Truck Driving Jobs

Rokk · Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 8:25 am Post subject:

if you heard max fullers advertisement on sattelite radio lately, he still thinks they are the best, wonder if he ever realizes how using the rail exclusively screws his drivers. "starvem before walkin them", Max always says. :)

Longsnowsm · Joined: 29 Dec 2005 Posts: 563

Does it do any good to send a QC message MAX or to management on detention, layover, and the pay per miles problems? Seems to me that after looking at the US Xpress site they don't specify that the sliding pay is based on the distance the load has gone, but implies it is the distance you pulled it. Has anyone ever gotten USX to pay the detention pay, and layover pay, and a correction on a CPM for a load they owed you? Do they tell you when they dispatch the load that is going short haul your only going to get the .25 cpm? Can you refuse it?

Of those that are happy with USX what has been your experience with these issues specificly? Seems to me they are possibly treading a thin legal line on the detention, layover, and the questionable determination of what the load is going to pay on the sliding scale at their whim. Can someone clarify? This sounds pretty bad, is it really that bad?

Longsnowsm

Skullitor · Joined: 18 Oct 2005 Posts: 928 Location: Your Sisters Room

Dosen't U.S.Express drivers moan and bitch up a storm over the pay cut?

Hangernaid · Joined: 16 Jan 2006 Posts: 16

What pay cut? USX does have problems, but if you are going to post, at least know what you are talking about.

Most of the problems here are operational, rookie FM's and CSR's, some who I think believe Rand McNally is a person. USX is policy driven to the point that it overrides common sense, totally inflexible. The old PPPPPP, Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance, but that concept is foriegn to USX. I wish when I was playing Chess had opponents that played like USX thinks, never planning one move ahead, only whats up right now.

But we did not take a pay cut.

Let's keep it truthful.

Malaki86 · Joined: 28 Aug 2004 Posts: 2129 Location: West Virginia

I've never had a problem being paid for a load, the miles the load was dispatched, layover, breakdown, extra stop or rail stop pay. The only problem I've ever had was being paid for detention.

I recently had a load with 14hr detention. My FM and FM's manager both approved the detention pay. However, the detention department didn't approve it because the shipper hadn't paid the bill yet. I sent a Message to Max about this, mentioning that if the detention pay wasn't in my next pay, I would be speaking to the Department of Labor about it. Amazingly enough, it was on my next pay.

I keep hearing people say that they're not getting miles at USX. I just can't understand that. They sometimes give me too many miles, causing me to run out of hours and have to sit after driving maybe 1-2hrs in a day. I just finished a 22 day tour. In those 22 days, I ran a total of 8,568 miles (dispatched miles).

In those 22 days, I had 4 breakdowns and 1 34hr restart. I started in Grantsville, MD, took a load to St. Paul, MN, then to Seattle, WA. I then worked my way back. For people to say that there aren't any loads, and knowing that they're dispatching solo drivers for coast to coast runs just doesn't make sense to me.

Are the people without miles complaining too much? or not enough? Are you wanting to be home every weekend? or do you offer to take extended runs? I never refuse a load, no matter what it entails. I may complain to the FM about it, but I'll run it anyway. If the load ends up being a total pain in the ass, I'll tell them to never send me there again (after the load has been completed). That includes Canada - I'll never take another CA load.

As far as the sliding pay scale, think of it this way. You're going to make a lot more money on the longer runs (unless all of your stops are drop/hook at each end, with no delays).

Take this as an example: you have 2,500 miles. First - the single run. 2,500 miles @ .30cpm = $750.00. You could easily run that 2,500 miles in 4 days @ 600 miles per day (not pushing hard at all).

Second - short runs. Lets say you have 5 runs @ 500 miles each, with a pay of .33cpm. Each run pays $165.00, with a total of $825.00. In the real world, that's going to take (at a minimum) of 5 days. Each end, you'll have the normal shipper/receiver delays, as well as possible delays with getting the load, the transit time between each load, etc. In fact, those 5 500 mile runs will probably take about 6 1/2 to 7 days to complete. That is, again, unless you're on a dedicated account with each end being drop and hook, and most of those accounts are a set mileage, not sliding.

