Changing Status

Hello everyone,

Just got a call from Western Express and I will be starting there next Tuesday the 25th to go flat bedding. I really have appreciated the information on this website and the positive attitudes and reinforcement that has been given to myself and others.

I know that old school drives for Western Express and if you read this maybe I could get some tips from time to time. I won't have access to a computer or smart phone when I first get started so I am going to go ahead and change my status to driver in training while I have a chance.

Again, Thank you very much for this site and all the information and I look forward to seeing everyone out on the road soon.

Congratulations, Harold !!! Its good to finally get the whole experience moving....good luck..and keep us updated, if you can..

Hey that's great Harold! Congrats! Hopefully you'll get a chance to check in at some point and update us on how things are goin for ya.

Best of luck!

Congratulations Harold, I'll get back to ya on this in a couple of days, I'm exhausted tonight. I've been laying down some serious miles the last few weeks, and these last three days have really been long ones.

I see no reason why you can't do really well at Western Express. I've done well, and I've met a few other drivers who seem to do very well, but I will warn you that I've met a lot of drivers who have nothing but complaints about their job at Western. I sometimes think it's a universal problem in this career that there just seems to be a lot of naysayers, but I don't think your success or failure lies in the name of the company that's on the doors of your truck, but rather it's bound up in your willingness and ability to not only cope with the difficulties of the job, but to succeed at overcoming the odds against you - and that includes overcoming the prevalent attitudes and ideas which are mostly based on false premises to begin with. I love this job, and my dispatcher has no problem keeping me rolling, sometimes almost more than I can handle.

Ok, first off I would caution you to avoid the losers in your orientation class. You'll know who they are right from the start. Western Express is willing to give a lot of folks a chance when others won't (that's exactly how I got involved with them) so consequently there are going to be a few in your class that aren't going to make it. It's best that you don't let the instructors think you are one of them by hanging too thick with them. Trust me, the instructors are aware of what is going on.

I had a terrible trainer when I started, but that doesn't mean anything as far as you are concerned. I still learned a lot, but I had to ignore a lot also. Hopefully you'll end up with a good trainer. Training is sometimes fast and furious and at other times it might seem a little disorganized. You will share a Hotel room with a total stranger during that first week, but it's not that bad. They will feed you most of your meals, and if I remember correctly you will be there for about four or five days learning load securement and going through their brief orientation before you go out with a trainer. Some folks will have to wait longer than others for a trainer. They do this crazy dance where you have to bring all your stuff with you from the Hotel each day to the terminal if you are one of the ones waiting for a trainer and then you will take it all back with you if you have to go back to the hotel that night because they couldn't get you a trainer that day. Then you will spend the night with a new total stranger and start the dance again the next day.

I'm trying to be realistic with you, but I also want you to realize that I love working for Western Express. They keep me busy and I make good money. I work really hard and put in some long days, but that's just what it takes to make it with this job. Harold, I wish you the best, and hope you can enjoy this job half as much as I do.

I'll send you a private message tomorrow with my phone number. Put it in your phone and save it. If you ever need to use it, you feel free to call me at anytime of the day or night and if you don't get an answer then leave me a message and I'll get back to you just as soon as I can.

I sometimes think it's a universal problem in this career that there just seems to be a lot of naysayers, but I don't think your success or failure lies in the name of the company that's on the doors of your truck, but rather it's bound up in your willingness and ability to not only cope with the difficulties of the job, but to succeed at overcoming the odds against you - and that includes overcoming the prevalent attitudes and ideas which are mostly based on false premises to begin with.

Very well said! I agree 100%.

Old School, every time you say something I think, "OMG we have to make sure everyone sees this. Where can I put it????"

One of these days you might login to the site and find your quotes in place of our header image at the top.

I sometimes think it's a universal problem in this career that there just seems to be a lot of naysayers, but I don't think your success or failure lies in the name of the company that's on the doors of your truck, but rather it's bound up in your willingness and ability to not only cope with the difficulties of the job, but to succeed at overcoming the odds against you - and that includes overcoming the prevalent attitudes and ideas which are mostly based on false premises to begin with.

Very well said! I agree 100%.

Old School, every time you say something I think, "OMG we have to make sure everyone sees this. Where can I put it????"

One of these days you might login to the site and find your quotes in place of our header image at the top.

I just booked my flight to Nashville TN 3/4/17 to start orientation with Western Express and looking forward to getting started ... Although I have 23 years driving experience I have been self employed in a unrelated industry for last 10 years.

Like to thank all for the great advise and words of wisdom !!!

Will touch base here when I can to keep all informed on my progress and thoughts.