US Xpress
Finishing Program
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Welcome to the USX Finishing Program.
Working together to create and foster safe –
confident – successful drivers!
Program Requirements:
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215 Hour Students – Student receives 215 “behind-the-wheel” (BTW) hours of
instruction. After upgrades moves into 1st Seat Solo Status. (C-1 Students)
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175 Hour Students – All students hired after November 1st, 2014 will go into the 175
hour program. This means the student will have to complete 175 “behind-the-wheel”
(BTW) hours of driving before being able to upgrade to a first seat status.
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After the student completes the 175 BTW hours required for upgrade, he/she may be
required to complete 8 weeks of team with another upgrade, depending upon whether
or not the student lives in a team-up state. If the driver lives in a solo state then
he/she will be allowed to run solo after upgrade.
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50 Hour Students – These are students with some experience, but not enough to go
solo. These student complete 50 “behind-the-wheel” (BTW) hours of instruction, and
then upgrade to a 1st seat solo position.
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The First 85 BTW hours for all students except 215-hour students who must complete
the first 105 BTW hours in solo status:
•
•
Student and Trainer are in the front seats together 100% of the time.
Both drivers are bound by the 14-hour work day, and all of the time in the truck is
either ‘driving’ or ‘on-duty not driving’.
Program Requirements:
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Each day you MUST submit a Macro 54:
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The Macro 54 tracks the student’s BTW hours.
175 hour students:
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If the trainer feels confident in the student’s driving ability, he/she can run
‘Super-Solo’, or ‘Team’ the remaining hours until achieving upgrade.
After completion of the first 85 hours, submission of the macro 54 will also
provide you the option of running ‘Super-Solo’ or ‘Team’ with your student.
215 hour students:
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If the trainer feels confident in the student’s driving ability, he/she can run
‘Super-Solo’, or ‘Team’ the remaining hours until achieving upgrade.
After completion of the first 105 hours, submission of the macro 54 will also
provide you the option of running ‘Super-Solo’ or ‘Team’ with your student.
Super Solo - mileage between solo and team.

Greater than solo.

Less than team.
Solo
SuperSolo
Team
MACRO 54
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Macro 54 is the BTW macro that MUST be
sent in each and every day.
In the “BTW STUDENT HRS” FIELD… you
enter ALL the hours the student has driven
since being on the truck or since he/she
has been in the program. This is NOT how
many hours the student has driven that
day…. DO NOT ENTER A DECIMAL in this
space, round down the students hours.
Example; if the student has driven 45.8
hours, you would enter 45 into the
BTW field.
In the field “UPGRADE TO SUPER SOLO
(Y/N)” or the “TEAM” field … These fields
should always be “N” if the BTW hours is
less than 85. Once you have 85 BTW
hours you can then choose EITHER “Y” for
Super Solo, or a “Y” for Team. Do NOT
enter a “Y” in both fields, if you do this
it will confuse the system and keep you
from getting the miles desired when
running super solo or team.
054 BTW Student Hours
BTW STUDENT HOURS
TRAINER ID
856965
659896
STUDENT ID
BTW STUDENT HRS
85
UPGRADE TO SUPER SOLO (Y/N)
TEAM (Y/N)
ZOOM
Y
PREVIOUS
NEXT
SEND
Program Requirements:
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Successfully completing the program and upgrading to a 1st
seat position requires:
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The student pass a written exam.
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The student successfully pass an upgrade road test.
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The student complete the required Pro-Tread Courses.
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The student must successfully pass a backing test.
Written Exam:
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Completing the program:
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The Student and Trainer Handbooks
contain a study guide for the written
exam.
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As a trainer you must help prepare
the student for the written exam.
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The written exam is an online test that covers the following:
• Safe driving practices and
procedures/Accident procedures
• 3-Points of Contact
• HVP policy
• Proper lifting, pulling, pushing
techniques
• OS&D
• Proper backing procedures
• Coupling & Uncoupling
• DOT Inspections
• Hazmat load procedures
• Pre-trip/Post-trip Inspections
• HOS regulations
• Weight distribution, and bridge
laws
• Circle of Service
• Operations
• Canada procedures/requirements
• Trip planning and map reading
• Safety Dept. i.e. pet, rider, radars,
and physical recertification's
• CSA
Program Requirements:
Upgrade Road Test:
The road test is an evaluation of the student’s ability to
• Completing
right
and left
turns,
and a button hook turn.
correctly
complete
the
following:
o
A pre-trip
inspection
as designated
• Demonstrating
safe
following
distances.by FMCSA 392.7
•
A pre-trip
inspection guide is provided in the
• Demonstrating
good speed-management.
