U.S Express Walmart Review Update. My Pay And Is The Account Good In My Opinion.

It’s finally time to speak on my three months solo experience driving for U.S Express walmart dedicated.

When I started my trucking career last year in 2019 of August one thing came to mind. More pay. I made $29,120 a year as a security guard. That’s about $14 an hour. I loved working in security and the thought of leaving baffled me, but chances came through and my state payed for my CDL classes at John Tyler Community College.

I passed all tests and DMV driving tests on first try. I felt like that $65-70 thousand a year was within my grasp after passing. All I cared about was eliminating my debts and making more money. Money, money, money. That’s all I wanted from the trucking industry.

I started out at TMC transportation and to my surprise I regretted it. Classes were fine and passing all tests to get out with a trainer went smoothly.

After getting out with a trainer I learned real fast that money was the least of my worries now. I could not back up a flatbed for my life! It was so different from dry-van or maybe I just sucked. One things for sure I had one problem to overcome. Next, training was not for me.

For me the thought of a trainer treating me like a child when I made mistakes and talking down to me ****ed me off. I’m young and hot blooded so even though my trainer was helping me at TMC. I hated how I was being hand held everyday. And the thought of needing 8000 miles of driving did not help!

I eventually quit TMC over the stress of not learning to back up and my trainer stressing me out.

I then proceeded to come back locally and work for a Garbage truck company. Was hired on the spot at $21 an hour. But after about four months my friend told me about a local gig at U.S Express. Said he was making $900-1000 a week gross as a rookie driver. So at that time I thought more money and I get to drive a tractor trailer again.

Hopefully my next trainer is more aligned to my personality and my backing improves. Went to U.S Express for training and passed everything to get with trainer. Got with trainer and dealt with same issues from last trainer. Rude, berating, and no time to learn anything from being rushed. Obviously, this is how the industry must run and I didn’t like it. For example, I would have liked at least 15 minutes to practice

backing on my own but neither trainer ever allowed me to do that when I asked them.

So I argued with my trainer for the last two weeks of training and eventually passed my road skills and backing test graduating to Walmart U.S Gordonsville.

Now on to my thoughts on Walmart account. When I did a ride along a trainer told me he made 70K last year. My thoughts were finally the real money.

I finished my two days of ride along and finally started driving on my own. My first time solo driving a tractor trailer and while turning into a walmart did not take enough space and blew my right rear tire on a guard rail.

Because it was a tire I knew I was not in trouble. It’s just a tire right. Well, I was right U.S express replaced the tire and off I went. It was pretty devastating though. I thought I was invincible, and no accidents could happen to me. That tire incident made me rethink my whole entire thought process.

As I began driving more after that I became nervous from the incident. I wanted to be more safer, cautious, and be more aware of my surroundings. I hated being trained but I found myself rethinking what my trainers told me to always watch my mirrors and never forget to G.O.A.L.

The first few backing maneuvers attempted at a few Walmart's went fairly good. I had no trouble backing in. In fact, some were so easy I thought I had it made! But I’ll tell you now. At Gordonsville, DC you will back into some tight spots on G and K lot. I noticed somedays I could back in between two trailers no problems and somedays I couldn’t. I wasted about an hour each day

Depressed I could not get in between two trailers out of fear of hitting one on my blindside. Some yard jockeys would come over and try to help me and I disliked the help. I’m a figure it out myself type of guy.

And if you think all Walmarts are easy to back into think again. There are some true OTR type docks out there. Now after playing around for a while I finally learned how to get into any dock in any situation.

Practice makes perfect and let me tell you I’m so good at backing now I impress myself. If only my trainers could see me now.

almost forgot to mention you can and will be sent on backhauls. Which are not Walmarts but other companies. Some routes feel like you’re under paid and driving far more miles than what it’s worth. Some docks require you to be aware and be good at backing as some are a true OTR style docks.

Covered backing Ok. You need to be good. Let’s talk about atmosphere and overall equipment. Drivers here are friendly and I’ve only seen two who were nasty. So far that is. Office staff are friendly for the most part, but if you’re not a hard worker prepare for hard times.

