I'm fed up with the tyrants who run these companies expecting their employees to endure things that they themselves wouldn't put up with. It's maddening.
The problem is it went from drivers running these companies to attorneys, and accountants running these companies. Regional companies of all types usually take the best care of their people. What happens is the boss wants to retire and if the kids aren’t involved or the kids take over but are more interested in cashing out they sell to a national company. Immediately, or gradually all the cool stuff that made the employees love their company goes away. I went to school for accounting, except I drove a tow truck to pay for school and rent. Come to find out that I LOVE driving a tow truck. Much more than sitting in a office. Don’t get me wrong it’s always nice to see pretty girls at the office, but here’s the cool part. I got so many dates picking up pretty girls who broke down as opposed to meeting them at work or at happy hour. Back to my point. After leaving tow trucks behind I did the office thing for many years. By chance I found a repo company. A regional repo company and it was like I never left the office. I had my weekends made lots of money, great benefits, etc. They eventually sold to a national company and we had to start doing these convoluted pre/post checks. After Covid and without warning they changed our pay rates. They took away our paid holidays, reduced paid vacation to only 1 week no matter how much time you had. We lost business because they thought they could muscle lenders into paying ridiculous amounts, and region by region within 2 years they started closing locations.
drp1bb856 i was lucky yrs ago. I worked for a small company making ok money. Then they sold to a bigger company. The new company gave us all a 5 cent per mile raise plus better benifits. We kept our time. I was there 3 yrs before sold. 1 yr later i got 3 weeks paid vacation. Then 7 yrs got 4 weeks paid vacation plus christmas bonus. I sure regret quitting that job. Not all buy outs or mergers go bad.
They are just about from customers not doing business with them! I can tell you when I've gone into some locations to load or unload, there are notes in guard shacks saying "no Western Express trucks! I've come across some of their drivers that didn't know how to secure their loads, & asked me for help! I do flatbed for another company!
@@2024Trump_fan Keeping drivers from quitting soon after hiring , Western Express handcuffs new drivers to the steering wheel during their first week .
Why should the company and end consumers pay for the driver’s heat? They can get an electric blanket. I car camped in the winter and didn’t keep the engine on.
@@user-tb7rn1il3qThe driver delivers. You treat the people delivering your food and supplies with respect. Folks like you are why companies take advantage of hard working people.
Heartland Express did the same thing when I worked for them 10 years ago. If it was 32 or lower, you could run the truck. I very sarcastically said to my travel agent..."so if it's 33 degrees, I getvto freeze my ass off!" Soon afterwards the got the Espar heaters.
My company used to spec all their trucks with APUs. Gave that up about 6 years ago. Said they spent more money fixing APUs than they ever saved on fuel. They ended up disabling them and told us if you get cold,idlle it. Btw I've never heard of anybody at my company (86 drivers) ever getting a ticket for idling for heat or a/c. This includes NYC and all over the east coast and the midwest. Its 11 degrees right now in Brookville, Pa.
I GOT A TICKET FOR IDLING BEHIND A STORE THAT I WAS DELIVERING TO IN THE HUDSON VALLEY BY A CONSERVATIONIST COP IN THE SUMMER TO KEEP COOL ABOUT 11 YEARS AGO DRIVING AT WESTERN EXPRESS. SHE SAID THAT SHE OFTEN PARKS THERE TO CATCH DRIVERS STAGING TO DELIVER THE NEXT DAY. SHE SAID THAT SHE SAT THERE FOR 1./2 HOUR TIMING THE IDLING TRUCK. SHE WOULD NOT LISTEN TO REASON. TRUCK DRIVING SUCKS.
@@ronsmith4330 The one that sucks was that conservationist cop and those who put this rule/law into effect. Worthless excuses for human beings. On the edge of being satanic.
@@kelvintorrence5994 People care more about making the Drivers life miserable to save a penny, so much so that they will spend millions in just the ideal of saving money, example: (electric trucks) autonomous trucks all made that apparent, APUs are good if the company would do the oil change a change all filters at every 1,000 hours or 1,500 hours but some companies try to get that extra penny and push it 3,000 plus hours and then cry its costing too much because they are running into mechanical issues, the amount if stupid things companies do to save a penny end up always costing them more, so much so you see them trying harder with dumber ideals year after year until they are bankrupt when in the end it was the salaries of the top executives that was costing the company, the unwavering ability of them to take any kind of pay cut, though it should be on the drivers to accept one 🤔…
Here with Western because I just turned 21. I have years of experience with 34 foot trailers , but none were CDL loads. Just finished my 70 hours of drive time with Western and now I’ve been sitting at their terminal for a day and a half. Got my truck , got my mattress. I have a load that doesn’t take me home until Monday ( I got done with training on Friday. ) At the time I will be getting home I will have been gone for 4 weeks. As far as the mattress goes , that’s all I have, no blankets , pillows , or sheets. Last night I slept in two pairs of sweats , two sweatshirts , two carhartts , and two pairs of socks. Was still very cold , not to mention I’ve worn everything in my suitcase atleast 3 times over now. Ready to get home and do my laundry. Western isn’t getting anymore than 6 months out of me. Just need the experience I need for other carriers , and I’m out of Felony express
Most truck companies aren't going to provide everything for you. Why should they spend more money after spending to train you just for a blanket? You can get a comforter set at wal-mart for as low as $35. That truck is now your rolling office, so you buy what you need for it. Congrats on getting your CDL and getting past training with a trainer, but even today, these companies aren't going to hand you everything. Some trucks come with a minifridge and some don't. Same with microwaves. It's all hit or miss. The truck is your second home. You'll need to furnish it no different than how you furnish the home you live in. You have a mattress and blankets and a place for your food at home because you bought them since you need them. Same goes for the truck.
@@BarryWoodward-kg7rw Sounds like someone who wants stuff handed to them. Truck companies can be scum, but they don't owe drivers blankets or microwaves either. They always want something for nothing and won't be bothered to spend money these days. Kid can literally get a comforter set for $35. Probably less if on sale.
@@colonelsanders1964 This generation can't be bothered to do anything. Probably said he can't wait to get home to do laundry because his mom will end up doing it. Literally ignoring the fact that terminals have laundry facilities and there are other ways to wash. Hell, some truck stops have them for drivers who are parking there for their off driving time. Options exist, but it means he's gonna have to do it.
