I am a Happy Werner Driver!!

I'm SERIOUSLY considering Werner. But I have a concern about their trainers.

On their website they say:

"After you have been driving with the company for three months as a qualified driver and passed our certified training program, you have the potential to become a trainer and increase your earnings."

I don't want to be trained by someone who has only "been driving with the company for three months as a qualified driver"!

I want to be trained by someone with YEARS of driving experience and a clean safety record, etc.

Is my concern unfounded?

Also, does Werner allow inverters, refrigerators, microwaves, etc. in their trucks?

Do they give the drivers fairly new equipment or do they give the new drivers the oldest equipment?

Also, what version of the Qualcomm system do they have (MCP 50, 100, 200?)? Can you access the Internet on it?

 

One other question. Werner's website says that the Werner training program is a minimum of 275 driving hours.

So, I take that to mean that I will be with a trainer for a minimum of 27.5 days, right?

I realize that I probably won't drive day one and won't get a full 10 hrs per day.

So, we're probably talking a month or more with a trainer before I get my own truck, huh?

Also, what's their policy on taking your truck home? Do you have to live beyond a certain number of miles from a terminal to be able to take your truck home?

Thanks in advance for your responses.

 

That is true.

That is good

That is also good

no

Inverters - not unless it plugs into 12 volt outlet, cannot hard wire one. All the rest are fine.

Both, just depends on when and where you get your truck, it might be brand new or it might be trash, there is no method to this.

I don't know, they have several different ones and I use them as little as possible, no you cannot access the internet on them.

 

You will be with a trainer for at least one month yes. I would count on two to three to be more realistic.

Taking the truck home varies on where you live in relation to where you work. If you run regional or otr or whatever they have now you can usually take truck home as long as you have someplace to park it. If you are close to a terminal or drop yard they may want it parked there. Dedicated varies by account.

 

I, too, am one of the rare happy Werner drivers. Dedicated accounts are really the best way to get miles and avoid sitting around. Stay on a dedicated account long enough, and you'll start learning names and faces, which you certainly won't do on a regional account. "Drivers choice" should be avoided at all costs, and driver placement should be on speed dial until you get off of the account. Its where they flock together all the new drivers in their speed taped trucks waiting to see if they'll roll them over, or actually turn out to be a decent driver.

I actually had a Werner flatbed O/O as my first trainer. He drove a straight truck for 20 years from what I could piece together out of his north carolina accent and jaw full of tobacco. He had no idea of what he was doing, I had to show him how to tarp and strap loads, and he couldn't make a dime running 4500 miles a week (mostly his own fault). There are really only about 30 drivers on the flatbed account, and 150 or so trailers left. They have headache racks laying around at almost every terminal, though. I'm not sure if they don't want anymore flatbed drivers, or can't find anymore flatbed drivers. They all seem to know one another by name and spend all day on the phone with eachother, so I guess its some kind of special club for werner O/O's to do some dick-waving.

 

I've been with Werner a week now and I am please that I choose them. Been running with my trainer since Wednesday and the miles and hours are melting away.Training is a bit long compared to other companies but it is thorough and I guarantee that when you finish, you will be proficient and if you want to work at it, will be a successful driver.

I've opted for 48 state OTR for now. I made the right choice for my needs but it may not be your cup of tea so do your homework. I went with Werner because they have a terminal 40 miles from my home so that will be my home terminal. [They] will do everything in their power to help me be successful and all I have to do is be safe, be available, and deliver loads.

Doug

 

Werner is terrible ,,,,run,,run as far away from them as you can !!

 

rthomas98, would you care to qualify your statement with legitimate reasons?

 

I'm also happy that you're satisfied thus far.

Every company has its share of happy drivers. The trick is to find the niche that works for you, and if Werner happens to provide that for you, that's terrific.

Continued best of luck to you!