Comments By Mikey B.

Victor, you said to me about WE:  "Sorry not sorry, they are terrible. Some companies deserve their reputation full stop." 

In fact, that statement goes both ways, some drivers are terrible and deserve their reputation full stop as well. Are you one of them? I don't know but the way you run down literally the ONLY company that would help you out leaves the question open for interpretation doesn't it? I have hope that you indeed are better than that like G-Town says but surely you understand how it looks to the rest of the people here when you do that.

When Banks brings up truth like this you should consider NOT bad mouthing them and perhaps working on improving your attitude, especially toward, again, THE ONLY COMPANY THAT WOULD HIRE YOU. An attitude like that will only bring you down in life where a good attitude can lift you up.

It's amazing to me that you continue to bash Western Express. I think you're forgetting your history.. Swift fired you after you had 5 incidents in 5 months and blamed your trainer for it. Pam f decided not to move forward with you during training and you took some time off and then Western Express gave you a shot. What do they get for it? Constantly bad mouthed for who knows what reason.

I can't wait till next year when you come back and tell us why Melton is so horrible. Hopefully, you won't have to consider quitting again because a glad hand is facing the wrong direction and a trailer is in the mud. Then there's the time you wanted to quit because your trainer wasn't nice to you.

As much advice as you've gotten Victor, you continue to play victim like you have it that bad. Truth is, you don't. You just like to cry woe is me and look for sympathy.

Welcome to the Trucking Truth site David.

Bucket List items are great, but how do we know you're not an active serial killer?

Good question. I do know that I am not and I am taking the same chance. I do know that there are a lot of good God believing, honest hard working people out there and I consider myself one of them. I have worked my whole life while saving for my retirement. I have been married to the same woman for 33 blissful years. I have just a few more items left on my bucket list to do and one is to go across country in an 18 wheeler. Thanks David

Besides, what are the odds of two of us being on the same site/post at the same time?

Well you definitely do not know what your talking about when it comes to me, so dont act like you know me or what i am saying, thank you. On top of that, when I worked for Western Express Inc., they treated drivers like animals and that came from current and former employees so, and on top of that, many western expressers came to Melton because of their own experience with that company. Sorry not sorry, they are terrible. Some companies deserve their reputation full stop. Now Swift, I will say is fantastic when it comes to treatment of drivers and the only thing they need to work on is training qaulity. Thats it. Would be nice if they pushed the speed up to 68 but thats from a traffic perspective.

Personally I would steer clear of Western Express from my and others experience they treat their drivers pretty poorly and they also do not train the best as far as flat bed goes. I have spoken with at least 5 others who had that same experience.

Personally from my view and what I have seen so far, I would go for Maverick and Melton and Prime, they treat their drivers well and Melton like gold😊😊. Have a grand day and adventure!

Hey everybody,

So I'm an in experienced CDL-A holder. I've decided I'd like to do regional flatbed. I want to be home every weekend and I like the idea of flatbed being more "physical", so I can move the body more. That being said, I'm looking at Western Express because they offer regional. Melton seemed way more professional to me, but they ONLY OFFER OTR. Anyway, just wanted to pick all of your brains about Western Express. I don't know if I'll be there the next 30 years, but I'm a firm believer in "its what you make of it", so I think its a decent starting point. I just don't know what to believe with everything you read online and the you tube reviews and such. I've seen some unhappy people and some happy people! Anyway, any advice, tips, or feedback would be much appreciated!

Thank you Bobby

Funny how so many of you are suddenly experts on which successful companies are horrible at training and treatment of employees after talking to a few terminal rats and losers.

To this i reply,

OH. BOO. HOO.

I stand by my statement.

Personally I would steer clear of Western Express from my and others experience they treat their drivers pretty poorly and they also do not train the best as far as flat bed goes. I have spoken with at least 5 others who had that same experience.

Personally from my view and what I have seen so far, I would go for Maverick and Melton and Prime, they treat their drivers well and Melton like gold😊😊. Have a grand day and adventure!

Hey everybody,

So I'm an in experienced CDL-A holder. I've decided I'd like to do regional flatbed. I want to be home every weekend and I like the idea of flatbed being more "physical", so I can move the body more. That being said, I'm looking at Western Express because they offer regional. Melton seemed way more professional to me, but they ONLY OFFER OTR. Anyway, just wanted to pick all of your brains about Western Express. I don't know if I'll be there the next 30 years, but I'm a firm believer in "its what you make of it", so I think its a decent starting point. I just don't know what to believe with everything you read online and the you tube reviews and such. I've seen some unhappy people and some happy people! Anyway, any advice, tips, or feedback would be much appreciated!

