Husband New to trucking .....Help me understand please!!

[Lydiae]

Hello,
My Husband just got a job with Western Express, I been reading your posts about the company, some bad some good, but I did notice that all the companies have issues. I’m not a truck driver I’m retired Military, I don’t complain about civilian jobs they are all great!!! Nowadays just having a job is great. If you can all help me to understand some things because I’m under the impression that I will not see my husband in several weeks, and he can’t talk on the phone he is in a training truck (I equate this to trucking boot camp). Anyway his trainer will not allow him to talk on the phone unless they are stopped and its only for important stuff like if he needs money (checking on what is avail in the bank account). Is this normal? How long will he be in the training truck? How much does a "rookie" make? (Got that term from looking at your website) My husband did say he is not going to drive a flat bed he wants to drive a van what does that mean? How can I ship him some warm clothes if he needs them while on the road? (I was in the Navy so our packages would meet us at our next port) Will he get paid time off? Will he get paid vacations? I guess that’s all my questions, Please do not slam me I read some of the post on this website and you all can be brutal
Thank You
God Bless
Lydiae

[GMAN]

Welcome to the forum, Lydiae. Most of your questions could more easily be answered by your husband's company, but we should have some on the board who have had experience with Western Express. I will start with some generalities about carriers. Each company makes their own rules and policies. Typically, most carriers will put new drivers with an experience trainer for a few weeks to a few months. When the trainer thinks that the driver is ready to go out on his own they will turn them loose. Some may have a fixed minimum amount of time that they are assigned to a trainer. Most will keep a new driver out for several weeks in the beginning. Some carriers may get drivers home weekly, but that is not the norm, especially in the beginning. Most will keep drivers out 2-3 weeks at a time. I have not heard about cell phone restrictions. That may be due to the trainer not wanting the driver to be distracted during training. There should be times when the truck is stopped for meals, showers, etc., where you husband could call you. Pay is usually low during the training period. Training time will vary according to the company and how well the trainee progresses. A van is what most CDL holders drive. It is also referred to as a box truck. It has sides, back, front and top. A flat is only the base part of the trailer with no side structures. Most otr drivers run irregular routes which means that they may not know where they are going until they unload. It is usually easier to pick up clothes when a driver is home, but you may be able to ship something to him at his home terminal. He might be able to get by the house as quickly as he would his home terminal. Personally, I would try to wait until he comes by the house. It will save money and the weather isn't that cold right now. If he is pulling a van then the only time he will be out in the elements is when he does his pretrip, fuel or to open or close the doors on the trailer while loading and unloading. Most drivers starting out are paid mileage. Some carriers pay trainee's a flat salary during training. They are not paid while off. Some carriers will likely have a paid vacation after a year. I am sorry that I can't offer you precise information on Western Express, but I don't have any first hand experience with them. To make sure you get the most up to date information you may want to call the Western Express recruiting or safety department.

[Ridge Runner]

If you are retired Military, then this whole process should be a cake walk for you.

I've done both ( not retired from military, but been there ) and was a brand new rookie ( to trucking ) not that long ago. I'll take truck driver training any day!

[golfhobo]

You didn't tell us where you live, or which terminal he hired on at. That would help alot. You HAVE been to their website and studied EVERY page of it, right? It shows the states operated in, and where most of the terminals/service centers are. If you live somewhere around the Mid-Atlantic area, you should see him quite often (after training.) I'm fairly sure his phone restrictions will ease up soon if he proves to be somewhat capable as a driver. Tell him to take his phone with him to the .... um..... toilet! I doubt his trainer will be stalking him THERE!

[freebirdrfd]

Welcome to the board lydiae, Most of us are only brutal to eachother because most of us like eachother...

[Steel Horse Cowboy]

I am having a serious issue with his Trainer.... why can he not talk to you on the phone about whatever he wants when they are stopped? As you stated, this isn't the military, and he is a grown ass man. I think some of these trainers get a huge ego when in themselves are usually rookies. I would seriously question this guys rules. Sounds like a lot of BS to me.

he should be able to call his family when ever he wants to (well not while driving I guess) but there is absolutely no reason he can't call everyday and chat. If I was you, I would call his company and bring this up to them. IT IS NOT ETHETICAL OR COMPANY POLICY

[freebirdrfd]

We all know that he can't talk while driving because we were all told that you can't see out of your left mirror with the phone in your left hand..

[Luzon]

This is only a guess, but as you describe the personal use of cell phone situation it sounds as if his trainer is exerting his authority/power a little too much. I can absolutely understand the trainer now allowing him to talk while driving, or while "on the job", but not even at lunch/dinner or on a 10 hour break? That's extreem in my opinion.

As golfhobo said, he could always take it into the john, as many drivers do.

I will offer one small suggestion to you though, if I may. Unless you're having a real emergency at home, I'd do my best to not lay too many "problems at home" on him when you do talk to him. He's going to have a full plate while out there learning to drive and to do about 100 other things that drivers do while on the road. Adding worries from home could really throw some major distractions on him and obviously, while he's behind the wheel of a 40 ton vehicle, concentration is paramount.