Trainer and Student Handbooks
• Demonstrating good lane-control.
o
Coupling and Uncoupling of the combination unit
• Demonstrating
techniques.
o
Over thegood
road defensive-driving
driving
• Overall safe operating ability.
Backing & Docking:
o
o
o
The first aspect of the backing test is the student must
demonstrate the G.O.A.L principle (Get Out And Look).
During the 175 BTW hour program you are required to
complete 15 BTW hours backing.
Student will be required to perform 4 backing scenarios:
o
o
o
o
45 degree back.
90 degree back (from the driver’ side often called an
alley dock).
Straight-line back.
Blindside back - *note – students going onto a dedicated
account will have more stringent blindside backing
scenarios consistent with the more difficult backing
situations common to the dedicated accounts.
ProTread Courses
Ensure that your Student
Completes all Required
ITI Modules & Safety Center
Courses
Prior to Upgrade
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Speed Management
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Match speed to
Conditions
Ramps
Space Management
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Proper Following
Distance
Blind Spots
Buffer Zones
ProTread Courses
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Visual Search
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Scan-Ahead Driving
Backing & Docking
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GOAL
Straight Line Backing
Straight-Back
Parking
45 Angle Parking
Blind-Side Parking
Parallel Parking
ProTread Courses
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Defensive Driving
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Awareness of
Operational
Environment
Protective Driving
Skid Control
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Pre-Trip
Adjust Speed for
Conditions
ProTread Courses
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Lane Changes &
Intersections
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Green does NOT mean Go
Direct Look
CSA
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7-Basics
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Pre-Hire Screening – PSP report
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Impact on the Driver
“Nuts & Bolts” how violations
affects you and your CSA score
ProTread Courses
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Winter Driving
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Cold weather driving
Planning ahead for
emergencies
Chaining and Chain Laws
Personal Protection
Pre-Trip Inspection
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Pre-Trip and Post-Trip
Inspection Procedures
Trainer Compensation:
• As a trainer you are paid
your solo rate of pay for all
dispatched miles regardless
of who is driving.
• You are also paid an
additional $20.00 per day
for every day that the
student is in an “available
status” – (on the truck and
ready for dispatch).
Trainer Upgrade Bonus:
 If the student successfully passes the following portions of the
upgrade test, the trainer receives a $350 dollar upgrade bonus:
 $100 if the student completes the HOS test without additional training
 $100 if the student completes the road test without additional training
 $100 if the student completes the backing test without additional training
 $50 if the student completes all of the tests above without additional training
 If the trainer stays out with the student for the entire training
cycle (no hotel costs), he/she will receive an additional $100
dollars
Trainer Compensation:
Upgrade Bonus:
The student MUST pass the upgrade test for the
trainer to be eligible for the upgrade bonus. If the
student fails any portion of the test then the trainer
will not be eligible for the upgrade bonus.
You must ensure that your student is fully competent
and ready for the upgrade before bringing them in
for upgrade.
Trainer Compensation:
Step Bonus: - this bonus is paid for the first 12 months
after a student upgrades to first seat.
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The Trainer will receive a $50.00 flat rate for each month after upgrade that
the student does not incur any of the following…
 Preventable accidents
 CSA points or violations and citations of any type
This bonus will pay out each month for a 12 month period post upgrade. If
the student has a violation or preventable accident during a particular
month, the trainer will not be eligible for the bonus during that month
only. The trainer will be back in the game for the bonus the next month as
long as the student meets the criteria.
The student must be employed at USX for the bonus to pay out to the
trainer.
The trainer must be active in the finishing program to receive any step
bonus for an upgraded student.

Retention Bonus, will be given at 6
months post upgrade and 12 months post
upgrade to the trainer if the student
remains with USX.
