Thanks for keeping up with your experiences at WE. I head to orientation next week. It's true that every company is going to have negative reviews because as humans we are more vocal about negative experiences than we are about positive ones. So you will ALWAYS find more negative reviews on a company than positive. I've learned that EVERY trucking company is going to have bad experiences to be reported about. There's always going to be unhappy drivers. And for some NO company will ever be good enough. Usually the job is just what you make of it and it takes a certain breed of person to handle the trials of being a driver. Not everyone is suited for it. Some are just screwing themselves (like the drivers who ##### about their paychecks but neglect to mention most of it went to cash advances). Anyone who goes into it thinking it's an "easy" job is delusional (had to straighten out my daughter who said all you do is sit on your butt and drive...what's so hard about that?) So I'm not heading there full of stupid ideas of it being a perfectly wonderful experience (and I'm sure almost anyplace is better than C.R. England). I'm going there to put in enough time to get me in with a more preferable company that can get me the hometime I want (every weekend). But again...thank you for yours posts. I like to see drivers who can report the bad AND the good of a company. It's easier to make a more informed decision that way. I'm looking forward to getting back out on the road again (been off since early September). Oh...quick question....what is their road test like?
The road test is 2 parts........ 1st - you go out with 3 other guys (they'll be in the sleeper) and your examiner, he'll have you drive for about 5-10 minutes depending on what they see of you................2nd part: after you all have finished your road test..... You come back to the yard, go to the back where all of the rolled over tractors are (I call it the graveyard) and you back your 53 foot trailer into a spot (with trailers on each side) , if you happen to touch one of the trailers it is an automatic fail, if you fail to roll down your left window that is an automatic fail, and lastly- if you take over 10 minutes it is an automatic fail.............. With that said you cannot fail at Western express: The only thing that happens is you go to a "backing class"......... You have 2 to 3 days to complete the backing class- if you cannot finish the backing class in that time, you will be given a bus ticket home.....BTW The backing class consist of you jumping in a truck and backing into a set of Cones over and over and over again until 4:00 PM...... if you know what you're doing you do not have to stay the 2 to 3 days that is "stated".... I personally saw someone take the backing class for two hours and the instructor signed off on him.
Tight area for the backing test? Some days I'm kinda slow at it (although I've been told we've all had days when the ###### thing just didn't want to cooperate). Other days I'll whip it right in. But of course if it's tight that's gonna be one of my slow times. I get pretty paranoid about hitting something. LOL
Actually it depends on where you take your road test. If you take it in Nazareth, then it's pretty #### tight. If you takes it in Nashville you have a country mile to set up. I don't know about Emporia, as I try to avoid terminals add much as possible. On a side note the ops experience with Western is the exception not the rule. At best Western is a stater/second chance company. Go in with your eyes wide open, do you time and move on and you shouldn't be to disappointed.
Thanks Morpain...it will be in Nashville so I guess I am lucking out there. LOL Yea...I know they are not top notch...but it'll get me back on the road again to get some clean miles under my belt again. Had two minor accidents last year (no injury, non-reportable) and that's holding me back from the better companies. So WE it is until I get enough clean miles to get the heck out of there. Luckily for me this is not the only source of income I'll have to pay bills (I get VA monthly too from my husband's passing and I also do web design). So for me the driving is the income booster....not the bread and butter. And really...it's more to do with I just like to sail down the road in a rig.
Hello all. Let me first say sorry for not keeping up with this thread. No excuse really just been lazy. I haven't been on here in so long that I actually forgot my login info. Anyway I want to say best of luck to you roadgoddess. Western Express has been the only company that I've worked for so I have nothing to base it on. My one year anniversary is next Wednesday. Overall it has been a good year. There have been ups and downs, but that's any job right. I am going to let you know some of the things that I've learned since being here. NEVER NEVER NEVER turn down a load. That's number one. There is one exception and that's home time. If you've been in contact with your DM and you've let him/her know you want it. Make sure you get it. The DM does not send you your loads it is the planners. So if you're near your home don't accept a load taking you away from the house because you probably won't get there when you scheduled it with your DM. Second thing is know that there are areas that Western doesn't have a lot of customers in so freight is slow. This is usually in the southern part of GA and FL and out west. Third is make sure you get with your DM and let him/her know that you want to be planned thru the weekend. That's unless you want to sit. The extended coverage serves no purpose to the drivers. You call them with and issue and the answer is get with your DM on Monday. So ask your DM to either stack you up or give you a long haul that'll keep you moving until they return on Monday. That's all I can think of at the moment. If I think of anything else I will send you a message. As for me, it has been a fun learning experience. I came to western with one goal in mind and that was getting the experience and owning my own truck. I will not be returning after my one week of paid vacation because I am purchasing a truck to become and owner operator. Good luck and God bless. Be safe and keep that left door closed. I'll be starting a new thread once I'm in my own truck.
Hi there! So my husband is driving with WE. He got his first real paycheck this week and its only 13cpm and was told he was making 26cpm...according to the mileage rates. Did you have any problems like this or know why his pay is "short?" Hes making less than he did during training....I told him there must be an explanation because that doesnt make sense...