Then, once he's done with his trainier and has been assigned his own truck, he'll really be learning how to do the job - figuring stuff out on his own. That's when the real learning takes place.

Again, just some friendly suggestions.

Good luck to both of you and thank YOU for serving in the military.

[Roadhog]

We all know that he can't talk while driving because we were all told that you can't see out of your left mirror with the phone in your left hand..

"get a bluetooth Gomer!"

[Steel Horse Cowboy]

And then, once you have been doing it many years, that 11hrs of driving is very boring and gives you WAAAAY too much time to contemplate things LOL

[freebirdrfd]

I agree with Luzon, Try not to get him "involved with too many home problems. He will probably get home sick pretty darn quick. Also take it easy with the " I miss you's and the " I wish you were here with me". Sitting behind the wheel give a person to much time to think some times. You don't want him to start second guessing his job choice this early into it.. As with alot of people on this board, you didn't put were you live. Depending on were you live, i was thinking that after getting a year or probably two under his belt that he could find a local job paying more money then an Over The Road job..

[RostyC]

I am having a serious issue with his Trainer.... why can he not talk to you on the phone about whatever he wants when they are stopped? As you stated, this isn't the military, and he is a grown ass man. I think some of these trainers get a huge ego when in themselves are usually rookies. I would seriously question this guys rules. Sounds like a lot of BS to me.

he should be able to call his family when ever he wants to (well not while driving I guess) but there is absolutely no reason he can't call everyday and chat. If I was you, I would call his company and bring this up to them. IT IS NOT ETHETICAL OR COMPANY POLICY

+1, me too!!

We should clue her in on the alternative uses of a cheeseburger.

[Steel Horse Cowboy]

+1, me too!!

We should clue her in on the alternative uses of a cheeseburger.

NO NO NO.... thats a bad idea, Just ask the Rev

[Lydiae]

Hello,
@Gman, Thank you for your information, it is very helpful “If he is pulling a van then the only time he will be out in the elements is when he does his pretrip, fuel or to open or close the doors on the trailer while loading and unloading.” Ok, thanks for this info, I was watching Ice truckers on TV and it looks like some serious hard work and it was cold, but there in Alaska, actually my husband called me yesterday he said he has too much clothes and he is sending his bag home through the mail. (The recruiter from western express told him to bring 2 wks worth of clothes) Oh and he just got his first pay check, it was a little small because he took an advance but we can pay his cell phone bill….
@Golfhobo, We live in Virginia, he said he will be out of “Emporia” I’m not sure, and he will be “regional” I am assuming that this from Virginia to like Maine? I don’t know exactly. Im not sure if he knows that information yet.
@steel horse cowboy, You sound like me I was angry at first then I just let it go, I’m just grateful to hear from my husband at least once a day, I call my mother-in-law and tell her that her son is doing great. My husband never calls me when he is driving nor does he text, I even recommended that he turn his phone off when he is driving so I can leave messages. I actually got mad because he wouldn’t tell me where he was but he said; he could tell me I guess that’s not information that truckers are not suppose to give out or something, but getting mad at him doesn’t help him, so I just pray on it…lol.
@Luzon and Freebird This is really funny that you said this “" I miss you's and the " I wish you were here with me". Sitting behind the wheel give a person to much time to think sometimes.” UUUmm my husband will not hang up the phone until he hears me say I love him and I miss him, (we just got married in January 2010) Luckly the house is doing great my son is doing great so I do not tell him about any problems we are having (although bill paying is having some problems) I want him to learn how to be the best Trucker he can be he wanted to do this since he was a little boy, I will not mess that up for him. (he is 40 something) Hes old job was not making him happy but this job is making him happy and I am happy for him!!! Again Thank you all for your awesome advice I feel much better talking to you!!! Please keep the advices coming!!!!
Again, thank you
And God Bless!!

[Ridge Runner]

Lydiae said:

(although bill paying is having some problems)

Trainee pay does suck. Only about 300 -400 / wk. Depending on the trainer and his eating style it could take most of his pay check just to get by. Give us more details and maybe we can help with his personal situation and save you guys some $. This is the kind or ***** I (and others) LOVE to help with. Find out what he can and cannot have on the truck. ( Inverter, cooler ect...)

A quick primer: Get a cooler ( $40-$60 at Wal-Mart) Plugs into cig. lighter. Will pay for itself in one week. When you cook, cook like he was there and make him a plate in a microwave safe dish and pop into the freezer. When he leaves from home time back out, stick in the cooler and they will last for a week or more. He can warm it up in any truck-stop microwave.( They don't mind at all ). Always stock the truck up at home when you can but there is always ( well almost always ) a Wal-Mart that has plenty of room for a big truck. Also stock up on plastic forks, knifes and spoons. ( Wendy's has the "heavy duty" ones...lol ).