I know that I'd much rather have a load over 1,000 miles every time, rather than the 200-300 miles going city to city. Too many of those little 200 mile runs have ended up taking a couple days to complete because of the loading/unloading scheduled times.

Every company out there has problems. No matter if the company is nothing more than 2 guys who have a truck or a multi-national corporation with over 20,000 trucks. If you try to make the best out of what you have, things will go much better.

Ridge Runner · Joined: 18 Oct 2004 Posts: 2588 Location: North Ga.

Malaki86 wrote: I've never had a problem being paid for a load, the miles the load was dispatched, layover, breakdown, extra stop or rail stop pay. The only problem I've ever had was being paid for detention.

I recently had a load with 14hr detention. My FM and FM's manager both approved the detention pay. However, the detention department didn't approve it because the shipper hadn't paid the bill yet. I sent a Message to Max about this, mentioning that if the detention pay wasn't in my next pay, I would be speaking to the Department of Labor about it. Amazingly enough, it was on my next pay.

I keep hearing people say that they're not getting miles at USX. I just can't understand that. They sometimes give me too many miles, causing me to run out of hours and have to sit after driving maybe 1-2hrs in a day. I just finished a 22 day tour. In those 22 days, I ran a total of 8,568 miles (dispatched miles).

In those 22 days, I had 4 breakdowns and 1 34hr restart. I started in Grantsville, MD, took a load to St. Paul, MN, then to Seattle, WA. I then worked my way back. For people to say that there aren't any loads, and knowing that they're dispatching solo drivers for coast to coast runs just doesn't make sense to me.

Are the people without miles complaining too much? or not enough? Are you wanting to be home every weekend? or do you offer to take extended runs? I never refuse a load, no matter what it entails. I may complain to the FM about it, but I'll run it anyway. If the load ends up being a total pain in the ass, I'll tell them to never send me there again (after the load has been completed). That includes Canada - I'll never take another CA load.

As far as the sliding pay scale, think of it this way. You're going to make a lot more money on the longer runs (unless all of your stops are drop/hook at each end, with no delays).

Take this as an example: you have 2,500 miles. First - the single run. 2,500 miles @ .30cpm = $750.00. You could easily run that 2,500 miles in 4 days @ 600 miles per day (not pushing hard at all).

Second - short runs. Lets say you have 5 runs @ 500 miles each, with a pay of .33cpm. Each run pays $165.00, with a total of $825.00. In the real world, that's going to take (at a minimum) of 5 days. Each end, you'll have the normal shipper/receiver delays, as well as possible delays with getting the load, the transit time between each load, etc. In fact, those 5 500 mile runs will probably take about 6 1/2 to 7 days to complete. That is, again, unless you're on a dedicated account with each end being drop and hook, and most of those accounts are a set mileage, not sliding.

I know that I'd much rather have a load over 1,000 miles every time, rather than the 200-300 miles going city to city. Too many of those little 200 mile runs have ended up taking a couple days to complete because of the loading/unloading scheduled times.

Every company out there has problems. No matter if the company is nothing more than 2 guys who have a truck or a multi-national corporation with over 20,000 trucks. If you try to make the best out of what you have, things will go much better.

WAY TO GO MALAKI86 !!! If I remember correct you were about to throw in the towel a while back? Glad to hear things have turned for the better for you. This is a good example of what hanging tough, doing the right thing, and staying professional will get you. ( More miles than you know what to do with )

As far as USX: If I ever had to go back to work for a common carrier... let's just say I would be in a BIG RED TRUCK again in a heartbeat! About the ONLY bad thing I could say about them is their detention pay policy. As best as I can remember it was " you get paid when/if WE get paid". I know of no other industry in the business world that has been able to hire an employee that will work for free until the company gets paid by the customer. It is money that is owed to me for MY time. If your customer pays YOU are not is NOT my problem, that is between you and your customer.

Other than that I can't say anything bad about them that would make me NOT want to go back.

