Werner Orientation

This is scary stuff. I am currently waiting to hear from my recruiter with Werner. I had to leave driving for 3 years for personal reasons, now I am ready to roll.. I have 7 years experience and Werner has been the only company that said i did not need to go back to school. I expect the training, but not sitting in a hotel room for who know how long waiting for a trainer. Thanks for the posts and I hope NJ Lady trucker is doing great now.

 

what kind of drug test do they do....wiz quiz or hair i don't agree on the hair test.....just cuz what you do on your own time off is your time can you please get back at me and also i am in jersey maybe we can team up or you can train me since i am new ...thanks....

 

NJ Ladytrucker or truant,

I will be attending truck driving school at a really good trucking school here in Sacramento CA next Thursday Jan 2nd. I already have a pre-approval letter from Werner, and will start orientation once I get my CDL license from my trucking school. I had some questions on orientation and driving in general:

1. When your truck breaks down due to maintenance, are you still on the clock? Or does Werner reimburse you partially for the down time (since maintenance was circumstances beyond your control)

2. What about downtime due to loading/unloading of the truck? I saw a Youtube video where a trainer (who did a dedicated route for Dollar stores) said he got paid a bonus for loading & unloading. If the route doesn't require you to unload the truck, could you still do it to make extra money?

3. Same trainer above also said that there were few routes which required the driver to load/unload the truck. Do these exist for the OTR or regional routes as well?

4. Once you get a trainer after orientation, do you immediately leave with that trainer and basically live on the truck until your training is complete? I guess what I'm asking here is, does Werner give you advance notice when you will be assigned a trainer, so that you could have enough time to ship personal things/drive any personal vehicles back home (and then return on time to begin training with the trainer)?

Or can you park your car at the orientation school and return to pick it up 4-5 weeks later when you've earned some leave?

5. Does the average truck have a battery setup so that you could plug in small appliances like a small fridge, microwave, coffee pot, crock pot etc? And if so, how long would this battery last? This would be the best way to save money on junk food, which becomes a bad idea after a prolonged while on the road

6. What about opting to sleep in a motel or hotel once or twice a week on the road? For example, does Werner care if you opt for the expense of sleeping in a place like the Comfort Inn Suites, which would allow you to do laundry etc.?

7. If you're allowed to do #6, would the motel/hotel allow you to park your truck in the parking lot?

Thanks for all the insight you've provided on orientation and your help on this!

 

what school in sacramento.

 

I just finished Orientation at Werner.. I was assigened a trainer e just before Orientation finishe and got right on the truck... I got a female trainer.. howver, keep in mind, thre isn't always a female trainer available, so if you are a female and want a female trainer there is a chance you will have to wait till one is available.. same with smoking/non-smoking preferences.. if you smoke you may have to wait for a trainer that allows smoking, or if you are a non smoker you may have to wait for a non smoking trainer..

I went to orientation in Omaha and you can park your car there, you have to check in with the guard shack and all.. and of course they are not resposible for it.. and yes, if you want to pay the expenses and stay in a hotel you may be able.. I say may, because it would depend on certains things.. like if you are under a high dollar value load.. it is wise and best to stay in the truck with the load... some hotels have parking some don't, also, for laundry.. Werner has terminals all over and you can often do your laundry there.. at the terminal in Omaha, you can do yor laundry, get a haircut, do a work out then go shopping in the company store... you can also check out the museum while your there...

As far as if you live on the road in the truck the whole time depends on certain things.. for example, my trainer is on a dedicated account and has home time every weekend.. she lives in a different state than I do.. she is home now.. she checked me into a decent motel just 8 miles from her home.. there is a nice resturant and stuff near by.. she took me to the store after we got checked in so I had all I need and she said for me to call her if I need anything.. she offered me the opportunity to do laundry at her house and invited me to dinner at her house as well.. now, that doesnt mean all trainers will invite you to do laundry at their home... but, it is werners policy that they check you into a motel during their hometime... Also, my trainers account aso goes by my home.. so, I may get the chance to go home.. however, it is not a given.. but a possibility..

when you go to orientation just bring clothes and stuff that you need for trainig.. when you finish training and are assigned your truck you take your truck home and get some hometime and a chance to move into your truck.. you wont have room on the trainers truck to bring a t.v. fridge and all that... cause, your trainer may already have their truck set up with a fridge and t.v. and all... some trainers have a cabinet available to their students.. some don't and all your stuff and you are in the top bunk.. so the more you bring the less room you have in your bunk...

