US XPRESS

[mscookie302000]

CAN SOMEONE PLZ GIVE ME INFO ON ORIENTATION AT TUNNEL HILL, GA. FOR US XPRESS... ROAD & BACKING TEST.. WILL BE ATTENDING ORIENTATION SOOOOON!!

[CGull]

The backing is straight line, 45 degree back, and 90 degree backing, and blind side backing.

The road test is your run of the mill down the road, hazmat stop, thru the city up onto the highway and back off again.
BOL

Regards

[Malaki86]

I did my road test with USX at the Medway, OH terminal. It consisted of pretty much the same as what the previous poster noted, with the exception of the backing.

When we came back from the driving part, the instructor simply said "Find a hole to park in." I found a pull through spot. No backing involved. Parked and he said "Good job. You used your head for not making yourself do more work than needed." HeHeHe

[LOAD IT]

I did my road test with USX at the Medway, OH terminal. It consisted of pretty much the same as what the previous poster noted, with the exception of the backing.

When we came back from the driving part, the instructor simply said "Find a hole to park in." I found a pull through spot. No backing involved. Parked and he said "Good job. You used your head for not making yourself do more work than needed." HeHeHe

When were you there? Did you know Papa Smurf?

Hmmmm so you took your test with USX and there wasn't any backing involved? I only ask because I'm strongly thinking about going with USX (new driver, just graduated CDL school) Sadly, the school I went to only teaches the backing techniques needed to past the state CDL. (straight line and curved.) I was nervous when someone said a 45 and a 90...as I don't know how to do either :-(

[ghost_ryder]

I took a road test about 1 year ago for USX at the oklahoma terminal, very easy. It seems they were wanting me to do well unlike schneider who I heard screws their trainees. Anyway, I drove for USX until hurricane katrina tore my life apart which was only about 6 months. None the less, a great company to work for from what I had seen. I drive local now (for another awesome company) but if I ever decide to go back OTR, I will go right back to USX. Good luck at USX!

[Malaki86]

Main thing with the backing test at orientation, especially with someone just out of school: DONT HIT ANYTHING!!! If you hit something, it's an automatic failure. If you can't get into the hole the tester picks for you, tell him you don't feel comfortable with it until you've had more training. They're a training company, and they'd rather have a driver tell them upfront than end up hitting another tractor or trailer.

One thing though, with you fresh out of school, I honestly wouldn't recommend USX for one reason: autoshift trucks. If things don't work out for you at USX and 6 months down the road you want to go somewhere else, guess what? You have to have more training just to learn how to shift.

Just my 2c.

Luckily my school taught us on a 10 speed Freightliner. Of course if I go 6 months I would probably be a little rusty on shifting. I have decided yet. I just found out yesterday that USX requires Haz Mat, something I don't have.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do now.

[larryh31]

If you are looking to drive an autoshift truck, you might also want to check out PAM Transport in Tontiown, Arkansas
http://www.otrdrivers.com/network_pam.htm

[Malaki86]

Are you positive on requiring a HazMat? When I was there, it was 'wanted', not 'required' that you had the endorsement.

[Longsnowsm]

Malaki86,

When you were there? Where did you go? I followed your story getting back into USX and some of the troubles you had. Did you finally get fed up or find something better? What happened?

Longsnowsm

It was on a brouchure that my school had. I suppose its possible it was old, or maybe they've changed their policy. I'm supposed to call my recrutier tomorrow I'm going to ask him

[Malaki86]

I finally gave up on USX in March of this year. I was getting too tired of all the headaches of dispatch, and then I started having major electrical problems on the truck (power shorting out, shutting truck down while driving, etc) that they couldn't locate and wouldn't send me to a dealer to have fixed. When they told me I *HAD* to drive the truck that way is when it went too far.

I'm with Celadon now - started here 1 week ago today

One thing, I really miss that auto-shift now, especially after coming around Atlanta yesterday.

Celadon huh? Do they hire recent grads? lol

[Malaki86]

Nope - 3 months minimum experience

Oh well, USX is who I wanted to go with from the start of my journey into trucking

[Sans Argonauts]

I drove for USX for almost a year, before I made one of my intermittent career-jumps out of the truck for awhile. I can't complain at all. My dispatcher was great. Never had any problems with the truck. Most of the docks were actual distribution centers or places actually desgined for 53-foot trailers and not some metal shed out in the boondocks behind somebody's house like some of the other carriers I drove for. Got home like clockwork every two weeks and then had 4 days off after each trip.

Sometimes the miles weren't the best... but I dealt with it. Got out West... Arizona, NM, Cali... just about every trip out. But that was just my experience. Other drivers used to complain about just running east of the Mississippi, etc. But then lots of drivers complain just to hear their lips flap sometimes. As Thoreau wrote somewhere in Walden "The fault-finder will find fault even in Paradise."

Like any company.... it is what you make it.

I also agree with what the other driver said. If I was ever to go back OTR, it would be with USX again. They treated me good.

Thas great to hear. That's what most people say. Thanks for all of your input

[ghost_ryder]

I drove for USX for almost a year, before I made one of my intermittent career-jumps out of the truck for awhile. I can't complain at all. My dispatcher was great. Never had any problems with the truck. Most of the docks were actual distribution centers or places actually desgined for 53-foot trailers and not some metal shed out in the boondocks behind somebody's house like some of the other carriers I drove for. Got home like clockwork every two weeks and then had 4 days off after each trip.

Sometimes the miles weren't the best... but I dealt with it. Got out West... Arizona, NM, Cali... just about every trip out. But that was just my experience. Other drivers used to complain about just running east of the Mississippi, etc. But then lots of drivers complain just to hear their lips flap sometimes. As Thoreau wrote somewhere in Walden "The fault-finder will find fault even in Paradise."

Like any company.... it is what you make it.

I also agree with what the other driver said. If I was ever to go back OTR, it would be with USX again. They treated me good.

Pretty much my experience with them. Heck, when I was going to leave them, someone even called me up and talked to me. They asked personally if everything was ok and wanted to keep me on. They understood I had to leave because of hurricane katrina. I brought the truck back for them, right where I got it and they payed my bus ride home. My dispatcher was just a great guy, he was just cool, simple as that. Also I still, to this day talk to my trainer from USX, we actually had a good time out there.

[ordinaryguy]

atlanta isnt that bad, well only when there is an accident or something like that between 2pm and 9pm in the evening. chicago sucks though, they been working on these roads for about 20 years now.