I Just Left Veriha Trucking That I Sign An 18 Month Non Compete With

This is a very poor outlook on an industry you have not even entered yet. The view of "The Company VS Me", or "Recruiters All Lie To Get You In The Door" is a complete falsehood and will not do you any good, Christopher L. Everyone is free to succeed or fail on their own.

I apologize for not bringing forth more information. The tuition cost was 12.5k I tried to go with west side transport but they received a cease-and-desist letter from Veriha soon hiring me. I have never received a copy of the contract. I tried to contact Veriha HQ multiple times with in the past two weeks to no avail no one picks up . The reason I left is they were putting me into situations where I shouldn’t of been. They have been low on drivers and we’re spreading their drivers thin. Three months into driving I was sent to places where my trainers told me I had no place being. That being said I took it slow and understood that this is trucking and I understand the fundamentals of driving. When I discussed my dislike of this with my Disbach they would shrug me off. I was told that my non compete was 180kmiles, 18months and 12.5k tuition cost. I have 10 total months verifiable experience. Can I go train with another company and be brought on board or do I have to wait my 18months or should I just lawyer up and get it taken down?

Wow I never in a million years would have believed there are non-competes for truck drivers. They're usually used in professions like law or architecture or engineering, so that someone doesn't go out on his own or to the competition, and take their clients with them. And it's only for senior-level people, not junior staff who haven't really formed strong client relations yet. I don't think Veriha has any legitimate concern that any of their customers would switch carriers because you went to work for someone else. I could see making you pay a reasonable amount for tuition costs, but that's it. I wonder if anyone has ever challenged this kind of non-compete in court. To me it seems totally excessive.

You claim you have done 10 months of an 18 month contract. Pay off what you owe and be done with it. That is a simple solution.

should I just lawyer up

Why would you be willing to pay for a lawyer, but not pay up what you already obligated yourself to? You made a big mistake and now you realize it. Why keep making further mistakes to avoid your obligations?

I can't really understand why you quit. You say...

The reason I left is they were putting me into situations where I shouldn’t of been.

What is so special about you? Why should you be treated as somebody who isn't required to get the job done? Did they give you a contract stating you would not have to do anything difficult or challenging? This is trucking. We go where we are sent. We are proud to get the job done. Look at your own statements. You said...

9months into driving we had a falling out and I left. I didn’t think about my non compete. I have no accidents and no violations and I completed a successful level 1 all with that company

You also said...

Three months into driving I was sent to places where my trainers told me I had no place being. That being said I took it slow and understood that this is trucking and I understand the fundamentals of driving.

So as a three month rookie you went to all these terrible places where you didn't belong, but you have no accidents and no violations. You did it all successfully. There was no harm done. You did a great job! I don't understand why you quit. You call it a "falling out." You didn't get pampered and that is all this is. You have made it for nine or ten months with no accidents. That doesn't sound like you were in any danger or peril.

Maybe it is because of this...

When I discussed my dislike of this with my Disbach they would shrug me off.

Here's where you messed up. You thought you were the boss and you were going to tell the company where you would and wouldn't run. They didn't appreciate that. I've never complained to my dispatcher. As a rookie I took an over-sized load into the Bronx. I was so excited to learn from the experience. I made a few mistakes, but they helped me learn how to improve myself as a new truck driver. I can't believe you are already telling dispatch how to do their job when you are still learning yours. It was a big mistake for you to push back like that.

I would go right back to Verihas with hat in hand begging for my job back. You still have got a lot to learn, and you are never going to learn it by hiring a lawyer to get you out of your latest mistake. Trucking takes a great deal of responsibility. Stop trying to skirt around that. You'v got a short little eight months left in an obligation you agreed to. Just do it!

I agree with what Old School wrote. If it were me, I would try to go back and finish out your contract. Fulfill what you signed up for AND be debt free, both. Having that year plus at your first company will help open other doors should you decide to switch companies after all.

If this turns out to not be an option, pay off the money owed on the contract you signed. Paying a lawyer more money to get you out of keeping your word? That's throwing good money away IMO.

All this is another reason why I chose the company I did. They have no contracts, if I chose to leave after training or school, I would have had a simple zero interest loan for their provided school. I consider it route planning. I took a very careful approach and asked a ton of questions before I started.

I'm guessing that I'd be looking at my career down the road and wouldn't want a contract violation on my reputation coming back and haunting me. I would do what I needed to do to stick it out and consider it part of the learning process.

Aaaaand, herein lies one benefit to private school.

People constantly bash private school prices of $5k-$6k, but it appears this driver is on the hook for $12.5k? I’m all okay with company-sponsored CDL training, but $12,500? Sheesh.

Also, I never had Schneider recruiters lie to me. In fact, most of the stuff they promise is on their Schneiderjobs website. Having served in the military, I know recruiters will often embellish or stretch the truth, but getting adequate information in order to make an informed decision is MY responsibility.

Good luck!

I would never go to a company that has a non-compete clause especially for 18 months. The fact that they do a non-compete clause is probably the biggest red flag.

Sounds to me like the non compete is until you finish your obligations or pay off the contract, which you agreed to when you were hired.

They aren’t trying to stop you from working for a competing company, they are trying to recoup their investment.

As far as being sent places you should never have been, what the hell does that mean? I’ve gone from the first day solo to every customer we have. Sometimes it took me a while to back in but eventually I got there. Sometimes I had to watch other drivers to see how they did it.

Suck it up and do what you agreed to do. Or go work in another industry. You made an agreement, now live up to it

I would just finish it out to be honest, whether or not they "snuck" it in. It does not matter at this point, it will look better on CDL reports if you finish from what I am told. I am glad you posted though. If I chose Veriha I will pay close attention to the paperwork, but 12.5k is a lot to owe.