I’ve personally seen the office staff discipline drivers right in front of me where I could hear everything. There’s this thing where they like to always have you on voice call so everyone in the office can hear your business. I think it’s tacky and unprofessional.

One thing that gets me at Walmart Dedicated are how equipment is maintained, but drivers don’t seem to care about taking care of trucks. Things you will see if you come on to account is as follows,

Drivers will not check oil and drive off lot with no oil in truck. I’ve picked up countless trucks with no oil in them.

You will not have diesel/def or diesel in your reefer a lot of times you pick up your tractor. Office does nothing to drivers about it at the moment.

Trucks will have damage on them that’s unreported and you’ll have to drive around to the mechanic shop to document it. Wasting time on your 14 hour.

A lot of times there will never be def on the yard requiring you to drive to shells which takes more time off your 14 hour.

Otherwise, Trucks are well maintained but they’re junk a few of them. But I will praise the mechanics for there speedy and on-time getting quick fixes out.

The Walmarts you deliver to will be a hit or miss. Protecting your 14 hour will require you to be very assertive towards everything. Waiting 10 minutes for a walmart employee to open a door will have you thinking should I wait that long. 10 minutes can be what gets you back to the DC.

So understand your speed is determined how fast Walmart employee’s move to unload you and your relationships with them.

I’ve had Walmart employee’s take 1 and a half hour before they started unloading me devastating my 14 hour clock.

On top of that let’s talk about the neighborhood Walmarts that don’t open until 4AM! If you arrive an hour or two before 4AM to a neighborhood Walmart say goodbye to two hours off your 14 hour clock. Now you will be making less money for the day.

Some employee’s will purposely dodge you when you arrive and you will have to hunt them down to get unloaded. Some simply hate their jobs! Also, did I mention while you’re being held up from Walmart employee’s moving slow you will not be paid anything but $15 Stop pay. I’m serious

you can not afford to waste a single minute of your 14 hour as you’re dealing with many things that can hold you up and waste your 14 hour clock.

Now on to loads and pay. This will determine your success on the account. Considering there seems to be seniority on the account I will say this. You will not make money on this account being lazy!

I came on to this account lazy, but they set you up to be lazy. This is not a traditional trucking job that I’ve seen from the industry. Let’s say you take two loads which will likely have you working 8-14 hours. You can after finishing that load take 24 hours off or come back next day. You can come back in that 24 hour window whenever you want. But you must come back to work.

What this does is allow driver to work one or two loads a day and then take 14-24 hours off. By taking 14-24 hours off you will fall behind. Your checks will be $900 gross or even less perhaps.

My first few weeks I grossed $900-1000 a week and I kept taking 24 hours off after working two loads a day. Which was about 15-18 hours a day during HOS exempt.

I wondered why I could not gross a $1000 more often. Well, it was in my work ethic. Your work ethic will determine if you make 60-70K here on this account. So I decided to start working this job like a traditional 5 day work week. Two loads a day everyday. Never do just one load.

Finally I started grossing $1340-1446 a week. About 60-70 hours a week. Two days off throughout the week. About 2000 miles a week or right at 1800 miles. 50 cents a mile. 15 stop pay.

It’s hard to work these hours because of the drive which you will also have to consider. It takes me 51 minutes to drive up here. So about damn near an extra two hours. So if you work 12-13 hours a day here add those two driving hours and you have a 14-15 hour day everyday. And believe me it’s shot into the 16 hour range quite often.

So if you like $49,000 or less a year you will make that with three days off a week if you want to be lazy. If you want that 60-70K you gonna have to grind and protect that 14 hour clock. Because U.S express does not pay us enough for the miles we drive for sure.

I’ll get into loads and why I think this company will not be for me after a year tomorrow.

I’ll get into loads and why I think this company will not be for me after a year tomorrow.

I can't wait.

with your next gig, and the next, and the next.

Cliffnotes....... you wanted to make money not earn it.

