Western Non Compete Contract

Tell that to Swift and JB Hunt. I bet they disagree..

Tell that to Swift and JB Hunt. I bet they disagree..

Exactly! Any trucking company with 10 or more trucks has at least one attorney on retainer. The mega companies have a platoon.

I based my statement on the fact that with a non compete contract unless it will adversely affect the employer, usually monetarily, they can be gotten around but require a lawyer and possibly but usually not a trip to court. Which will probably cost more than it is worth but just telling the truth.

I was told I had to do 240 training hours and I decided to quit

That's a very short amount of time. If you had proven to be a really solid driver they may have cut the training even shorter.

I decided to quit before I started because I got a better offer from another company

Unfortunately, right now you're sitting home losing about $1,000 or more each week. Even with the training pay being a little less, you would have averaged $1,000/week throughout the next year at least.

How much better was the other offer? I don't know, but that's out the window, unfortunately. This move has been pretty costly. I wish you would have asked our opinion before you quit Western Express.

Anyhow, what do you plan on doing?

Brett do you work for WE? It seems like you do since you know a lot of things about how much I would be making each week. As far as what I will be doing is my business

As far as what I will be doing is my business

Brett's point apparently went right over your head.

Your snarky response gives a lot of insight as to why you are having such a time getting back into trucking. We can't really help you brother. You have made a bed for yourself that's going to be difficult to sleep in.

Let me try to break it down...

You have proven to be stubborn and unwilling to do what's necessary to get back on the road. You know better than the company that was willing to give you a shot. Any experienced driver could make 1,000 bucks a week out here. I did it as a green rookie at Western Express.

The point is that your recalcitrance is costing you revenues BIG TIME!

Brett do you work for WE? It seems like you do since you know a lot of things about how much I would be making each week. As far as what I will be doing is my business

At just about every truck stop you'll find a board with cards or pamphlets from all the big trucking companies. You could throw a dart at it and go with the company it hits and make a grand a week after some solid skills and good habits are made.

As for Brett mentioning "how good was the other offer?" A few cents per mile doesn't really mean a lot. Other things come into play. And job hopping is a very real thing in trucking. So is losing money from your own desicsions. I believe someone else already pointed out your two options. Pick up a phone and call an attorney or Western. And don't get mad when people don't tell you what you wanna hear. Deal with it and move on. I'd love to tell you I've never did anything stupid... But that's just not the case.

Brett do you work for WE? It seems like you do since you know a lot of things about how much I would be making each week.

Well, I know a lot because I've been in this industry since 1993; 15 years as a driver and 13 years mentoring new drivers with Trucking Truth. We've helped tens of thousands of drivers get their careers underway. So yes, I know how much trucking companies pay and how much drivers are making.

As far as what I will be doing is my business

Awesome.

Well, it didn't take long to figure out that your attitude is why you're having problems. I was trying to point out that you're losing a fortune sitting home so you should get back to Western and get rolling so you can get that money coming in. I asked what your plans were so we could advise you. But no worries; you won't be getting any more advice from me. Best of luck.

Patrick, 240 hours of training is likely to be less than 4 weeks, if you work close to your 70 max. That time would likely be complete well before the hiring/orintarion process for the other outfit was done. Maybe not, but certainly close to it. Your employment history will show the rapid onset of "I can't / won't do this for these guys", which could redflag other companies, even were you able to get out of the agreement you signed. It may not SEEM fair, but "legally binding" and "fair" are sometimes brutally mutually exclusive.

Despite all the news and ad's you will see, drivers ARE expendable. Unless they've demonstrated a loyalty to, and a willingness to ride for, the brand. Those drivers are an asset that outfits guard and nurture.

Good luck moving forward

You seem to really be crapping on the experienced professionals in this link simply trying to assist you, since you're the one asking for help. Sometimes the right answer doesn't always make us happy, but no need to shoot the messengers.