Here’s what to do . I used to park and chock the wheels . Then get back in the cab and release the brake. The computer will think that the truck is in moving mode but stopped . The engine will keep running. (You may want to put a stick between the brake pedal and the seat to keep the brake on). Not sure for how long , depending on the truck. Just make sure the wheels are chocked so it doesnt roll .
Probably not a great idea. Plus, on these newer trucks, if you're in driving mode, it's possible it detects you're still "driving" while your driving time is at 0 and you get into more trouble not only with your company, but the DOT as well. Then explaining what you were doing, they'll list it as too dangerous and puts a bad mark you. Either way, the driver gets in trouble and the company gets by with their bs. It's best to just exploit the fact the company wants their drivers to freeze on any platform possible so that it forces them to make a more mature decision on how to fix the heating/cost issue. They can afford the heat, they just want more money in their pockets.
I got fired from JCT for deadheading back to the yard 😂 They wouldn't fix the apu on the road and said they would route me back to Oklahoma from Pennsylvania and their truck wouldn't idle more than 5 minutes. This was in the middle of summer
I after the first decade the 90s, vowed that I will protect my health and my licence first, and yes its cost me jobs, but I don't care, my integrity and safety is more important. 62 and still Jamming in 🇨🇦
"Optimized Idle" is what Freightliner has. My last employer had them and also set the idle limiters. My current company uses 20 yr old Internationals AND I LOVE IT!
I got my CDL about 3 and 1/2 months ago and I have about a hundred applications out and nobody is calling me back. I literally leave for my orientation with Western Express tomorrow. I'm actually excited. I see a lot of negative things about this company but they're the ones who have decided to get me rolling and give me a shot. I plan to work hard and take whatever loads they give me and drive the truck to the best of my ability. I'll let you guys know how it goes
Come back in a month with the same attitude 🤔, this is reason the company still taking advantage of people, like they are cattle - you don’t have choice in this economy maybe, but choices you do have and this one you will regret in a few years, they all do - hopefully you realize it before its too late to pivot (best of luck) download Driver Pulse (when your ready to leave in a few months) …
@@stevebell4906 you can say that about most jobs, but the realities/responsibilities of life; sometimes force people into difficult circumstances. The bottom line is that truckers should be CATERED to because we are the most important part of the industry above anyone else.
@@johnnycray4427 Actually you are mistaken about that most jobs you are at a disadvantage once you quit...But Drivers can immediately get another job just as crappy as the one that they left....The trucking companies are crying for people to exploit... But Drivers refuse to Unionize and actually hate Unions ....What the workers of America fail to remember is we had an American labor movement and it was punctuated by bloody strikes and riots...and the Wealthy and Management NEVER Just Gave the working people ANYTHING...We Had To Demand It!...
A Swede here, remember this is a cold ass country. It was decades ago that trucks idled over night to keep the cab warm. Get a diesel heater, it should be standard equipment. Heating the cab by idling is very inefficient.
You are 100% correct about idling being inefficient for heating. Auxiliary heaters cost money though, and companies like this only care about money, not the drivers.
When I drove for CRST, they had something that would start the truck to maintain the temp in the bunk. And the trick I learned for it was to set it to A/C when running heat, and set it to heat when running A/C so that the truck would never shut off. But that was when the Qualcomm only saved in 5 minute chunks, not by the second, and so I also fudged many hours of driving as off duty.
You people really don't get it. These trucks are all equipped with cameras and electronics that instantly notifies the company if something was tampered with that shouldn't have been. They can shut the truck off on these drivers whenever they want. Someone actually uploaded a video of that exact thing. He gave a 2 week notice and they shut his truck down leaving him stranded. This isn't the 80's anymore. These trucks and the companies that own them know everything you do now. I don't agree with it (not a truck driver btw) but you can't just go against a company policy and think, "that was smart". That's why society is the way it is now. Everyone wants to do it their way and not follow any responsibility. You don't need to like it or agree with it, but when you hire in anywhere, you do realize you are also agreeing to follow any and all policies set forth by the company in which you work for? It's literally written in the paperwork you sign. You just got to stop being lazy and actually read. And people wonder why they get fired or charged for doing something they literally signed and agreed not to do....lol. ruclips.net/video/6ViVuTSJDeQ/видео.html the clip starts at 36 seconds. Pull what you want, they'll disable the truck on you with these newer trucks. Remember, these new drivers can't choose the truck they drive as you all think.
@ u people like you don’t know shit. I’ve Been doing this. It’s obvious not to do it when if it’s a driver facing camera. But that’s nothing unhooking the battery can’t fix. But if u gotta do all that it’s the wrong place to work at all together. If been doing this 20 years. U need to catch up. Only way you’ll have issues is if your fleet manager cries about your MPG.
The Opti-Idle systems work very well. Typically, trucks are equipped with some form of bunk heater to provide heat. If it starts and stops to charge the batteries, a jump start is almost never necessary.
Same for o/o that all in crap is killing us when you factor out fsc you are pulling for crap . And I hear that $2.00 a mile crap when you loose loads to people who haul for less you have to.
@@JimmyD6977 Have you seen society lately? It's not just truck drivers, people in general have lost their ability to be an adult because they are now "woke".
I spent my life on the road and retired ten years ago. I drove during the best time for trucking. Paper logs that could be tweaked a little to make a few extra miles each day. No constant monitoring by the company and better rigs. I’m glad I’m not dealing with what it has become.
In the early 80s,the oilfield service company I worked for,in the name of saving fuel,governed so as not to exceed 55 mph and disconnected the air conditioning. We suffered quite a bit during the Louisiana summers,unlike the competition that allowed their hands to sleep in comfort and not fighting mosquitoes because of having to keep the windows down for air.
Bro thats wtf I'm saying 😂 they all have bunk heaters. Its saving on wear n tear and plugged up DPF filters. I think it's smart tbh. And I'm sure they have an idle temp threshold. When it gets below 15 degrees, the truck will stay on.