I work on a Walmart account for Crete Carrier where we are paid by the mile(46 cents per mile), and $15 stop off pay as well. I work between 11-14 hours each day, grossing around $1300-1600/week only doing about 3-5 loads a week. The main problem seems to be your work ethic, because I have no problems at the stores or putting in the miles each day to earn more, its completely up to the driver. It is completely unheard of out west to wait over an hour to get unloaded. Usually I'm in and out between 30 to 40 minutes, time from I arrive, back into the rock, until I leave.

That was a good run down of how it operates at that DC. Can you explain what you mean by a "True OTR dock"? When I think of OTR drivers I think of large DC's with dozens of doors. Obviously they deliver to tight spaces as well but I'd guess a majority are large warehouses (coming from someone who's not done OTR)

Your points about drivers not filling oil and leaving equipment in bad shape isn't exclusive to that gig. In my 3 years driving Ive always slip seated tractors daily, different trailers daily and have encountered it numerous times. Hell, even Packrat covered many issues he's found as an OTR picking up trailers from a drop and hook. There's lazy drivers out there who are too worried about their own time and couldn't care less about screwing over the next driver.

To me it appears you're burned out. Everybody here would agree that time is money and it's best to shave off as much as possible. However 10 minutes really isnt a huge deal in the grand scheme of things. I understand the long commute, however you gotta ask yourself if it's worth it. A couple months back I purchased a home that is 45 minutes away. For my total compensation, and how I'm treated at work it makes it worth it for me.

What did you mean by this comment

Some routes feel like you’re under paid and driving far more miles than what it’s worth

aren't you paid per mile and stop? What would it matter if they have you driving further? Or are you referring to them sending you a couple hundred miles out of route for a backhaul? If it's the latter you need to consider what the costs are for having you do it as opposed to having an outside company do it. I'm in a store delivery job and we often pickup backhauls as well. Its just much cheaper for us to haul our own freight (and outside companies) if we're in the area.

Most any modern electronic engine is going to automatically shut down if it runs 3 gallons low, so not buying the "empty engine oil" part.

Just for giggles though, how many gallons did you add to an empty engine?

I came on to this account lazy

That could be why you're not very happy with this job. In fact it could be why you haven't been happy with any of your trucking jobs. After all, you really seemed to enjoy your "security job."

I made $29,120 a year as a security guard. That’s about $14 an hour. I loved working in security and the thought of leaving baffled me

I honestly can't understand some of the things you say. Things like this make no sense...

I’ve picked up countless trucks with no oil in them.

Really? "Countless?" So does that mean that U.S. Express has "countless" trucks with blown engines? That's the usual result of having "no oil in them."

Here's another baffling statement...

they set you up to be lazy

That makes no sense. Trucking is performance based. You've actually figured that out on your own. You've proven that you don't have to settle for less money - you figured out how to make more...

So if you like $49,000 or less a year you will make that with three days off a week if you want to be lazy. If you want that 60-70K you gonna have to grind and protect that 14 hour clock.

That's the beauty of trucking. Only you don't seem to recognize it as a good thing, because immediately following your above statement, you make this claim...

U.S express does not pay us enough for the miles we drive for sure.

I'll tell you what is really striking about your comments. After three months as a rookie on a dedicated account that has a lot of potential, you seem to think you've reached your potential. I've been teaching people how to excel at trucking for a good many years now. You haven't even scratched the surface yet. I honestly think you could be making another 20,000 dollars over what you're earning now. You'd be foolish to leave that gig unless you just don't have it in you to put in the kind of work it takes to succeed.

You're probably better off going back to being in security. You liked it, you didn't have to bust your ass, and you had a little authority. That 30,000 dollars a year sounds pretty good after all, doesn't it?

Amazing!!!!!

I’m hoping to get on the Swift Walmart regional account with G Town, use my get it done attitude and work ethic to eventually prove that I’m one of their go to guys they wont ever have to worry about. Then I read a post like this with someone who’s got the chance and not taking advantage of what they got. Just baffles me!!!!!

