Werner Enterprises

For the "not sure when to stop".

Use your instincts. If you feel it is too bad to drive...park it, period. The only thing more dangerous than the actual road condidtions, is a driver that is to terrified to maintain a safe speed for the actual conditions. Typically driving 15-20 miles an hour (or more) slower than other traffic.

None of the Upper Management will offer to pay your bills or attend your funeral, if you have a major accident.

 

Good luck Fry. I find that if I start gripping the wheel tighter than I normally would, it's time to pull over, and rest for a bit, because I'm too tense (usually happens when I think it might be slick).

Dont let anyone else tell you it's safe to drive. They aren't the ones that will get in trouble for having an accident, you will.

Pull over anytime, and everytime you feel unsafe.

 

You stop when you no longer feel that its safe to drive and i dont give a #### if dispatch raises hill at you for doing it! Remember it's your butt on the line and if you wreck it's all on you, everything! You cant tell a trooper that you were told to keep driving because he will tell you that you should have known better and that's the same thing a judge will tell you if you have to go to court when your being sued by some one that you hit or the family of the person you killed because of a stupid mistake!

If in time you do ever work for a company that tells you to keep going in bad weather then as soon as possible you should find another job. If that company is willing to put the load above your life and the lives of others then they will not be there for you if the worst happens and could care less about you!

On the other hand if you still think it's safe to drive but at a slower speed then put your warning blinkers on...stay in the right lane and do what ever speed you think is wise. If other drivers are pissing and moaning about it then turn your radio off. Let them fly on by you like a fool. Odds are you will see them a few miles down the road laying on there sides, i have many times over the last 15 years.

Always....always remember that anytime you have a accident in a big truck YOU WILL be the one that will in the end pay for it. One way or the other!

 

I trained with a man when I got out of school in Denver, CO. He had been with Werner for about 6-8 years I think. No problems with him at all. I learned a lot, things I still use today. I was happy to get my own truck after 6 weeks with him, but he was a good trainer. I just wanted to train with someone who didn't smoke. I didn't wait for a female trainer, so didn't have to wait long after I finished school.

Werner was OK for me. I was disappointed with one of the dispatchers I had who kept me shagging loads from Phoenix to Winslow for the teams to take all the way to the East coast. With their sliding scale for pay I was only getting $.21/mile for a 180 mile trip - plus taking time to PU a trailer, drop it in Winslow (at a jammed Flying J with NO parking spaces), PU another trailer that had come from East coast and take it to a grocery warehouse in Phoenix and deal with lumpers...I wasn't making ANY money. So I fired that dispatcher and got a new one. She was great (Deb or Jay from Phoenix were the best.)

You won't make much money, but you will be OK with Werner for a year or so. Everyone started somewhere - don't let the horror stories discourage you. And keep in mind that truckers spend a lot of time alone, going down the road, and that many of them are a legend in their own minds. Take everything you hear with a grain (or an entire shaker) of salt. A story that isn't exaggerated isn't usually as interesting as one that has been, well, embellished. Other truckers were, for the most part, very helpful to me when I needed it and encouraging, too.

Hang in there - you will be OK. And if the conditions seem scarey just park the #### truck. They are correct - you are the one that will suffer the consequences if there is a wreck. So just park it, get some rest and go on when the conditions improve. If you are late, then that's tough. Believe in yourself.

 

Fry,

Keep the post coming and what equipment are you in? Remember as others have said you are responsible for your own actions not the trainer.

Kinghunter

 

Dido!..I ship out for Portland tomorrow to start orientation and driver training.
I've found your posts very useful, thanks and keep em coming.

 

Thanks Hamm109, I learned a lot just by reading what the experienced people post on here. My birth mom who used to drive taught me that one. Anyways good luck and let us know how it goes.

Fry, I am sure you have heard this: But when driving in bad weather, do an extra pre-trip before you head out. You may notice something you did not regonize when you did your 1st pre-trip.

Kinghunter

 

Glad to here all is going well. Don't forget to go to your other post and update people. We're all checking on you and hoping for the best. Keep us posted.

 

Two days of orientation, my last two brain cells are rubbed raw!
My driver trainers on his way to pick me up.

Werner dont waste no time