The concept of "do more with less" sounds like a good motto in context of settling with $3 crescent wrench instead of spending $70 for a full socket set when you're not at that level in your budget. Western Express takes that saying to dangerous extremes. They expect their drivers to "do more with less" standards, training, pay, etc. Just like Super Ego, they make their drivers miserable and it results in them not caring and becoming dangerous animals on the roads. Other training companies like Steven's Transport, Schneider, and Swift aren't running a dedicated shuttle to drop off quitting drivers at the Greyhound station every 2 hours. I really feel sorry for anyone driving for Western Express and truly wish a better company would buy them out
i always had a large battery bank for about 1500 and ran eletric heat always protect yourself, no company cares about their drivers EVER protect yourself
Never did OTR, thought about it. Drove a City Bus for 13 years, home every night. Some of the drivers were former OTR. We could make decent money with overtime and working Holidays.
I worked for them years ago i kept my truck clean on my dime wheels polished and i was always clean cut shaved and professional i had a 100% on time record i was a 5 star driver they treated me like garbage. Im surprised those assholes are still in business.
Do they not have bunk heaters? I've never idled my cascadia all night. I use the bunk heater and opti idle. Never had an issue. I drive in the great lakes region.
I just love how every company wants you to "Do more with less" but the management better homes and better vehicles. They will never "do more with less," As the saying goes. Don't tell me how to do more with less show me.
I left trucking in 1987. The same problems as you are having. We didn't have heat or air conditioning back then, and it was impossible to stay in places like Houston in the summer without air, and the winter in Canada. I decided my life was worth more. I quit,and went to school. Best move.
Companies have been doing this. When I became a driver in 2006, your company truck would automatically turn off at certain Companies. I never drove for those Companies but I tried to help a woman keep her truck running and she ended up in my truck for the night. I gave her the bottom bunk and I took the top. My truck turned off but I had to use my cruise control to keep it running. I stayed within the idle guidelines, besides in the cold and extreme heat and humidity. I always drove different hours when I was on the road and when I was team driving, I usually drove at night, but I woke up if my team driver needed me or for showers. Trucking truly is a different lifestyle and you have to conform your life to make money. I kind of miss it, but the old trucking. I hate the computer logs. I truly hope the bugs were worked out of them. I remember sleeping and I put myself in the sleeper and I would get a phone call saying that I have been driving to long, you need to take a 10 hour break, or putting myself on duty and then getting told that I didn't come out of sleeperbirth for something.
Every single truck out here has a bunk heater , it's way better than idling your truck . You will get better sleep , helping the company is not a sin either !! 😂
All trucks are not the same Also varies due to what specs the company chooses Can be the same year and model Even color of truck And inside be different from the next company
I just have to say this my fellow Veteran 🇺🇸🇺🇸 and I'm trying to keep this clean and I never drove for the armpit of the trucking industry Western Express and trust me Burger King would be better then working for that shitbag company . I've seen those drivers there and they are a joke. No disrespect to you but you have to admit that most of Western Express drivers totally suck. Eventually the FMCSA will shut them down and that would be a very good thing!!! The Veteran Trucker 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
And that's why I work construction and run pre-emission trucks...turning the heat on or off is as simple as popping the hood and opening or closing a valve
So weird that western express is tight with their drivers, their broker division is some of the best paying freight on DAT I’m actually hauling a western load currently with my own trucking authority
friend works in aviation, they have regulations regarding accommodations and freezing a guy out doesnt go over well , You have to be rested and uninterrupted . Something the trucking industry needs.
I wouldn’t call it “run on opti idle” it’s not running anything. It’s shutting the truck off and the truck shuts itself off to conserve fuel and monitors the battery level and the temp that the carrier sets, either one of those it triggers the truck to turn on for a very short time. It’s unacceptable I left Crete after 3 weeks with that crap and the CPAP rules they had.
My company gave me a 2025 Cascadia and it has Optimized Idle with a bunk heater. But our mechanics have the trucks set up to idle with no timer if we don't want to mess with the Optimized Idle
I did a short tour with JB Hunt in the Northeast no idling in the trucks. They said winter they adjust to let them idle but never happened. I would be bundled up like I was going on an artic expedition in the truck. Truck broke down once they asked if I was ok and have a place to stay warm🤣 Summer you just sweat.
I worked in the office of a DFW, Texas based trucking company back in the late 80s. We had a heavy driver turnover then. And we were losing owner/operators left and right. I had an uncle who drove for another company. He had his problems with them too. My dad told me his brother in fact decked a couple of dispatchers. They must have done him dirty. I guess these companies have always mistreated drivers. I've also heard many were run by the mafia.
Webasto bunk heater will keep you warm all night and only burns about 1/10th of a gallon of fuel per hour so it's very economical, just gotta work for a company willing to have this installed. And owners operators should absolutely have one as it will save you a ton of money vs idling.
When i was an owner operator, used Amsoil, truck always started, I didnt sleep well with my truck running. Had an arctic sleeping bag, 32° was comfortable. Single digit temps, let it run.
At my company, the sleeper trucks have no apu and dont idle unless above 80 or below 20. I drive a daycab, so it doesnt affect me, but if its 79 and muggy and horrible all night, you're mattress will be soaked by morning. They tried to get me in a sleeper once, i told them where they can shove it.
The Trucker's can get portable heaters. There's no portable heaters for USB input. They may have to get old school wood stove. They are really small. For my missionary Church I used my church incense block it's made of rock. I bought it in Washington DC for winter
@@AMTruckin my bunk heat runs off my apu. It will not run if the truck is idling. So I guess I can’t speak to any other kind of setup but that’s how mine runs.
@@AMTruckin now just remembering my 1st truck, it was separate and amazing! Started with a w… Wasco something like that. Think my company adjusts everything to the apu now somehow it’s terrible. But any who, not sure I’m making any sense so bowing out gracefully… 😬
@enigma1767 APU is very expensive , about $ 10k and run on diesel . The Aspar heat is eletric and works great for about 11 hours with no problem draining your battery .
Loved running LTs. Cascadias are aggressively hostile against the driver. That said, I deove for Roehl and none of their trucks could idke overnight, and I had a broken bunk heater in one for weeks.
yaaaaaaaaaaaaap now why am i not surprised. i drove for them for 3 years, runnin 2000 to 2500 miles a week. i went to melton after that for 2 years n now im workin at lowes market in tx. at the time i got up at 6 am n on the road at 6:30 am n parked between 4 n 6 pm(usually) makin 41 cents a mile.
