Western Express

Yes it was. Terminal behind the TA truckstop. Charles C. and Louie the mechanic went to Western Express. Louis M, that had his cute little blonde wife riding with him, died from an aneurysm. His wife thought he left for work and when she went outside, he was laying by the car. Wayne W. died a couple of years or so ago. Whew, we did some wild running in those days!
Remember when ExpressCo bought Sam Tanksley trucking company? One of the office guys bought one of the tractors; I think is was an old B model Mack. He planned to restore it. One day he went home & told his wife; "I'm going to take a nap, call me when supper's ready." Died in his sleep. Just never know!
Wow, that was some wild days. I picked up an Army truck in Ft. Lewis, WA along with some other ExpressCo drivers. They were trip-lease loads from Admiral Merchants. Was talking to a ExpressCo husband/wife team and both of us taking Army trucks to Wilimgton, NC. We got there at the same time and they couldn't believe it. They said, "How did you do that?" Well, I'm glad those days are over.

 

#4 this thread, that's about as good as it gets

 

Chinatown, I can remember going to New England with two loads and the second load picking up 10 gs cash. All becauset he didn't pay for the first load. That was kinda cool.

 

I see them on indeed all the time. I think Im starting to regret ever going to trucking school

 

I was at the Old Bosselmans/Flying J in Big Springs NE this morning and there were some pictures of the truck stop from the era you speak. I noticed in one of the pics a couple of Western Express cabovers parked. Although that was when I was a little boy, sometimes I wish I had a time machine. I would like to visit the "glory days" of trucking...

 

I drive for western express and here is why, I'm scaring the crap out of 60 years old and getting a job at this age is almost impossible. I have a good education, served 20 on the air force, owned my own business for 10 years. I have a pretty good resume. But what the HR person sees is "old guy" and I get passed over.
Trucking doesn't seem to care how old you are. They care about results. I like that.
Why WE? They got me into a truck quicker than the other mega's would have. 4 weeks and I'm making a paycheck. I run between 2500 to 3000 miles a week. I have a nice truck, 2014 cascadia. Runs good, I average about 7.6 mpg with it. I keep it clean and in good running order. I have a good boss. She keeps me hooked to trailers. I hump like a bunny on crack and we both make money.
I talked with a few old hands in the business before I waded in. More .c per mile sounds good, but I'd rather be kept running more miles then sweating pennies.
WE hired me, handed me a nearly new truck, gets me plenty of miles. For that I'm grateful.
Down the road, when I have some time and safe miles behind me I may move on, I may not. We'll see. There are drivers that have been with WE for years. That says something.
Yes it is a mega carrier, but you have to start somewhere. For now it is home for me.
Last thought, trucking is called work for a reason. Anyone that wants it their way can either go to Burger King or buy their own truck. Just my .02c worth.

 

^^ Hard to argue with that. Every company has a certain "method" to making it work the way you want/need it to. And every company has happy drivers scattered around. Glad you're making a good go of it and are reasonably content there.

My old company (I'm back into retirement phase the last 3 months) is calling me wanting me to come back but I just can't bring myself to go back into the job and all the BS (mostly with the job in general, not so much the company)

 

This can't be true. Their ad says up to .75CPM. Where are all the rich drivers who would gladly brag about that .75 CPM? C'mon, show of hands. How many WE drivers are making .75 CPM or are you running so hard you can't stop to type? I worked for 2 union companies and 1 of the finest Companies in NM and never brought home that much. That's One Hundred Thirty Six Thousand/year at 3500 miles a week. Where do I sign? WAit there's more? I can lease purchase a new truck then get as much as "Their Quote" Thats .50 CPM and take home. Is that before I file my own income tax, SSI, and insurance?

• Average 2400-2700 miles a week
• Weekly Take Home Potential: $1,150-$1,350 or More

http://www.drivewithwestern.com/

When the white man discovered this country Indians were running it. No taxes no debt, women did all the work White man thought he could improve on a system like this. Old Cherokee Saying

 

You might make "75 cpm" shagging a load from Harrisburg to Chambersburg and provided you were a "good boy" last month.

And I'll agree too many carriers utilize very deceptive ad messages. Especially the ones who have a radical sliding pay scale and convoluted, non-realistic bonus pay systems.

The key words obviously are "up to". But they might also say "your mileage may vary" as it most certainly does.

 

It is sliding scale. This morning I made that on a short run that everyone else thinks is beneath them. I could have sat waiting on a live load or make a extra buck. No one pays company drivers .72c a mile. You know that, why sling poop?