Averitt Orientation - bad idea for me

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Averitt is not for me. I finished up orientation and was just left with a bad taste in my mouth about this company that for all the good people I met, just seems a wee bit too cultish. No individualism there at all - an army of 1. Physical appearance, uniform appearance, behavior modification, and misleading information have left me deciding to not call in for work and get my truck monday morning. I'll return my uniforms and take a $$$ hit for wasting a week with them.
- Orientation was underpaid; (5 days including Sunday test drive - $300)
- The DOT doctor with a suspicious conflict of interest can flag a driver for physical attributes (size 17 neck orlarger, BMI over 35, needing 2 or meds for hyper-tension) that make him have "potential" for sleep apnea even if there is no behavioral evidence of it. A driver must then pay out of pocket for a sleep disorder evaluation that involves high cost ($800 at the local hospital in Cookeville, up to $2500 if done elsewhere - you have 90 days to get assessment completed) and an overnight stay at a sleep center.
- Their doctor also mis-diagnosed my vision and when presented with an optometrists report (also paid for out of my pocket) did not change my DOT long form - it shows falsely that I have 20/50 vision and require glasses.
- A job description begining with "Chattanooga regional driver". I was told on the last day of orientation "regional" refers to a driver's domicile not his driving zone.
- I would never accept a lowly 37 cpm for running a full service area that requires me to drive in Chicago, Detroit, PA and NJ.

Tomorrow I will initiate contact with Watkins Shephard, Shaw Transportation (Dalton, GA), and Pemberton Truck Lines (Knoxville, TN). This was from another form

I've never worked there, but I've done the right research.
Here's what they have.
An LTL division that is quite profitable for very few drivers.
The Truckload division now pays less than Schneider, (.41 for 1yr exp) which is alarming, as Schneider only offered .33 cents for a long time. Averitt goes to .37 after 1 and a half years at Averitt. max out was 40.5
They pay HHG miles to truckload. LTL gets actual miles.
They have a seniority system.
Trainers are guaranteed 3100 mi + pay, unless more miles are driven.
Regional means half the country.
SEFL is where a large number of their older, but not 30 yrs at Averitt drivers went.
Averitt is now only buying Autoshifts, at least for the 2007 models.
I've heard no complaints about being home every weekend, if so desired.
This was from another form

Great info MB, now do you feel better about leaving? I'm telling you that you did the right thing, stop looking back, quit second quessing your decision. Your auto parts run is secure as long as the economy stays strong.

Just want people to be informed.
I NEVER SECOND GUESS MY DECISION.

You are guessing what I do now.

As I think about it maybe all those 240 mile auto part runs is why I only netted 1700 mile
or so aweek.