In the winter it’s cold and the summer it’s hot. The sweet spot is in the 47 to 65 degree range. Even at 70 the truck can get a bit warm to be comfortable
I love this gig. I have a wife but even though my new guy pay isn’t the most spectacular in the industry it’s still much better than what I was making which helps with that long separation. And I’ve been “home” ONCE” in almost 4 months. But yeah, even getting up and at em around 1 am or even 2 or 3 at the latest it sucks when a scheduled appointment time is later in the day, but I’ll either call Dispatch to see if I can drop or pick up early or use my best southern yankee gentleman charm and usually early isn’t all that big a deal but depends WHAT your dropping or picking too. Sometimes the product has a specific order of movement due to warehouse physics….
Decades ago. Schneider National pulled a simular situation. But in the Texas heat. They pulled a driver out of one of their cabovers. Who literally cooked to death in the cab. Eventually, there comes a point where a driver will not only freeze to death. But the truck will gel up.
It does get cold as a mother, I know first hand. However, half the time I drive, the window is down or cracked with the heat off because it feels better to drive that way plus more alert/visibility. Get some overalls & a good wardrobe. For otr they make solar powered devices that require little to no electrical support.
With no bunk heater or generator? There are lots of good reasons besides just saving money but a bunk heater or generator is a must I've had a generator on every one of my trucks since the mid-nineties if not before that.
67-year-old retired truck driver here. If this were to happen to me, I can promise you that truck will never start again.
They can't afford heat but they could afford inward facing cameras
Right
They can afford those because their insurance premiums drop for having them.
Exactly! Big Brother Bullshit!
Those r the most annoying in trucks
I'm fed up with the tyrants who run these companies expecting their employees to endure things that they themselves wouldn't put up with. It's maddening.
Nobody cares if your not rich
Just dont work there. Its the drivers fault for tollerating it
The problem is it went from drivers running these companies to attorneys, and accountants running these companies.
Regional companies of all types usually take the best care of their people. What happens is the boss wants to retire and if the kids aren’t involved or the kids take over but are more interested in cashing out they sell to a national company. Immediately, or gradually all the cool stuff that made the employees love their company goes away.
I went to school for accounting, except I drove a tow truck to pay for school and rent. Come to find out that I LOVE driving a tow truck. Much more than sitting in a office. Don’t get me wrong it’s always nice to see pretty girls at the office, but here’s the cool part. I got so many dates picking up pretty girls who broke down as opposed to meeting them at work or at happy hour.
Back to my point. After leaving tow trucks behind I did the office thing for many years. By chance I found a repo company. A regional repo company and it was like I never left the office. I had my weekends made lots of money, great benefits, etc.
They eventually sold to a national company and we had to start doing these convoluted pre/post checks. After Covid and without warning they changed our pay rates. They took away our paid holidays, reduced paid vacation to only 1 week no matter how much time you had.
We lost business because they thought they could muscle lenders into paying ridiculous amounts, and region by region within 2 years they started closing locations.
drp1bb856 i was lucky yrs ago. I worked for a small company making ok money. Then they sold to a bigger company. The new company gave us all a 5 cent per mile raise plus better benifits. We kept our time. I was there 3 yrs before sold. 1 yr later i got 3 weeks paid vacation. Then 7 yrs got 4 weeks paid vacation plus christmas bonus. I sure regret quitting that job. Not all buy outs or mergers go bad.
I think we should put western express out of business.
Lmao they tried trust me..
They are just about from customers not doing business with them! I can tell you when I've gone into some locations to load or unload, there are notes in guard shacks saying "no Western Express trucks!
I've come across some of their drivers that didn't know how to secure their loads, & asked me for help! I do flatbed for another company!
Bit the hand that feeds you. Not a good idea.
@@soyoucametosee7860if the hands is actively trying to make your job harder….
I always say it not the companies it's the ppl who believe they have no choices need to put themselves as the sacrifice Lamb.
Western Express logo on side of truck......
A sucker born every minute...😂
Every driver they have should quit, ASAP!!!!!!
A lot of them can't work anywhere else.
@@2024Trump_fan
Keeping drivers from quitting soon after hiring , Western Express handcuffs new drivers to the steering wheel during their first week .
Would they pass background check?
Are the new dudes immigrants?
It's called capitalism, so screw yall snowflakes. Also, the worst thing you can do to a diesel engine and DEF system is idle.
Do more with less ----- yea
Mistreating people tends to backfire.
Why should the company and end consumers pay for the driver’s heat? They can get an electric blanket. I car camped in the winter and didn’t keep the engine on.
@@user-tb7rn1il3qThe driver delivers. You treat the people delivering your food and supplies with respect. Folks like you are why companies take advantage of hard working people.
You should pound sand! @@user-tb7rn1il3q
Not really.... nobody cares about workers ....the money saved is enough
Truckers are the most spineless bootlickers in the trades, this is why they get treated so badly
Bottom of the barrel company Welfare Express
That's funny right there
😂😂😂😂
Drivers need food stamps to eat.
Welfare Excuse
Heartland Express did the same thing when I worked for them 10 years ago. If it was 32 or lower, you could run the truck. I very sarcastically said to my travel agent..."so if it's 33 degrees, I getvto freeze my ass off!" Soon afterwards the got the Espar heaters.
You're smiling
😮😮😮
If they can not afford you to idel they can't afford to take loads
APU. Don't work for companies that idle or opti idle.
Most places it's illegal to idle for more than a few minutes. Usually it's between 5 and 15 minutes.
Unless life r death weather meaning freeze tempts or above 100 f
@@mamakevgaming7093you can get around it by saying life or limb is in risk.
Western Express drivers are used to
. Jail Cell Temperatures !
@@vicpetrishak7705 Welfare Xpress 😆 🤣 😂
😂😂😂😂
My company used to spec all their trucks with APUs. Gave that up about 6 years ago. Said they spent more money fixing APUs than they ever saved on fuel. They ended up disabling them and told us if you get cold,idlle it. Btw I've never heard of anybody at my company (86 drivers) ever getting a ticket for idling for heat or a/c. This includes NYC and all over the east coast and the midwest. Its 11 degrees right now in Brookville, Pa.