Skullitor · Joined: 18 Oct 2005 Posts: 928 Location: Your Sisters Room

Hangernaid wrote: What pay cut? USX does have problems, but if you are going to post, at least know what you are talking about.

Most of the problems here are operational, rookie FM's and CSR's, some who I think believe Rand McNally is a person. USX is policy driven to the point that it overrides common sense, totally inflexible. The old PPPPPP, Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance, but that concept is foriegn to USX. I wish when I was playing Chess had opponents that played like USX thinks, never planning one move ahead, only whats up right now.

But we did not take a pay cut.

Let's keep it truthful.

:roll: IT IS TRUTHFUL!!! All trips OVER 900 miles you get a PAY CUT to 25CPM!!! :x HELLO Whats untruthful about that? :x

Hangernaid · Joined: 16 Jan 2006 Posts: 16

We are a team and we split .47 cpm, regular as clockwork. And when my wife took a week off and I ran single, I think I was paid .36 cpm.

I don't think I've been paid .25 cpm since about 1988 or 1989. If I drove for someone who paid that little, I'm move on. I've never heard about a pay cut at USX.

We are already on the verge of leaving for either Interstate or CFI, it wouldn't take much to push us over the edge.

And Ridge Runner, if you read my entire post, you'd have read that we've been out 6 weeks. Our lack of miles is not from going home, nor is it from refusing to go anyplace.

Jan 1-Jan 5, there were maybe 250 trucks sitting at the Tunnel Hill Concentration Camp.

Jan 16- Jan 17, we were shut down at Colton waiting for something.

That equals 7 days sitting in 17, a very high percentage of sitting time. We are rolling again, but two weeks checks reduced this much makes taking time off something we can't afford to do right now.

PurpleHaze · Joined: 21 Mar 2006 Posts: 21 Location: Winston-Salem, NC

My hubby and I are looking for companies BEFORE we get our CDLs. He's only 22, so our choices are limited. Right now we are looking at Covenant (poor safety ratings), CRST (low pay), and USX (not sure how they treat their teams).

My question is, does anyone know if USX has a tuition repayment program? So far it seems like all the other companies that hire newbies will reimburse your tuition expenses, but I haven't seen anything about it with US express. Does anyone know? I emailed the recruitment dept yesterday but I'm still waiting to hear from them.

ranger 1 · Joined: 14 Jul 2005 Posts: 41

USX does not have reimbursement for tuition assistance.

[quote="PurpleHaze"]My hubby and I are looking for companies BEFORE we get our CDLs. He's only 22, so our choices are limited. Right now we are looking at Covenant (poor safety ratings), CRST (low pay), and USX (not sure how they treat their teams).

My question is, does anyone know if USX has a tuition repayment program? So far it seems like all the other companies that hire newbies will reimburse your tuition expenses, but I haven't seen anything about it with US express. Does anyone know? I emailed the recruitment dept yesterday but I'm still waiting to hear from them.[/quote]

PurpleHaze · Joined: 21 Mar 2006 Posts: 21 Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Actually, they do. I have since been in touch with recruiters from USX and they just recently started one. It is $150 per month after the first 30 days. However, they will ONLY pay back a loan from a financial institution. So that is what we are in the process of getting right now. (Spelling Cow is out, so parden my typos)

ranger 1 · Joined: 14 Jul 2005 Posts: 41

Well that's good news. My wife and I just graduated from trucking school last week on 10 May, and we are looking at USX. We funded our on money, however you stated that they only pay money back from a financial institution well, that still doesn't help us, but that is still good news that they pay students thier money back. Thanks!

