Complaint, failure to pay.

At the beginning I was told I would recieve $300 per week that I was out on the road with a trainer.
Upon making company satisfied of being able to negotiate a truck for one week. The company informed me I would recieve $0.34 per mile for working in the Northeast USA. I specifically asked if I would see income greater of $600 per week. I was assured that this was not a problem and I would get paid.
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time passes
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After 2 weeks of driving I asked the company when I would see my paycheck. The company didnt know why they couldnt find me in the system and didnt know who I was, but continue keeping loads on time. They advanced me $400.
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Another week
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Finally they send me home and there is one paycheck there for $533.00! The paycheck covered for 7500 miles logged!???? Wife and I went out for one more week, before getting another load near home to empty truck. Company was very rude about me wanting to be paid. I did not send nor will I ever send any derrogatory remarks on qualcomm. All messages sent were polite and respectful. Recieved was a different matter.
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After all was said and done, the company paid me $1033.00 and claimed $500 in banking, transaction, service fees, erroneous accidents. All this for 10,252 miles. Oh and training pay??? Whats that?
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You do understand that the $400 was an advance, right? That goes against your pay. And you do understand that they are paying you for "paid miles" not logged miles? So if the company paid you $1033.00 and claimed $500 in bank transactions they were right. Most companies take a service charge when they give you that advance. Then you say 7500 miles, but later on in the post you say 10.252 miles. If you damaged their equipment in any way, and I mean any--chances are they can take that out of your check. SO if they paid you what you claim they did either you are not telling the whole story or you are forgetting something. Also did you owe the company for any kind of training? If so they were taking that out of you also. Also if you took your wife out unless you were a team, they probally charged you an insurance policy on her(most do) You also say that you were out for 2 weeks and then 1 more--that is 3 weeks--I guarantee that you did not do 10,252 paid miles in 3 weeks at least not in a 62 mph Western Truck, at least not legally. If you worked 2 weeks and did not see a paycheck and they said that you were not in the system, my number 1 question would be--why did you continue to drive there?
If this really happened to you, I hope you took them to court along with all your documentation and copy of the paperwork from each of the loads that you did. You always , Always, Always(and I cant stress that enough)keep records of anything and everything that you do in case this happens.

BTW, I just checked their website and it says that they offer $.30 a mile for 6 months experience, not $.34.

Wow you make alot of asumptions dont you?

Trucks are or at least mine was set at 65. Went past many of those radar boards that reflected speed.

Mileage at end of one month with them was 10252. On the log. I run legal, you? I dont care, but on mine legal 100% I really dont care for your implication by the way.

There is no rider fee with Western Express.

By the way. $50 to advance pay. $25 per call to service for flat tires or other problems (ever hear of a columbia not having a 5th gear every so often?). Just some of the expenses they put down for eroneous costs. Final pay they supposedly paid $1533. for 7500 miles that was one heck of a deal huh?

Damaged trailer once from eroneous instructions. Company directions told me to get on Jamaica Blvd and drive that to Brooklyn.

4 weeks.
1 week #$300 with observer
3 weeks till truck parked.

Website reflects 30cpm for across the country driving. If you were there you would have heard Eric and Josh tell me 34 cpm. Alas you were not. Please dont attack with out info thanx.

As to take them to court? Sadly Tennessee laws dont apply to residents of Maine (IE what happens in Tennesee needs you to abide by tenessee laws, even tho you are in a different state). No money means unable to file court fees too. Sigh, such good luck huh?

I dont run illegal and I dont and didnt imply it, but I know of absolutely no company(Im sure they are out there though)that pay logged miles(or hub), most pay "paid miles" or household mover which are usually about 10%-15% less than you atually drive. Which is what I was trying to say. I drove the East Coast for 5 years and your chance of doing 10,252 miles in 3 weeks(unless you are an O/O) are not very good. The last OTR company I drove for, I drove more miles than any other driver East of the Mississippi (at that company)the last year I was there, It was like 138,000 which is 2654 per week--and I was humpin'!

Point taken, I will check what the 2 pay stubs reflect for mileage.
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Ugh, lol no pay for the times they were sending me empty to various locations.

If that is the only bad story about Western Express, then I don't have too much to worry about. I was contacted this morning for a job with them, and will hopefully start training in a few weeks. Is there anything else about this company that I need to know about as a new driver? They seem to be a lot better, than what I have heard of about all the "others" ie, CRST, CR England, Werner etc.

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May The Wind Always Be In Your Face!

LOL they have multiple ways of taking your paycheck away in hidden fees. Such as...
Service calls -$25.00
Pay Advances -$50.00
Collision - $100.00 they claim I had 3 of these so they would not have to pay me 300. sigh (final paycheck)

If you get tire damage IE the tire doesnt have treads on it (worn right across the whole tire nothing but wires showing) tell them you have a flat and it is not holding air. it will cost you $25 for the tire (deduction on your paycheck). By the way, ANY FLATS must be secured to your catwalk. However. If you want you can go to a TA center and ask the shop for a damaged tire if you should happen to not have a casing. You will find they will take their time at getting you in to deal with what ever tires.

If you need a service truck... The vehicle has to be unable to move. Otherwise it is your responsibility to move the vehicle with no head lights and turn signals to the nearest service center and have the ticket made out in Western's good name.

Dont expect to get home like you thought you would. If you want 2 days off. Dont let them send you home on day 12. You must stay out for 14+ to get that 2 days off. Yet here again. If your 48 hour is up at midnight or 2am guess when they are going to make you feel like dirt and start calling you. Yup end of that 48 hours. Reasonable? "Well you had your time off. Why arent you out there working yet?"

You are their piece of meat to sink their teeth into.

I would look at a small claims case -and I can sell you a shot tire for $12.50 --> that's half what Western Express charges!!

-No wonder I see W/E people picking those tires off the road and at the service bays -could never figure that one out.

But then again I could never figure out the bottom-feeder mentality either.

their only a student starters company...I have had a lot of bad experiences with that company....don't ever turn a load down, I never did, but know drivers that did, give 2 weeks notice, I did...was fired on the spot, told to get my stuff out of the truck where I was sitting, stated they didnt need me anymore...my mistake, should have quit at the terminal..they will keep the money they owe you, and give you a bad DAC report stating you abandoned the truck with a high value load in the back...I had no load in the back...it was empty...haha..anyhow, they only pay .30 to start, .31 after 6 mos, and finally .32 after 12 mos and THEY DO NOT GO ANY HIGHER!!! will keep you out on the road, and give you a weekend every 3 weeks, leting you just to stop in, get your laundry done, and say hi to your wife...then get back to work cracking their wip on you...I don't recommend them to anyone