Thats true my old company mechanic s did more repairs on a.p.u s then them working
I GOT A TICKET FOR IDLING BEHIND A STORE THAT I WAS DELIVERING TO IN THE HUDSON VALLEY BY A CONSERVATIONIST COP IN THE SUMMER TO KEEP COOL ABOUT 11 YEARS AGO DRIVING AT WESTERN EXPRESS. SHE SAID THAT SHE OFTEN PARKS THERE TO CATCH DRIVERS STAGING TO DELIVER THE NEXT DAY. SHE SAID THAT SHE SAT THERE FOR 1./2 HOUR TIMING THE IDLING TRUCK. SHE WOULD NOT LISTEN TO REASON. TRUCK DRIVING SUCKS.
@@ronsmith4330 The one that sucks was that conservationist cop and those who put this rule/law into effect. Worthless excuses for human beings. On the edge of being satanic.
@@ronsmith4330.I bet she had her vehicle running while she sat timing the truck
@@kelvintorrence5994 People care more about making the Drivers life miserable to save a penny, so much so that they will spend millions in just the ideal of saving money, example: (electric trucks) autonomous trucks all made that apparent, APUs are good if the company would do the oil change a change all filters at every 1,000 hours or 1,500 hours but some companies try to get that extra penny and push it 3,000 plus hours and then cry its costing too much because they are running into mechanical issues, the amount if stupid things companies do to save a penny end up always costing them more, so much so you see them trying harder with dumber ideals year after year until they are bankrupt when in the end it was the salaries of the top executives that was costing the company, the unwavering ability of them to take any kind of pay cut, though it should be on the drivers to accept one 🤔…
Here with Western because I just turned 21. I have years of experience with 34 foot trailers , but none were CDL loads. Just finished my 70 hours of drive time with Western and now I’ve been sitting at their terminal for a day and a half. Got my truck , got my mattress. I have a load that doesn’t take me home until Monday ( I got done with training on Friday. ) At the time I will be getting home I will have been gone for 4 weeks. As far as the mattress goes , that’s all I have, no blankets , pillows , or sheets. Last night I slept in two pairs of sweats , two sweatshirts , two carhartts , and two pairs of socks. Was still very cold , not to mention I’ve worn everything in my suitcase atleast 3 times over now. Ready to get home and do my laundry. Western isn’t getting anymore than 6 months out of me. Just need the experience I need for other carriers , and I’m out of Felony express
The first of all you know you're going to bring your own clothes your own ability to be warm enough 5 years old come on don't blame the company😮
You didn't wash clothes at the terminal while you were waiting for your truck.
Most truck companies aren't going to provide everything for you. Why should they spend more money after spending to train you just for a blanket? You can get a comforter set at wal-mart for as low as $35. That truck is now your rolling office, so you buy what you need for it. Congrats on getting your CDL and getting past training with a trainer, but even today, these companies aren't going to hand you everything. Some trucks come with a minifridge and some don't. Same with microwaves. It's all hit or miss. The truck is your second home. You'll need to furnish it no different than how you furnish the home you live in. You have a mattress and blankets and a place for your food at home because you bought them since you need them. Same goes for the truck.
@@BarryWoodward-kg7rw Sounds like someone who wants stuff handed to them. Truck companies can be scum, but they don't owe drivers blankets or microwaves either. They always want something for nothing and won't be bothered to spend money these days. Kid can literally get a comforter set for $35. Probably less if on sale.
@@colonelsanders1964 This generation can't be bothered to do anything. Probably said he can't wait to get home to do laundry because his mom will end up doing it. Literally ignoring the fact that terminals have laundry facilities and there are other ways to wash. Hell, some truck stops have them for drivers who are parking there for their off driving time. Options exist, but it means he's gonna have to do it.
Here’s what to do .
I used to park and chock the wheels . Then get back in the cab and release the brake. The computer will think that the truck is in moving mode but stopped . The engine will keep running. (You may want to put a stick between the brake pedal and the seat to keep the brake on).
Not sure for how long , depending on the truck.
Just make sure the wheels are chocked so it doesnt roll .
This doesn’t work
That seems pretty dangerous.
Probably not a great idea. Plus, on these newer trucks, if you're in driving mode, it's possible it detects you're still "driving" while your driving time is at 0 and you get into more trouble not only with your company, but the DOT as well. Then explaining what you were doing, they'll list it as too dangerous and puts a bad mark you. Either way, the driver gets in trouble and the company gets by with their bs. It's best to just exploit the fact the company wants their drivers to freeze on any platform possible so that it forces them to make a more mature decision on how to fix the heating/cost issue. They can afford the heat, they just want more money in their pockets.
AiFleet also prohibits idling and has APUs. My APU broke down and they were too cheap to fix it. I got fired for idling in the 95 degree Texas heat.
Pretty sure that's wrongful firing. Pretty sure you could get unemployment if not a settlement.
I got fired from JCT for deadheading back to the yard 😂 They wouldn't fix the apu on the road and said they would route me back to Oklahoma from Pennsylvania and their truck wouldn't idle more than 5 minutes. This was in the middle of summer
I after the first decade the 90s, vowed that I will protect my health and my licence first, and yes its cost me jobs, but I don't care, my integrity and safety is more important.
62 and still Jamming in 🇨🇦
Electric blankets are completely underrated. F their batteries 🪫 😅
"Optimized Idle" is what Freightliner has. My last employer had them and also set the idle limiters. My current company uses 20 yr old Internationals AND I LOVE IT!
Company Drivers are making the company $10,000 for every $1,000 they pay you. They can afford to keep their Drivers comfortable!!
$10,000 for every $1,000? I hate companies with a passion, but surely you don’t believe what you said?😂
94% of all statistics are made up on the spot…
😅😅😅😅
Right because fuel, ifta, dispatch, irp, insurance, maintenance and a variety of other overhead expenses don't exist.
Own a truck then rethink your statement
I got my CDL about 3 and 1/2 months ago and I have about a hundred applications out and nobody is calling me back. I literally leave for my orientation with Western Express tomorrow. I'm actually excited. I see a lot of negative things about this company but they're the ones who have decided to get me rolling and give me a shot. I plan to work hard and take whatever loads they give me and drive the truck to the best of my ability. I'll let you guys know how it goes
Keep that positive attitude. It will take you far.
You won't be there long if you're smart.
Are you going to Nashville terminal ? If so hit me up and I can prepare what’s to come before I leave.
