My name is Jason, and I live in the Quad cities. That straddles the Mississippi river in east Iowa and west Illinois. I will be testing in two weeks for my CDL A after ten weeks of school at a local community college. I have researched the trucking industry and found that many comments here are absolutely true. With regard to the economy, freight levels, etc., the trucking companies that are still viable are so for a reason. Newbie drivers are cheap labor just like newbie carpenters are cheap labor or any other newbie whatever (name you industry!). I began applying at many of the OTR big outfits, but discovered that my best interest probably lies in finding a local job (which I have done). The pay is more than the big companies offer for trainees. The freight they pull is very local (within a couple hundred miles). The job stability is there, too. If you are a new driver (as I am), get over the glamourized ads telling you that you can make in excess of $40,000 in the first year. I am under no illusion that it's not possible if you happen to be in the right place at the right time, knowing the right person, and having the right sort of experience or past job references or driving record or any of the many variables that are involved in making hiring decisions. If freight levels are down then that means that there is only so much work to go around. If you commit to a company and find out that the dirty recruiter lied to you, then don't make the mistake of turning on your television, as there are many lies there too! It seems to me that to start local in this industry with these economic conditions makes the most sense. I won't be "stranded" somewhere far away from home making no money. I will be available to my family. If necessary, I will be able to do some other side work to make ends meet. There are alot of reasons that went into my decision to work locally to begin with, but the most important one, to me, is to get some good T/T experience in the first couple of years while the economy does what it has to do to recover and be healthy while I work my forty hours+ to earn a paycheck. In my mind I am being proactive in a poor economy while trying to break into a new industry. My complaints will do nothing to secure a good future for me and my family, but good responsible action in the meantime, will. If leary of a company, don't work there. If you work for a company, make yourself valuable to them. I have a right to expect what is reasonable and fair, but if I don't receive those things it becomes my job to accept and endure the current situation or remove myself as soon as a better opportunity presents itself and will not harm my reputation as a new driver if I accept that opportunity. This is still the United States of America last I checked, and hard work, perserverence and dedication to a cause has never caused failure for anyone that I have ever known, heard about or read about. Those things only cause success. Put your head down, get busy and keep your eye on the goal. Events may be unpleasant before you get to the goal, but strong resolve will help you pass through them on your way. God bless you in your endeavor.
Werner Enterprises, Inc. - Omaha, Ne.
Discussion in 'Report A BAD Trucking Company Here' started by lj, Jun 17, 2005.
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something. -
Quit promoting them or people would "think" you're their moleLast edited by a moderator: May 24, 2009
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to "we need free labor" -
Mastertech Staff Leader / Admin Staff Member Administrator
Folks, lets remain respectful of one another.
There is no need for insults.
Thanks!
MTluvtheroad Thanks this. -
Sorry MT I'm not trying to be disrespectful to any specific individual.
Just trying to warn innocent people from getting suckered into scams
like werner. It's not just werner. cre, jb, and swift to name a few more.
Not trying to discourage wannabes either. There are actually some decent
companies out there. Just do your homework instead of jumping in there blind. -
I do promote them on certain things, and slam them on other things. But I also have the point of view of a person that has worked for them for 18 years, and not 2-6 months.
Personally, I wish the other-half would leave them, (actually I wish he would have left them long ago due to their low pay, which is near slavery/minimum wage) however, I have to respect his work ethic of continued service with them, through all the BS. And I have to remember, its his job and not mine.
He just wants to get to 20 years, and his 2 million miles, and then be done with it. How many truck drivers can say they have worked for ANY company, much less Werner, for 20 years, and have 2 million accident free miles with said company? There aren't too many names on that 2 million mile Werner page.................. much less on any trucking company page. -
luvtheroad Thanks this.
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Im not comparing Werner to beating a dead horse, i am calling this thread, beating a dead horse. If you read all of the posts for this thread, it's all the same mundane BS. Yes, Werner is what you could call a "Training" company, but there are drivers for Werner that have been there for even 15-20 years, so they must enjoy driving for them. People are sheep, they will believe anything they read, if you want to know about a company, try them out, 1st hand experience is the best way to get info, not from a girfriend or wife of a disgruntled driver that probably got fired for something.luvtheroad Thanks this. -
I am not promoting them in any way and if you really took the time to read my posts you would realize that. I think we are all entitled to our opinions on here. The only thing I discourage is whining and not stating fact. As for being a "mole", I can only assume that you think I work for Werner Enterprises and nothing could be further than the truth. Until someone from The Truckers Report asks me to change what I post on here I will continue to do what I think is right. If you don't like what I post then you have the option not to read them.
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
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