Heading off to Werner orientation Jan. 9th.Any heads-up information please.

I went to orientation in Indianpolis, IN. Wasnt bad at all. Just a couple long boring days of paperwork, vids and some computer programs. It was painless but hard to stay awake. Not sure how they will do it down there. I went to them backin July and had to come home for family issues but I am heading out to them again next week sometime. I was lucky and got a trainer (great guy to. no horror story) from a walmart dedicated account hauling reefers. It was great while I was there but I still have to finish traingin when I go back. It sucks I had to come home because I know I wont get that trainer or account backbut oh well. Good luck to ya. Any other questions feel free to ask. I'll help if I can.

I'll be interested to see how you make out with them. I live in Jensen Beach, just down the road from you... and considering making the jump to trucking.

Good luck to you!

I'm no longer current but I may go back with them. I went through orientation in Phoenix a year and a half ago and it went smoothly, it was just like teamdotson said above. Just be warned; you may get a trainer you like, you may not. my first one was a total jerk, never let me do backing, never let me use the qualcomm, only let me shower every 2 to 3 days because he was always in such a hurry. He basically expected me to train myself while he got paid for all the miles I ran. After him I went home for a week and came back and got on with a really decent guy who was on a staples dedicated route from Ontario, CA to Phoenix. One way to look at it, no matter what the trainer is like, you're going to have to get thru the training anyway, so my advice is just stick it out, get thru it and get your own truck as quick as you can. I was only solo for about 2 months and then had to quit because of my ex, but since we're not together anymore I'm ready to drive again. I had some other issues with them while I was there but I suppose the same things could have happened at another company. my biggest concern right now as far as getting a new job is that I had a couple fender benders the other year when I was solo. So, we'll see how that goes........Anyway, hope this helps and I'm always happy to talk about werner or trucking in general if you want to chat. Let me know. Nick

I appreciate all of the info...thankyou. I guess i'll just figure it out as i go. What are the odds of getting something other than 48, Canada & Mexico as a rookie? Do they give regional to guys just starting out? Do you get a choice of trucks after training or are you assigned one?

,y hubby drives for Werner. IT is a great company, and yo have good and bad trainers, in every company. MY dh is a trainer also.
He is happy with Werner, he is on a dedicated run.; has been since day one with the company. The company treats him fair.
as for th showers, he trys to get one, every day, but some times that is hard to do. But I think you should give them a try.

I appreciate all of the info...thankyou. I guess i'll just figure it out as i go. What are the odds of getting something other than 48, Canada & Mexico as a rookie? Do they give regional to guys just starting out? Do you get a choice of trucks after training or are you assigned one?


Your Welcome. As far as getting something other than 48 I am not sure. I know my trainer (if I would have stayed) Said he would have gotten me onto the walmart account he was on. but that was me your experience will be different im sure. Choice of trucks I do not know. Havent gotten to that point yet. I am heading back out to Indy on jan 10th. Keep us posted how things go. I will update when I can. Good luck and hope you get a good trainer.

Just got to Lakeland Florida for orientation.We're staying at La Quinta Inn and we have to meet the shuttle bus at 6:15am.I'ts going to be a long day tomorrow and I'm looking forward to getting underway.Thanks again for all of the feedback.Good luck...John

Perhaps I shouldn't bother at this point, but I'll share a long-winded(sorry) viewpoint.

You'll be asleep and see this tomorrow, but you'll want to have a copy of your original application with you as you'll need to re-write it tomorrow morning. As stated, you'll be bored for 2 days. Depending on class size, you may spend 13 hrs there on day 1. They provide food. Day 2 will be shorter and you'll get food again(1 meal per day) plus continental breakfast while you're in the motel.

La Quinta is okay and there are two(alternating) really great gals working the desk in the evening. Sherrie(beautiful and quick witted) and Mallory(about the same qualities) will both do a good job for you, depending on how you act. Just try not to drool too much.

Back to the orientation. You'll deal with it, but it isn't pleasant. The CBT's are a TOTAL waste of time and you'll find that out in a hurry. Do yourself a favor there. . . DON'T answer them too quickly. If you do, you'll retake the tests as they require X amount of time spent doing them and they're so easy you will have a difficult time waiting them out.

Once that part is done you'll play the waiting game. You'll wait for a trainer to get you, or wait to be sent to another terminal where you'll wait for a trainer.

Also noted, the trainers are good or bad and you'll want to put up with whatever you get because anything else will require more waiting. PLUS, if you complete training without a break, you'll get a $500.00 bonus after your 1st trip pak is turned in(on your own- after training).

Werner has one MAJOR problem. In a nutshell, too many chiefs and not enough indians. Oh so many people deem themselves in charge and with authority. . . But they won't likely be there when you need them to be there. IF you have a problem, don't count on it being taken care of in any hurry. The confusion will have you wondering what you've gotten yourself into in such a case. They're slow and seemingly thoughtless unless it's time to tell everyone how much they control, including what you're doing at any given time.

I've known at least 10 people who started with Werner in 2007 and have already left, or are planning to leave. It's not for everyone and I believe they make every effort to get new employees to quit. That's just me and a few others, but you'll have your own opinion soon enough.

Right now, Werner Enterprises owes me well over $1,000.00 and they've made no apparent effort to pay me to date. These payments are for various things, including 3 outstanding trips. I've gotten nowhere in this matter. They owe me for working through Christmas and two layovers(POS truck was broken the day they issued it to me and has broken twice since then. I just came back to Werner in November and this has all happened since. Be aware that you'll have to stay ontop of any such issues yourself as NOBODY else will take on any responsibility, including Driver Relations Managers(except Mike from Springfield, OH) in the terminals I've visited.

Oh, and don't let the Lakeland terminal bother you too much. Aside from perhaps Fontana, CA, you'll find better everything wherever you happen to drop by. Almost all others have better facilitation, but the Fontana terminal is a disaster, with trashy bathrooms/showers too boot. Lakeland has only 1 shower and it's nasty too. There's no washer or dryer in Lakeland either. Most have multiple showers, washing equipment and are fairly clean.

Well,I just finished orientation this afternoon...and you are right on the money with everything you've said so far.I'm hoping my trainer isn't a jerk...whenever i get one.I don't mind waiting around for the weekend...it's their dime,and the playoffs will be on. Is there any point when training that someone asks you if you have a preference?Like south east regional...etc ,or do you have to push for it with someone,like your SDM?Or is there someone else that you have to go to? Of course I'll do 48 if i have to...but I guess what i'm asking is,are they at all receptive to your requests,or is it you'll take whatever the hell we give you? As far as leaving , I am going to have to try and survive for a year with them...I have a careless ticket from just over two years ago and i'm out of south Florida,so my choices were limited. I figure i spent four years in the Navy ,with about 18 months on a carrier,8 of which was spent in the gulf, so they are going to have a hard time scaring me off. I'll just have to suck it up for a year and then look for something better. Anyway, I'll be looking forward to hearing more from you...I can certainly use any information you can give me about what's in store and what i can do to get the region I want. Thanks again...John