Got Fired From Western Express

Well after this screwed up week of nothing going right I have been let go from Western Express. I don't really feel comfortable sharing details but I ended up having to go back home for a family emergency, sent a qualcomm message letting them know what was going on, got it cleared over the phone with the night DM in Tennesse, he said my co driver had enough time to take care of the load and now my DM is telling me he didn't clear it so don't bother coming back that I was being let go. I guess it's for the best, I didn't exactly make a model Western Express employee with my screw ups and set backs, I've never had this much of a Might try getting in to towing something not sure yet, I need to figure out how to get my stuff off the truck though.

Definetly regret going in the hole for a CDL that is pretty much worthless now that I highly doubt any carrier will touch me with a 10 foot pole and I don't blame them

Apply For Truck Driving Jobs

Fill out that application it doesn't hurt worse they can say is no. Someone will probably take a chance on you.

Just be prepared to answer what you learned in your time at WE and what you could have done better. Offer to go through more training as well.

Instead of towing have you thought about LTL companies?

Zach, you had a very rough start at this. I am truly sorry it has come to this. I know you left out a lot of details and that's alright. You know what they are, and I'd be willing to bet some good money you have some ideas on how you could have done better. I've seen Western Express forgive guys who hit a low bridge and tore the top of their tractor open. I know they will work with people if they see something redemptive in the relationship. Trucking can be such a rude slap in the face when we first get introduced to it. I think that's how you are feeling right now. What the hell just hit me, and why did they do that?

I started my career at Western, so I know it's not easy. Everything seems so unorganized and crazy at the beginning. I just had to grin a little when you mentioned the Qualcomm directions not making any sense in another conversation. I know exactly what you mean. I remember scratching my head a few times over their directions. They actually do make sense once you understand how they work, but they look crazy to the uninitiated. It takes some time to get into this career. There's really no easy path to becoming a trucker. Honestly it sounds like you didn't really want to be an over the road driver anyway. Maybe you are more suited to something like a towing job. It will be unlikely that someone will hire you for a big tow truck with no experience, but you could probably start out towing cars at first and move up into the bigger stuff. Give it a shot if you are interested in it. You may get lucky and find someone willing to take you on. The fact that you have the CDL may just be a plus for you in their future plans.

Thanks for sharing what you were willing with us. It was an eye opening experience for some of the new folks in here. I wish you the best my friend. We'd love to hear about your future endeavors if you want to share them with us. Hopefully you'll find a way to use that CDL to earn some good money - I certainly hope you can!

Sorry to hear things didnt go well for you. If you decide not to go after another CDL A position, There are a lot of jobs you can use your CDL for. You could always look into Class B jobs like trash/dumpster, concrete, oil delivery, ETC.. also, Smaller food service companies use refrigerated box trucks, especially seafood distributers.

Go apply at Halvor Lines. You we really like the company Halvor Lines

Is there anything I can do to try and save my job or is it too late? Yes i screwed up alot my first week solo, I will be the first one to admit that I could have done better but I didn't get in to an accident, I didn't damage any equipment besides putting a dent in a tractor during training which I promptly reported, and I did get a fix it ticket for the mudflap.If they let me go its fine I understand but I would like the chance to try and make things right and I still have stuff on the truck regardless I need back. He hasn't told me straight up what is going on, every time I call i get his voice-mail or he hangs up when he finds out its me calling

I don't have any experience with that company, but I would say if things really did happen like you said and you believed that you were given the OK to go home, then definitely try to talk to someone else, you manager's boss or HR and tell them it was a misunderstanding and you still want the job.

I don't think you ever wanted to be a driver. Maybe you needed some income means, and trucking sounded like a solution. For some it is. Ever since your first post 10 weeks ago, you've been asking what to do. In CDL school, you write about a family emergency, then it's the "should I quit?" routine that you've been asking since then. You have listed lots of reasons why it's been terrible for you, so why not eliminate the problem (truck driving)?

IMO you should do something else until you figure this question out for yourself.

PackRat might have a point, and that's for you (Zach) to decide. But I just wanted to point out that if you can talk them in to letting you keep you job and you commit to doing it for a few months, then you won't have the firing on your record, you'll make back the money you put into it, and you'll know if you really don't want to do it or if you just had a rough start.