can be almost anywhere, calls it "sleeping in the wild"...Whether that policy is true or not, I don't know, just relaying his experience...He also has a problem when they give him bad directions that when he tells them, they either give a solution that's worse or impossible...He also doesn't get anywhere near the mileage he needs to survive...

 

Walstib how is W&S. I'm starting CDL school next week and spoke with a W&S recruiter earlier this evening. Is it a good place to get started? Any problems I should be aware of? She said sometimes upon finishing the 10 day orientation they may not have trucks available and you may have to run team for up to 4 weeks until a truck is available.

 

NONE!...Check out the threads in the WS section, no complaints from drivers!!!

I haven't heard that team running thing from anyone that lasted more than a few days, if that...

 

Cool, she did say it could be anywhere from a few day to 4 weeks. It is probably their way of making sure a newbie is ready to go out on their own without doing the 4 week team training that the other companies do.

 

If you're not ready to go out on your own, you'll get sent home or "re-orientated"...They don't play around in that area...

 

Sounds like a safety issue to me. Also sounds far fetched because it would create a safety issue. I'm calling shenanigans.

 

Well I'd have to say this must be his Fleet Manager trying to up his (or her) averages at the drivers expense. I have not had this issue. I can say that the wait can be on occasion a bit long depending on where you are. As far as the contract goes. I'd quit...then file for unemployment and take a little vacation. You qualify under the "Significant change of conditions" rule. Let them pay for you to sit home for a bit. Maybe do a little on the side driving. I hate it when companies do stuff like that.
Max

 

man, I can't see how these big companys can get away with treating drivers like hamburger flippers and stay in business. Guess there making alot of there profit on the tax breaks they get for bringing in students. at least the people working at fast food joints don't live in a closet while earning there meager paychecks.

 

40 years experience.

And you willingly went to USX !!!!!

Sure like to hear more about that !!!