My Jobs: WestWay


HOME > TRUCKING > MY JOBS > WEST WAY	If you got it, a trucker brought it.

WestWay, Albq, MN
is a 48 state carrier of temperature controlled freight. It was a solo operation, which means that there were only one driver to a truck.

They had two terminals, one in Albuquerque NM and a new one in Denver. I was living in Amarillo Texas at the time.

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Getting the job
After leaving CRST, I needed a job quick. I did not know a good company from a bad one at the time, so I took the first job I was offered. This job was driving a conventional truck and was a solo company. So far, I am learning what I do and do not like about trucking companies.

My Job Description
When I first started driving I was put with a trainer. Then I was cut loose in a truck of my own. It was issued to me and no one else drove it. I took it home on my time off. I drove all over the country. Most of the loads were from the middle of the country to the coast. Many loads were beef from Kansas and Texas, going to the East coast then reloading to the middle again. I ran in just about every state with this company. I liked it.

The Good Points
I drove a nice truck by myself, and took it home on my time off. I made good money, for a single guy. I got to see allot of the country. I was treated well by my first dispatcher. Plenty of home time, and when I wanted it.

The Bad Points
Got home every 3-4 weeks. Got a bad second dispatcher. He made the job go down hill fast.

Why I Stopped Working There.
My second dispatcher was a piece of work. He had it in for me from the start. I told him that it was time to go home. I had been out for several weeks and I was entitled to go home. I requested to take my home time in Phoenix AZ. He gave me a load going to Phoenix and I took it. I delivered the load and went to the truck stop and parked the truck. I had my friend come to the truck stop and pick me up and take me to his house in Glendale. (15 minutes away)

I called in, to tell the boss that I was empty and the truck was parked, and that I would talk to him on Monday or Tuesday about going out again. He told me that I need to go to Mesa and pick up a load and take it to Flagstaff and deliver it in the morning. I reminded him that I am taking my home time and I would not pick up the load. He told me "You are done when I say you are done!"

We went around and around on the phone. I knew that if I took the load to Flagstaff. He would not be able to find a load coming back to Phoenix, and I would be running all over the country before I would be back here. I was ready for my home time and I was going to take it, even if it cost my job.

Anyway, I told him I would pick up the load and I did. Then I dropped the loaded trailer and the truck in the NW yard in Phoenix. The boss was not very happy that I quit. He told me to take a few more days off and call him next week. Instead of taking 4 days off he offered me 6-7 days off. A cooling off period is what it is called. I told him no. You want to treat me like that? F YOU...