Western Express

Just called this company, they seemed to think i needed to provide my social security number over the phone. I told them i do not provide sensitive personal information over the phone but if they would like to send me an application I would be more than happy to provide it. They hung up the phone. Listen folks, in this day and age never provide your SS number to someone over the phone, they could be on the other end of the line writing this info down in order to steal your identity.

Most of the carriers have applications available on-line through their webpage, including Western Express. That is the preferred method of initiating a transaction with them.

I told them i do not provide sensitive personal information over the phone but if they would like to send me an application I would be more than happy to provide it. They hung up the phone.

Welcome to the trucking industry. You no longer have "sensitive personal information." That same recruiter who is talking to you on the phone will be the person reviewing your application, so whose to say the don't write down your SS number at that time?

They hung up on you because they could tell they would be wasting their time with you. I know enough about their recruiting efforts to know you're leaving a little bit out of this tale of woe. Next time you're speaking with a recruiter check your attitude before you start speaking.

The times changed about fifteen plus years ago. They don't send out applications. Get online and you can get this ball rolling real quuckly. Most companies can have you on the bus for orientation just a few days after you submit an online application.

This thread is almost three years old! You dug thus up just so you could share this breaking news with us?

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but I had spoken to a Recruiter from Western express today.

I have a few questions for Old School (or anyone else), since yous I understand you work/worked for them. The Recruiter had told me that the average starting pay for a noob is 1-1.5K a week with weekends off and I would have to get a CDL on my own first. The question is how realistic is this pay scale? It seems a bit high for a noob like me combined with that work schedule.

Next question is, assuming it is a realistic pay scale, is it worth giving up the extra safety net that gained by company training that the megasite offers? Paying for the school isn't a problem since there is a school not far from my home that I can use my GI Bill for, but I also understand the advantages of company schools.

The average rookie pay is about 40-45k annually for most every company.

It’s possible once you get to the 9th month of experience you can hit the $1100 per week mark, but not likely a consistent reality during the first few months. Once in a while; yes. Every week? Probably not.

The learning curve is too steep and will limit your earning potential for at least your first 3-6 months. Try to shift your perspective a bit, you are being paid to learn.

Good luck!

Thanks G-Town. That's what my understanding was too. It seemed a bit too unrealistic for out of the gate.

I am still a little early in the process since I am about 2.5 months out from being freed up to go trucking not a month, but I am gathering info and starting to talk to recurters.

Will, if they are saying weekends off they must be referring to a dedicated account in a certain region. That's the only way that pay number would coincide with having weekends off. They have a couple of dedicated jobs with minimum pay amounts, but trust me when I say you will either earn every penny or you'll find yourself doing something else. A new OTR driver would have a really tough time bringing in 1,500 bucks every week.

I honestly recommend you start with a Paid CDL Training Program.

I think they are the best way to get started. I myself paid for training - I didn't know then what I know now. I wasted good money.

You've probably read these before, but I highly recommend you read them again...

Why I Prefer Paid CDL Training

Busting The Free Agent Myth

Disclaimer... I have been gone from Western Express for over four years now, so I'm not really current with my Intel.

Thanks Old School. What you said lined up with my own thinking on this. The Recruiter had remained me of a fast talking used care salesman using words like you can get between x and y, not saying you will or you CAN earn as much as.... not the average noob gets about x.

Thanks guys. I am sure I will be pestering you more later as the speak with more Recruiters.