[quote="PurpleHaze"]Actually, they do. I have since been in touch with recruiters from USX and they just recently started one. It is $150 per month after the first 30 days. However, they will ONLY pay back a loan from a financial institution. So that is what we are in the process of getting right now. (Spelling Cow is out, so parden my typos)[/quote]

PurpleHaze · Joined: 21 Mar 2006 Posts: 21 Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Ok, correction. USX does NOT repay just any loans (as the stupid, lieing, b!^@h of a recruiter told us. Soooo many problems with this one chick.... but that's another story.) It DOES pay off loans through the school you go to. So, if you can get a loan from your school, you're set. If your school has no loan program, like ours, then you're screwed.

ajxsc · Joined: 17 Mar 2005 Posts: 31 Location: ALABAMA

I was looking for anybody that had a problem trying to turn in their truck and found this thread I had posted in a log time ago.
At the time of that post I was getting some good miles a few weeks in a row and I thought that was going to be the norm.
For the last 4 or 5 months they have been telling me I had to start working every other weekend, I kept telling them NO I dont, I was hired for home every weekend and 2200 miles a week (guaranteed OVer phone)
They said No that was not so that the recruiters were taking alot of heat for lying, I said NO I will not work every other weekend only the ones that I could and wanted to. That worked for a while now they are wanting me to work one weekend a month??? I figure what the hell I need the extra money. I left two Sundays ago for a good week and I ended up sitting on a load from Friday afternoon to del Sunday Night a WHOLE 139 miles away. OK I deal with it, watch some tv and relax, I get a 300 mile trip and then sit there for 30 hours after I get empty only to have my preplan mysteriously canceled and another load put on me heading NOT home. I did get home a day late but the point is making me work on weekends to only drive a extra 139 miles will not cut it for me. I ended the week with 1200 miles and I had over 27 hours available after being out for two weeks and not having a 34 or even close to it.
The other things I can deal with, The low millage pay sliding scale, The NEVER getting detention pay, the 15 to 20 minutes on hold to talk to a human person, Then getting talked to Like I am some kind of a hassle and trust me I never call in unless I HAVE to, never!!!
And they want to make me work a weekend?? I can sit at the house just as good as I can at a truck stop. Every company has it problems I know I have heard it all but add all these together I am taking my truck to tunnel hill in the am. NO Soup for me!! Lol.
I am prehired with a local company that has it headquarters here in town, been in business for years and I have talked to alot of happy drivers with them. If you are married and have kids at home they actually encourage you to go home, Their policy is if you stay away from home more than 14 days it hampers your ability to be the driver they want working for them or some such $&!+ is their saying.
All In all I guess USX was ok for me but....The sending me to shippers "hoping" I can get loaded or like said before they are told not to send volvo's and I'll be damn here they go telling you go go pick it up.
I was told by one FM that I knew how to work it out in log book because I had been driving longer than he had been a FM. He works there no more HEHEHe lasted about a month.
Here is another one I am tried of, Get a message customer does not pay detention, DO NOT ALLOW yourself to be detained,,,,better take plenty of food cause you will be detained and they wont pull you off load because night and weekend shift cant do $&!+ except send you satcom messages and forward emails to the manager on duty. Time to move on these guys could give a $&!+ about me or my family, They are just to big of a company with to many policies that only apply to a few,
Those that are happy good luck and stick with it and ride it as long as you can. I would not recommend anyone to this company or would I ever question someone who is happy here.

ajxsc · Joined: 17 Mar 2005 Posts: 31 Location: ALABAMA

They wanted me to bring a load with me and work my way back to terminal. I decided against that since I had oreintation in two days for a new company and was not going to get caught under aload.
After no word from FM on first day I went to the new place and did all the paperwork.
ANyway USX called and said go ahead and BT truck back to terimnal (146M). Turned in truck and stopped by and got my new one on the way home. Took it home and had all weekend to load it up and was DIS on first load before I even picked truck up.
The drivers I have talked to say they will threaten you to pay the fuel or even unathorized movement of vehichle and most of time will say you have to take load with you..
So to be on topic of this thread I will say USX was ok to start out on since I had to start over because I had a two year gap in driving. They are not as stricth as some say and I got home for the most part most weekends but my milage was not always that high. It was so sporactic I cant even really give a avg per week example. I do know anytime I worked a weekend I sat for over 24 hours during one of the weeks and weekend miles were very low also.

sO FAR THIS NEW COMPANY rocks!! BUT DONT THEY ALL at first?

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