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Western Express just assigned me a load that has “chargeback”. If it’s late, they charge the driver (me) $200. Is there any truth to this???

Posted by ArtOther754@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 79 comments

Western Express just assigned me a load that has “chargeback”. If it’s late, they charge the driver (me) $200. Is there any truth to this???

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79 Comments

Bluegrass_Harley@reddit

Run far away from these goons
View on Reddit #87567969

badmechanic12345@reddit

2nded
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Auquaholic@reddit

3rdeded
View on Reddit #87576086

Hanox13@reddit

Fourdededed
View on Reddit #87577610

PonyPowerMedia@reddit

Fif https://giphy.com/gifs/chappelle-show-KlQR5d0ayEYsE
View on Reddit #87580056

ohhrangejuice@reddit

Sixteddd
View on Reddit #87581409

PrivatePilot9@reddit

Eleventyth
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ThatOneHelldiver@reddit

And my Axe!!
View on Reddit #87633452

NJNeal17@reddit

My trucking career started there... And I was gone in 3 months lol. As Iron Maiden said: Run For The Hills!!!
View on Reddit #87620578

almilian@reddit

there are so many factors you can't control.
View on Reddit #87624518

Onlyheretostare@reddit

There are plenty of good companies that won’t steal from you, you just have to look. western Express has a bad reputation for a reason.
View on Reddit #87624299

dzyxl1a0nr@reddit

Welfare Express
View on Reddit #87619487

Busted-Cheese91@reddit

As someone who has been creeping on this board to learn about different carriers, I love that Western Express is the 1 company where the consensus is negative. Not mixed or hit and miss. Just run like hell. Every. Damn. Time.
View on Reddit #87617806

West_Imagination3237@reddit

Welcome to Convict Express.
View on Reddit #87612665

groovyinutah@reddit

I see Western Express has not turned in their douchnozzle credentials, here's my advice to you and anyone else working for these assholes: Get your 6 months or year and then GTFO. Never do ANYTHING that jepordizes you CDL or driving record on their behalf because they DO NOT GIVE A FUCK ABOUT THEIR DRIVERS! They will leave you hanging, every fucking time. Their entire business model is simply cycling through newbie drivers, your nothing but chewing gum to them and I'm quite flabbergasted these people are still in business.
View on Reddit #87568526

GronGrinder@reddit

I'm on my last week right now. So fucking excited to be free and doing CDL B Local work. Had to go Western after Werner threw me out. Leaving with 6-7 months experience... I couldn't do a year. My complaint mainly is their trucks are locked down so hard it isn't even fun to drive. Also. I'm sweating as I'm typing this because there's no real A/C. Thank fuck I'm northeast.
View on Reddit #87574679

Any_Slice_3282@reddit

Clean your a/c filters. Youtube has a gazillion videos on how to do it. Then run like hell
View on Reddit #87603411

wavyyyybabyyyy@reddit

What was your experience at Werner like? I’m just curious because I’ve had emails from them after looking into working there
View on Reddit #87582474

GronGrinder@reddit

Werner is probably fine if you don't go Dollar General account. That account was the only thing I was able to do with them. No only is it absolutely rough during the winter, but you risk your MVR way too much for it to be worth it. You'll be backing from the road sometimes, then once you're in the parking lot, you've got to make a 90° backwards turn to get to the unloading area. Best hope people don't run behind your trailer in their car, or worse, themselves. I got booted after 2 legitimate minor accidents. Literally the first day solo I bent a wheel rim, and on my last day I scraped someone else's trailer, which mainly was because I was in a bad mood and the turn was tight (it was a °90 backward turn to the unloading area). The "accident" between those two was some kingpin bullshit where it somehow went over the fifth wheel and got stuck. No idea how it happened cause I always check where the kingpin is right before I hook. Either way, no damage, took 10 minutes to fix thanks to a yard jockey. Their trucks are pretty good. The heater was soooo nice during the winter, never woke up cold. And there's a weather report system that'll tell you upcoming weather conditions in your area. Governed at 65 on pedal, 68 on cruise.
View on Reddit #87600366

forkystabbyveggie@reddit

Best piece of advice in here.
View on Reddit #87570304

trucksarekewl@reddit

How do people keep signing up to work for this dogshit company lol
View on Reddit #87570124

Immediate_Regular@reddit

It's a second chance carrier. They're all about grabbing people that have fucked up somehow and grinding everything they can out of them because they know they're one of the only options open to a good deal of the drivers that hire on with them.  They also love brand new drivers for pretty much the same reason. They know their reputation gets lost in all the other "Hurr durr Swift dumb, Swift bad" "Megas dumb go local immediately" bullshit that rookie drivers get smacked in the face with when trying to figure out who to hire on with when fresh out of school.
View on Reddit #87573144

randomlemon9192@reddit

That’s fucked up but makes sense.
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Immediate_Regular@reddit

