Werner Enterprises

Some people are set up to fail. Some people make it. Simple as that. It's real nice some have made it with Werner (or what ever other company). Some have to make it. If everyone did not, then NO ONE would go to that company.

I have my own bad experience with Werner. I will post that sometime in the future. For now I'd say as long as your DAC is okay, and you are still fresh (not a lot of lapsed time since your training), call other companies who hire new drivers.

I will say now that I blame the Federal Subsidy this industry recieves (as well as others). I have read figures ranging from $5,000.00 - $15,000.00 for EACH hire. The economy still stinks. Freight is still not what it was. Companies love to keep the door revolving for those subsidy dollars to make up for lost freight revenue (yes I am accusing the industry of abusing the Federal Subsidy program and ruining a lot of people in the process). Drivers are NOT in demand for the reasons some might think. The industry has plenty of drivers (many of them sitting and waiting for loads). Werner got their subsidy for hiring you. They can now let you go for the so-called employment reference they should have had BEFORE you were lured into orientation. They got their money, and if you went in under the tuition reimbursement program, they are out of having to pay that to boot.

If the Federal Subsidy was taken away, just see how much the industry will hire. Would not happen unless drivers are REALLY needed. Put some real regulation on the subsidies and enforce them, and hiring would still be tight.

 

Just a place where Real Truckers were welcome. It's all gone. Drive a truck in 6 weeks? Just a big money hungry glob. So sad. Won't let real truckers train. I was a driver then safety. Did my job to well. Sue Me Kile. Liar, Ex Cop. Safety is more important than freight. All ways will be. Pay them more. We need new ones. Schneider, J.B. have that same idea. 40 tons, in six weeks. I just shake my head. I had the Helm of a truck. Knew it was right. 118 mph is like ok to me, for 6 miles. Span trailer, 342,000. How do I stop it? Slowly. 9500.00 for three days work. After taxes. I'm listening.

 

I am the product of too much skill. I don't have Facebook or some Tweet mechanism to get me through life. I'm rather liked with the fairer sex. Your beautiful to me. 22,490 46,760 into Canada. I need a reason.
If I hope to meet a Canadian Lady it will be worth it. Old Texas Driver needs a co driver. Worth a try.

 

My Trucks are Mine. My land is Mine. I will share tho. 55 or older, don't need any "gold Diggers" Bounce from Canada to Texas. It's fun, do it a lot. Texas plates, how many guns do you have? 4 in a locker in the U.S.. Love that question.

 

So what is a 'real trucker'?

I know the book of regs. I know how to read a map and properly follow GPS. I READ road signs and pay attention to restrictions (too many drivers end up continuing along a road with clearance or weight restrictions because they do not READ signs). I do not speed or drive un-safe as though I am allowed to do as I please because I am driving a 40 ton vehicle. I do not need or want to stop for a half hour for every two hours I drive. I actually do pre-trip, enroute and post-trip inspections. I follow HOS regs. I do not run over-weight, or in any other way that is unlawful or unsafe. I actually know how to keep the truck in a lane, and I know how to back. I actually CARE about my CDL, my safety and the safety of others around me as well as delivering a load ontime. Heck, as a new driver, I was even okay with the bum pay and tired Kenworth T-600 I was issued because I did all the research on that before I went into the industry (I knew the sterling pay and new truck was not going to happen before I went).

So what is a 'real trucker'?

Based on my experience and observations, it was the opposite of everything I mentioned above as well as allowing one's self to be disrespected without retaliation, and allowing one's self to be OWNED and ENSLAVED by the company. Werner was real good at that. Other companies probably are too. I did not realize slavery and being owned by a company was okay in the United States too.


I'm not an idiot or a fool. I won't be owned or be a robot. I will not take arbitrary abuse from anyone. If that makes me not a 'real trucker', I'm okay with it.

 

How long to learn to drive a truck? My course was less than 6 weeks, and I drive quite well. I've done alley backs and parallel parking with a 53' trailer experienced drivers can not do (I have a right to toot my horn about that). Some should not drive at all, but driving a semi is not rocket science. It's not being a N.A.S.A. Astronaut. Learning to safely handle and drive a semi should not need the time some say it does. Some have the knack and aptitude for it, some do not. If it takes longer, the candidate should not be accepted into the industry. But almost anyone is because of what I already mentioned a big problem to be: The Federal Subsidy money for hiring.

 

Roadisean, your knocking them all out of the park.If your mother didn't give birth to you,
while driving over her 14 hrs. through the ROCKIES,while overweight,with D.O.T. in hot
pursuit, in 4 feet of snow,with no chains,while she talks on a $1500 cb,and has never known
the thrills of a bar of soap,farts a lot,and owns a basset hound that also farts alot...
Then you can never possibly expect to be a true trucker
I know how you feel

 

You can call me all those pattycakes :smt008

 

I get the jist of what you're saying . In a nutshell, too many have an unrealistic perception of what a true or real trucker is .

 

What you say in much of this is all well and good. But keep in mind that forums like this can be a good source of information regarding companies and such. Going to a truck stop and bothering a driver who is strapped for time might not get you really good or accurate info, and in some cases, you will just hear some of what you read on these forums.

In my view regarding a 'diplomatic manner' where conduct is concerned: One must submit to disrespect and do things they should not have to do in order to be deemed 'diplomatic' - especialy wth Werner .

I've said it before. ALL companies have to have SOME happy people who spend years or even decades with the company. Any company with ALL unhappy people would have trouble getting people. Companies have to cater to and take care of SOME people (resulting in happiness) to avoid a completely bad reputation.

Different people have different experiences with different companies. My message to anyone would be don't take someone to be a liar just because you might not like what someone says about a company. Many have a legitimate gripe, just as many have a legitimate reason for being happy.

There are reasons for forum sections such as 'report a bad trucking company'. The bad things people speak of may or may not happen to others. Just know the potential is there.