i am looking to get back into a truck after 7 years is western express a good choice?

That's like saying "Look on the bright side, you're going to prison as a child molester, but thanks to that colon cancer you don't have an ### hole to be raped in."

All in all OP, it's a foot in the door.

 

Dear Jimfromearth, don't despair, remember, right now it's a drivers market. I'm in a similar situation, but at the other end. I haven't driven for 8 years, and am too young to retire( by 3 years) and have thought about driving again part-time, if that even exists in trucking. I check the CL "job board" for transport, and the other day, there were 157 driver postings, IN MILWAUKEE ALONE! These companies think they are the only ones hiring a driver, but don't be fooled, drivers have never been in more of a demand. It's been my experience,and there are good companies out there, but it seems, if there's a posted opening, someone else got pissed off and quit. Recruiters will always paint a rosy picture for you( by definition of recruiter) but talk to the drivers, when you go to place and see a driver dropping a wagon, go up to them and ask how they like it. Good luck, "semi" retired

 

due to insurance companies running everything (and NOT the trucking companies like most people think) it's almost impossible to get a driving job once out of work for any lengthy period of time( as YOU we'll know now.)

if you've already tried the companies that offer a "free refresher" and western is the only one that will take you: I would would suggest taking it, and in the time you have before your orientation starts- go to the western express section on here and try and take in any informative info regarding your time there...... It'll help you "prepare" you for your adventure there.....

if you are able to keep yourself, your MVR, and your DAC clean for 3 months: you shouldn't have a problem finding yourself a better place to work at........ IF you can by chance do the previously things mentioned for 12 months- you WILL be able to "write your own ticket" out of there.

Western isn't the greatest: but they DO serve a purpose- and that is to give people a second chance to drive after being out of the seat for awhile.

Good Luck to you, try and keep us posted on your endeavors

 

Hi there..... We lucked out and started with Schneider National as a company driver, we then we moved over to the IC Choice program. Wish we had started there!!!! We love it!!!!! If you would like to chat to my hubby, he would be more than happy to give you the info from the inside......

 

Tried to send you a private message but your box is full.....please empty your box so we can send you a private message. We feel as though you would be perfect for Schneider !!!!!!

 

That isn't true. The megas are picky about work history and they are usually self insured while small companies usually are not and use third party insurance companies.

 

Best advice so far......anyone can suck it up for 90 days, and you may not have to wait that long. But if you can't afford the refresher and Western will take you, I'd say, "saddle up".

BTW, Schneider nor any of the bigs will take you without a refresher.......kinda says a lot about how low Western is going (no offense intended towards you, but dammmm).

 

Even "self insured" companies are underwritten....... I think there's about 2-3 insurance companies TOTAL that underwrite ALL of them.