@michaellorimer4752 no, I'm starting out in California. I'm shipping out tomorrow from Sacramento down to San Bernardino
Come back in a month with the same attitude 🤔, this is reason the company still taking advantage of people, like they are cattle - you don’t have choice in this economy maybe, but choices you do have and this one you will regret in a few years, they all do - hopefully you realize it before its too late to pivot (best of luck) download Driver Pulse (when your ready to leave in a few months) …
They should be sued for human rights violations
@@johnnycray4427 Western Express has Optimized Idle. This is a BS article
The drivers are not slaves....They can walk of.....but they just refuse to Man Up and chose to lay down!
@@stevebell4906 you can say that about most jobs, but the realities/responsibilities of life; sometimes force people into difficult circumstances. The bottom line is that truckers should be CATERED to because we are the most important part of the industry above anyone else.
@@johnnycray4427 Actually you are mistaken about that most jobs you are at a disadvantage once you quit...But Drivers can immediately get another job just as crappy as the one that they left....The trucking companies are crying for people to exploit...
But Drivers refuse to Unionize and actually hate Unions ....What the workers of America fail to remember is we had an American labor movement and it was punctuated by bloody strikes and riots...and the Wealthy and Management NEVER Just Gave the working people ANYTHING...We Had To Demand It!...
I drove union for years, pay was good, but the trucks were junk, to many reasons to go into, but they were jink. Union did nothing.
Two words: bunk heater.
He has that tends to drain your batteries if you don't watch it
Calling Luigi, we need you everywhere.
No need to kill someone. How about the workers grow pair of balls and say no or walk away.
@adamprater6216 that has never worked.
I heard so many horror stories from WE it’s unbelievable!
They're making super ego look good 😂
That’s not possible
@humanbeing8719 😂😂😂
A Swede here, remember this is a cold ass country. It was decades ago that trucks idled over night to keep the cab warm. Get a diesel heater, it should be standard equipment. Heating the cab by idling is very inefficient.
You are 100% correct about idling being inefficient for heating. Auxiliary heaters cost money though, and companies like this only care about money, not the drivers.
Diesel heaters are worthless if it drops below -15 C.
@@felixwankel3989 I use one to heat my 20x16 workshop in Northern Canada, works fine at -35C
@@jw-hy5nq Not the same as living in a fucking truck. Try starting a froze over diesel. They are idled for more than just keeping the cab warm!
@@jw-hy5nq same here.. uses 12 volt battery and consumes 1 liter per hour on medium settong.
When I drove for CRST, they had something that would start the truck to maintain the temp in the bunk. And the trick I learned for it was to set it to A/C when running heat, and set it to heat when running A/C so that the truck would never shut off. But that was when the Qualcomm only saved in 5 minute chunks, not by the second, and so I also fudged many hours of driving as off duty.
Hey Glen, i think your right about the drivers at Welfare Express, Have a Merry Christmas .
20+ years and I have never even thought about starting my day at 330 am. I never shut down in the middle of the day
You must have easy routes…. I run through the night 90% of the time
I absolutely love trucking but regret all the years I've lost with my loved ones I wonder where 20 years went time flew now I'm old 😳❤ love ya Glenn 💪
I work for them 10 years ago lmao im surprised they are still around.
Not a trucker but I am a Marine. Semper Fi Marine. Be Safe & Profitable.🇺🇸
❤❤
Also u can pull the fuse on the idle shut off.
And then you get terminated for violating company policy they should just quit with no notice just turn in fuel card and walk away
You people really don't get it. These trucks are all equipped with cameras and electronics that instantly notifies the company if something was tampered with that shouldn't have been. They can shut the truck off on these drivers whenever they want. Someone actually uploaded a video of that exact thing. He gave a 2 week notice and they shut his truck down leaving him stranded. This isn't the 80's anymore. These trucks and the companies that own them know everything you do now. I don't agree with it (not a truck driver btw) but you can't just go against a company policy and think, "that was smart". That's why society is the way it is now. Everyone wants to do it their way and not follow any responsibility. You don't need to like it or agree with it, but when you hire in anywhere, you do realize you are also agreeing to follow any and all policies set forth by the company in which you work for? It's literally written in the paperwork you sign. You just got to stop being lazy and actually read. And people wonder why they get fired or charged for doing something they literally signed and agreed not to do....lol. ruclips.net/video/6ViVuTSJDeQ/видео.html the clip starts at 36 seconds. Pull what you want, they'll disable the truck on you with these newer trucks. Remember, these new drivers can't choose the truck they drive as you all think.
@ u people like you don’t know shit. I’ve Been doing this. It’s obvious not to do it when if it’s a driver facing camera. But that’s nothing unhooking the battery can’t fix. But if u gotta do all that it’s the wrong place to work at all together. If been doing this 20 years. U need to catch up. Only way you’ll have issues is if your fleet manager cries about your MPG.
The Opti-Idle systems work very well. Typically, trucks are equipped with some form of bunk heater to provide heat. If it starts and stops to charge the batteries, a jump start is almost never necessary.
Half center Pam if that's true🎉🎉
WHY IS NOBODY TALKING ABOUT CPM RATES FOR DRIVERS HAVE BEEN GOING DOWN THIS YEAR???
@@JohnnyJenkins as they should. Do you see the so called professionals driving these days?
Same for o/o that all in crap is killing us when you factor out fsc you are pulling for crap . And I hear that $2.00 a mile crap when you loose loads to people who haul for less you have to.
@@Jarhead-eu8py never haul a load that doesn’t pay what you need. Don’t haul cheap freight!
@@JimmyD6977 Have you seen society lately? It's not just truck drivers, people in general have lost their ability to be an adult because they are now "woke".
@@Alwayspositiveprofits agreed, but this is about overpaid steering wheel holders, not blue haired boys pretending to be a girl.
I spent my life on the road and retired ten years ago. I drove during the best time for trucking. Paper logs that could be tweaked a little to make a few extra miles each day. No constant monitoring by the company and better rigs. I’m glad I’m not dealing with what it has become.
I sue for unsafe working conditions. Back in the 70's I heard for a guy dying form the cold when someone turned his truck off in the winter.
