Werner - Not What I'd Heard (Thank God.)

I don't carry the sour grapes with me that you do but I will grant you that Werner has their problems. Werner is a large company that could use process improvement especislly where it involves communication with employees. My experience with dispatch was less than stellar. I am certain that my experience was more a result of an over-worked or under-qualified dispatcher but I also put a significant amount of blame on my trainer who was, for lack of a better way to put it, a communications boob. I genuinely like the guy, still talk to him a couple of times a week, but he brought on most of his problems himself.

However, a fish stinks from the head first, and as I said in my third video the only way to solve the problem is to ensure the operations supervisors are professionals with realistic goals and sound leadership. At the current time neither of these are the case at Werner or for that matter, most companies.

As far as the revolving door is concerned, when you have a workforce of 3 million, as is the situation with drivers, there are a lot that retire, quit, and disqualify themselves each month. SO the mega carriers who hire the newbies are just filling a never ending need. Certainly, the practice of using the trainees as cheap labor has an impact on baseline pay but I don't believe it really contributes much to a decline in wages industry wide. Please don't get me wrong, I think the drivers as a whole are underpaid, particularly considering that many truckers are denied a social or family life just to make ends meet. But, some are well paid.

The gripe I have is that many carriers do not do enough to ensure your license is not at risk. Too much pressure to meet deadlines takes attention away from details that need to be monitored to ensure your running completely legally. More attention needs to be paid to teaching the proper time management skills to ensure you run within your hours and that deliveries can be made on time, etc. My trainer told me just yesterday that he is learning how to use split breaks. It might have been nice to have had that skill under his belt before Werner decided that he was qualified to teach me. Anyone trained by a newer driver gets substandard training.

Now I am looking for another opportunity to get behind the wheel. I hope that Werners lack of attention to detail doesn't ruin my chances. I am a good driver and a consumate professional with a sound work ethic. I just can't operate in a team situation. That eliminates many opportunities for me because I can't get through any training that requires team performance. All I need is a company who will hire an owner operator nwith less than six months experience.

I still say Werner is as good a place as any to start your trucking career. That being said, the industry is wrought with unprofessional, classless substandard humans, and too many of us have to interface with them to break into trucking. If a new driver can get through the "gauntlet of gross" and out on your own you are likely to gravitate to drivers more like yourself, the honest and truly professional ones.

 

"Revolving door" at a caliber MUCH,much higher then anyone else.They do set ppl up for failure. They are given a certain # of people each month that they are to cut, and the dptchrs are expected to meet that #. Of course, they dont want to lose their job and likewise, whoever can cut the most lessens their chances of cleanin out the old cubicle. And its not their fault, their boss tells them this and so on. And im not trying to belittle you but..you only have 6 months experience, so... . Umm..I noticed you said you wanted to be an owner operator, Im only telling you this to help, u can take it however you like, I once swapped with a trainer oop that had somethin like 2o yrs driving experience, he had been with werner for a year and missed 2 truck payments already and didnt even have enough money for food..dont ask me??</p>

 

I am consider buying a truck because I need work. After my stint with Werner it may be the only way I can find work. I will have to work with a small local company to get in the door. I won't buy new nor will I lease from a carrier. I need more control than I can get by leasing from my employer. I only need to clear $500 a week to maintain my current home. I don't owe anyone beyond my mortgage. There are a lot of used trucks out there for under $40K that can be bought with decent terms. Personally, I pity the fool that leases from a large carrier. You can do so much better purchasing used from a reputable dealer.

 

Best of luck to you LSca

 

Thanks, I'm gonna need it.

 

lol at all the people talking ####

 

/\hahaha....ignorance is bliss i suppose

 

Trucking companies could care less about what attitude you have, as long as you make them money they will tolerate you. Make one mistake or their business dries up you will dispose of you like a used napkin.

BTW Texas Diesel Junkie your Obamacare picture is freakin hilarious!

 

Hi There,

You mentioned to stay away from RoadMaster and were specific about it. Would like to know what bad experiences you've heard or been involved in when it comes to RoadMaster. I start their 3 week course which will cost me around $6500 and would like to make sure I am not making a mistake by getting my training through them. Even before reading into Werner and RoadMaster I've been iffy about their lunchline training and hiring system, mind you, for a good reason.

Any information will be greatly appreciated. Keep in mind the more detailed your response the easier it will be to gauge my moving forward with this upcoming training course.

NewbieRoadie

 

you still there?, Im planning to come back!!!