Apergis Transportation

I am a recent grad and was looking for a company that would take me as a new driver. Apergis Transport out of Tacoma, Wa. had an advertizement in Orlando Craigslist saying they hire new drivers. I contacted them, did all the paperwork, and was then given a plane ticket to fly out to Tacoma to start my new job. When I arrived I had multiple papers of a contract to sign, one of which stated that if I quit before the first year they would keep 2 weeks pay to compensate for expenses. We agreed on $450.00 per week to start during training that would last 4-6 weeks. They put me with their operations mngr and we immediately started otr driving through mountains and coast to coast loads. My first meeting with the owner (Anthony Apergis) was half way between Wa. and Pa. at a truck stop. He took me out in front of all the truckers and started screaming at me that I was a piece of garbage, I needed him, he didn't need me, and that I need to listen to him and do exactly what he said. That started with a bad taste in my mouth but I rolled on cause I needed the time and experience. Me and my trainer were doing over 5000 miles weekly lumping and breaking down our own loads by hand. The deal was after 6 weeks I would get 5 days home time with pay. My first 2 weeks pay were held back and when I received my first check it was correct and for one week. Pay cycle would be the 15th and last day of the month bi-weekly. When pay day came again I noticed that my check was 200.00 short. When I asked why the owner again started screaming at me and said that's all I was worth and that's what he felt like paying me. Still I kept driving non stop and after 7 weeks I was denied home time and said that he changed it to 3 months traing before I would get any time off. They then put me in a truck with another new driver and we drove as a team nonstop coast to coast. The driver I was with also lived in Fl. and had to be in court the 3rd of April. We finally got a load out of NH with 2 stops in ny and the final in Lakeland, Fl. I was to be dropped off at my house and my codriver would drop the last load and take the truck home with him. We arrived at my house and while I was unloading my stuff out of truck he called and said I need to go with the driver to do the last unload. It made no sense but I went anyway. We drove to drop off and waited 4 hours for our scheduled time. The owner then called again and said that I need to ride to the opposite side of the state where the truck would be parked, then find my own way back to orlando and would not be getting paid. That was the final straw for me and I gave the keys to truck and fuel card to my codriver and called and said I quit. I called a friend to come pick me up and that's where it ended. Now the man refuses to pay me and all together i received less than 3 weeks pay out of 8 weeks of hard work and tons of miles driven. I am left now with no money and looking for a new job. It was the most horrible experience I have ever had. The man is loud, arrogant, a thief, and a liar. I wish there was something I could do to get my hard earned money. Apergis Transport and it's owner Anthony Apergis is a joke and I hope no other new drivers get caught up in his trap. I am out 5 weeks pay and cannot even use this as a reference for another job. I am frustrated and disappointed that someone can treat people this way and get away with it. I love driving truck and hope I can find a reputable company to drive for

 

I am writing it off but it's hard to lose 5 weeks of hard earned pay. It's been hard for me to find a company since when I was layed off 3 yrs ago I've had to take multiple short term jobs just to survive. Most of the companies I've applied at want a solid job history and makes it look like I'm a job hopper because of multiple jobs. I did what I could to stay off unemployment. They don't look at it that way. I paid over 5000.00 to get my cdl and start a new career that would be stable but now having problems getting hired. I'm very frustrated