It is. The whole industry is eating itself. Drivers are their own worst enemy.
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ChaosBeforeOrder@reddit

Felons straight out of color school/another entry level company
View on Reddit #87571811

hotdog11inch@reddit

If you are a w2 employee and not a 1099 employee they can't take anything from your check without a court order or written permission from the employee if they do you call the Tennessee labor department and they will fuck we
View on Reddit #87597199

adm_butthead@reddit

i’ve towed probably hundreds of western express trucks at this point. i always tell people exactly the same thing. while i tow you, go in indeed and apply to another job. you can get another job with little to no experience or even a bad record. fuck western express, the only worse places are amazon or super ego
View on Reddit #87592896

Georgiaboy03@reddit

Depends, are you a company driver or O/O? Company no, owner, then it depends on the contract you signed with them.
View on Reddit #87589739

Titanium_81@reddit

They legally can not charge you, however they can inform you that they could be charged and if they are it could be disciplinary action against you. They will say that the charge back was your warning. Charge backs are real carriers get chargebacks from brokers all the time, those get passed on to the one taking the risk carrier if company driver and owner ops get charged if applicable.
View on Reddit #87586038

Ill-Construction637@reddit

I’d get the hell away from them. No way I’m paying a late fee. They took that load so they pay the fee!
View on Reddit #87585276

Flowing_North@reddit

Do they pay you if it's early? Do they pay you if unloading time drags? Fuck them, reject the load.
View on Reddit #87582946

OkSense1496@reddit

So if you hit weather or traffic you get charged.
View on Reddit #87581259

Financial-Prize9691@reddit

Check your orientation paperwork to see if you gave them permission to claw chargebacks from your pay. If you are a w2 employee, this is illegal unless you gave them permission.
View on Reddit #87568265

forkystabbyveggie@reddit

It's Western Express and it's Tennessee. I promise they put that shit in there.
View on Reddit #87570217

Aromatic-Scratch3481@reddit

Im from ct and they have a depot in CT. They never did this to me but no way the CT DOL would let this fly with a company operating out of and licensed by their state.
View on Reddit #87581135

AKWV80@reddit

With Western I wouldn't doubt it
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TapRevolutionary5766@reddit

I drove for western a while back. They gave me a load from the yard to maybe an hour away. Made my appointment time and thought it was all good. Turns out the guy that drove it from pick up to the yard was late. They got a new appointment time for my drop off but the delivery was already late. They charged me the fee but I was able to fight it.
View on Reddit #87580642

RollinHellfire@reddit

In eu it's illegal. Check your rights, if you dont have a union, check with a labor lawyer. Otherwise just find another job
View on Reddit #87578978

ecstadtic@reddit

That’s bs. They accepted the risk, it’s up to them to deal with it.
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Accomplished-Cat-632@reddit

By passing it on to the driver
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RealBigDicTator@reddit

I'm gonna need to see some proof because this is so blatantly illegal that I don't believe it.
View on Reddit #87578129

Jamo3306@reddit

Ha ha. Good one. Listen, if my pay check even looks wonky, im calling the Workforce Commission.
View on Reddit #87576897

thebossyhelplessness@reddit

thats dodgy as hell mate. western express has been doing this stuff for ages and people keep acting shocked. the thing is even if its technically legal in some states they dont tell you upfront properly, you find out when youre already committed to the load. ive seen drivers get nailed on stuff that wasnt even their fault like traffic or shipper delays and suddenly theyre out two hundred bucks. just refuse it and let them get upset, theres plenty of other work out there that doesnt come with surprise penalties attached to your paycheck.
View on Reddit #87576689

Ayyeee_justin@reddit

Are you a company driver or o/o?
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ArtOther754@reddit (OP)

Company driver
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SnooChipmunks6620@reddit

Illegal. Also there are many factors that are out of our hands that could render delivery late. It would set a terrible precedent. A driver worrying about being late and having to pay imaginary $400, will not be a safe driver.
View on Reddit #87568013

forkystabbyveggie@reddit

> illegal Very legal on a Tennessee (where Western is based) employment contract. I guarantee Western put that on the contract as well. Also before the downvote babies hit me, I don't agree with it and think w2 employees shouldn't have financial liability. But our feelings don't matter much do they?
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Ok_Application_2292@reddit

As a owner I assume it is on me the company. If I read that on a confirmation I typically call back and tell them “never mind” as everyone knows. Things happen. And since it is a brokered load. Risk vs reward is probably not scaled right to make it worth it
View on Reddit #87575894

forkystabbyveggie@reddit

It's scaled perfectly right for Western is the driver is on the hook for fees.
View on Reddit #87575950

