Question:
I'm considering a career change, and trucking is on top my list. I've talked with U S Express and they could give me a dollar general account that runs the states of WV,PA,OH,NY,....was curious about what the job pays and what the home time would be. ( I live about 2 hours from the Zainesville, OH d.c. ) At the age of 51 is this something I should think about or something to not consider ? I don't mind a little hard work, I've been a steelworker for 32 years. Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.

Answer:
From all reports USX appears to be a decent company.
Only one issue, they use automatics. As a new driver this will limit your options after you get your one year experience. Should you decide to jump ship, you may find yourself back at school for a period of time to pickup on the manual.
As far as giving yourself options in your new career, it may be better to learn the manual as that is what at least 90% of what the equipment is.

Answer:
Be aware that the Dollar General account is all driver unload. Also, some of the stores are a real pain in the butt to get a truck into.
Time's fun when you're having flies - Kermit The Frog

Answer:
What John says. That job's all driver unload, but since you were a steelworker, it could be a breeze for you. I don't know what that job pays, but it's weekly (or better) hometime.
I drive for USX on a dedicated that's all drop and hook. Just come on as OTR and tell them you want a dedicated and one will eventually come up. I did this when I started, and was offered two dedicateds - one before I was even off the truck with my trainer!
The autoshift is really a non-issue, unless of course you learn on them and can't drive any form of manual transmission. If you get your CDL from an independent school and learn on a manual transmission, you should have no problems changing later, if you absolutely feel the need to. But most people enjoy working for "U.S." enough to not want to change. More companies are also going the autoshift route and within a few years, I'd say a majority of carriers will have them. They're so much better and easier to work with.
Answer:
"The autoshift is really a non-issue, unless of course you learn on them and can't drive any form of manual transmission. If you get your CDL from an independent school and learn on a manual transmission, you should have no problems changing later"
Slow down there!
There WILL be problems because the skill level with the manual will still be at the student level... IF that after a year of running automatics.
I'm not dissin' your company or automatics, but the fact remains the majority of the industry is still on manuals and the turnover statistics show drivers, particularly new ones, often don't stay long with their first carrier.

Answer:
Don't forget this... If the autoshift should malfunction you still need to know how to disengaged the autoshift and drive in manual to get it repair. Just because the autoshift stop working does not mean the truck won't move, the company will not send out a tow truck for this.
Being a local driver, I slip-seat daily and sometimes the other driver will shut the truck off leaving the truck in gear with the autoshift engage and the truck will not start while in gear like you can with a manual shift. You need to know what to do.

Answer:
In the mid 80's when I belonged to the Volunteer Fire Dept. we purchased a ladder truck with the automatic transmission. It was so easy to just put the truck in gear and go...and we had less maintanence on it as compared to our other two pumpers that were manual five speeds. I can still drive a standard but as you get older I think the body can appreciate less wear and tear. Thats why I'm really looking hard at US Xpress, they only have the auto's and if I ever moved on to another company, guess they would have to have them too....Guess thats one of the benefits of getting old, I can be a picky old fart.

Answer:
If your looking for less wear and tear something like a Dollar General acct. might not be what you're looking for. Also remember there is no heat,a/c or lights inside that trailer body while you hand unload to the women at DG.

Answer:
Never thought of that....thank you. Guess it would add to the unloading time. Just trying to find as much about it as I can, whats an average time it takes to unload at a store and do you visit the same stores every week ?

Answer:
the fact remains the majority of the industry is still on manuals and the turnover statistics show drivers, particularly new ones, often don't stay long with their first carrier.
Then the student is going to have to start from square one, regardless. So, like I said, it's a non-issue UNLESS autoshifts are what you schooled on. My point is, saying don't go to a company simply because they have autoshift transmissions is not enough of a reason to steer someone away from what may turn out to be their best career move.
Oink! Oink! Oink! Grunt! Grunt!
Answer:
Trucking4Me...
Unload time depends on who you have at the other end of the rollers, catching boxes. At a 3-stop run to Dollar Tree stores that I made, the first stop took an hour and a half, the second took 5 hours, and the last one took an hour and a half. The second stop was the largest load, but the store also had no help and no room to store the incoming freight. Plus, it was raining, and they have no loading docks... you go from the back of the trailer into double doors.
I don't know about DG, but with Dollar Tree, you go to different stores every week. I'd assume DG is similar, though.
Oink! Oink! Oink! Grunt! Grunt!
Answer:
"from what may turn out to be their best career move"
Currently in trucking as a driver it isn't a good career move to only rack up experience with an autoshift immediately after school.
Sure, the student may have trained on a manual, but after a year of operating an autoshift the skill level with the manual just won't be there.
Don't plan on passing the road test with a new carrier that operates manuals.
It is easier to go from manual to autoshift and back again ONLY if one has racked up experience beyond the school level with the manual.

Answer:
Currently in trucking as a driver it isn't a good career move to only rack up experience with an autoshift If it's a good company, it is. Why limit yourself and cut out the best outfit going? I could never make .35cpm with another company, only having a month's experience. If I'd listened to you guys, I'd be making .28, or .30 at best, with someone else and may have been miserable.
Tell me about good career moves.
Oink! Oink! Oink! Grunt! Grunt!
Answer:
Tell me about good career moves.
Being able to operate any piece of equipment tossed your way is a good career move.
Getting some running experience, other than in school, with a manual gear box is still a good career move.
I know you are looking at the job you landed in and for you it is working out well. But this is the short term.
As an example: In 5 years from now when Swift or Schneider gobbles up USX and changes things, you may want to be exploring your options elsewhere. Unfortunately at that point your school manual experience will be long gone. The autoshifts may have more of a place in the industry the, but then again maybe not.

Answer:

Being well rounded in any trade is certainly the way to go, no arguement there. But the example you give only holds partially true. Both Swift and Schneider hire guys off the street with no experience. Sure, you have the school and training. But why would they pass up a guy with road experience over a newbie like myself? (unless of course the experienced driver has trashed out their CDL with accidents and tickets) If USX really fits all other wants of the driver, and their a decent company that keeps your wheels rolling, your truck working, and your paychecks straight, why not give it whirl if you're willing to take less cpm if such a change over would take place?