Goodbye USA...Hello EPES

Well, after only 3 months, I have quit USA, and left the contract I was in. Yes, I know I'll owe the $6000 or so dollars, but a) I get the full write off on MY taxes, not them...and b) as a newbie, I don't expect to be treated like gold, but I expect that when my truck is in bad working condition(i.e. adding coolant every 150-200 miles, oil blowing out of turbo, being jumped off every 2 days, and I had an APU! faulty trailers, engine smoking) I should AT LEAST be paid attention to. Well, got the call from EPES(whose home terminal is only 10 miles from my house!) about a week and a half ago and bobtailed the second, over 550k mile truck upto Roanoke and turned it in last Sunday to USA. I have heard nothing but great stuff about EPES, on here and talking with other drivers on the road, and feel that this is going to be a great fit for me. Hate to sound selffish about this but, I was not being treated right, I have kept up with 6 other people that went through school, with me, that went through DS and only 1 of them is actually being treated great. He gets good miles, never cares about home time, no kids, never had a job paying over $10.00 p/h, and loves the job. I talk to him alot during the week and have explained my problems to him(yes, I did talk with my FM about problems with truck, etc...only response I got was..."just hoping you're on the side of the road with truck blown so we can put you in a new one."!) and even he doesn't understand why he is being treated with respect and the other 5 of us weren't. I guess it's just how the luck rolls there. NOT SLAMMING USA...but MY time was not worthwhile there. Actually had my second trainer tell me he lost all of his teeth from drinking Mountain Dew! OK BUDDY...YOU MEAN the CRYSTAL DEW(meth)? haha and the first trainer, who was a former army sergant that LOVED to yell in your face when backing(I was trying to learn!) and always ######## about this or that(not me, but traffic, FM, people in general!). But, I had a good experience...actually funny experience at USA, but it wasn't for me. Now, I have the opportunity to be home 1-2 FULL days a week(which I have a wife and little 4 year old little dude!) to do a restart and will be paid more than what I was making at USA, once upgraded! So, I start orientation tomorrow, and am I happy with the debt I have received(from USA), and the knowledge I have going into a company that has an AMAZING REPUTATION through and through(they got the International Paper account that USA lost about a month ago!!!!!! I did one of the last runs of that account.)....why YES....I am! I love to work! I WANT TO WORK! I know that now, from my referral, and other drivers on the road that have told me, I'm gonna pay that loan off quickly and be listened to when it comes to major issues with my truck, unlike USA! Like I said, though, that was MY time with USA....other people's is, well...other people's! Mine sucked, I'm happy....all drivers should be, one way or another...and dang do I miss the road! Ready to be back out there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I've been looking and thinking, and talking with people(within my family, etc.) about my thoughts.....and nothing can go wrong here! I have a perfect medical record(said so today with physical! Don't do drugs, other than smoke cigs, so no worries there!)...thanks for looking out, but I have no worries, I've looked and RESEARCHED HARD about my newfound career....sounds like you wanna be negative...there's lots of those on here, haha!

 

did my backing test with no problems. Orientation went great today! And yes, USA did authorize the truck being returned. I haven't received my final check, yet....so I'm guessing they kept it. I know I have ALOT more to learn, than what I "think" I know...but atleast Epes is giving me a much more fair chance at employment and being treated equally than USA ever did, once I went solo. Only 8 hours into it and I'm loving the attitude, and atmosphere of Epes 1,000 times better than USA. They actually LISTEN to what your questions are and don't treat you like an idiot that doesn't know how to spell his or her own name. I have the least amount of experience in class, which is only 8 of us.....but I'm willing to get my experience, with more pay...and better equipment, and being treated with respect. Thanks to all for reading!