Flatbeddin' with good ole' Western Express

Your comment, "I got let out early cause Im just that good" leads me to believe there is more to your story than your telling.
In my experience, a little humility can go a long way. Perhaps your attitude caught up with you?
As far as a recurring theme...not sure I follow? Your story is pretty much in direct contradiction with the OP's. Her main issue was hometime. She said her miles were steady, maintenance was timely and appropriate and routing was workable. Sounds like alot of your problems could be addressed with a couple POLITE and PROFESSIONAL phone calls.
Just sayin...

 

That's interesting, your opinion on a situation which you know next to nothing about. I appreciate how you were able to extrapolate such an elaborate situation out of little detail. I simply attempted to give summary of my experience here at Western Express. I also clearly stated if you wanted more detail just ask. Well, let me expound good sir.
To be let out early refers to the standard 30 day training period in which you are with a certified trainer who shows you the 'ropes' to truck driving and you doing your job within the guidelines of the CSA and Federal Motor Carrier safety rule sets. I was let out 'early' because I picked up the skills, and proved that I could drive a truck well enough that further time spent on said trainer truck would be wasted on the company, my trainer, and myself. In other words, I did a good job.
After getting my own truck I stayed out for a period of 3 months before requesting home time. I did what my DM asked without question and was rewarded with 2400-3000 mile weeks.
It was then made clear to me that if I were to continue running weeks like that western would have to pay me an extra scent per mile for the average of the 3 month period in which they do their bonuses. That average being over 2400 a week. They don't want to do that. Second, it is a well known fact that western generally does not run a flat bed truck more than 1800 a week once you have passed your 3 month period. This was rumored to me in training, this was rumored to me by my TRAINER, this was rumored to me at the pumps, this is happening now.
If you are referring to my attitude, I had none until I A.) got 3 short haul runs in a row which as an OTR operator is not good. Anything less than 400 miles is considered to be not a full time job. Furthermore, you don't make any money, Furthermore I am sleeping in my truck, not going home every night and every weekend. I am not a short haul truck driver. And they apologized copiously for the situation and worked to rectify it. My DM's boss made a personal apology. So yes, it was a bad thing recognized clearly by who ever was in control of this truck.
When they start doing things like lie to manipulate you into taking another short run because they know you are fed up with them, when they say they will work to make sure you will get a load to carry you through the weekend then go home as soon as you commit to a load... these things tend to get on your nerves. I'll have you know since I wrote my last message I am on a week totaling a whopping 1100 miles.
This is because they sent me to a place that had no worth while freight.
B.) They started replacing the running gear on my truck with used crap. New tires swapped for used ones, yes, because this makes me feel safe! I believe the company has the longevity of the truck and of my ability to drive it in top priority.
C.) I have to hound them to get pay. Pay for going into new york. Pay for tarping. Pay for layover. I spoke with drivers at other companies who see this pay as part of their pre-plan. It is of note that if you do not get your pay the DM pockets that cash. This was explained to me by a trainer and a DM. To have to hound my DM 3 times about my $100 to have him on the third time explain to me that he thought he put it on but then must've accidentally taken it off before he saved it... yea ok.

You should also caution a look at Western's CSA score. The higher that score is the more unsafe that carrier is rated. The more unsafe the carrier, the fewer companies will use that carrier to ship freight.

Lastly, that OP started the post 3 years ago when things were very different. I'm talking about how western is here and now. Under new ownership, with new policies, and new ppl. Next time you seek to cast a judgemental point of view on my accounting of what has actually happened to me, make sure you know what you're talking about. Calling out my personal attitude is not the way to go about it, unless you were the person on the other side of the phone call. I'll have you know that although I'm very unhappy as I sit in this truck for my fourth day straight of idle time, I don't lose my composure when I'm speaking with the ppl who pay me. Western is a stepping stone. Trucking is my career, I would not be foolish enough to ruin that because of a bad month.
That is all.

 

My fault, it wasn't three years ago, that was another thread. This was started a year ago. My point still stands.

 

P.S.S. She left the company a shortly after her 3 month period was up.

 

Anonymously bashing your employer on a well known website tells me that you've got a lot to learn about attitude and how it is projected.
CSA scores are a reflection of drivers, not the company.
You bought into "rumors" and let them convince you that you were being mistreated. Your trainer should have been reported for aiding in spreading those "rumors". He was not doing his job effectively.
Unsafe driving is illegal. Period. Report it to someone who does care.
It doesn't take a genius to figure out which anonymous driver is bashing your company. Like I said...perhaps your attitude has caught up with you and you are being shown what happens to such people? Its not a stretch to imagine someone in charge reads this forum.
Finally.....you have 0-1 year of experience. I have talked with quite a few flatbedders from W-E with more experience and your claims simply do not jibe with what I have heard.
According to you, W-E does not desire safe, highly productive drivers. Is anyone but a complete buffoon supposed to believe that?