Thank you Bobby

Funny how so many of you are suddenly experts on which successful companies are horrible at training and treatment of employees after talking to a few terminal rats and losers.

Actually, no because we have seen it far too many times where beginners get frustrated and they come here but don't think to go to their office to ask questions there. Don't know why it is, but it is that way a lot.

Laura

I understand that. But please try not to put me into the same group as others. Is that not the same as ppl saying all truckers are a certain way because of the few that give trucking a bad name? I mean no disrespect towards you Laura. Thank you for your reply

To be perfectly frank, you put yourself into the same group as others so don't make like Laura or anyone else has done that. Nobody means any disrespect to you either but you in fact did exactly what she said. You came on here talking about quitting and going elsewhere over a single check that you don't understand and your feeling that you need more training, all without having discussed it with the appropriate departments. You are defeated and discouraged after a mere 2 weeks and think you know better then your successful employer to the point of suggesting no other new drivers go there because they don't know what they're doing and won't train them properly. Or am I missing something here?

Nicholas,

Not that it's any of my business, but I'm curious. Why would you go through graduate school, and then decide to be a truck driver?

Probably because he realized truck driving ROCKS!!!!

Please don't take offense, y'all vets and mods; I can actually 'see' the O/P's viewpoint here!

Don't worry about it Anne, I knew I'd get razzed on coming in here asking those kinds of questions, I just needed to make sure since the lady who gave me that incorrect info was really adamant that she was right and who better to ask than the horse's a- I mean, mouth? Heh heh heh..

Anyway, you crazy kids get back to yer truckin' and don't blow a tire on our crumbing infrastructure now, y'hear? Mayhap I'll be seein' ya in a year or so.

Please don't misunderstand my question. I was not trying to razz you or give you a hard time. I don't know anyone that has never driven a car nor held a license, it was an honest question. Most everyone I know had their license at 16 or 17 and owned a car. I've always had at least 1 car since I was 16. I guess in the big cities their isn't as much need for a car.

If I'm not mistaken each states CDL licensing is done through their State Police/DMV or equivalent, I'd recommend calling them and ask the same question.

I'm going to ask the obvious everyone else is also thinking.....how do you make it to 31 years old having never had a license or driven a car?

Did it not occur to you that a simple call to payroll could clear things up? Seems the lack of communication goes both ways.

I did call payroll but it was midnight, noone was in the office. I am always in someone's ear at that place, I get vague answers. Lack of communication is definitely on their end, not mine.

Of course I will talk to them first about my pay but I would like to hear any suggestions on how to handle this before I do something unnecessary

Just in case you didn't see this in the post....

No, actually I wonder why you'd expect to contact payroll at midnight. Why you are contemplating quitting over what is very likely a simple payroll error before even talking to payroll. Why you are frustrated over lack of communication and lack of training after a mere 2 weeks. Is this your first ever job? You've never had an issue with payroll or any other department of your previous employer? Yes, it is common for stuff to happen, you call the appropriate department during business hours and get clarification, thats how it has always worked in the real world. If you are expecting to have multiple daily conversations with the office personnel, never have any payroll issues, have someone show you how to strap and tarp every different kind of freight you pickup you will continue to be severely disappointed. Truck driving is very much a solo job, you are shown the basics and expected to be able to figure the rest out as you go. If you can't do that, you will not make it in this industry. Hell, thats why most of us love this job, the independent nature of not having to deal with a boss.

Re-read Laura's second comment above.

Also Mikey B, I'm on this site asking questions and trying to get advice as much as possible. Don't you think I would be doing the same at Knight??

Actually, no because we have seen it far too many times where beginners get frustrated and they come here but don't think to go to their office to ask questions there. Don't know why it is, but it is that way a lot.

Laura

No, I did not think you would do the same at Knight or you wouldn't have even posted this until after you had called payroll (during office hours when they are there) and then only if it wasn't settled to your satisfaction.

Yeah, ok. TwoSides to every story. You said it yourself,

You probably see a problem with my statement because I'm a stupid rookie driver. That I must not know what I'm talking about. I have no shame in saying that I know nothing about the trucking business

No, I don't think you're a stupid rookie, just an inexperienced rookie that, as you yourself said, KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT THE TRUCKING BUSINESS. You are in absolutely no position to say who should or should not go to any company. You self admittedly KNOW NOTHING yet you think your 2 weeks solo driving makes you an expert on company quality. You are just taking a cheap shot at a very successful company because you can't hack it or haven't learned enough to get by. Stop trusting your brain and your own two eyes, they are all letting you down. You're forgetting we all have a brain, two eyes, can read and have experience, therefore I will chose to believe Knights side of the story, I'm sure their explanation will be entirely different than yours.