Western express, How bad ?
Posted by Individual_Wasabi669@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 61 comments
Im not a felon, no DUI, clean driving record. 24M but still no mega carrier is accepting me due my CDL school only verifying me for 33h. While mega carriers are asking for 120+
Got offers from CRST(everyone said avoid at all costs).
PRIME(stopped having students currently). So their offer is no longer valid
FFE( moved on with the process but they were only looking for 3 students so they dipped).
So im left with nothing but WE. Running regional at .48CPM
Called every single company in the list above, not a single one showed interest.
Located at South Jersey, Burlington county
yankee_chef@reddit
Go back to CDL school.. Try Maverick Transportation again
Individual_Wasabi669@reddit (OP)
They never pick up , auto messages about how great they r but they never pick up
Odd-Improvement-2135@reddit
Pm me. My hubby is a trainer and can get you linked up with a recruiter as long as you're in the hiring map area.
Individual_Wasabi669@reddit (OP)
Sent u a PM long time ago but you didn’t follow up
Odd-Improvement-2135@reddit
I don't have any messages from you.
AverageTrainNut@reddit
Seeing that you're in Jersey having trouble trying to find a job I was just looking into doing dry bulk. There are a lot of companies around there. I used to do quality carriers out of Stockertown PA for nearly 2 years. I don't know what's all in Jersey, but they will train you how to do everything on a 45 foot trailer. And that should get your foot in the door for better companies
Bergamoted@reddit
Company name?
AverageTrainNut@reddit
Quality Carriers is the largest built bulk transportation company in the country. They primarily do hazmat, but they also have a good sizable section of it as dry bulk, specifically for like cement, limestone and carbon.
Bergamoted@reddit
Thank you!!
Gamer30168@reddit
Whelp, guess you better sign on with WE and get some experience eh? Thug it out for a year and then explore your options.
No_Teaching_8273@reddit
Look into car hauling, you're in the Mecca for carriers that need drivers right now , the port of Newark has lots of union and high paying car hauling jobs . Check United road, Marcos transport , cassen or tribecca . Also supreme auto transport, some of those are willing train ! Be home everyday and make 100k plus
Individual_Wasabi669@reddit (OP)
I Appreciate your suggestions, most of them say on the application Minimum of 1y exp. Will definitely give them a call tmw and see
No_Teaching_8273@reddit
That's not necessarily true , they do make exceptions I got into it straight out of CDL school ten years ago
Theeupside@reddit
Will they hire with no experience?
imastona@reddit
I have almost 2 years experience and only getting .46 from heartland express regional
Individual_Wasabi669@reddit (OP)
Bro ? what ? I got offers for .47 with no experience Any accidents or DUI’s on your record?
imastona@reddit
Nope nothing like that. I'm definitely leaving in a couple weeks
maneco2109@reddit
Try maverick
Bergamoted@reddit
Roehl, if you need more training
Affectionate-Fig924@reddit
Pretty much, put your pecked on a table and hit it with a hammer. That bad.
buddas_slacky@reddit
Eh, I did 6 months. Sucked. Pay was terrible, management was decent. Getting serviced was decent. Home time was ok. Had a pos truck. But not everyone has a bad experience.
turtlepowr89@reddit
Schneider was my first driving company right out of school. Though my school was for about two months if I recall correctly. Schneider then sent me to PA for a week or so of their own schooling that definitely helped me refine many of my skills.
I was local home daily on the Home Depot account making about 60-65k. Stayed with them for a year of experience and moved onto food distribution making over 100k local.
East_History1325@reddit
I shutter anytime I see western express. I don’t know how they treat their drivers but I know the drivers are HORRIBLE.
As much as I ragged on CRST while I was there, I’d go back for a third time. Expedited was a mess but I was able to learn a lot from the bs which helped me once I got to other companies. Also, it’s not a matter of if you’ll hit something, just when….CRST knows this and as long as you don’t have some crazy accident due to you being an idiot, they’ll repair your truck and keep you moving.