That's just a start and I'm sure MANY others here will have some good advice for you. It is a kind of learning process, but I need not be painful.

Ridge

[bentstrider]

Lydiae said:

Trainee pay does suck. Only about 300 -400 / wk. Depending on the trainer and his eating style it could take most of his pay check just to get by. Give us more details and maybe we can help with his personal situation and save you guys some $. This is the kind or ***** I (and others) LOVE to help with. Find out what he can and cannot have on the truck. ( Inverter, cooler ect...)

A quick primer: Get a cooler ( $40-$60 at Wal-Mart) Plugs into cig. lighter. Will pay for itself in one week. When you cook, cook like he was there and make him a plate in a microwave safe dish and pop into the freezer. When he leaves from home time back out, stick in the cooler and they will last for a week or more. He can warm it up in any truck-stop microwave.( They don't mind at all ). Always stock the truck up at home when you can but there is always ( well almost always ) a Wal-Mart that has plenty of room for a big truck. Also stock up on plastic forks, knifes and spoons. ( Wendy's has the "heavy duty" ones...lol ).

That's just a start and I'm sure MANY others here will have some good advice for you. It is a kind of learning process, but I need not be painful.

Ridge

I just re-submitted my app with this company as well and am going to touch base with them come Monday.
If all goes well, I'll probably do the same, or at least get started on the PB/J+Powdered milk regimen that served me right back during my Swift tenure.

Yeah, fast, or tasty food is good as a treat, but it's better to treat it just like that.

[Ridge Runner]

There are many good meals that can be stored at room temp and be microwaved. Dinty-Moore has several. Also with a cooler he can keep fresh fruit and veggies longer. He needs to eat healthy. Driving a "big truck" is hard work (on the mind if done properly) but not on the body.


More later,

Ridge

[4roses]

Lydiae how's things going with the transition ? If you need to mail anything to your husband - find out who his dispatcher is and give them a call and explain to him he needs warmer clothes and is it possible for you to send it to a Terminal to be waiting for him ... which this coudl be gamble because being a trucker .... there's no guarantee where you'll be heading after dropping off a load and etc. ... his best bet it to buy an extra warm 'long johns' to wear under his clothes till he gets back home ...he can buy these at truck stops ... yes they cost more ... but unless he can get his trainer to pull in to a Walmart for 20minutes ... oh well.......

As your grocery shopping look for items you know he'll eat and won't be a chanelled to prepair in the truck .... sardines, crackers, tuna, jar of pickles or hot peppers ... they help make that bland sandwich a bit more enjoyable ... small squek top mustard and mayo ... quality ziplock bags to store items in his cooler he doesnt want to get wet or dry out ..... small indvidiual packs of salty peanuts and flour torilla shells make a good sub for bread with sandwiches ,,, they don't spoil as fast as bread .... cheese crackers, beef jerky ... many items ... and dont forget those small bottles of juice .... need for him to try to keep a healthy eating habit ... but these items will help keep him feed if he gets stuck in a snow blizer or traffic has stopped on top a mountain due to to much ice on the hwy ..... and always should carry 1-2 gallons of water .... mostly for him to drink but if need be he'll have it there for the truck if it over heats ... and this time of year .... carry a couple extra blankets .... just for snow storms that he has to pull off the road for and stay put until the roads have been reopened - - most the time the company's will take extra money if he idled his truck while being stuck in the ice storm and etc .......extra change of boots so when 1 pair gets wet .. he can put on a dry pair ..... extra pairs of gloves .... most trucks have side boxes .... put extra gloves on both sides of the tractor so he won't have to walk around on the ice and snow to pull out gloves ...... There's so many things he'll have to carry once he was been assigned his own tractor ... tools, rubber mallet, hammer, the list goes on ,,,,

But in the mean time .... be the patience Wife you agreed to be and this profession could turn out to the best things for your whole family ............... the last thing he needs to know is the daily break downs that happen in a home ... screen door broke and so on ... he needs to hear your voice and be assured that you trust his decisions and support him this time apart won't last forever ....If there is anything I can do for you or you just want a view point from an ex-trucker female ... feel free to pm me and I'll so everything I can to help you ....................

[Roadhog]

Driving a "big truck" is hard work (on the mind if done properly)....

...dag... maybe that's where I screwed up.

[Luzon]

Lydiae said:

Also stock up on plastic forks, knifes and spoons. ( Wendy's has the "heavy duty" ones...lol ).
Ridge

Wendy's plasticware is the bestest!

If he likes tuna, that Starkist tuna in the pouches is really awesome. I especially like the lemon-pepper. The best part about the pouches - no cleaning or can squeezing needed. Just rip it open and start eating. It's hard to find a healther meal than tuna, assuming you don't add a quart of mayo. Those pouches are a little more expensive than the cans but the convenience more than makes up for it. Bumblebee also has some similar tuna but in a small can, again, ready to eat. They're much easier to eat out of but harder to find.