The U.S. economy may not be at its best right now, but officials with U.S. Xpress say they are planning to increase their fleet size and use new technology to improve their bottom line.
Co-Chairman Max Fuller talked with Newport’s Truckinginfo.com Friday, after accepting an honor from Horton, about some plans his company has for the coming year.
He said the carrier, which already operates 5,250 trucks and has 7,000 company drivers, does have plans to expand its fleet in the next year.

“The growth will come from an increase in our number of owner operators. We hope to double their numbers with U.S. Xpress,” Fuller said. The company currently has about 850 owner-operators,
Fuller said the company has also made some changes to its compensation package for starting drivers, which he says will be better for drivers and the company in the long run.
“While we have lowered starting pay, we are now offering better incentives for these drivers," Fuller said. "The goal is to encourage these to stay with the company longer and in the long run this will make them and the company more money.”
Fuller noted U.S. Xpress has already cut its driver turnover rate from 120% to 95%, but notes the goal is to get it as low as 80%.
U.S. Xpress is also continuing with testing new technology, for which they have become well-known.
“We’re testing the Michelin Super Single Tires,” said Fuller. “These are wide-base tires that replace the duals on the back of tractors to improve fuel economy.”
He says the company will be testing the tires for the next year on freight movements of various lengths to see how they perform in different situations.
Fuller says the carrier is also testing disc brakes without pneumatics on its fleet, which he says give 40% shorter stopping distance.
The company is also getting ready for a two-day visit from Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration chief Joseph Clapp this spring, who will be there looking at some of the technology the company is using in its operation.