Werner: My experience (in progress)

Please don't get me wrong, I think your post are very helpful and informative. I just don't see the reason to enter the world of labels, accusations and belittling that discounts your empathy and taints your narrative.
Consider what you are saying from the position of trying to write a rational and logical and supportable legal brief...get your head into the next phase you wish to pursue just from the stand point of telling your story.
I won't mention this again and we can move on to enjoying the rest of your training post.
Thanks for taking the time to post and thanks for not misconstruing my message. I wish you well and if snow is what you desire may you have mountains of it and the opportunity to chain until you see chains in your sleep. Personally I think your rational is both reasonable and commendable...you want to learn and you need the situations that with give you the opportunity. Good luck and stay safe!

Little Eddy

 

The macros are used over the Qualcomm satellite link. Communication over this link is preserved and is the record of your interactions with your dispatcher. It is the only way you'll receive and respond to assignments. The Qualcomm unit is also the keeper of your electronic logs. It isn't compatible with personal equipment.

I don't use the scanning option because I don't see any benefit for me to do so. I have a Macbook Pro and at this point the pc Triptik software is strictly windows. There is a smartphone version, but like you I don't have a smartphone and I'm not sure Werner has adopted it yet. If you go the scanner/pc route wait to buy the scanner. I'm under the impression very few are supported.

The most useful PC hardware option is 3g/4g access. The most useful software is routing/mapping. The ability to look a a satellite view the fist time you visit a shipper or receiver can also be very helpful. Most of the truck radios have an aux in so you can listen to podcasts, audio books, or your own playlists with a simple cable. Some of the newer trucks may have Bluetooth but mine doesn't. If you use the phone while driving a wireless headset is the law. Handheld phones and texting are illegal in commercial trucks. Finally a GPS is useful, a truck specific unit especially so. That said I make do with a cheap car gps because I plan first with the computer. I suppose if your eyesight is good enough and your fingers small enough most of this could also be accomplished with a smart phone.

Routing is provide by Werner over the qualcomm in a turn by turn format.

 

You can sign up to get text alerts on your phone for your pre assigned loads. They don't really tell you anything its just a generic text which would alert you that you have a pre - assigned load. It isn't really that use full. If you happened to be in the truckstop theater or on your last day of hometime it would basicly alert you to go to your truck to read your qualcom message.

 

I can't wait to hear more! I start with Werner this week. Can you send me your updates (copy and paste) to my e-mail? I don't know if I'll be able to find this thread again in the future. Good look,...hope to hear from you,...kareykat@live.com

 

Great thread DriveIt! I am starting CDL school in a week and probably hooking up with Roehl. Keep up with the truthful and humble posts! It is refreshing to read about what really happens out there for the lesser experienced. I used to own my own straight truck in Wisconsin but left my CDL lapse 10 years ago. Looking forward to new challenges OTR.

 

I've got parallels to run windows but don't see the scanner option helpful for me.

In the SE low bridges and restrictions are rare. I'm on a dedicated route and go out and back to around 30 different stores and 20 or so backhaul locations. Only a couple stops have restriction issues and we're told about those before we head to them. I mostly use my gps for time/distance to make sure I'm on schedule. During my brief stint OTR I used my computer to plan and truck atlas to check for restrictions and compared it with the Werner qualcomm route.

My trainer didn't own a gps and mostly relied on the Werner routes and atlas.