Werner Enterprises, Inc. - Omaha, Ne.

Thanks luv, that is excellent advice.

Going OTR or even regional will be a huge life change for me, not the least of which will be the 50% pay cut from what I was making at my last job.

From what I've been able to find out so far, is that most companies that are still hiring FNGs (many aren't in this econimy) are only paying 28-30 cpm for new hires. At those rates I will need a minimum of 2k miles per week just to break even and keep my bills paid. From reading various threads here, I am wondering if that is a number that I am likely to get on a regular basis right now.

 

I would imagine either would be a change for anyone just starting out. I know what you're talking about when you mention a pay cut. Now, I don't know this as a fact but I think or maybe it's just hope that things will break loose at least a little bit. I've heard that some of the bigger carriers are seeing a little increase in business but how much or how long it will last remains to be seen.
You do realize that during orientation and being with a trainer you'll probably only make enough to eat on. Anywhere from $400 to $500 a week until you get your own truck. But, you might not get a truck right away after you are released from your trainer. Don't ask me why because I sure don't know. I'm not saying these things to discourage you but you need to be aware.
Where are you going to school? I live north of Columbus and drove to Springfield everyday to attend Clark State's driving course.

 

Dear sir,

. I mean... you get a load... they TELL YOU how many miles you are getting paid for on EVERY load. So you are claiming then, after you deliver, they change the mileage for the load? Because they are 'short of money'? What are you retarded? Do you realize the lawsuits that would ensue? I mean its ON THE ###### QC for god sakes! Its a legal record, you can suepena it.

 

I realize I'm not going to make a bunch during training and have planned my finances accordingly.

I attend the Roadmaster school here in Columbus.

On a side note, a friend of mine went to orientation with Werners in Springfield yesterday. He said it was a complete goat screw and basically has ruled out working for Werner. He called corporate and all they said was that they didn't know that this sort of thing was going on and they would "check it out". He also informed me that the Werner recruiter was less than honest about training duration and pay. So that is a big down check for Werner for me.

 

I drove for Marten Transport. Yes, there main terminal is in a "dinky" town in the middle of Wisconsin - Mondovi. But, if I had it to do ALL OVER AGAIN I would stay with Marten!! I was getting Paid $.36 cents per mile. When I started out with Werner I was getting paid $.21 cents per mile!! Yes, you have to go with a Trainer for 2 weeks, so what. Go with Marten! And if you do have a problem call Safety (during business hours Central Time)!! The ONLY problem that I had with Marten was their 'guaranteed' Home Time policy - which if dispatch DID NOT get you home on your scheduled HOME TIME your dispatcher was to pay you. They OWE ME THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS CAUSE THEY NEVER GOT ME HOME ON MY HOME TIME!! That includes the time I scheduled my NEXT HOME TIME THE DAY AFTER I CAME BACK OUT ON THE ROAD!! IT WAS SCHEDULED 3 WEEKS IN ADVANCE!! From the looks of Marten's website, they have done away with that. There is NO WAY that your are going to be able to beat $.36 cents per mile! And they recently started a Northwest Regional Run/Division. The other thing is this, your not going to be able to find "the perfect company". That just does not exist! Take your time, get on the internet, do some research, AND BY ALL MEANS "DO NOT" SAY ANYTHING TO ANYONE WITH IN THE COMPANY THAT YOUR PRESENTLY WITH THAT YOUR LOOKING TO MOVE ON!! YOU DO THAT AND THAT IS THE KISS OF DEATH!! YOU DON'T HAVE MILES NOW, THEY (YOUR COMPANY) FINDS OUT THAT YOUR DOING THAT AND YOU WILL REALLY BE HURTING FOR MILES!! The Best thing to do is to keep your mouth shut, and "CYA" - Cover Your #####!! Do lots of research via the internet, if you have a lap-top. If you don't, get some phone numbers from other driver's at the truck stops where you stop, and use the phones that are in the booths in the restrauants, call the recruiter's and talk to them, and see what kind of deal that you can get with their company! The other thing, by all means, DO NOT LEAVE WERNER BEFORE YOUR CONTRACT IS UP WITH THEM!! CAUSE THEY CAN (AND WILL) "BLACK BALL" YOU AND YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO FIND ANOTHER TRUCK DRIVING JOB WITH ANY OTHER COMPANY!! Then you'll really be hurting!! Find out when your contract is up - AND THEN LEAVE!! ONLY AFTER YOU GIVE YOUR PRESENT COMPANY TWO (2) WEEKS NOTICE!! That way, whatever company you get on with next will see that you just didn't pick up an walk off. WHATEVER YOU DO "NEVER" ABANDON EQUIPMENT, OR "NEVER" EVER ABANDON A LOAD!! THOSE ARE THE OTHER TWO (2) things that will keep you from EVER getting another truck driving job!! Trucking companies don't EVER want to see those 2 things ON YOUR DAC REPORT!! And when you do leave Werner, contact USIS and get a FREE copy of your DAC Report to see what the company has reported about you to USIS!! You are ENTITLED TO ONE FREE COPY OF YOUR DAC REPORT A YEAR! YOU DO HAVE TO WRITE A LETTER TO USIS, AND ENCLOSE A COPY OF YOUR CDL AND YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY CARD, INCLUDE YOUR CURRENT MAILING ADDRESS! A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER YOU WILL RECEIVE A COPY OF YOUR DAC!! If you need anything else let me know, or talk to ANY experienced driver (at the truck stop) where you park for the night!! DON'T TALK TO THE "NEWBIES"!! TALK TO THE EXPERIENCED DRIVER'S, THEY WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HELP YOU OUT AND WILL ALSO GIVE YOU SOME REAL GOOD ADVISE!! That is how I learned EVERYTHING that I know AND HAVE JUST SHARED WITH YOU!! AND THAT'S THE OTHER THING THAT YOU DO, PASS ON THE GOOD INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED AND LEARNED TO/WITH OTHER DRIVER'S!! My CB handle is: Agent99 when I'm driving. Right now I'm unemployed, but I ALWAY'S HELP OUT OTHER DRIVER'S NOT MATTER WHERE I'M AT OR WHAT I'M DOING!! ITS THE UNWRITTEN RULE OF THE ROAD - YOU HELP YOUR FELLOW DRIVER'S, NO MATTER IF THEY'RE MALE, OR FEMALE! WE ALL ARE OUT HERE TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING AN PAY THE BILLS AND STAY SAFE WHILE WE'RE DOING WHAT WE LOVE TO DO!! FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME ANY TIME. AGENT 99, I BE ON THE SIDE, STAND'IN BY!!

