Flatbeddin' with good ole' Western Express

Oh I have already been told busyvixen that since my home is in okie country they r putting me in the flatbed division woohoo. Hauling dry van gets a lil old after awhile. At least with a flatbed you get a lil variety in your loads. At least that's the way I loo at it.

 

Can anyone tell me what the qualifications are for Western Express? How much experience, etc? I only have about 9 months experience, but it was back in '09. Thanks.

 

Dave AL I am a new grad out of trucking school and I am going to western on monday for orientation. I am a newbie so i would imagine they would consider taking you on. Worst case scenario you might have to go and do a refresher course. I got a contact number there if you want to call em. They recruiter I am going through is straight up and honest with me. just let me know and i'll give it to you
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Thanks. If the contact number is the standard recruiting line, I have it. If it's a different one, please pass it on. I did speak briefly with a guy there (I think his name was Ron, maybe?) I'm getting an error on my DAC fixed right now - the reporting company has said they'll fix it. So, depending on how long that takes, I may wait until it's reported.

I would like to know if they require a contract. One option I'm looking at is to get 2 months of recent experience (haven't driven in almost 2 years) and then move over to Melton.

 

o.k. a little information about western express i'v been driving for them for a year and a half as a solo driver. things where going good exept pay was more bad weeks than good. So i started training people and that itself is a horror story. anyway i fell of the flatbed about 10 feet and broke my wrist, (my student was doing all the driving.) i gone to the emergecy room and they put a tempory splint on my arm and was suppose to see a bone surgian. well i manage to deliver my load in arkasas and let dispatch know i needed to go back to terminal. while going on i end up with internal bleeding. after emptied i get a preplan to pick up going to northern california. i call dispatch and remind them to get me back to nashville, he says pick it up and he'll swap with somebody. the next day nothing so i instruct my student to head back to nashville, dispatch charges me for fuel and wanted me to go to california.(not happening) i get back to nashville and they send me to concentra the doctor does drug and alcohal test, then get reffered to a orthapedic and uraligist. well i sat 3 days in hotel 2 in truck waiting for these appointments. I called the claims lady in nashville trying to get instruction and she rudly said you need to call your handlers and hung up on me. anyway my claims ladys on vacaton so i call my brother to make a 4 hour drive to pick me up. i go home four three days and returned back to nashville trying to get things done. i tlk to judy my claims lady and she set everything up. but in all this company does not are about there drivers well being i have heard alot of horror storys. so after all this is done im going to drive for new century transport.

 

Well I started orientation today and I have to say it was a little disconcerting when there are 48 people in the orientation class. Needless to say it was like a madhouse. When I went to get my drivers physical the doc said my blood pressure was borderline high. Well I had a drivers physical 3 weeks ago and my doc said my b.p. Was just fine.
Then there road test was down the highway and back which was about 5 miles or so. Kind of makes you wonder if they r really looking for good drivers or not. Then went to the main yard and backed into a empty spot just to see if we could back a trailer. Then that's about all there is to first day orientation at western express. I will have to agree with some of the post on here about what kind of people they will hire here. Sme of the guys thAt took the road test could'nt even shift the truck. And they were supposed experienced drivers. We'll see what tomorrow brings it supposed to be qualcomm training for elogging. And Wednesday and Thursday is load securement. But as far as going on a trainer truck I only have to do a week with a evaluation trainer. So that's a plus.
Hope you are staying busy busyvixen hope to see you out there.
Not every company is for everyone. Find the one that fits your needs the most.

 

i meet the gray hound at 2pm tomorrow, should be there by 930pm. lookin foward to gettin back on the road... see yall out there

 

BusyVixen, can you post more pics of your truck? I'm thinking about going back over the road and interested in Western Express...thanks.