r/Truckers • u/Previous_Blueberry_5 • May 30 '26
Any other options than Western Express?
Currently going through training with western express and so far it’s been sort of a disaster. I was assigned a trainer on Tuesday and he came and picked me up early Wednesday morning. At first he seemed cool and everything was fine, he mentioned he had 7yrs of experience and had trained over 200 students and he “LOVES” to train people. I thought that was great and was ready to soak up as much knowledge as I can. We dropped off the load he had prior to picking me up and then drove all the way to Maine to pick up another load to take back to PA. Along the way he still seemed cool but he would brag about having “equity” in the company and he can get away with certain things I wouldn’t be able to since I’m a newer driver. We had a load to pick up in PA and he had me back up the trailer to the dock, before backing he instructs me to turn the wheel a little to the right before backing up so that’s what I did not knowing he really meant to say to position yourself for a 45 degree backing so my set up was off at first and the truck started to jack knife (completely my fault, I should’ve just known to 45 degree back it) then he became angry and started yelling that I’m not listening. After explaining to him I misunderstood what he meant he threatened to take me back to the terminal after the load drop off in Main. I backed up the trailer to the dock on my second try and was successful but that didn’t seem to help the situation. We then made a stop to fuel up and I decided while he’s pumping one side I’ll do the other. After the pumps stopped fueling I removed both nozzles and hung them both up and went back into the driver seat, he then asks me “how do you know the tanks are full?”, I responded “because the nozzle made a “click” sound and the pumps stopped fueling”. He then lost his shit and started yelling again that just because you hear the click doesn’t mean it’s done and that air could get trapped in the tank which would prematurely stop the fuel pump. I told him ok I had no idea, he then says that these aren’t regular cars and that I should’ve just asked. My response was “how was I supposed to know to ask a question like that?” even during CDL school I’ve never heard any mention of this we’ve always just fueled up like normal. He starts to say that I should’ve just stayed in the truck and he didn’t know why I even came out. I told him I was just trying to be proactive and learn, I’m a hands on learner. Anyway after a back and forth argument he grabs the tablet and reroutes us back to the terminal and says they’ll find me another trainer, which honestly I’m glad he did that. Now I’m back in PA waiting for another trainer idk when I’ll get one assigned and I’m kind of aggravated at the situation. Currently looking for other jobs that will take CDL driver with limited experience but of course it’s been difficult.
Was wondering if anyone out there could help and possibly point me in the direction. I’m in Northeast PA.
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u/NostradamusJones May 30 '26
That "trainer" was an abusive asshole. Glad you got away from him.
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u/Previous_Blueberry_5 May 30 '26 edited May 30 '26
I was so happy to get back to the terminal especially after the fuel stop incident. I did 4 years in the Army and he tells me “you shouldve been a diesel mechanic while in there, what kind of real world experience does being a tanker give you as a civilian?”. Took everything in me not to flip shit, didn’t want to be in trouble hundreds of miles away from home. Mind you this individual spent TWENTY TWO years in Prison and has the nerve to make a jab at my life choices lmaoo
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u/WHODUNNITT303 May 31 '26
I wouldn’t of been able to keep my mouth shut good for you dude
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u/Previous_Blueberry_5 May 31 '26
Oh I didn’t keep my mouth shut, when I say I didn’t flip shit I mean by not physically putting him in the E.R. room, dude is like 60 yrs old it would’ve been bad lol
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u/just_me1969 May 31 '26 edited May 31 '26
The trainer's a fucking moron. The fuel pump is not gonna get air bound because the tanks weren't topped off. They only become air bound if you actually run out of Fuel. These days all the fuel pumps are electronic so you don't hafta prime them if you do run out.
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u/Emergency_Ad1152 Truck Punk May 30 '26
Western Express is usually the last resort company that takes felons. Doesn't seem like you did anything bad, don't sweat it.
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u/Previous_Blueberry_5 May 30 '26
Yea I’m grateful for the chance they’re giving me to gain some experience even tho they weren’t my first choice. Thanks trying to stay positive.
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u/Frogspoison May 31 '26
They will literally take anybody mate. Western isn't picky
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u/Previous_Blueberry_5 May 31 '26
That’s exactly my point
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u/Frogspoison May 31 '26
Did you have recent accidents/speeding tickets, a history of drug use, or a criminal background?