When you go to oreientaion.. be prepaired to go right onto the trainers truck.. if they assign you a trainer and when your trainer comes to pick you up and you have to wait for something to be shipped to you or something the trainer won't wait around.. why should they.. you are costing them waiting for you, why should they not be able to earn money waiting around to train you.. not a good way to start off.. always be ready to roll...

Some of werners trucks have APU some don't.. but yes, when you get your truck.. you can put a small fridge and stuff in it.. however, I suggest you wait off on all that until you have been out on the road training.. what you think you gotta have before being out there and what you gotta have once you have been out there is different.. when i first started I went and got all the "trucker rig gear" fridge, t.v. things to cook with and all that stuff.. my fisrt truck had it all.. then as I was out there I realized that what I really, really valua and appreciate is an uncluttered truck and space... you can not buy that anywhere.. so, I now have all that stuff in my garage at home.. I do like a fridge in my truck.. but, I don't have a t.v... it finally dawned on me that if I have time to watch t.v. I am not busy enough and need to be getting on that.. need to talk to whoever and get them keeping me busy when I am out here so I don't have time to watch t.v. and all.. ideally have just enough time to shower, eat and sleep.. when that happens day after day I woul rather look at my direct deposit then t.v.

Also, for new drivers.. you as a person will grow and change out here.. I am a much more self reliant person than I was before.. I thought I was before.. but, after being out here I look back and realize.. wow.. I actually wasn't.. being out here has simplified me as a person.. I am a far more simple person than I was before.. I can now enjoy some of the simple of pleasures.. like, right now.. because I am in a hotel.. I am happy and thankful I do not have to get dressed and walk across a parking lot just to go to the bathroom.. because the night before when I got up at 3am to go to the bathroom I had to get dressed then walk across a snowy icy lot in the cold..

So, go out with your trainer and let your trainer and the experience of being out here teach you.. you will be amazed at what you once thought you couldn't live without is now not even important to you, and something you took for granted and never gave a thought about is now something you value and appreciate...

Good luck and take in the experience.. there truely is nothing like it..

 

1. You're not really on the clock in trucking... ever. But if you break down they SHOULD pay you layover. And they should pay for a hotel..... Should. Make copies of receipts and be prepared to bug them repeatedly to get paid. That was my experience.

2. Yes, some companies pay you for unloading the truck. Tyson did. But many places like Wal Mart and Kroger will not allow that. And that's just another receipt that these big companies like to "lose." So I didn't do that because it was such a hassle to get paid once I did the work. It all depends on what account you are on.

3. Every account is different. Dollar General you unload the truck. Most routes do not require you to unload.

4. No. You're probably way past this at this point. But you go through orientation... you clear your physical... you go back to the hotel and wait. The trainer comes and picks you up at the hotel. And you're off.

5. Some trucks have an APU... a small generator for that stuff. Some do not. I heard Werner is getting away from APU's. But you can buy an inverter. The trick will be getting them to install it. They have to install it. You can't do it yourself or find your own guy to do it. It's their truck.


6. If you have the time, you can check into a hotel. Sure.

7. If they have room. Yes, most hotels don't mind.

Good luck.

3.

 

I was on the Perdue account, I lived less than 100 miles from Perry Ga. Plant!! I went to Georgetown DE.,and Milford DE. every week! I got some good miles, you just need to call driver placement and tell them that you are new and looking to grow!! If you live less than 100 miles they might do it!!