GPS and US Xpress

[omapilot]

I saw a article that said USX was installing a GPS system in their trucks. I have not heard anything about this in awhile so I am wondering if anyone has heard how this is going? I am considering USX and this would probably be a good selling point for me. Their Lincoln terminal is only 50 miles from me so that is good too. I am also considering Swift and going back to Trans AM, not sure what to do yet. Crete does not accept my school so I need three months and CFI I am out of their hiring area. So, USX is looking pretty good.

I did not want to ask the usual time honored question of "who is better" so I figured that I would sneak it in with an equipment question!

After searching I did not like some of the things about USX, not sure about the sliding pay scale deal, and the HHG miles are kind of suspect too. Thanks for reading!!

[Skywalker]

I saw a article that said USX was installing a GPS system in their trucks. I have not heard anything about this in awhile so I am wondering if anyone has heard how this is going? I am considering USX and this would probably be a good selling point for me. Their Lincoln terminal is only 50 miles from me so that is good too. I am also considering Swift and going back to Trans AM, not sure what to do yet. Crete does not accept my school so I need three months and CFI I am out of their hiring area. So, USX is looking pretty good.

I did not want to ask the usual time honored question of "who is better" so I figured that I would sneak it in with an equipment question!

After searching I did not like some of the things about USX, not sure about the sliding pay scale deal, and the HHG miles are kind of suspect too. Thanks for reading!!

If they are using "MobileMax/Geologic" satellite system....they are supposed to be putting a module that gives routing coupled with positioning....if I remember correctly. CFI was doing some conversion to Mmax for that reason, but at the same time Quallcom was going to be offering the same thing.

Does Knight have any terminals in your area??

Have you turned over every stone on the planet yet?

A minor equipment issue such as this should not be what tips the scales.

[omapilot]

Thanks for the quick reply! I know that is not a complete scale tipper but any luxury adds some kind of weight to the scale. I have looked at Knight, they have a terminal in Kansas City which is very close to Omaha. They do however want 4 months of experience and I am not quite at the level as of yet. I shold be, but I am not!

[nickbtubas]

Some companies will say they require 4 months or 3 months but may actually take less than that. I would give them a call and get in contact with a recruiter... US Xpress Terminal is great and is very clean. Its very small and im suprised that it isn't closed yet...

[omapilot]

That is a good idea, maybe I should call them after the 4th. I just went to the Lincoln terminal today and I agree it was really nice and the folks were friendly, they even opened up the store so I could buy a hat! I suppose that is good if you are getting your truck worked on, not much of a wait. From what I gathered that used to be a JTI or JT something like that trucking company that USX bought out about 6 years ago. But you are right, there was not too much action going on around there maybe it is different when it is not a holiday week.

And speaking of turning every stone I even applied at CR! Within 24 hours I got an email saying that I can start Orientation ASAP!!

[Malaki86]

Actually, the GPS system they're going/went with is CoPilot. I'm assuming it's customized for USX. Here's the press release from ALK:
http://www.alk.com/press/releases/pr_102606.asp

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mary Kelly, Media Relations
Phone: 609-252-8160
E-mail:kelly@alk.com
Fax: 609-252-8166

U.S. Xpress to Equip Entire Fleet with ALK’s CoPilot Truck

Innovative Carrier Provides Onboard, Voice-Guided GPS Navigation for Drivers

PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY – OCTOBER 26, 2006 - ALK Technologies today announced that U.S. Xpress, Inc. will deploy ALK’s CoPilot® Truck GPS navigation system across its entire fleet of more than 5,000 power units. U.S. Xpress, Inc. will become the largest major motor carrier to provide its drivers with spoken, truck-specific, turn-by-turn directions. Demonstrations of CoPilot Truck are available at ALK’s booth 1104, during the American Trucking Associations’ Management Conference and Exhibition in Dallas, Texas, October 29th-31st.

U.S. Xpress, Inc., based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is one of the largest truckload carriers in North America and an acknowledged industry pacesetter, particularly in technology innovation. The company recently decided to adopt CoPilot Truck company-wide. ALK is the industry’s leading developer of profit-driving routing, mileage and mapping software solutions, including PC*MILER® the industry-standard mileage application.

CoPilot Truck is a comprehensive solution that gets drivers where they need to go while avoiding restricted roads, tunnels and bridges. This eases the frequently intense hassle of driving a large truck in unfamiliar territory. CoPilot Truck provides confidence for new drivers and peace of mind for veteran drivers who are now always aware of exactly where they are and how far it is to their next turn and destination.