Ok_Application_2292@reddit

I hear you. I wish people read things more often it would solve problems and lessen the need for attorneys
View on Reddit #87576027

forkystabbyveggie@reddit

Plenty of guys really don't have a choice and will go with whatever company will give them a CDL the fastest. On the other hand, there are guys with years of experience with a clean record that nose dive into companies like Western. I have no clue why
View on Reddit #87576123

RKGamesReddit@reddit

If the driver isn't from TN, would they still be on a TN contract? Wouldn't the contract take precedence on where the driver is from? It's their responsibility to make sure freight isn't running late, why not just reject the load or find a driver who can make it? This BS just means I don't want the load.
View on Reddit #87571660

forkystabbyveggie@reddit

It varies. A guy in here said he has success twice filing in his home state. I know a few guys from states that protect w2 deductions that failed. I can say for certain though if OP is from a state that's similar to TN, he'd be screwed. He simply needs to work toward a better employer.
View on Reddit #87574978

SnooChipmunks6620@reddit

Wow I didn't know that. Fucked up. Would explain the sterling reputation of Western Express.
View on Reddit #87574861

xoneboyx@reddit

Just refuse the load. Tell them tough luck and if they retaliate good luck with that as well.
View on Reddit #87575693

Silver_Material_7249@reddit

Accept on the condition if you aren’t out after 2 hours they owe you 200 bucks!
View on Reddit #87575357

unloader86@reddit

Question. Why are you driving for Western Express?
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joepancakez@reddit

That’s instant quit a job territory right there
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Ok_Weekend6350@reddit

refuse the load lol
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oneshadeoff@reddit

Yep fuck that
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AceDuce23@reddit

It's only a threat. Don't worry about it but don't be late either.
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xXx_RedReaper_xXx@reddit

It’s legal to just outright refuse the load.
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qaf0v4vc0lj6@reddit

What state do you live in? Unless you sign for the deduction (specifically the dollar amount and instance) it’s illegal for them to take it in most states and you can file a complaint with your state’s labor department and they’ll recover it with interest.
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forkystabbyveggie@reddit

Western is based in Tennessee and it's very legal there. He'd have to file with TN labor. If Western put it in his contract that he can be billed in instances like this, he really has no better option but to find a better employer. Which is the best option considering his current employer.
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Captain_Wag@reddit

Where you're located is what matters not where the employer is. The state you're a resident in gives you your protections. I worked at Western when I first started and they had to follow all sorts of interesting CA only laws.
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qaf0v4vc0lj6@reddit

It doesn’t matter where they’re based. It matters where OP lives.
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forkystabbyveggie@reddit

For a desk job, maybe. OTR is different. An out of state DOL would have limited reach. So if that DOL sues Western, it would have to do so within a TN court (choice of venue in his contract). He's also limited to a choice of law clause in the contract, which I guarantee is TN. Tennessee isn't big on workers rights. Is it possible? Maybe, but if I was a betting man my money would be on Western.
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qaf0v4vc0lj6@reddit

I’ve literally done it twice against companies that are out of state. It’s where the wages are earned, which is the complaint’s home state. Contracts don’t negate a state’s laws on earned and promised wages.
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forkystabbyveggie@reddit

I'm willing to admit I'm wrong but I've talked with a few guys that had the opposite experience from you.
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truckingham@reddit

So in other words, you **might** be abke to het it there on time with 30 seconds on your 70?
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DependentCup9181@reddit

Yeah, I’m not working for a company that charges the driver for service failures. Not every one of them can be attributed to the driver. Weather, traffic, shitty shipper… all that is 100% outside of your control. If your ‘goofing around’ time is excessive (easy to figure out between HOS (off-duty time)/breakdowns/GPS) I could see jamming you up a little, but it shouldn’t cost you actual money.
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Enigma_x23@reddit

They’re seeing how far can they get over on you.
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driver004@reddit

Depends on your arrangement, I’m a leased owner op and such a stipulation is pretty common for me. Sometimes I’ll decline a load for that sometimes I’ll take it it depends
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MissYouDesertRat@reddit

Refuse that shit thats illegal
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forkystabbyveggie@reddit

It's unfortunately very legal in Tennessee as long as he agreed on his employee (incl. W2) contract.
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A_World_Divided@reddit

Late fees are totally legal but they have to be on the rate con
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GoodGoodGoody@reddit

As a worker, illegal As an OO legal (with some conditions)
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dieseldoc62@reddit

maybe if it's on you. if because of circumstances you can't control,, no
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norseprincesspdx@reddit

That's bullshit
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