What Western Express orientation is like...its not good.

You make a good point. People who fail to realize that Western is a starting point hasn't done their research. While I've personally dealt with all he's complaining about, I knew what I was getting into. It's the price you pay if you don't have a perfect criminal history, driving record, work history or whatever else. If none of those apply to you, don't know why you're at Western. In my case, I was an idiot in my late teens which resulted in a criminal history. Due to my bad choices early in life, western was the only company to give me a shot. I took advantage of the opportunity and am now making 3x more per year, working 1/3 less, and in better equipment. It's about the big picture not the small.

It's kinda like eating spicy food and then complaining about it being spicy.

 

This kind of reminds me of what could have happened on my one and only trip out of town for company orientation. Just glad I was smart enough to listen to my old man's advice. They told me they'd send me down in one of two half ton pickups they were sending down with 7 others. I said I'll take my own truck. Then they asked if I could drive 3 others down. I said no. Get to the hotel that night and was told the company will not pay for the room unless I shared it with another employee. I went across the street to a nicer hotel. It cost me a few bucks more to pay my own way but it was a great 3 day trip. Had a lot of fun working for them until they sold out a year later.

 

Come on my friend. I went through the same orientation there you did. If you do not like the accommodations, go somewhere else. Your hotel and food is paid for. Actually the dinner from the trailer was pretty good in my opinion. I suppose you wanted a plane ticket, limo service to the hotel, and filet mignon and lobster all on WEs dime? Be grateful someone has given you an opportunity instead of disrespecting them every chance you get. You think I liked being away from home for over two months at first with orientation, training, doing 10k miles with a teammate, etc plus dealing with my wife crying everyday about when I am coming home. You make sacrifices and if you can put aside the negatives every truck driver goes through, it will pay off in the long run. It just seems to me you want something for nothing. Grow up or find another line of work.

 

6 bucks for a sandwich is average. Go to Buc-ee;s and its 8 bucks, go to any bbq joint it's 8-9 bucks. jack in the crack chicken sandwich and tater wedges 10 bucks, Kfc 4 pc meal 10 bucks...see the trend ? food is expensive, That is all.....

 

We may or my not have seen a drug deal go down when we took my hubby to the bus sta . . . Gas station to catch the bus to Nashville. I had to pick him up when he quit. At least Celadon reimbursed us for me driving to Indy to get him. As for Western trucks, there should be plenty sitting in the lot to choose from since, supposedly, 45 drivers quit a week ago. They should have had time to get the tvs & wifi in them. That will come in handy when you are stuck waiting on a load or permit, or whatever! My hubby did get a 4-way call Sunday or Monday from the owner, dm supervisor, & safety supervisor asking why he quit & what they could do to get him back. He did get almost all the pay he should have gotten the previous couple weeks. Sadly, with $105 layover pay, $75 tarp pays, some detention pay, & maybe 1800 miles his net was like $768. Biggest check in 8 weeks. 1 week he should have gotten 2300 miles, 2 tarp pays, & detention pay & his check was under $600. Surely his new employer has to be better! He got a roommate about an hour ago. About 20 minutes later my hubby said the guy packed his stuff & left. He read on their website that they do drug testing. . .

 

Funny thread..tell me how you guys really feel.

 

Taken from: http://www.manta.com/c/mm4szkz/western-express-inc

And all they can afford to feed their employees during orientation is a stinking piece of green bologna on a stinking green hamburger bun, and a stinking "trial size" bag of Cheetos with a warm bottle of water?

If people see, read, and comprehend/absorb this ONE thread...but still drive for these people---they get exactly what they deserve. Come on people WAKE UP!!!

 

I'm sorry. But why are they required to feed anyone??? I'm no fan of CRST, but what other job feeds their potential employees?

 

First of all, it is Western Express not CRST (pay attention much?)...you are on the Western Express board....and the link I provided has Western Express in the address....and when clicked on, has Western Express all over the page (again...pay attention much?).

Secondly...you are not "at home" where you can make a peanut butter sandwich and bring it in a paper bag with you (which, by the way, would be better than what this multi-million dollar company offered their employees). It IS part of what THEY promise when THEY bring you to orientation---they can easily say "by the way, we don't feed you, so bring money".
Based on how you worded your reply....I guess we can ask "why do they pay for a bus ride", or "why do they pay for a hotel room".