So, Im set to leave for Werner in about a week. I am trying my damnedest to find something else in the meantime, but it is looking grim.

I have read so much stuff about how horrible Werner is, but I know I need to take something to get the experience...

I am curious what people think. Should I just grin and bear it for 6 months to a year or should I pass on the whole situation altogether?

Would it be better to pass it up and hope for something else to come along, or take it where I can get it.

As it stands, Werner is my only shot right now. It is almost impossible to find anything in Michigan and moving isn't an option.

Part of me feels like I have to take it, because I need the experience before anyone will give me a shot, plus, even though it is barely pay, barely pay is better than the NO pay Im getting right now, but is it worth it? Another part of me feels like it is going to do more harm than good to a possible career.

Any advice would be great. Im new and don't know what to do. I feel like a kid just about to see the light of life on his own, lost and nervous.

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You can't drive a rig and a problem at the same time, park the problem or park the rig.

those are similar to the thoughts ive been pondering lately but i figure i'll just grin & bear it for 6-12 months to get the BTW training and if i feel like ive gotten a raw deal with pay/miles, etc. i'll go elsewhere. Remember, you are going to be limited out of school with the companies willing to train newbies and most of the "primo" companies i looked at require at least 1 year OTR... good luck with your decision.

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Well we laid a strip fer the Jersey Shore
An' prepared to cross the line
I could see the bridge 'as lined with bears
But I didn't have a doggone dime
I sez Pig-Pen, this here's the Rubber Duck
We just ain't a gonna pay no toll
So we crashed the gate doin' ninety-eight
I sez, let them truckers roll, 10-4
"Convoy"

these days, you pretty much go with who ever will hire you. Better yet, just keep doing what you were doing until the economy gets better.

It's fairly slow out hear...... stick with another occupation for awhile

I feel for all you Michigan folks out there... our company doesn't even hire out of there any more because we have too many drivers and not enough freight to get them home frequently enough.

If you are dead set on a driving career just steel yourself and keep your nose clean for your first year then opportunities will open up almost everywhere for you. Drive safe, HIT NOTHING, obey all the laws and learn all you can. Basically, suck it up.

As far as "the big blue screw" (Werner) goes, yeah they are a training outfit and yeah, their drivers reflect that. Werner used to get a lot of freight from ConAgra in Council Bluffs, Iowa right across the river from Omaha until one time a driver took out one side of their electric gate by taking the turn too soon and not looking. Werner paid for it to be repaired then not three weeks later a different Werner driver took out the other side of the same freaking gate. Don't see too many blue trailers in there any more.

Once you are out of the clutches of your trainer and in your own truck just be certain to be on time, be safe, follow the regs and don't get into a ruckus you can't see yourself winning. All of trucking involves ups and downs, you are certain to have a good portion of both.

Good luck,

Jim

I have no other occupation. Quit my other job to pursue trucking, as the school was paid for by the Michigan No Worker Left Behind program. Yet, I still feel very left behind.

Is it so bad at Werner that it would be to my benefit to try and find a $9 or $10 an hour job and take night classes in HVAC or something?

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You can't drive a rig and a problem at the same time, park the problem or park the rig.

Buy your own truck.

You went to school and now you have a job offer.
I would at least try it out because that's why you went to school and got your CDL.
Also,you will pick up a lot of negativity on here especially about the bigger companies so take all that with a grain of salt remember you'll be starting in a new field so allow yourself some time to get used to everything.
Try it out man,you never know you may like it what do you have to loose?

My 2 cents

You are telling a student to buy his own truck???? Why don't you just shove him off a cliff? It would be more humane...

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A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

I'm not sure about the midwest hire area but GTI "Gordon Trucking Inc" has terminals in Green Bay and Indy. They hire students and would be worth looking into.