In 2004, I went to truck driving school and applied at US Xpress. Went out with a trainer for 200 hours, upgraded to solo, got my own truck. Then about a month later, the hurricanes hit home in Florida. I left (in good standing) to come back home and pick up the pieces.

During that time, I went to work for a surveying company, fell in the woods and had to have surgery. I did not file an Workman's Compensation claim. Vocational Rehabilitation took care of the medical expenses, with no burden to the employer. I was out of commission for about 6 months.

Re-applied to US Xpress last June, thinking I was physically able to return to driving. Went out with a trainer for 150 hours this time, but my legs were not ready for the extended sitting required of an OTR driver. I did not upgrade, though I completed the time required with good marks , and left on medical leave.

A few weeks ago got up with US Xpress rehire department, and was told I was eligible for rehire (with another mandatory 150 hours training) and all I would need is a release from my doctor, stating "Able to return to the duties of an OTR truck driver with no restrictions or limitations".
I got the release and Safety was satisfied. My rehire recruiter said today everything was good to go and was scheduled to go to orientation next week. Here's the surprise... two hours later, the same recruiter called me and said, "US Xpress has rescinded their offer and I could apply again in six months". With no explanation other than "I was competing with a lot of other drivers for a job".

After numerous phone calls to HR and Rehire, was not able to find out why they would rescind their offer. In all the time I worked for them, I was on time with no tickets or incidents and took every run with a good attitude. I even turned in my truck way cleaner than I received it.

To all the drivers that may think they want to work for US Xpress, beware of what the recruiters tell you and cover your butt with other options.

To be honest with you.. I think they are just covering their butts, to make sure your ok to drive. You drove 200 hours for training and 1 month solo.

That's not very long for any company to know you. I'm just sure they don't want your knee/leg to go out again just to have to be off again.

glasman2 you seemed to have missed my point.

My point being, if they weren't going to rehire me, then why didn't they tell me two weeks ago? Why did they go to all the trouble getting it set up and run through safety, assure me everything was "good to go" only to rescind their offer at the last minute?

U.S. Xoress didn't lie to you. I agree that they are just covering their rears.


You might wanna try another company if you feel wronged

Thanks nickbtubas... I'm sure of it, but my point is:
Why would they tell me everything was okay with Safety (their request and reciept of the release from my surgeon) and I was good to go, and then "change their minds"? It would seem that if they had approved (the key word being approved) me for rehire, what's the problem?

I learned recently recruiters talk out both sides of their mouths and to never believe a thing until it happens (or doesn't happen). My guess is the recruiter was pushing to get you through but someone else discovered and decided it wasn't worth the risk. You'll find another company and you'll probably end up thinking they did you a favor. (unless you hate manual transmissions )

Thanks piaa_nissan...

You are probably right, I guess I am from a time when you could rely on a mans word as being the truth.
I wouldn't have a problem with US Xpress, if they had been up front with me and informed me that the decision for my return was still being reviewed.
Maybe they did do me a favor, by showing their true colors.
To string someone along and flat out lie to them about something as important as going back to work, is despicable.
If they will lie to you once, they will lie to you again.
I'm sorry I wasted my time on a bunch of lying scum.
I would have been a great driver for them, had they looked beyond their noses. (but then if you remember Pinocchio, that might be hard for them to accomplish!) Ha!

I sorry to say, but lately, this seems to be the norm.

The recruitors job is to get you to the door. It doesn't, nor will it ever, mean that your hired. Only on the last day of orientation can you depend on being hired.

I know. This sucks. And I don't know why they (companies) do it. Sometimes, they want you to do training the recruiter states you don't have to, or lower you pay from what you been stated. Or it might be something else that you would have never bothered with them if you have been told up-front. For some reason, the companies who do this do it alot. And it seems the bigger the company, the more it's done.

So what can you do about it?

This is what I do if/when it evers happens to me:

Give them the bird.
Tell them to go fu** themself.
Go to another job.

That's just the way I am. My .02

It's hard not to be bitter about it, but I guess I got "schooled" in the way large companies operate.

Yeah, I'll go to work for someone else now and maybe the silver lining is:

1) Transmissions that don't "choke" on you when you need it the most.
2) Getting paid for the miles I drive.
3) Not dealing with idiot "load planners" that have no idea what has been set up with my dispatcher.
4) Dispatchers that don't want me to falsify my log book.
5) Actually moving freight across country, instead of to the rail yard.
6) Clean showers at the terminals.
7) Washers and dryers at the terminals that actually work.

One thing I can say in defense about the US Xpress is their sliding pay scale. I would gladly take less CPM for a run over 900 miles, because I wouldn't be tied up at a loading dock everyday. Short runs and hitting a dock every day means more sitting time. If you're not rolling, you're not making money.

The choice to return to driving was not approached lightly. It is a hard job that requires a special kind of person. A person that can take care of themselves in any kind of weather or situation. A person that can deal with all the unprofessional drivers around them, and not lose their safety edge. A person that can find the ways to be comfortable out on the road, waking up in a different town everyday.

I have other talents (namely as a US Coast Guard licensed captain) that I can draw on. In the past, I piloted vessels to the oil rigs and platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, off of Texas and Louisiana. It's like being a trucker on the sea. Going rate now for captains is $275.00 a day with 3 weeks on and 1 week off.

Thanks for all your inputs and stay safe!

What do you want to do then ? Drive dry vans and stay out a long time ?

CFI seems like a good fit have you tried them ?