Werner - Not What I'd Heard (Thank God.)

Thank you! I am sure its all in what you get used to, but I would much rather have a Century if I had a choice! The new Pete's and KW's are very nice, but the long nose trucks just look intimidating. A pleasure to drive but a wench to back!

What is Werner's pet and rider policy by the way?

 

You can have a rider as soon as you turn solo, and they must be over the age of 12...and i am not sure about the pet policy...i think it is a 500 dollar deposit for pets under 25 pounds, 1000 for those over 25 pounds...you can pay half of the deposit up front, and then have the rest deducted weekly from payroll...also the pets vaccinations hafta be current...oh and your cat must be declawed on the front paws, and prove the cat is declawed...

 

If you find yourself getting close on hours, tell the receiver or shipping that you are close on hours, and if you can park. If not, then ask them where is the closest place. Security is also a good choice to ask as its a pretty common occurrance to be running out of hours at a receiver or shipper. Some are a little more understanding than others and may allow you some leeway. It never hurts to ask for an exception.

With Highlander, not all the stores he delivers to, or cities he delivers to allows him to stay at the dock overnight. As soon as he knows he has a load, even if he's on a 34, he will look at the load info. Usually QComm will tell him this, and he *surprise* plans ahead for this. Knowing how to drive is only about 40% of this job. The rest is knowing how to plan for your trips in advance.

I can think of one time this happened to Highlander in about five years, and took the chance with the driving under 25mph thing for 5 miles. He said his worst case scenario was he would get a log violation (Since he didn't have one, he could afford it. And who cares if you get one log violation, not like its something major not getting the $25 credit for the company shop for the quarter... oooooooooooooo. Or having to take the "remedial" log class on the computer). Needless to say, he didn't get nailed.

Someone a few posts back (or on another thread) mentioned about the "act of God" thang. It use to be if you were running out of hours and say were stuck in stopped traffic by an accident that was probably going to make you run out of hours, you could request an exemption for an additional hour. I think Highlander said they phased that out. I've always wondered how it would be handled if in such a situation you didn't have any hours left and pulled over to the side of the road and parked it. If a PD or DOT told you to move it, seems like you would have to and thus that would be your get out of free jail card, as long as you notified the log department at the time.

 

I can't remember if its as soon as you turn solo, or after three months. Its been about two years since either of us have seen a Drivers Handbook on the never ending and constantly chaning rules. But I know you have to be in "good standing" to be able to have a rider. Meaning, no preventable accidents. There's a document that has to be signed along with faxing in a copy of an ID. Depending upon who you talk to at Omaha, it could take a day, or it could take a couple of weeks to get the riders permit.

Pets are $500 as far as I remember and they do need their current rabies shot paperwork. I've never heard about the cat having to be declawed (and Im sure the ASPCA would have something to say about that if so and if so, Photoshop and Word are wonderful products to produce such a document). As for the deposit being used to clean the truck.. HA HA HA HA HA HA. The current truck Highlander has had a previous driver with a dog. Nearly two years later, he's still pulling huge clumps of dog hair out of the vents under the dash to the point we joke about his truck having Tribbles.

EDIT: For the pet permits it is $500 =<25lbs and $1000 >25lbs. Additionally it is true about the rabies shot and having the front claws removed. (Again, this one, I'd be utilizing the talents of Photoshop or Word.)

As for the riders permit, he says it is three months after you go solo, and you must be in good standing. This means no log violations, no preventable accidents, no tickets.

 

I liked reading your post about Werner. I attempted to drive for them thirteen years ago, but I was let go because of two preventables during my training. The first one I bent the cab extender on the back of tractor when I took the initative to turn the rig around on my own while my trainer was inside the office at the receiver. The second one I hit the back of another rig while going through a construction zone in Ohio and he pulled up short because of a car in front of him. I caused moderate damage to the front end of the tractor. But my short experience during my time there left me with positive thoughts about the company. They let me get home to South Florida back then for a day to do my taxes. I filled out an on-line application for them last night to try for a chance of going out OTR again. The bad experiences were due to my errors and a lot more immaturity.

 

they must have changed the rider policy then, 3 years ago when i started, wife got on the truck with me on my 1st solo trip...

 

You can have a rider from day 1 solo.................

 

That is awesome! Thank you, Dragon. My wife wants to go if we decide to do it. Quite frankly, with what I keep reading on the site about people starving out there for miles, I am a tad concerned!

I am not the kind to argue with management. If they offer me a load, I take it. I may complain out loud but the QC can't hear me

 

truckdriver,

From what i have been reading on here, it is how you treat it. If you do good and keep calling dedicated guys, you could a run with guaranteed miles on it. I have heard of people getting dedicated from the start and some waiting for six months to a year. From what I see, the key to being a good player is being very flexible on where you run, making use of your time, no b'sing, and being a good citizen. Good luck and keep us updated.

KH

 

Well my info came from a trainer, so obviously someone isn't correct.