Western Express Orientation Ashland VA

Just wanted to let others know how it went for me to give you the basics. Day 1 Sunday: Got to the hotel. It’s the Red Roof Inn (looks kinda sketchy) an hour in got a roommate.He was cool so no problems Day 2 Monday: Shuttle comes at 6:15 and about every 30 mins after. There are a lot of people like 20 or more (some from last week) Shuttle holds 11. Arrive at facility go to orientation room it’s full . They take up your paperwork to make copies then you start watching videos on the computers and answering the questions afterwards like 60 videos. If there are a lot of people try to go in as late as you can so you will get a tablet to watch them on or have an android phone because if you miss a question you have to rewatch the video and you cannot fast forward on the computer or iPhone. Lunch was catered. It’s not bad they do keep you fed. Sometime that afternoon you will do a test drive around 20 min. And possible a crash course on the Qualcomm Continue the videos and end of day you get $8 subway card Shuttle will take you to Walmart and back to room Day 2: pretty much the same but you will do a backing test 2 times 90 between 2 trucks or trailers within 5 min. $8 for subway again. Day 3 same thing finish the videos up then wait wait wait. Get your driver code and trainer contact information then call the trainer and find out when they will be there to pick you up. Could be the same day or the next. If you are there on a weekend end of day Friday you get 4 mc Donald’s cards $5 each and 2 $8 subways. I’ve been here for the whole week my trainer would never call back so they have to find me another one. There is no breaks so just take them when you need them. Bring android phone ! And do videos in the room when you can

Holy wow. You know for 2 years 2.4 months I have not driven a semi truck for a mega carrier. The only time I have driven a truck is at C1 Tractor Trailor Training and that was only for maybe 2 days at most. That was about two weeks ago now, and Connie Maynard at Western Express said they would bring me on and send me out with a mentor and then I would work with them for a year. My orientation starts on the 11th and man doing a 90° back seems to be daunting right now. What do these videos entail? Safety and operation of the trucks? I was planning in going flatbed right after training but right now on the fense. I definitely am interested in it.