I’m getting my DOT physical tomorrow and getting this ball rolling. I’ve waited long enough with the covid shutdown and slow reopening process. Hopefully Harrisburg will process my paperwork in a timely manner and I can get my permit. The PA Driver license centers dont seem to be a madhouse anymore

That was a good run down of how it operates at that DC. Can you explain what you mean by a "True OTR dock"? When I think of OTR drivers I think of large DC's with dozens of doors. Obviously they deliver to tight spaces as well but I'd guess a majority are large warehouses (coming from someone who's not done OTR)

Your points about drivers not filling oil and leaving equipment in bad shape isn't exclusive to that gig. In my 3 years driving Ive always slip seated tractors daily, different trailers daily and have encountered it numerous times. Hell, even Packrat covered many issues he's found as an OTR picking up trailers from a drop and hook. There's lazy drivers out there who are too worried about their own time and couldn't care less about screwing over the next driver.

To me it appears you're burned out. Everybody here would agree that time is money and it's best to shave off as much as possible. However 10 minutes really isnt a huge deal in the grand scheme of things. I understand the long commute, however you gotta ask yourself if it's worth it. A couple months back I purchased a home that is 45 minutes away. For my total compensation, and how I'm treated at work it makes it worth it for me.

What did you mean by this comment

Some routes feel like you’re under paid and driving far more miles than what it’s worth

aren't you paid per mile and stop? What would it matter if they have you driving further? Or are you referring to them sending you a couple hundred miles out of route for a backhaul? If it's the latter you need to consider what the costs are for having you do it as opposed to having an outside company do it. I'm in a store delivery job and we often pickup backhauls as well. Its just much cheaper for us to haul our own freight (and outside companies) if we're in the area.

A true OTR dock for me is like when it’s extremely hard to back in and you encounter trailers and tractors in your way as you back.

Regarding not being paid for miles I’ll discuss in loads now.

Moving on to loads. Not sure for other accounts for trucking companies, but Gordonsville U.S express has a variety of runs or loads. I will tell you this once you get down how to run you will easily make what I’m making a week. Which is $1340-$1440 a week gross. It’s good money and I believe that’s 65K-70 thousand a year. I do 10-12 loads a week to gross those numbers. 10-13 hours a day. I never do anything less than two loads.

Some loads will be noticeably worse than others. You’ll notice the bad loads as you work more and more Walmarts. Occasionally you’ll get a load that sends you north to Fredericksburg, VA or Front royal and every single time you’ll be screwed outta money. Any time you leave the yard and make a right you’ll be moving slower and paid less than if you made a left coming out the yard. Any load not going north or right outta the yard simply pays better and you always finish faster. Time is money in the trucking industry so prepare for garbage loads anytime you hang that right coming out the yard.

Sure the loads pay you and you make enough to pull the money I gross a week but It’s never as good as the loads going left ever!

For instance no 300+ mile runs ever go right! Only going left out the DC will you get high loads like that. It gets worse when you do backhauls. You may think making $192.5 sounds good on paper with a 326 mile run with three stops but let me tell you that a run that’s 179 mile two stop would be what you prefer in the long run.

Because you’ll make a 100+ dollars from the 179 mile run and can come back and still have time for another 100-200 mile run. Making you about 200+ dollars for the day compared to the 326 mile run with a backhaul.

The entire time you’re running to pick up a backhaul it’s extremely depleting of your 14 hour clock seeing as you spend far to much time picking it up. And not being compensated for it. I’ve done many where it took two hours to get in and out. And after adding up the miles and time driven I could see I was not compensated fully for the entire miles I drove.

Now sometimes you’re over compensated for loads you get. Meaning you will sometimes feel like you finished a load a few hours early and got overpaid. This happens for the really good loads. I assume they’re reserved for seniority or just given to the best drivers as they’re rarely given out. If going by my co-workers and myself loads shared between each other.

So just know you will even out but expect to over run quite a few times without the load being good at all. And that means you lose money. And let’s touch on the days you’ll set your PTA aka arrival form and you’ll call them to hear we don’t have you on any loads. Well that goes $200 for the day. And if you were planning to be off prepare to work to make that money up.

While a lot seems negative I love the money I make and trucking. But I’m saying what I dislike about the account for future truckers.

I’ll continue with loads and finally benefits later. Hopes this helps.