Was I wrong for quitting US Xpress?

First off, they are going to pay you around .25 cpm! You were smart enough to see the writing on the wall with USX/Arnold. Do a search on Swift and see how many positive things you will get on them. They are a Bottom Feeder too! If that is what you want to do, then good luck to you. I am only giving you my opinion because I have never met anyone that worked for them who had a positive thing to say about them either.

 

I'd wait 7 nights, pan handling and rummaging through trash for that opportunity!

 

Many people are looking for a job right now. I have only heard of a few people who were happy when they first started with a big company at first. You have to pays your dues and in trucking these dues suck. If your already complaining about this you might be in for a "rough ride" You work for them! But you stuck to your guns and there you are. Why didn't you just take a cab to a hotel? So many people wash out right as first those companies aren't going to put much into you. Why would they? Some other poor smuck is sitting at the bus depot right now starting your job tomorrow.
I do agree that it sucks and I can't say that I would have slept there either. When I pass the one near me it always makes me sad. Many people out on their luck, strung out, broke, migrating and most seem like they will be in that situation for a while! But if your starting out working for a big company you might be in that group.....kinda. Just the out of work part.
Its all going to boil down to how bad do you want the job? There will be many,many,many things you will be asked to do that you don't want to do in trucking. I own my own company and i have to do things I would rather not do some times. But things are tough right now for most all of us and if you think you deserve to be picked up and dropped off at the hotel and have a nice hot breakfast, clean shower then driven introduced to your trainer who you sit down with and discuss you day over a lattie.......well you expectations maybe unrealistic.
Most of these big companies have guys on here saying they don't even feel like they are being treated human. Some may deserve it hell I see them in truckstops but those big companies will hire you.

Your most likely going to have to suck it up and take one for the team. It suck getting in this industry for many people. Pay you dues drive for the big guys then you'll be able to get a better job.I think your in for a HUGE EYE OPENER.
Good luck.

 

Why be in for the eye opener? I've NEVER worked for a big company, I'm just about 23 years old, Ive been driving since I was 18 years old. I started out at a lumber company and drove everything from tractor trailer to a pickup truck. I have managed to get many other jobs since then and have driven for all smaller companies never over 50 trucks and I would NEVER stoop as low to go work for swift or us express....

I will say that hard work almost always pays off, I beat on doors until they opened because they were tired of having me there bugging them, searching on the internet isn't going to find you a job you need to get out there face to face and show these employers that you WANT to go to work and are willing to show up everyday and have ambition.

 

Paying your dues while working the new job is one thing.

The dues one wishes to "pay" while just trying to GET to the new job is open to debate. Obviously the OP felt what USX was asking wasn't worth the effort.

I don't blame him.

 

Well said,

I got my license when I was 20, when I turned 21 I got a job with a smaller company just to get experience. Pay was crap, equipement too, but fast forward 6months later, I landed a regional job, .40cpm, noone touches my truck, every weekend home(sometimes during the week) and I still make over 1k(1300-1500 in the summer) every single week. Company has 10 trucks, I am refered to by name, not a number. If I need a day of, I take it. Just turned 22 last year.

 

The OP has to understand no matter what industry you go into the low man 8 out of ten times gets the shaft, seems to me truckers get it even worse (newbies) wouldn't have stayed in a bus terminal though very dangerous.

 

That is not my experience....

My first trainer @ USXpress let me drive SIX hours in the first week only, nor explained anything and even admitted that she was in for the money only. So, I requested a new trainer... had to go on another long busride, waited 10 days, and finally got a good new trainer... BUT both of us did the driving.

Indeed when i started with USX I spent MORE hours on busrides than actual training hours.

 

When I was a trainer for a BFI they just routed me through students home town. Now I understand that trainer had dedicated route and that was not possible, but surely they could have found a truck in route to give op a ride.
I also understand the "paying dues" aspect. However, if this is the level of concern for your health and welfare now, do you think that would ever change?
So, 3 days of unpaid orientation, days at home unpaid, some more unpaid travel to receive sub par OTR training? Yep, I like that idea.

 

Maybe you should have asked the training co-ordinater if he would like to take a 30 hour bus ride. Just convince him the bus station is a fine place to spend the night.....