CoPilot Truck combines ALK’s PC*MILER 20 routing and mapping with the real-time precision of GPS navigation to guide drivers turn by turn to virtually any street-level address in the U.S. and Canada. A driver is alerted to upcoming turns by voice from the speaker of the truck’s in-cab device. CoPilot Truck guides drivers around roads, bridges and tunnels with truck restrictions.

The ability of CoPilot Truck to automatically recalculate routes based on dynamic factors such as traffic, construction or accidents is a key benefit for drivers and carriers.

“Drivers should not have to stop to look at an atlas and redirect themselves,” said Jeff Seibenhener, vice president information technology for U.S. Xpress. “If they actually do get off route, for whatever reason, CoPilot Truck will determine a new route for the driver. Basically it should never allow them to get lost.”

Seibenhener said that U.S. Xpress staff personnel tested CoPilot extensively on business and personal trips before installing the application on company trucks. “We tried to get lost,” he said, “but so far no one has been able to.”

Seibenhener further explained that U.S. Xpress chose to implement CoPilot for overall operational efficiency, and specifically to better utilize driver time and fuel use. “A big part of the decision to go with CoPilot was to help retain and attract drivers,” Seibenhener said. “We interviewed drivers, ex-drivers and driver liaisons and found that directions were among the top three issues they had. So we’re addressing a top-three issue with our drivers.”

U.S. Xpress drivers who tested CoPilot Truck on the road are enthusiastic. “We have received excellent feedback,” Seibenhener reported. “We even had a team that was due a new truck. They turned down the new truck in order to keep CoPilot installed in their current in-cab unit.”

U.S. Xpress selected the ALK application for a number of reasons, including the fact that CoPilot Truck data resides on the onboard device. That differs from a competing system that delivers driving directions to the truck cab from the provider’s remote server.

“Competing systems require that whenever you want to detour or reroute, you incur the cost of the communication back to the host application,” Seibenhener said. “We felt CoPilot Truck’s more dynamic and cost effective functionality was a better fit for us.”

Also in contrast to the competition, ALK offers a CoPilot Truck software development kit that enables U.S. Xpress to customize views and functionality of CoPilot Truck. For example, points of interest including truck stops and tourist attractions are available in the CoPilot Truck database; but they can be blocked if the company so desires.

U.S. Xpress also has the ability to control CoPilot Truck options wirelessly. “We can automatically configure CoPilot on the truck remotely. When we haul a hazmat load, we can turn on hazmat routing on the fly. The same thing is possible with routing for high value products,” Seibenhener said.

“We are very pleased that U.S. Xpress has chosen CoPilot Truck to enhance driver satisfaction, customer service, operational efficiency and their bottom line,” said Ed Siciliano, ALK vice president, sales and marketing. “CoPilot Truck has already proven its value to many owner operators who recognize its contribution to their small businesses. Now larger fleets are using CoPilot Truck for the same efficiency on a much larger scale. U.S. Xpress is known for its meticulous selection and application of technology in our industry. The adoption of CoPilot Truck for driver satisfaction and for their bottom line is the bellwether of a growing trend.”

ALK’s truck-specific version of CoPilot has been the most accurate, most intuitive in-vehicle GPS navigation and route guidance solution in the industry since its introduction in 2001. CoPilot Truck, long a favorite of business-savvy owner-operators, is also available in versions for both laptop and handheld computers, and remains the only in-cab, truck-specific route guidance solution with spoken directions. It does not require a mobile communications system or wireless Internet connection. For more information on CoPilot Truck, visit www.CoPilotTruck.com.

[Scottt]

Have you considered MCT out of Soiux Falls?? I am happy with their training so far.

[omapilot]

Malaki86, That is the article that I saw, thanks for digging that up! Sounds like a pretty nice system.

Scottt, I have not really looked at MCT, but I will. Glad to hear that you are happy with their training. Did you go through their school or come in with a CDL?[/quote]

[Karnajj]

Learn to read a map. What will happen when you learn (and you will) that USX is a terrible company to work for? Not only will you not have any map reading skills you won't even know how to shift a manual transmission! What happens if the GPS fails? Are you going to park the truck until it gets fixed? The reason they adopt new technologies has nothing to do with providing drivers with amenities no one else does, it's because they can't attract good enough drivers who don't need the amenities to get the job done!!!!!!!!!!!!