 

That is the million dollar question my friend and thank you for asking. I've been trying to figure that out for quite some time. But here is where experience does come into play. The majority of the drivers I have run into at western express seem, SEEM, to be using them as a half way house. Wherein these are good ppl who have made a mistake or caught a ticket or 2 and not many other companies will take them on. So they run here for however long it takes to clean that record and poof... They fly off. Or at least they want to. Add that info in with the CSA score I mentioned, the turn over rate, the hiring process that sees classes of 20-30 (I was in one and watched the 1 before me and the 2 after), the rather 'light ' pay and the attitude of management and the picture becomes quite clear

 

My argument is founded on fact. I am not bashing the company for anything other than what they have done. They are not interested in the retention of drivers, but that the seats are filled and the trucks are moving. Makes sense. Of course why else would they charge the trainee for his/her training costs because they lose too much money for all the drivers they train and then leave? Yessir

 

No your facts are based on your experience. Not everyones experience is like yours. I have been with them a year and not once have I had any issues as you have described. I still make 2700 to 3200 miles a week. Have had 3 raoses since I have been here. I get home like clockwork. My dm treats me with respect. So I will say again its not fact you are talking about its your experience with them.

 

I think perhaps I am viewing your replies in the wrong light and for that I apologize. I am in no way upset or unhappy that you disagree with me, nor am I trying to persuade you to agree that Western Express INC. is anything other than a trucking company. What I am simply doing is stating my experience as it were on a forum meant to give potential job seekers an insight into companies before they take the plunge. I want people to be able to make a decision based on as many points of view as possible so I accept yours with wide open arms, and of course a bit of envy. Any company, any idea, any person will have detractors and promoters, that is the natural way of things.
So I will make the assumption that you are not actually calling me a liar, but instead are refuting that my experiences are 'factual', or in other words based in fiction. Ok, let's talk about that first.
Like you, I have had no issue whatsoever in my time with Western Express ever getting home; and to make that happen is inconvenient, I'm sure, for the planners and my DM. SO, we agree on that. HOWEVER, if I were to take your point of view about experience we should then negate this entire thread as the OP's comment and subsequent departure from the company was based on her inability to get home when she needed to be. Well, since both of our experiences say otherwise, she's wrong, and that didn't happen... Right? Now you are an intelligent person I'm sure, and that doesn't seem very... intelligent does it?
So, I am very happy that you are fairing well with the company and in many regards, as I stated earlier, I am jealous. However I am not fairing well, and my experiences testify to many things that I find rather confusing about this organization. So, at the very best all one can say having viewed our experiences is that it's a crap shoot, that you have a chance to end up with a great DM and planner team who will keep you running consistently, OR you get a not so good DM and make little money while being away from those you love. That sounds like a gamble to me and I would like everyone to be aware of that when they make their decision. I am in no way saying that they should not drive for western, that western should be banned to the depths of an eternal abyss never to turn a truck wheel again, not at all. I am thankful they gave me an opportunity, a job, a paycheck, and time to acquire the experience I needed to move on to a company that... more fit my idea of driving for a professional trucking company. I was as happy as you are now with the company 3 months ago when I was turning 2700-3000 mile weeks. And I do not blame you for speaking like you have in response to my comments as if I favored something and someone spoke against it I would sure have something to say about it as well.
My problems with your replies are that you are attempting to discount my experiences as falsehoods and things that aren't true or that did not happen. That is to say that I've made up many of these statements to some ulterior goal. In essence, that I am a liar. I agree that we have had different experiences and I'm glad to hear that western is treating some of its people well.
My last question to you, before this becomes a book, and in fact to anyone who reads this thread: If I was a bad driver or a pain to work with why would western keep me in a truck that they want to make money with? Why would they run me less miles to 'punish me' for my insolence? Why would they loose money by not driving me to loads and destinations and therefore incurring profit? If I was so bad to be punished why not terminate me? Put someone who is more pliable into the truck that will run every load and all the miles they want? The idea IS to make money, right? My DM knows all too well that I am here to drive, that I love to do it, and that I love flatbed. He is at times as frustrated with the miles as I am because that's how HE makes money. So again, either they are having trouble finding me miles, or they don't mind losing money on this truck while I am driving it because I have a bad attitude. Which makes more sense to you?

 

Is Western Express a good Co to work for? I'am considering them If I decide to come on board I will do orientation in Fontana,CA. Need to hear from dry van west coast