US EXPRESS DEDICATED DOLLAR TREE ACCOUNT

I'm interested in more info on becoming a driver with U.S. Xpress on their dedicated dollar tree account. If like to know if anyone knows anything about this company and what to expect. I spoke with a recruiter but I would much rather speak with a driver...I live in Atlanta Georgia

Do a search here for dollar tree, or family dollar, dollar general, etc. Lots of close quarter work, backing in tight places and driver unloads.

I'm interested in more info on becoming a driver with US Express on there dedicated dollar tree account. If like to know if anyone knows anything about this company and what to expect. I spoke with a recruiter but I would much rather speak with a driver...I live in Atlanta Georgia

Did the recruiter say you get paid more? You'll find that you really earn that money in these accounts. I have not run on any of these, but that search Rob mentions will turn up the word "Brutal" quite a bit. First you have some real backing situations, then you need to unload from the trailer yourself.

In fact, I searched just for "brutal" in the search box (upper left corner) and there were three entries out of the first ten talking about Dollar Store deliveries.

These are not good accounts for a driver with no expierence. I haven't done them personally but know they are difficult.

Joseph, Several months ago on PA-183 I stopped and offered assistance to a Dollar Driver who had just completed peeling up a 16' section of curved guardrail trying to exit one of the Dollar Stores. He had 3 weeks of experience at the tender age of 22. He was almost inconsolable. I sat with him until the State Police arrived. Fortunately I did not witness it, so I wasn't required to provide a statement.

Unless you have really, really good skills from day-1, I would urge you to steer clear (pun intended) of any Dollar Account regardless of how good the recruiters make it sound.

I actually worked that account for a year back in the day and I'm telling you it's really tough. As a new driver it can be overwhelming because you're always on a tight schedule, the stores are often extremely difficult to get backed into, and the unloading is a lot of hard physical work.

The biggest problem for a new driver though is finding the stores and getting in and out safely. They're often in small plazas in extremely busy areas. A lot of the plazas are super tight and really not built for a nearly 70 foot truck in mind.

I would highly recommend avoiding that account right off the bat. Get 6 - 12 months of OTR experience first and then give it a shot if you like. You'll have a lot easier time of it once your backing skills have improved and you're better at getting around in really tight parking lots.

I actually worked that account for a year back in the day and I'm telling you it's really tough. As a new driver it can be overwhelming because you're always on a tight schedule, the stores are often extremely difficult to get backed into, and the unloading is a lot of hard physical work.

The biggest problem for a new driver though is finding the stores and getting in and out safely. They're often in small plazas in extremely busy areas. A lot of the plazas are super tight and really not built for a nearly 70 foot truck in mind.

I would highly recommend avoiding that account right off the bat. Get 6 - 12 months of OTR experience first and then give it a shot if you like. You'll have a lot easier time of it once your backing skills have improved and you're better at getting around in really tight parking lots.

I've been talking to a recruiter at MTC school, she said US Xpress is looking at me. Is it possible to sign on with US Xpress and NOT take a Dollar account? Or is it one of those things that if they hire a driver you work what they give you?

Thanks for the info and for letting me dig up an old topic.

You won't be forced into that account. That's just one account they have. You can run OTR for them without doing the Dollar Tree account.

Look at it this way. Why do you think those companies that have the dollar accounts push them? Simple answer: they can't keep drivers doing them! Working a dollar account (dollar general, dollar tree, family dollar, etc...) has a grueling schedule with hard physical labor. Not to mention the backing and maneuvering situations. Take dollar general. Go find 3 dollar generals. 1 in a major metropolitan area, 1 in a large town/small city, and 1 in the middle of the country. You should quickly realize what you are going to be dealing with. I would take weekly runs to NYC before someone could ever sucker me into one of those accounts.

Thanks guys, I appreciate it.