ThrowRA19841984@reddit
I'm a Western driver, and other Western drivers scare the shit out of me. Watching them back is always interesting. I need a bucket of popcorn for how long they take and how funny it can be. One passed me today with his tandems all the way back going down the road... I was thinking, "Oh, you're new."
And they treat their drivers like shit. Been with them almost a year and once I hit that mark, I'll also be 23 so more doors will open up.
Individual_Wasabi669@reddit (OP)
Regional caterpillar equipment customer that’s what the recruiter said
East_History1325@reddit
They said that about CRST?
They do have dedicated accounts/lanes and if you can get one after training, life is SWEET!!
Did the caterpillar account going from York, PA to Miami. 34 was spent in Miami during the winter months and we(team driving was mandatory) were living it up. Was ended after a drunk driver drove through his red light and I totaled his car going 13 mph(Happy he was ok, still a bitch tho)
Did the dedicated accounts, too. Hoagies, taco bar and really chilled environment for orientation. Great money, less chaos BUT they will make you work a little harder.
Individual_Wasabi669@reddit (OP)
Yea it’s, she said it’s a team driving position, everyone i asked they were like nah don’t do it, keep it solo unless you know who you’re teaming up with
It’s one of the options i will call the recruiter tmw ask for more info
East_History1325@reddit
Team driving can be tough but it’s what you make it. If you’re responsible and have good deescalation skills, go for it.
If you’re more prone to punch someone in the face at the first sign of them bs’ing…Solo is perfect for you…can swear and punch the air all you want 🙃
Individual_Wasabi669@reddit (OP)
May i PM u the details they sent me ? It’s one of the best offers i got as a recent grad, but everyone just talked crap about them idk why
Prankishmanx21@reddit
Honestly that's my list. I made it. I considered putting an* next to them and a couple of other carriers with a note at the bottom stating that these are bottom of the barrel companies. Try these last only if desperate, but I didn't feel like reformatting the entire list because those aren't bullet points. Those are asterisks
I'll reformat it eventually That being said, if anybody remembers how to do actual bullet marks in Reddit formatting, I would appreciate if you tell me.
Individual_Wasabi669@reddit (OP)
Sorry i couldn’t credit it to you, screenshoted it then started calling lol
But yup you’re the guy i figured out much from that list. Thanks
Prankishmanx21@reddit
Its cool, That list is there to help people, not to make me look good.
folerr@reddit
Have you considered doing tanker?
Individual_Wasabi669@reddit (OP)
Wont kind any job that gon get me started, but i don’t have Hazmat yet. will be able to get it on my license july/2025 when i apply to a 10year permanent resident card
Dirtyhobosmurf@reddit
Do not come to WE they will use and abuse you will want to kill yourself. It is that simple if you value your mental health did not come here. There is a reason there is called Welfare Express. You will literally not be able to eat weeks out of the month. You will not be able to survive without family help. You have been warned, put 2k in your pocket before you come here.
JakeJascob@reddit
I mean I've been apart of multiple class actions against western express and Prime Inc but a job is a job.
yungpattyWOP@reddit
Not trying to be that guy, but how much did you learn in 33 hrs that would qualify you to land a job as a trucker?
Individual_Wasabi669@reddit (OP)
I wish i know how to file a report against them, they give you a book to memorize your PTI, instructors in a private parking lot sipping tea from wawa and you go fuck around with the trucks and learn. They don’t even pick up the phone after they receive their money lol
They use 28” trailers not a single 53”
Lotta red flags but i stayed idk why
Throwaway31702@reddit
Bro? Did you even learn any basics on how to drive a tractor trailer and back up properly? Your options are pretty limited so I’d take what you can get.
