Sharing my experience at Averitt (July 2014)

Discussion in 'Averitt' started by Zephex, Jul 17, 2014.

  1. Kentuckyian

    Kentuckyian Bobtail Member

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    Aug 15, 2014
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    Thanks for all the information Zephex. I start my orientation Sept. 1st and will get with a trainer in Knoxville on the 8th. I'm kind of worried about the drive test, because I have only 2 weeks of total tractor trailor experience (truck school) and there will be a month and half gap were I haven't been in a truck. I used to drive a 100 ton rock truck on a strip job and when we came back from vacation I felt pretty rusty lol. Also, I'm curious to how well the trainers our of Knoxville, Tn are, if anyone has trained there or knows someone who has. I have one more question, after orientation I was told I will be doing 5 weeks with a trainer. With that being said will the 5th week be backing training? My recruiter is new and she's trying her best, but I thought I would ask someone who has been through it already. Thanks.
     
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  3. tbtoolman

    tbtoolman Bobtail Member

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    Jul 13, 2014
    Washington, Illinois
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    Zephex, what are you mainly hauling? I heard Averitt delivers a lot of car parts and was wondering for what companies?
     
  4. Zephex

    Zephex Light Load Member

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    Jul 8, 2013
    Blue Ridge GA
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    Averitt has accounts within the company. I know they have Nissan and Mercedes in which averitt employees actually report to those factories for work on a daily basis. I have hauled everything from pretzels from Snyders of Hanover, to large propane tank looking things full of Class 2 gas.
     
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  5. TruckerLuke

    TruckerLuke Bobtail Member

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    Aug 21, 2014
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    With the student training program you pay for more than just the uniforms if you quit. My recruiter told me that if I am hired and quit before being with them for 6 months, I'd owe Averitt Express up to $3,000 for training reimbursement. That is what warrior81 was referring to. Student training positions require signing an agreement regarding that prior to hire.
     
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  6. Zephex

    Zephex Light Load Member

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    Jul 8, 2013
    Blue Ridge GA
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    I do not no anything about this and I was not a student fresh out of c_d_l school. I did have a little bit of experience coming to a bridge. The only thing I was responsible for was my uniform. It may be different for students fresh out of c_d_l school that have to be with a trainer for a longer time. to be honest though, if you can't make it here for 6 months then trucking is not for you. This company has been nothing short of amazing so far.
     
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  7. Cheez

    Cheez Light Load Member

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    Oct 14, 2012
    Arlington TX
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    From what I have read AV pays some money to you for reimbursing some of your CDL school cost. It only makes sense that they require you to stay with them for awhile. I would make it a year if I was making those decisions :) but I'm not, it's only 6 months. It's a great co. I enjoy it
     
  8. Nukem

    Nukem Road Train Member

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    You would only pay the money if you used the program they offer. If you paid for the school ahead of time, then the only thing you would miss out on the the 1500.00 reimbursement after 6 months of work with the signed contract that was mentioned.


    BUT... I will say this, talk to an Averitt recruiter. None of on here, that I know of, are one. So if you have any questions go to the website and/or talk to a recruiter. They can answer any questions you have. We can fill in any "shady" bits that they might not answer fully. :biggrin_25522:
     
  9. Zephex

    Zephex Light Load Member

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    Jul 8, 2013
    Blue Ridge GA
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    Ok so week one is nearly complete and wanted to give some updates while I have a minute

    Keep in mind that I did not have a load first thing monday morning. Most of the time you will already be under a load when you come off your hometime but since it was my first week, they had to work me in to the system to get me going.

    Given that, I am going to consider a full week to be from that monday morning to the next monday morning which is actually tomorrow as of this writing. So far I have done 5 loads I think total. 2 of them were double drop and hooks where you arrive with an empty, drop it, pull loaded trailer away from dock, drop it, put empty you brought in back in the slot where you pulled the full one out of, drop it, hook up to loaded trailer and then leave. Averitt adds an additional 10 bucks onto your pay for that and I mean come on...its not difficult. The other 3 loads were live loads but I never had to wait forever to be loaded or unloaded. I would say max 30 mins before they got to me for loading or unloading.

    Already hauled a variety of stuff from large paper rolls, to pet supplies. The load I just delivered was the only one I had to unload myself. Basically they dont have a dock so you have to use a pallet jack to move the pallets from the nose of the trailer to the tail so their forklifts can get it. Averitt pays 25.00 for a partial load and 50.00 for a full load. This was a full load. Mix of pet suppilies and it was pretty easy. I will say that the pallets of pet food either can food, or the bags, are very heavy and hard to push and pull. I could see where females, really big guys, or skinny beanpoles would have a struggle. No offense and Im not saying it cant be done, but it is work. Im 6'0, 275, and I was sweating like crazy by the time I got done. But still, 50 bucks for 30 mins of work isn't bad at all.

    So all figured so far as of this posting I have right at 2200 miles. I will probably get loaded again soon so, that 2200 isn't quite for a full week. I will probably be over 2500 if you count Monday morning to Monday morning. Not too shabby for my first week and not having a load to start with.

    Only issue I have is my APU died. Its doing the same thing it was when I picked the truck up. Even the control panel in the bunk isn't lit. Its like it has no power at all going to it from the truck. I checked the little push breaker under the bunk, but its fine. Dont know anything about these APU's but the last time the shop fixed it, it only took about 20 minutes. Im assuming its just a fuse but I dont even know where they are for the APU or which one I should look at to check. No worries, I let dispatch know and they told me to idle as much as I want till it gets fixed. They put a note in their system so you dont get in trouble for idling.

    Still happy! Since they hold checks back 1 week, I wont see any REAL pay until next weekend. This week's check was still training pay of 600.00.
     
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  10. bchawkins7

    bchawkins7 Bobtail Member

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    Mar 15, 2014
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    I heard all Averitt trucks are automatics is this true?
     
  11. Nukem

    Nukem Road Train Member

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    May 11, 2014
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    100% automatic. there may be some remote location truck that is still a stick, but as a new associate, you'd drive an auto.
     
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