The Cadet Mentorship Program is WEL Companies' paid path into a professional truck-driving career. It's built for newer drivers: you earn a paycheck from your very first week while an experienced mentor helps you develop into a safe, confident solo driver. The program moves through three structured phases and ends with you in your own first seat at a family-owned carrier with nearly 50 years on the road.
How the Program Works
Training is divided into three paid phases. Each phase builds on the last, taking you from the classroom to real-world over-the-road driving and, finally, to a solo career.
Phase 1 — Classroom, Range & Road (3 weeks, $500/week)
The program opens with orientation and off-road training. You'll cover defensive driving, hours of service, ELD use, and trip planning in the classroom, then practice DOT Level 1 inspections, coupling, and backing techniques on the range before moving to supervised road courses.
Phase 2 — Mentor Phase (3–4 weeks, $700/week)
Next, you're paired one-on-one with an experienced professional mentor for over-the-road training. You'll spend 80–90% of your time behind the wheel on real interstates and highways, which accelerates your skill development in genuine working conditions.
Phase 3 — C-Team to Graduation ($700/week, until 25,000 miles)
In the final phase, you team up with another cadet to form a "C-Team" and complete your required mileage. This lets you demonstrate true solo-driver skills while still having the security of a partner alongside you. Reaching 25,000 miles completes the program and earns you a graduation bonus.
How You Get Paid
You earn weekly throughout the entire program—there's no waiting period before you start making money.
- Phase 1: $500 per week during the three weeks of orientation and off-road training.
- Phases 2 & 3: $700 per week through the mentor phase and C-Team.
- Mileage overage: Once you drive more than 1,800 individual miles in a week, every additional mile pays $0.40 on top of your weekly rate. For example, a 2,800-mile week includes 1,000 overage miles, adding $400 to your $700 base for that week.
- Graduation bonus: Paid once you complete the 25,000-mile requirement and finish the mentorship program.
After You Graduate
Completing the program moves you into a solo seat with the pay, equipment, and support to keep building your career:
- Solo starting pay of 55¢ per mile, backed by a $1,000 weekly guarantee on a seven-day payroll week. You always receive the higher of that guaranteed minimum or your actual miles-and-stops earnings.
- Tuition reimbursement up to $6,000 after a successful test out, paid at up to $150 per month.
- A dedicated driver manager who specializes in supporting newer drivers through their first 90 days.
- Home time every 5–21 days, depending on where you live and your preferences (no NYC).
- Late-model Peterbilt or Kenworth equipment, including an APU, refrigerator, 1,500-watt inverter, automatic transmission, and other creature comforts.
- A full benefits package with holiday and vacation pay, a 401(k), and medical, dental, and vision coverage.
- Passenger and pet programs, so you can bring a companion along—or your dog, up to 60 lbs.
Who Qualifies
The cadet program is designed for new drivers. To be considered, you should meet the following standards:
- Be at least 21 years old.
- Hold a valid CDL qualifying you to operate the type of vehicle driven.
- Be able to read and speak English well enough to understand road signs, signals, and official inquiries.
- Have no DWI, DUI, or drug/alcohol violations for life.
- Have a clean recent driving record: no moving violations in the past 12 months (and no more than two in the past three years), and no serious violations in the past three years.
- Have a stable work history: no more than three jobs in the past 12 months and nine in the past three years.
Final eligibility is subject to WEL Companies' hiring standards, FMCSA regulations, and a review of your driving and safety record.