Individual_Wasabi669@reddit (OP)
On a 28” ? Yes
53” no
that’s why im so freaking pissed yo. There’s no fucking carrier that uses 28” vans !!!! Fast learner so hopefully with the right trainer i can go thru
Practical-Wave-6988@reddit
I did my CDL through dock to driver with Holland before they went under. We did our training and testing with a 28' pup and single axle day cab.
Your employer is supposed to train you, CDL school even with a 53' is not going to prepare you beyond passing the test.
Food service does utilize a lot of 28' pups with lift gate as do LTL P&D runs.
Once you get with someone you'll learn how to maneuver the tractor with a long box, but as much as it sucks right now WE may be your best option, do some time and gtfo to somewhere else.
g0d_help_me@reddit
My guess would be just enough to pass the cdl exam. Nothing more, nothing less.
Individual_Wasabi669@reddit (OP)
Lol that’s literally what i said in my google review, he called right after with a Russian accent asking me to come over to their office so they can solve it. And to delete my review. Didn’t bother
Their google page is full of fake 5 starts reviews, all by Russians Google it. START CDL, cinnaminson, NJ
Individual_Wasabi669@reddit (OP)
School is owned by Russians they teach Russians graduates Russians, even the examiners are Russians thru a third examination agency, so i would say they’re scammers. so the DMV isn’t even included.They get you your CDL in a cereal box. Literally .
didn’t know much about commercial driving rules and guidelines by the time. And didn’t know how important is school time to carriers,
tried to fight it and get them to schedule me more classes after i obtained my CDL They boldly asked me to pay extra 1,600$ for a 120h+ course.
Tsndumbass@reddit
Company I’m at accepts new people and has training so you can get more if you’re cool with otr. 64cpm after training been pretty good to me so far started driving this year and already pulled down 62 missing 3 mo
Individual_Wasabi669@reddit (OP)
What company is that ? Is it in the list ?
Tsndumbass@reddit
Sent you a message because the mods won’t let me post for some reason
Tsndumbass@reddit
D-m is a banned word evidently
JustAGuyTrynaSurvive@reddit
Very bad. I have quite a few drivers who worked there in the past and I have never heard a positive experience. I would only work there if it is the ONLY option.
Individual_Wasabi669@reddit (OP)
Looks like it’s, it’s either CRST, westEX
JustAGuyTrynaSurvive@reddit
I have heard better things about CRST than Western from my drivers. I would say it's basically neutral. Some guys had okay experiences, some not so great. I think I have a guy who leased there and it didn't go well at all, but I'm not 100% on that
Individual_Wasabi669@reddit (OP)
Just looking for a foot in the industry, 6-8months experience then bounce
Clean-Raspberry-3827@reddit
Try Amazon freight partners I know they have a program not all of them are participating where you would go through their training program and then you have to. I think work for them for like six months.
Q7017@reddit
I would go into further debt and go to another CDL school for the full 120 before ever considering WestEx.
I would only ever consider WestEx if I was a felon or had a jank driving record and needed a job to survive. I've heard lots of bad stuff about them and I've experienced having some of their drivers do absolutely dumb stuff out on the road and at fuel islands.
Individual_Wasabi669@reddit (OP)
Damn 🤣 Paid it off in cash no debt, but not willing to give them further business and pay another 1,600$ for 120h+ course
Q7017@reddit
Definitely not with them, that school sounds like a mess.
Individual_Wasabi669@reddit (OP)
It’s, my dumbass stayed with them cuz they were close to my house after i lost my car the same exact week i registered
Q7017@reddit
You did absolutely nothing wrong. You're new to this industry, you can't be expected to know everything. If anything, it's commendable that you realized that your CDL school is bad.
You will be doing something wrong if you sign on with WE though. Don't do it.
Individual_Wasabi669@reddit (OP)
CRST it’s then ? 6 months experience to get a foot in the industry
SharkNfested@reddit
So no Schneider?
Individual_Wasabi669@reddit (OP)
Ones of the first who flipped me off lol