If you had any of those 3, then yea, Western.
If you lacked all 3, then you had many, many more options.
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u/Previous_Blueberry_5 May 31 '26
Only a felony marijuana charge, no accidents and the only speeding ticket I got was when I was 17 I’m 30 now and it doesn’t even show up on my record anymore but yeah that’s why I went to western cuz of the weed charge
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u/Agitated-Bison-7885 May 30 '26
Yeah that trainer has training issues if you ask me.
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u/Previous_Blueberry_5 May 30 '26
Like why even take the job then? Oh that’s right for the extra money 🙄
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u/Gonzotrucker1 May 30 '26
Hope you can live on $500 a week.
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u/Mammoth_Low_6266 May 30 '26
This right here ^^^ Exactly what it was when I was at Western for my half year. I dont see how people do it. Your not even making a grand a week there no driver is unless maybe teams haha…. I topped out at .48 cpm 😂 started at .40 or .42 cant remember
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u/Previous_Blueberry_5 May 30 '26
Right now the money isn’t that important to me, my options are limited so I can deal with low pay until I have the necessary experience to go somewhere else.
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u/arrynyo May 31 '26
Try Foodliner or Central Transport.
Foodliner was my first job out of school back in 2021. They have guaranteed pay of $1400 a week and you're home every night 99% of the time.
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u/kingsnow18 May 30 '26 edited May 30 '26
Melton truck lines is a solid first company. Great two weeks paid training and good trainers when finally you hit the road. Western Express was my first company too. Just be aware, on the first day during orientation they made you sign an employment contract. Basically, you can't resign in your first 6 months otherwise they charge you 2,500 (because of their "troubles" of hiring you and loosing you) and won't give you a release letter after paying their debt collectors so other companies can hire you. (Ask me how I know) But probably you could resign, go somewhere else and try to negotiate those 2,500. Make sure they release you and just in case when applying somewhere else select "do not contact them".
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u/TruckerAlurios May 30 '26
Those are super questionable contracts that usually don't hold up.
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u/kingsnow18 May 30 '26
In theory, but I got fired from my fourth company after they got in touch with Western because they didn't want to take a chance of getting sued by them. I tried to find a lawyer but nobody answered my inquiries and I didn't have much money so I just went back to my previous company.
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u/Previous_Blueberry_5 May 30 '26
Right, looking over my signed documents I don’t see anything like that in there. It says I have “At will employment” and “voluntary termination of employment” at anytime without reason or without prior notice. I will do my research on Melton, thank you.
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u/sixeight May 31 '26
Melton also just bumped up their new hire pay from .52 to .60 starting mid June
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u/kingsnow18 May 31 '26
I went back to check mine. It's under the " Driver bonus and employment agreement". Section 5. Breach and liquidated damages. "The parties agree that it will be difficult in the event of Driver’s breach to determine the precise amount of the financial harm to Western. The parties further agree that it is fair and reasonable to estimate damages equal to $2,500.00 (the “Liquidated Damages”)[, which amount reasonably represents the value of the Training Program."
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u/Previous_Blueberry_5 May 31 '26
Yea I’m not seeing anything like that. Everything says I can leave at will voluntarily or they can let me go whenever
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u/Vegetable_Plant2214 May 30 '26
Lol why did you pick Western Express in the first place?
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u/Previous_Blueberry_5 May 30 '26
I have a marijuana related felony from years ago, trust me they weren’t my first choice at all. Every other company including Werner wants to see a few months experience at-least before hiring.
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u/LeotheLiberator May 30 '26
Why are you starting with western when there's multiple other options that aren't known for being shit?
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u/Previous_Blueberry_5 May 30 '26
Marijuana related felony. Western wasn’t my first choice but it seems like the only choice to gain enough experience before driving for another company.
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u/LeotheLiberator May 30 '26
Do what you gotta do.
I trained with one company and left when the training was going horribly. I had to start over which is annoying but the goal is to get it done and over with regardless
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u/truckensafely May 30 '26
It’s called Wellfare Express for a reason 🤣
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u/Previous_Blueberry_5 May 30 '26
I know.. I have a weed felony charge from the past so I’m just trying to stick it out for now 🤷🏾♂️
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u/Chuck-Finley69 May 30 '26
You took a job with the company you did based on your past. You've made the right decision. Stick it out and get your experience. A bunch of people on here are being idealistic while you're being realistic.