 

Go with Marten. If I had it to do all over again I would stay with them. I'm Agent99, I've posted a comment to your post. There are SEVERAL things you DO NOT want to do: 1. DO NOT abandon Equipment!! 2. DO NOT abandon a LOAD!! 3. You signed a contract with Werner, DO NOT LEAVE WERNER UNTIL YOUR CONTRACT IS UP!! You do ANY of these 3 things AND YOU WILL "NEVER" EVER GET ANOTHER TRUCK DRIVING JOB!! Its not what you want to hear, I know that. Stick it out, when your contract is up, give your two (2) weeks notice, THEN (AND ONLY THEN) LEAVE!! Otherwise, Werner (or any other trucking company) WILL "BLACK BALL" YOU AND YOU'LL NEVER, EVER, BE ABLE TO GET ANOTHER TRUCK DRIVING JOB!! Write a VERY PROFESSIONAL LETTER, SEND IT TO WERNER, COPY TO DISPATCH, COPY TO DISPATCH SUPERVISOR - AND THEN YOU LEAVE!! In the mean time, you get on the internet and you research trucking companies, you talk to "experienced" truck driver's, you get TOLL FREE phone number's of recruiter's and you make phone calls!! DO YOUR HOME WORK!! If you have a lap-top, get on the internet and do your home work!! Find out FIRST HAND, FIND OUT WHAT PAY THEY OFFER, WHAT BENEFITS THEY OFFER (I.E. RIDER POLICIES, PET POLICIES)!! Contact USIS and get a FREE copy of your DAC Report!! You can get ONE FREE copy of your DAC Report a year!! DO IT!! There are also other things you can do. Make copies of your Bills of Ladings, find out what the load Paid, and keep track of these things. You can also CHEAT the Qualcomm!! DO NOT start rolling and let the qualcomm put you on line 3!! Start your clock 15 mins. BEFORE you start driving!! How do I know this? Cause I drove for Werner!! My CB handle is: Agent99. I would also suggest that you find the Post that I posted to this message and read it VERY CAREFULLY!! And if you don't care to believe anything that I said, do this, tell an experienced Truck Driver EVERYTHING that I told you in that POSTING, and see if they don't tell you that "YOU JUST GOT THE BEST ADVISE THAT YOU'LL EVER GET"!! Leave me a message and I'll get back to you. Later, oh and STAY SAFE OUT THERE!!

 

ummm, agent99, i think the guy is looking and isn't presently there unless i'm mistaken...

 

First off rich t learn how to spell, it is not suepena, it is "subpoena". And since you are being so insulting how do you know that what they tell you is correct? Are you retarded or just a dim witted fat boy td? I would really like to meet you in person. How many court rooms have you been in? How much education do you have maybe 7th grade looking at your grammar and spelling.

 

It is NOT SPELLED "econimy" it is SPELLED "economy".

 

So how is Marten? Do they use Qualcomm?