You will lose money , all trucks now are automatics and every truck has bunk heater , all for the comfort of the steering wheel holder !!! 😂
I saw a corpse being taken out of the bunk by the police in Missouri. He died from carbon monoxide poisoning from idling.
There's no carbon monoxide with diesel or a heat of a truck what's wrong with you😂
@@BarryWoodward-kg7rw Really??? That's not true. Learn how to research.🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪
@@BarryWoodward-kg7rw no carbon monoxide from diesel? 😂
I had a truck that would idle all day long on high idle, low idle shuts off in 5 minutes.
I see a law suite coming 🎉
In the early 80s,the oilfield service company I worked for,in the name of saving fuel,governed so as not to exceed 55 mph and disconnected the air conditioning. We suffered quite a bit during the Louisiana summers,unlike the competition that allowed their hands to sleep in comfort and not fighting mosquitoes because of having to keep the windows down for air.
Sounds like a good way to go out of business. If the boss is home in a warm bed, the driver's should have one too
As I watch this, apu is running the heater 😂 this guy should work for msnbc😆
Bro thats wtf I'm saying 😂 they all have bunk heaters. Its saving on wear n tear and plugged up DPF filters. I think it's smart tbh. And I'm sure they have an idle temp threshold. When it gets below 15 degrees, the truck will stay on.
The concept of "do more with less" sounds like a good motto in context of settling with $3 crescent wrench instead of spending $70 for a full socket set when you're not at that level in your budget. Western Express takes that saying to dangerous extremes. They expect their drivers to "do more with less" standards, training, pay, etc. Just like Super Ego, they make their drivers miserable and it results in them not caring and becoming dangerous animals on the roads. Other training companies like Steven's Transport, Schneider, and Swift aren't running a dedicated shuttle to drop off quitting drivers at the Greyhound station every 2 hours. I really feel sorry for anyone driving for Western Express and truly wish a better company would buy them out
I am glad I never had to lower myself to work for one of these nationwide companies
OTR seems like a rough life. Been a driver for 36 years, but all intrastate vocational. Merry Christmas.
i always had a large battery bank for about 1500 and ran eletric heat always protect yourself, no company cares about their drivers EVER protect yourself
Never did OTR, thought about it. Drove a City Bus for 13 years, home every night. Some of the drivers were former OTR. We could make decent money with overtime and working Holidays.
You look like Santa 🎅
MR.Glen dropping big Gems Right on.
I worked for them years ago i kept my truck clean on my dime wheels polished and i was always clean cut shaved and professional i had a 100% on time record i was a 5 star driver they treated me like garbage. Im surprised those assholes are still in business.
Do they not have bunk heaters? I've never idled my cascadia all night. I use the bunk heater and opti idle. Never had an issue. I drive in the great lakes region.
@@TruckingForHermes Yes, they have bunk heaters and opti idle.
This guy is avoiding the Bunk Heaters.
I just love how every company wants you to "Do more with less" but the management better homes and better vehicles. They will never "do more with less," As the saying goes. Don't tell me how to do more with less show me.
It sounds like a class action law suit incoming.
I left trucking in 1987. The same problems as you are having. We didn't have heat or air conditioning back then, and it was impossible to stay in places like Houston in the summer without air, and the winter in Canada. I decided my life was worth more. I quit,and went to school. Best move.
We have no problem with heat and air conditioning nowadays the problem is companies treat their drivers like s***
Could you place a brick on the the pedal to raise rpm ?
Thanks for keeping it real, too many of us just speak on the very little highlights if any
I know what I would say about this. "I quit"
Their reply; "Your replacement will be here in 5 minutes! So what do we care?!?"
Or sooner when the next parolee is released...
Come over to Don Hummer Trucking there’s no idle restrictions.
That's a great company come over and get a Hummer
That's a great company come over and get a Hummer
I could bet it has something to do with tax breaks for company or money from the government to enforce these inhumane rules 💯
Definitely! The employees of the power utilities in California have to sign a yearly acknowledgement of vehicle idling rules. It's ridiculous.
Great video GEMS!
on some trucks there is tricks you can do to make it set and idle. some of the tricks are a little iffy and borderline dangerous but it works
Companies have been doing this. When I became a driver in 2006, your company truck would automatically turn off at certain Companies. I never drove for those Companies but I tried to help a woman keep her truck running and she ended up in my truck for the night. I gave her the bottom bunk and I took the top. My truck turned off but I had to use my cruise control to keep it running. I stayed within the idle guidelines, besides in the cold and extreme heat and humidity. I always drove different hours when I was on the road and when I was team driving, I usually drove at night, but I woke up if my team driver needed me or for showers. Trucking truly is a different lifestyle and you have to conform your life to make money. I kind of miss it, but the old trucking. I hate the computer logs. I truly hope the bugs were worked out of them. I remember sleeping and I put myself in the sleeper and I would get a phone call saying that I have been driving to long, you need to take a 10 hour break, or putting myself on duty and then getting told that I didn't come out of sleeperbirth for something.
Every single truck out here has a bunk heater , it's way better than idling your truck . You will get better sleep , helping the company is not a sin either !! 😂
No they don't
@supertruckertom well , maybe NOT in the welfare Xpress fleet ! Lol
i may be out of date but when i drove truck i never had a bunk heater
All trucks are not the same
Also varies due to what specs the company chooses
Can be the same year and model
Even color of truck
And inside be different from the next company
@dknowles60 let me guess , no AC, too ?? Are you living in a South America where nothing is possible and everything is very expensive , probably not .
Freight liners have optimum idle..
For some reason that isn't good enough
@@GoodGuyGlennPresentsglen it’s working In my 22 freighliner
I work for this company for almost a year they are really tough on the drivers
I just have to say this my fellow Veteran 🇺🇸🇺🇸 and I'm trying to keep this clean and I never drove for the armpit of the trucking industry Western Express and trust me Burger King would be better then working for that shitbag company . I've seen those drivers there and they are a joke. No disrespect to you but you have to admit that most of Western Express drivers totally suck. Eventually the FMCSA will shut them down and that would be a very good thing!!! The Veteran Trucker 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
And that's why I work construction and run pre-emission trucks...turning the heat on or off is as simple as popping the hood and opening or closing a valve
Have a Merry Christmas 🎄 Good Guy Glenn ‼️
So weird that western express is tight with their drivers, their broker division is some of the best paying freight on DAT
I’m actually hauling a western load currently with my own trucking authority
So what's they broker division called thank u
friend works in aviation, they have regulations regarding accommodations and freezing a guy out doesnt go over well , You have to be rested and uninterrupted . Something the trucking industry needs.
