Start Your Driving Career With WEL
Get paid from day one while a professional mentor helps turn your CDL into a career. Three guided phases. One first seat that's yours.
Real Pay. Real Mentorship.A Real Career.
“WEL didn't just hand me a truck — they built me into a professional driver. I earned a paycheck every week while a mentor showed me exactly how to succeed.”
Apply Now
or give a recruiter a call.
Three Phases to Your First Seat
A structured, paid journey from the classroom to a solo driver position with WEL Companies.
Classroom, Range & Road
Orientation and off-road training. Defensive driving, hours of service, ELD, trip planning, DOT Level 1 inspections, coupling, backing techniques, and supervised road courses.
Mentor Phase
One-on-one OTR training with an experienced professional mentor. You'll drive 80-90% of the time across real interstates and highways, accelerating your skills in real-world conditions.
C-Team to Graduation
Paired with another cadet, you'll form a C-Team to complete your mileage requirement — demonstrating solo-driver skills with the security of a partner beside you.
Solo Driver
Classroom, Range & Road
3 Weeks
Orientation and off-road training. Defensive driving, hours of service, ELD, trip planning, DOT Level 1 inspections, coupling, backing techniques, and supervised road courses.
Mentor Phase
3-4 Weeks
One-on-one OTR training with an experienced professional mentor. You'll drive 80-90% of the time across real interstates and highways, accelerating your skills in real-world conditions.
C-Team to Graduation
Until 25K Miles
Paired with another cadet, you'll form a C-Team to complete your mileage requirement — demonstrating solo-driver skills with the security of a partner beside you.
Solo Driver
Get Paid From Week One
No waiting to start earning. Cadets are paid weekly through every phase of the program.
Three weeks of orientation and off-road training.
Weekly pay through your mentor phase and C-Team.
Drive over 1,800 individual miles in a week and earn $0.40 for every overage mile on top of your weekly pay.
Earn a graduation bonus after completing the 25,000-mile requirement and finishing the mentorship program.
Example: 2,800 miles = 1,000 overage miles x $0.40 = $400 in addition to your $700 weekly pay.
Your career starts with one application.
Join a family-owned carrier that's been training great drivers for nearly 50 years.
Choose a Career, Not a Job
No matter where you start, we've got a clear path to the best earning potential and work-life balance fit for you
Earn up to $1,500 for every driver you refer
WEL drivers have the opportunity to earn six figures through performance bonuses, referral bonuses, and advancement into Elite fleets.
Your First Seat Comes Loaded
Graduate the program and step into a solo career with the pay, equipment, and support to keep growing.
55¢ Per Mile Solo Start
Solo start pay of 55¢ for all miles driven, with a $1,000 weekly guarantee on a 7-day payroll week.
Tuition Reimbursement
Up to $6,000 in tuition reimbursement after a successful test out — up to $150 per month.
Dedicated Driver Manager
A driver manager who specializes in working with newer drivers for your first 90 days.
Home Time That Works
Home time every 5-21 days depending on where you live and your preference. No NYC.
Late-Model Equipment
Late-model Peterbilt or Kenworth with APU, refrigerator, 1500-watt inverter, automatic, and more creature comforts.
Full Benefits Package
Holiday & vacation pay, 401K, and medical, dental, and vision coverage.
Passenger & Pet Program
Bring a passenger along, or your dog up to 60 lbs — the road is better with company.
Guaranteed Minimum Pay
You always receive the higher of your guaranteed minimum or your actual miles-and-stops earnings.
Do You Qualify?
WEL's cadet program is built for new drivers. Here's what we're looking for.
21 Years or Older
You must be at least 21 years of age.
Valid CDL
Hold a valid license qualifying you to operate the type of vehicle driven.
English Proficiency
Able to read and speak English well enough to understand signs, signals, and official inquiries.
Clean DWI / DUI Record
No DWI, DUI, or drug/alcohol violations for life.
Safe Driving History
No moving violations in the past 12 months (no more than 2 in 3 years) and no serious violations in the past 3 years.
Stable Work History
No more than 3 jobs in the past 12 months and 9 in the past 3 years.
Final eligibility is subject to WEL Companies hiring standards, FMCSA regulations, and a review of your driving and safety record.
Your First Seat Is Waiting
Apply today and start a paid, mentored path to a real trucking career with WEL Companies.