When I was driving local we hired a guy who voluntarily dropped out of USX's training program after 5 weeks or thereabout. We had him running a 24' box truck. He was still there when I left. About two years later I see him getting out of a USX truck at a TS. USX took him back 3 years after he had last driven for them and they didn't even make him finish his training. They needed him for a dollar general acct that they were seriously short on.

[Malaki86]

I spent roughly a year at USXpress, but amazingly enough, I know how to shift gears - imagine that. I also have a GPS in my truck (CoPilot) but would you believe that I know how to read a map??? Wow - I must be pretty amazing, huh?

BTW - I'm not at USX now, but my truck is an automatic. I had the choice of 2 trucks, which were identical other than the fact one is an auto and the other is a 10 speed. Why would I want to make my life harder and make the exact same money?

[Karnajj]

I spent roughly a year at USXpress, but amazingly enough, I know how to shift gears - imagine that. I also have a GPS in my truck (CoPilot) but would you believe that I know how to read a map??? Wow - I must be pretty amazing, huh?

BTW - I'm not at USX now, but my truck is an automatic. I had the choice of 2 trucks, which were identical other than the fact one is an auto and the other is a 10 speed. Why would I want to make my life harder and make the exact same money?

And your point is??????

[married to the road]

I know how to read a map, but I would love to have a gps unit, mostly to help me find the shipper/consignee. Some of these directions that I get are poor to say the least. :?

[Malaki86]

I spent roughly a year at USXpress, but amazingly enough, I know how to shift gears - imagine that. I also have a GPS in my truck (CoPilot) but would you believe that I know how to read a map??? Wow - I must be pretty amazing, huh?

BTW - I'm not at USX now, but my truck is an automatic. I had the choice of 2 trucks, which were identical other than the fact one is an auto and the other is a 10 speed. Why would I want to make my life harder and make the exact same money?

And your point is??????

My point is that just because a driver chooses to have tools that he can use to make a crappy job just a little easier doesn't make them any less of a driver.

The automatic transmission isn't going to help me get my 770 Volvo with a 53' trailer into a shipping dock designed for a 35' trailer any easier, but it sure as hell is nice when I'm sitting in traffic.

The GPS unit isn't going to steer my truck around a 135 degree right hand turn from one 2 lane road onto another during heavy traffic, but it sure is nice to know that I have a turn like that coming up so I can get set up properly for it.

I do, however, firmly stand with the fact that any new driver should start out in a standard-shift truck and drive that for at least a year. The experience is invaluable. Same for GPS/map reading. Run for a year or so without any help of a GPS system.

[ROCKYROAD]

I spent roughly a year at USXpress, but amazingly enough, I know how to shift gears - imagine that. I also have a GPS in my truck (CoPilot) but would you believe that I know how to read a map??? Wow - I must be pretty amazing, huh?

BTW - I'm not at USX now, but my truck is an automatic. I had the choice of 2 trucks, which were identical other than the fact one is an auto and the other is a 10 speed. Why would I want to make my life harder and make the exact same money?

And your point is??????

I think his point is that you often come off as a know it all dick;-)

[omapilot]

I appreciate both points to the argument. I am a private pilot and am working on my instrument rating. There is a choice of two Cessna 172's at the school, one has the basic VOR and standard gauge panel, the other is a brand new 172 with the Garmin G-1000. The garmin is all glass and has a very nice GPS as well as many other features that rival allot of airliners. Now many will only train on the Garmin, and the argument is that it is the way of the future and that is what a regional airliner cockpit has. However, for basic VFR flying, you still need to be able to read a sectional chart because electrical failures can and do happen. Not saying these folks dont know how to read em, just maybe not as proficient.

I drove the 10 speed in school and am not too bad at it, however I can really see the point about getting very rusty on shifting too if all you have is an auto. The GPS in a truck, well that is a nice "luxury" I agree you have to have to have to be able to read the atlas! Not just for directions but for all of the other wealth of information that they contain. Thanks for bringing up that point!

[Scottt]

Malaki86, That is the article that I saw, thanks for digging that up! Sounds like a pretty nice system.

Scottt, I have not really looked at MCT, but I will. Glad to hear that you are happy with their training. Did you go through their school or come in with a CDL?

[/quote]

I went to school at a community college in Iowa. I went to work for a local company leased on to MCT. I went to the orientation at MCT and am currenty with a trainer for 25,000 miles.

You can go to MCT for school for free with a year commitment. Their school is 4 weeks, then they will hook you up with a company.

[omapilot]

Thanks again for the help! I have a Class A already, but it does sound like they offer good road training with local companies. Best of luck to you while you are out!