Just had recruder for Western Called me offer me a position, Glad to watch your video.
I wouldn’t call it “run on opti idle” it’s not running anything. It’s shutting the truck off and the truck shuts itself off to conserve fuel and monitors the battery level and the temp that the carrier sets, either one of those it triggers the truck to turn on for a very short time.
It’s unacceptable I left Crete after 3 weeks with that crap and the CPAP rules they had.
My company gave me a 2025 Cascadia and it has Optimized Idle with a bunk heater. But our mechanics have the trucks set up to idle with no timer if we don't want to mess with the Optimized Idle
Great breakdown
To many winters i froze in the and over heated in the summer but i finally got a local job paying 6 figures stay motivated 😂😂😂
I did a short tour with JB Hunt in the Northeast no idling in the trucks. They said winter they adjust to let them idle but never happened. I would be bundled up like I was going on an artic expedition in the truck. Truck broke down once they asked if I was ok and have a place to stay warm🤣 Summer you just sweat.
I worked in the office of a DFW, Texas based trucking company back in the late 80s. We had a heavy driver turnover then. And we were losing owner/operators left and right. I had an uncle who drove for another company. He had his problems with them too. My dad told me his brother in fact decked a couple of dispatchers. They must have done him dirty. I guess these companies have always mistreated drivers. I've also heard many were run by the mafia.
And I thought Pinnacle Transportation Group was bad. Oh yeah the fired me for getting a hotel in a winter snow in South Dakota.
The better company is different for everyone, you have to find one that aligns with you!
Day after they did it I turned my truck in and was on my way to maverick orientation. Maverick had perfect timing lol
Webasto bunk heater will keep you warm all night and only burns about 1/10th of a gallon of fuel per hour so it's very economical, just gotta work for a company willing to have this installed. And owners operators should absolutely have one as it will save you a ton of money vs idling.
When i was an owner operator, used Amsoil, truck always started, I didnt sleep well with my truck running. Had an arctic sleeping bag, 32° was comfortable. Single digit temps, let it run.
That's a mighty nice tree.
At my company, the sleeper trucks have no apu and dont idle unless above 80 or below 20. I drive a daycab, so it doesnt affect me, but if its 79 and muggy and horrible all night, you're mattress will be soaked by morning. They tried to get me in a sleeper once, i told them where they can shove it.
The Trucker's can get portable heaters. There's no portable heaters for USB input. They may have to get old school wood stove. They are really small. For my missionary Church I used my church incense block it's made of rock. I bought it in Washington DC for winter
Don't bunk heaters run without idling the truck?
Yes if they have a apu which guessing they don’t. This story is crazy if it’s true
@@enigma1767APU is one thing ; bunk heater is other thing and comes standard from the factory just like air conditioning .
@@AMTruckin my bunk heat runs off my apu. It will not run if the truck is idling. So I guess I can’t speak to any other kind of setup but that’s how mine runs.
@@AMTruckin now just remembering my 1st truck, it was separate and amazing! Started with a w… Wasco something like that. Think my company adjusts everything to the apu now somehow it’s terrible. But any who, not sure I’m making any sense so bowing out gracefully… 😬
@enigma1767 APU is very expensive , about $ 10k and run on diesel . The Aspar heat is eletric and works great for about 11 hours with no problem draining your battery .
How is their regional home time?
Weekly home on weekends if you drive NE region
I see a lot of 12 volt heaters being used, more batteries replaced.
Put a Western Express corporate 'metro suit' office-type in a heatless cab one nite outside Cheyenne in January---& things would change like NOW !
Loved running LTs. Cascadias are aggressively hostile against the driver. That said, I deove for Roehl and none of their trucks could idke overnight, and I had a broken bunk heater in one for weeks.
Good luck working at Western Exp
A friend of mine had nothing but trouble with his. In the first year, that horrible DEF system required two several hundred mile tow outs.
I guess they gonna have to get a bunch of blankets then 😅
yaaaaaaaaaaaaap now why am i not surprised. i drove for them for 3 years, runnin 2000 to 2500 miles a week. i went to melton after that for 2 years n now im workin at lowes market in tx. at the time i got up at 6 am n on the road at 6:30 am n parked between 4 n 6 pm(usually) makin 41 cents a mile.
Is it worse in the winter when it’s cold or in the summer when it’s hot?
In the winter it’s cold and the summer it’s hot. The sweet spot is in the 47 to 65 degree range. Even at 70 the truck can get a bit warm to be comfortable
I love this gig. I have a wife but even though my new guy pay isn’t the most spectacular in the industry it’s still much better than what I was making which helps with that long separation. And I’ve been “home” ONCE” in almost 4 months. But yeah, even getting up and at em around 1 am or even 2 or 3 at the latest it sucks when a scheduled appointment time is later in the day, but I’ll either call Dispatch to see if I can drop or pick up early or use my best southern yankee gentleman charm and usually early isn’t all that big a deal but depends WHAT your dropping or picking too. Sometimes the product has a specific order of movement due to warehouse physics….
Decades ago. Schneider National pulled a simular situation. But in the Texas heat. They pulled a driver out of one of their cabovers. Who literally cooked to death in the cab.
Eventually, there comes a point where a driver will not only freeze to death. But the truck will gel up.
It does get cold as a mother, I know first hand. However, half the time I drive, the window is down or cracked with the heat off because it feels better to drive that way plus more alert/visibility. Get some overalls & a good wardrobe. For otr they make solar powered devices that require little to no electrical support.
Are trucks in the US nut fitted with night heaters?
It is optional equipment and foe the most part, no they are not. Dumb I know because bunk heaters really work and cost almost nothing to operate.
@thud9797 that really surprises me,, in UK, I have never seen a sleeper cabbed wagon without a night heater fitted,, I'm talking from the 1980s,
I'm willing to bet that the 'Do more with less' does not not apply to the Western Express 'management'!
With no bunk heater or generator? There are lots of good reasons besides just saving money but a bunk heater or generator is a must I've had a generator on every one of my trucks since the mid-nineties if not before that.