My Experiences At Werner Enterprises (As a Student Driver)

"In the eye sight of God a small white lie is a sin on the same scale as killing..."

Really? Are you sure? Someone needs to get a sense of perspective - a small white lie is the same on the moral scale as ending someone's existence? Not in my world. I'd prefer that we keep private religious beliefs in another forum.

 

Apparently some kids that go into the military don't get the memo that what happens during the next ~four years will make or break the rest of their life. I'm just amused that 813 referred to his time in the Navy as a "career." If he thought of it as a career, he obviously wouldn't have been sparking a joint, using ecstasy, or whatever the cool Seamen were up to.

 

yea well every now and then people do get their lives together. Your statement is sanctimonious. You can't possibly paint everyone with the same brush that either used drugs or tried drugs. I get tired of seeing that same statement made everytime on the forums about someone that used once in their lives.

I was addicted to Percocets. Why, I hit a deer at 50miles on my motorcycle. SMASHED the ENTIRE right side of my body. Spent a year getting it rebuilt, 6 months learning to walk, smoked weed so I could eat as the percocets made me throw up. Pain so intense some nights I wanted to blow my own brains out so it would end.

Now, please tell me how im unworthy to every drive a truck. After I spent the first 42 years totally clean. AND ive been clean again for the last year. Do I still have pain, yep every day. I've learned to manage it and take two alleve when needed.

 

Yes, people do get their lives together at times. It happens far less than anyone cares to admit though.

Not to rain on your parade and kudos to you for admitting your addiction, and for staying off Percocet, but you're comparing apples to oranges. Percocet isn't a Schedule 1 drug. I have a prescription for Methylphenidate ER 36mg (Concerta). I haven't taken it in 7 months, but even if I was taking it as prescribed (once daily), it would not cause me to fail a drug test. Both Methylphenidate and Percocet are schedule 2 drugs, which, if taken pursuant to a medical script, are legal. OTOH, since they are both controlled substances, and you've admitted to being addicted to Percocet, I'd like to know from where did you get them? Because, if you didn't get them from a doctor, or you took a dosage that's greater than what a doctor can legally prescribe, then you broke the law. And, breaking the law in such a manner, IMHO, makes you as unworthy to drive a truck as it does a driver who smokes a joint. Who's to say you won't break the law again for something else, you?

Don't like it? Take it up with the legislature. In the alternative, take it up with those who write a company's policy related to drug tests.

35 years ago, I earned my living as an F.A.R. Part 135 corporate pilot. The only "drug" flight crews could take at that time, and be legal to fly, was regular, 4 hr., Sudafed.

Try that on for size.

 

Been reading through this thread and have found some of it just comical... I have been with werner for just over a year now and am happy with them... in mh particular case there have been times when werner has taken steps to keep me happy and retain me as a driver...

When I hurt my shoulder I was able to work at the terminal and get paid my average weekly drivers pah instead of the 66% on workmans comp... when my father was ill and I needed to be home.. they let me run net ops and allowed me to take any day off I needed and able to run when I could.. which was a blessing as I needed a regular pay check..

Just recently, they gave me a great discount at werner cycle on a new mototcycle and I was able to switch to an account where I will be home pretty much daily with a couple over nignts... so, I will have time to ride mh new bike..

I have always be treated with respect and courtesy and have been able to have any problems resolved...

Now, I am a good professional driver.. no accidents, no preventable mishaps, no late loads, no tickets... I also run my hours.. I dont waste time in truck stops or BSing with other drivers at shippers, recievers. . I keep myself and my truck clean and in good shape...

 

If you ever want insight as to part of the reason for high driver turnover.. become a trainer.. and see how many of the students you are assigned would you want as a driver for your fleet....

By my estimate... and my experience as a trainer... 1 in 5 students has potential to be a professional driver... the other 4 will quit, get fired, have an accident, company hop till they run out of companies and have too poor a work history for most companies....

The thing is.. most student are ill prepared for the 14 hour days of trucking.. they are in an 8 hour day job mentality. . 15 minute breaks every couple hours, an hour for lunch.. then home to lay on the couch and watch T.V....

 

I am impressed. you are able to assume all of the above plus be a trainer yet only have one year of driving,per your profile,experience. how many have you trained in that year to be able to conclude that 1 in 5 will make it?

your comment regarding how many students would want whomever as a trainer promptly made me think the same regarding you. exactly how many students would want a trainer that has a mere years worth of experience?


mainly curious. thanks in advance.

 

I got my CDL in 2009.. and drove for an O/O pulling flatbed... I took a short ti e off the road when my father became ill and then drove for a small reefer outfit... then just over a year ago I came to Werner... I havent updated my profile experience because I, or anyone else can put whatever I want in there.. I could change and say I have 10 years experience.. would that make my posts more reliable.. I dont believe so... I go my the content of the posts..

As stated in my post the 1 in 5 came from my experience.. I only recently decided to become a trainer.. I was happy and doing well as a solo driver... but, being a female driver with no accidents, tickets, preventables was constantly being asked if I would train.. so I decided to give it a try... so I have had 5 students and those are the 5 that I drew my assuptions...

I will clarify what I was expressing... from limited experience I do not believe that many of the throngs of students who attend CDL school even has the potential to become a successful professional driver.. many show up for training and are no where near ready to put in what it will take to train and gain experience to become a safe successful driver.. they are not prepared for 14 hour days, doing pre trips in sub zero weather, keeping their emotions in check and their head in the game...

Before I became a trainer, and would read posts from old timers complain about the new drivers.. wearing flip flops, and yada yada.. I didnt really get it.. but when I became a trainer and had student show up with no gloves, slippers and so on.. I got a deeper understanding. .

 

I started with Werner for my first career company.... CRAP HOLE COMPANY!
I was out of the Springfield Ohio terminal...dues mainly to the fact I wanted my starter company close to home so when I had enough....I could just jump in my car and go home. I DID luck out on my two trainers as I took the mid training break. Both great guys and they themselves leaving Werner soon after. Oh the horror stories I could tell but my favorite was later when I was a trainer...stupid move but wanted the extra cash....my first student was in fact out of Springfield Ohio so I pick him up...things seemed good at first. Get to the bridge crossing the Ohio river into Ky...asks me if I mind....thought he meant smoking (I was driving not looking at him)....told him to knock himself out that I believe in freedom to smoke. Then I happen to see him out of the corner of my eye he starts jerking off... I about lost it! Stopped at the first TA...called dispatch. Took his nasty rear back to Springfield and I quit!