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6 month payout is 150.00
12 month payout is 250.00
Trainer must be active in the Finishing
program to receive this bonus.
Student Compensation:
Students receive $70 per day while seated on the truck during
training.
After Orientation students receive $50 dollars per day, layover pay,
while at a terminal awaiting a trainer.
Students receive an initial advance of $50 upon completing Orientation,
then they are eligible for a $100 per week advance, while in training.
Encourage your students to be
careful with a consistent use of
advances because they can leave
you with limited funds on their
payroll check.
Home-Time:
Your home-time isn’t impacted as a trainer.
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Dedicated Trainer’s home-time policy is
based on the specific home-time policies
of that account.
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Contact the representative or FM for
details.
You can still go home just as you do running
solo, but we will pay you $100 more on the
upgrade bonus for staying out the whole
training period.
Your home-time is approved by your FM.
Your student isn’t allowed to take time off
during training, he/she will submit a macro
31 after upgrading, and seating a truck.
They can expect home time within 7-10
days.
Structure and rolls:
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FM – Truck Movement.
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Coordinator – Training Activities.
TRAINING ACTIVITIES
TRAINEE /
MOVEMENT OF TRUCK
TRAINER
FINISHING
COORDINATOR
FLEET MANAGER
Getting Off The Trainer’s Truck:
If there is an issue between the Trainer and the Student, and all
possible options have been explored with the Training Coordinator
without success then following process will be followed:
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1.
2.
3.
4.
Notification of the Finishing Dept. Training Coordinator, unless the
issue occurs at night, then the FM is to be notified.
Finishing Dept will work with Operations to have the truck routed to the
next available Service Center.
Both parties are expected to act professionally and maintain a good
relationship while remaining together until they arrive at a Service
Center.
If the incident involves harassment, HR issue, or a situation wherein the
safety of the Trainer or Student is in jeopardy then the student may
come off the truck at any time. The Training Coordinator must be
notified, or if at night or Weekend the FM must be notified.
Alcohol/Controlled Substance Policy:
•
The driver handbook clearly outlines the company policy
related to alcohol and controlled substance policy. Please
refer to the handbook for the specific policies.
•
It is against company policy and strictly against training
department policy to possess or have any alcohol or controlled
substances on the truck with a student.
Anti-Harassment & Discrimination Policy:
Anti-Harassment & Discrimination Policy:
Examples of harassment and/or discrimination in a
training environment are:
•
•
Inappropriate jokes or gestures.
•
Inappropriate touching.
•
Inappropriate speech or language.
•
Threats or intimidation.
•
Refusing to train a student based on race.
Anti-Harassment & Discrimination Policy:
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As a trainer you should strive to set up a solid learning
environment wherein the student doesn’t feel
intimidated, pressured, or overwhelmed.
Students will learn quicker and easier in an environment
wherein minor mistakes become learning tools rather
than being berated, belittled, or treated in a manner
wherein they are made to feel inferior.
As a trainer you should exhibit patience, understanding,
and willingness when working with the student.
Seat Belt and Bunk
Restraint Policy:
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•
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In accordance with Federal
Motor Carrier Safety Regulation
392.16, the company requires
you to wear seat belts while
operating a Company,
Independent Contractor, or
Leased vehicle or while on
company business.
The bunk restraints must be
properly installed and used while
your truck is in motion.
NO PERSON may occupy the top
bunk while the vehicle is in
motion.
U-Turn and Speed
Limit Policy:
•
•
Do not exceed posted
speed limits.
In addition, you are not
allowed to make a U-turn
on any street, road,
highway, or interstate
unless designated or at
the direction of law
enforcement personnel.
U-Turn and Speed Limit Policy:
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If you miss your turn or are lost, keep going until you find
a large parking lot where you can turn around or a route
where you can go around the block.
If you are faced with a situation that makes it impossible
for you to proceed forward (low clearance ahead, accident
blocking roadway, low posted weight on bridge) and making
an illegal U-turn appears to be the only possible solution,
you must ask for the assistance of a law enforcement
officer.
The law enforcement officer must control other traffic
and observe and direct your U-turn.