Originally Posted by diesel_weasel

I hardly feel a bit sorry for anyone who rushes into the trucking industry and does zero research. There's a simple solution to companies like Werner, spread the word and don't work for them. They're not called the Big Blue Screw for nothing.

I had to learn a lot of things on my own as a rookie, but I managed. It isn't nearly as much of a "manly man" job as the stories my dad and uncles told me. I started out in a truck with no jake, no johnny bar, and castrated cat engine engine. It was junk but reliable junk. The company took good care of their equipment. I found a company with less than 300 trucks in their fleet to start out with. In my opinion, the smaller the better. I have never worked for a huge corporate mega outfit, and never will.

I think the worst part of the job is the lack of physical activity and a screwed up sleep schedule. Even running legal can make you exhausted, often more exhausted.

Originally Posted by lockednloaded

I have been scouring the net trying to find some labor law, employment law etc... that would be the basis for a complaint. I have not found it yet. When I do, I'll be posting the precident on this forum.

This kind of treatment can not be legal.

I feel that this issue is bigger than me. I feel that I've got to do something about it.

If not me then who?

I think tommorrow I'll be contacting the Dept of labor. I am also going to try to get in touch with the ACLU (hard for a republican to even type those initials). I may not get the aswers I'd like to hear but I will get answers.

Does anyone else have any suggestions on what other agency or of a Law or precident that might be helpful in trying to end this abuse by Werner and other carriers.

Wish me luck!

Originally Posted by lockednloaded

I got into trucking because it is something I've always wanted to do.
I relocated because my wife didn't want to be alone in northern New Hampshire while I was on the road.

It didn't take the dealer 7 days to replace the shoes. I had to take the truck to a Rush repair facility 8 miles away after Werner decided that it was too expensive at the dealer.

I was placed out of service by Or DOT at Woodburn scales and cited $82.00 for being overweight on the drives. I had previously scaled legal after picking up a sealed trailer. Had the scale tickets to prove it. I was legal when I entered Or. at the first scales. The DOT officer demanded I break the seal to examine the load. We took pictures. The plywood and 2x4 barricade that Miller brewing co. put in front of the load failed, allowing 4 pallets of beer to crush against the header. The remaining 16 pallets of beer had slid 1/2 off the plastic pallets. This prevented them from being moved by pallet jack. The DOT stated on oos order that beers must be re-stacked, wrapped, secured and weighed out legal before I could be placed back in service.

Werner requires that you take an advance to pay for expenses ( you can pay out of pocket if you have it) and they are supposed to reimburse you before your pay is calculated. It doesn't happen that way. I am still waiting to get reimbursed for headlights I replaced when they failed, and the hotel bills for 5 days of breakdown from weeks ago.

I have yet to be compensated for layovers caused by breakdowns or time spent waiting to deliver or pick up loads.

If you are dispatched 32 miles dh to get a load but it doesn't load for 48 hours after you get there, you can't make any money. You are able to finally load and you have 320 ld miles before you have to wait another 24 hours to unload. Total of 340 miles at .26/mile for 3 1/2 days = $100 minus 3 showers at $10 and 9 meals. You get the point? Negative cash flow.

My opinion is this: Werner does not care if you are able to support your household let alone if you are able to eat. They don't care if you can (like a human) use a toilet when you need to or shower so you are not embarrassed about your odor. Werner's planners couldn't find their rectums with a flashlight and a detailed map! It is a terrible company and I would not recommend it to even someone I didn't like.

More of my opinion:
You have the right to expect a reasonable living if you are driving otr for any company. You give up your home life to be out on the road and you are not compensated for it. You must eat at fast food establishments or restaurants which will cost you significantly more than if you were eating at home or brown bagging a lunch to work. You are not compensated for it. If you don't run miles and purchase fuel daily you will have to pay for your showers at $10 bucks a pop. You will not be compensated for it.

In other work environments it is required by Labor laws that the company you work for pay for these expenses as well as a comfortable sleep environment as well as any applicable taxes involved. Not so in the trucking industry.
Why?
What makes a trucker any less of a human being than a factory worker or a retail worker?
This is the status quo because truckers let it happen.

I believe that I have value.
I believe that I should be treated as well as any other employee.
I believe that I have the right to expect my employer to not even ask let alone demand that I break cfr's or any other laws of the land.
I believe that my employer should have to provide a comfortable sleep environment. ( one in which the heat, cold, noise around you is condusive to sleep and or rest).

These very basic rights are guaranteed by the Labor laws of this great country we live in for other occupations.

We should demand no less from these employers in this occupation.

I can not believe that anyone would put up with this kind of abuse.

That was my rant for the day.

I certainly hope that no one was offended and would welcome your thoughts on the matter.

Thanks for being here and allowing me to vent!

Originally Posted by tiredofdispatcherlies

Amen to that, the more they praise and preach about God the more it hurts when they forget the vaseline while raping you in the backside

Originally Posted by iamkaren123

I feel for you all. WERNER JUST FIRED A VETERAN DRIVER FOR IDLEING TO GET REST TO DRIVE SAFELY THE NEXT DAY. I AGREE W/ YOU ALL. BUT WERNER IS WAY TOO LARGE FOR N-E THING TO BE DONE ABOUT. AND REMEMBER DRIVERS AND DRIVERS TO BE"WE CARE,WERNER CARES". THATS THIER TWISTED SLOGAN AT PRESENT. THE ONLY ONES THEY CARE ABOUT R THE ONES W/ LIPS FIRMLY PRESSED AGAINST CORPORATE ####'S. TO WERNER U R A DIME A DOZEN AND MEAN AS MUCH TO THEM AS THE DOG DOO U JUST ACCIDENTLY STEPPED ON. GOOD LUCK ALL, MIKE"THE LONEWOLF"JACKSON.

Originally Posted by truckin4alivin

I feel bad for this guy, but this proves we have truckdrivers and stearing wheel holders. This guy seems to expect to make a fortune starting out. Lets see if its not my truck and it breaks down. The company will pay for atleast the motel. You can sure tell this guy was a rookie.