Driving OTR with US Xpress

Hello There.


Well, I can see this thread has been quiet in the last week, so I guess I'll bump it along.


I spent a total of 3 1/2 days in break down mode. The ECU was causing the DEF and check engine light to flash so it was replaced. Three break-down sessions in the last 6 weeks have taken a toll. I'm hoping that 3 times is a charm and maybe I can get back to doing what I do best........running hard.

The first run after I was back from breakdown, a tire load from Mt Vernon, IL to Laredo, TX. Paid miles: 1,259. Next run was an auto load going from Laredo to Smyrna, TN. Paid miles: 1,081. I finished off the week with a load from Burnside, KY to the Home Depot DC in Van Buren, OH. Paid miles: 503.

So for the week: 2,843. Plus, I was asked to re-power a driver who was in Kirksville, OH, so I'll get paid for a trailer move (his tractor was going to be towed, so I dropped my mty at Abbot in Columbus, OH) plus all the additional miles from Van Buren, to Kirksville tacked on to those 3 runs.

This re-powered load will be around 490 miles and will be a drop and hook, delivering to the Walmart DC in Smyrna, DE tomorrow afternoon.



I've been reading on some of the other USX threads about drivers having difficulties getting miles, no freight available, bad FMs, no empty trailers. I'm sure there are some complaints I've left out.

So I'm going to provide some helpful hints that may help some of you out.


Miles: If you want to keep moving and rack up the miles there is only one thing that's going to help you achieve that: Communications.

Now, by that I don't mean picking up the phone and calling your FM. That's the last thing you should be doing. Besides the Macros you send which alert them as to your progress on your trip, your FM needs to know when you'll be arriving at a receiver. The sooner you pass that info along, the sooner they can begin planning your next load.

If you say nothing, they won't know your status until you're empty. When you are empty, send in a Macro 29 and update your PTA.

I message in to my FM just before I depart for a receiver and give her my ETA. Also, it's a good idea to message in to dispatch giving them your shut-down location.


Freight: There's plenty of freight. Anybody telling you otherwise is full of it.


FMs: If your FM is not doing his or her job, do something about it. Don't just sit around complaining. USX doesn't want bad FMs anymore than you do. If the fleet owner won't do anything about putting you on a different board, go to the terminal manager or who ever is running that office. This is when it's OK to use the phone.

Empty Trailers: Yes, not getting an empty can be very aggravating, but, it's not your job to find an mty. If no mty is available, alert your FM. They'll find one for you. If they don't they are not doing their job. You'll be paid the miles to pick up your mty so don't worry about that part.


Calling on the phone should be a last resort, used only if you have no choice. Calling your FM to ask when you're going to get your next load is what you don't want to do. They may not be your best buddy, but they've got a lot on their plate. You have to respect that. They monitor trucks in a continuous cycle. When they have to stop and talk to you on the phone, they delay communicating with all the trucks, so everything takes longer.


Delivering on-time is a must. No exceptions......well there are exceptions but under normal circumstances, delivering on-time must be part of your routine. When you demonstrate that you can do that without fail, you'll become one of the prime drivers that dispatch can depend on.




Get into your job. Work hard at it. Get organized. There's plenty of money to be made.




Hope this helps.








Thanks for reading
-Wedge

 

Sorry about that, Flood.



Want me to bring it back?

 

Well, I spoke too soon.


Here I sit at a Loves TS in Sparta, KY, under load, my Dixie's busted..........again.

Check engine light is on, low level DEF light is flashing away like it's trying there's no tomorrow. It's the same problem that I had with the truck 12 days ago. I guess the ECU wasn't the problem.

This makes 4 breakdowns in 7 weeks.



My mood at this moment:





Well, maybe not that bad.................Let's just say it's a train you don't want to ride.




Anyway, I'm waiting on a re-power truck which should arrive around 1100. Where I'm headed after that is anyone's guess. Most likely another Freightliner dealer.



If they can't get this problem sorted out, I'll have them re-seat me.




I"ll keep you updated.




Thanks for reading.
-Wedge