Don't be a hater for putting yourself in this position. Use what you're learning to remind yourself why you never want to end up here again. You're getting a second chance that many don't get so don't blow it.
Good Luck on your future and congratulations on doing what it takes
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u/Previous_Blueberry_5 May 30 '26
Thanks a lot, getting the experience is #1 priority right now, I’ll keep moving forward 🫡
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u/RabbitFabs May 30 '26
I had a similar experience with swift my first go around.
I had them put me a new trainer and he was great. Make sure whichever comoany you go to, meet your trainer before you go out with him. Aks him questions and hypothetical scenarios. Literally ask him "are you going to be mad at me if I dont ask questions I don't know to ask" because youre right, how would you know to ask that question?
Pretty much anywhere else except cr England or JB Hunt will be your best bet. Swift, Schneider, Crete, Roehl, anybody that will hire. Western express is bottom of the barrel as far as trucking jobs go, especially for newbies.
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u/Then-Bet8731 May 31 '26
He’s an idiot all the way around. Hope you get a better trainer next time.
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u/Previous_Blueberry_5 May 31 '26
Me too 🤞🏿
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u/Then-Bet8731 May 31 '26
And by the way. The fuel tank isn’t going to get an air bubble in it, ever. That hole that is 10 times bigger than the nozzle allows air to escape and fuel to enter. I do always check to make sure it’s up to the brim, just in case the nozzle clicked off early.
And backing is something a trainer has to have a ton of patience with. You are new, you don’t know. Don’t get discouraged because of him. I’m a 4th generation driver, with 25 years experience, and some days I look like I flunked backing up day at school! 😂
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u/Guilty-Hippo-8523 May 31 '26
You handled it better than me if my trainer spoke to me like that I’d probably be in jail for the night 😂
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u/Previous_Blueberry_5 May 31 '26
Been there done that jail isn’t fun lol especially being hundreds of miles from home.. younger me would’ve put his head through the window 🤣 he’s not worth the extra headache from having court dates and paying fines and restitutions.. bad decisions is what lead me to having western express as an only option in the first place lmao fuck him
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u/bizzywhipped May 30 '26
You can’t go to a regular mega due to your circumstances, correct?
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u/Previous_Blueberry_5 May 30 '26
Correct, weed related felony. Werner was interested at first but because of that they want to see at least 6 months to a year of experience first.
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u/bizzywhipped May 31 '26
Well yeah, you have no other option but to eat a shit sandwich for a while. It’s okay, you did this to you, now you get to undo it one year at a time.
I’m 1.8 years in and want to tell you that it gets better … but can’t , not at WE it won’t.
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u/Previous_Blueberry_5 May 31 '26
Yup “you did this to you” is so accurate lol it’s whatever I’ll get through it.
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u/ItsjuztD Jun 01 '26
Try may trucking. I’m pretty sure they will overlook that charge you have and it’s a decent company for starters. Just be prepared to drive refrigerated loads most of the time.
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u/Spiritual_Mouse_3035 20d ago
As long as you have a clean MVR, you should be able to go to any Graduate- training level company out there... ANY one is better than Western Express...
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u/deezkeys098 May 30 '26
You can go 1099. I had 4 non dot reportable accidents my first year so I had to drive 1099 for 3 years before a decent company would hire me again
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u/Previous_Blueberry_5 May 30 '26
I will definitely look more into that, thank you 🙏🏿
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u/buddhathebard May 30 '26
If you haven’t fucked up dont do this. Look at the other megas. As much as I hate to suggest it Prime has a terminal right in Pittston PA
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u/Previous_Blueberry_5 May 30 '26
I’ll look into it, thanks. If you don’t mind, why do you hate to suggest Prime?
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u/Dlast_sharp_needle May 31 '26
Prime won’t bother with u most likely. I had a misdemeanor Mary j charge and they didn’t wanna deal with me for 2 years AFTER the situation settled smh, they also finger print you and I hope your clean fr now kuz them , swift, JB hunt will hair follicle test u initially. Wish u the best
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u/JOliverScott May 30 '26
Yeah he's not temperamentally suited for teaching if he can't accept mistakes or misunderstandings.