My inside report from Western Express

Hello all been here for a min. Decided to post while I'm here on free time. Western Express is the most unorganized company ever.

Orientation. Day 1. Of cours paper work. We all packd into the shuttle went to the doc. Be prepared to be there for hours. Got back after 4 hours. Witness a trainer curse a student out and get in his face. Also road test.

Day 2. Classroom, bunch of front office people n and out. Eric the instructor don't know how to shut up.

Day 3. I'm flatbed so off to load securement class. Instructors are Andy and of course Jason is in and out. Andy could not stay off his phone. Van people off to wait for a trainer/truck/paper work verification, medical cards, etc.

Day 4. The load securement instructor in the yard quit. So basically another driver in orientation was the instructor, as Jason had to keep taking 15 mintues breaks. Couldn't stay off his phone.

Day 5 and 6. Sitting around waiting for trainer. Witness a fight which on the side Andy and Jason told the guy who got knock out "f%&k him up"

Day 7 and 8 sitting around waiting for trainer. I was luck to be the last one to get a trainer. Others were told it could be as long as 2 weeks. Some had been there ahead me already pushing 8 days.

Be prepared to sit n wait and load your luggage everyday. Trainee pay is 375 weekly subtract 200 training fee. From day one I was told I was E2, meaning two weeks with a trainer, I keep my full pay. I was told .34cpm, got there it changed to .30cpm, finally ended with .27cpm

Shuttle van drivers are a big NO. Motels used are Comfort Inn and Super 8. Be prepared to load luggage everyday.

Finally time to go with trainer. Everything good till I realized I could drive better than him. Then it became more of a team thing and not a training situation. Overheard a convo, he won't letting me off in 2 weeks because it would not be worth it. They get and extra 100 for everyweek you on the truck plus all the miles. 1st paycheck never knew I got it. It was negative .33 cents. Next check was 160. After a week of ######## I was paid all the training fee they took from me and the full 375.00
Oh yeah I had to beg for a shower, and on top of that as I type this I am on trainers hometime in his state for 6 days. He won't help get a room, so I paid for it myself.

I've witness breakdown curse him out, dm problems, etc.

The miles seems to be here, but this seem to be a shaky comapny.

If you a student fresh from cdl school, explore your options. They will take 200 weekly from you. 6 months and under, supposly 2 weeks with a trainer and full pay 375. Also flatbedders if you got driving experience its a load securement bootcamp you can do then off in your own truck. I highly recommend if you have no flatbed experience at all, atleast go or try to go with a trainer for 2 weeks.

Sorry if my typing is bad, I'm on a cell phone