WERNER: Greg Werner says "just take the truck".

Highlander is entitled to that right, just as you are entitled to your right to complain and insult, as you do in most posts you have on this board. Same difference. Feel free to express your opinion, but don't expect it to effect Highlander's opinion.

Lemme tell ya a story about Greg and a meeting with drivers. Drivers wanted to know why they were not getting raises. He stood in front of them and said "I can replace all of you. Drivers are a dime a dozen." Well, drivers might be a dime a dozen, but safe million mile professional drivers are not.

First I didn't ask a question, I made a statement of facts. Careful with words darlin.

Second only an idiot would up right and quit a company one has been working for for nearly 18 years, especially in this economy. But the point YOU are missing is not so much what happened, but a senior driver's opinion on the matter. And he is not alone in his opinion at Werner. Hard for you to know when you don't work for them.

Third, as for countless drivers getting banged up trucks, you weren't at the terminal so you can't have an opinion on this. You also don't work for Werner so you also can't have an opinion on this, because you DONT KNOW.

So are you trying to say that Highlander can't drive because he works for Werner? That although he and other million milers drive the same trucks you do, that they are not entitled to their million mile status? Just because they work for Werner? Last time I checked, miles were miles with the DOT.

Additionally 10 years ago, it wasn't such a company. This type of treatment has only happened since CL semi-retired and the boys took over.

Highlander obviously has something you don't. Its called commitment, job ethics, reliability and dedication. No job or company, no matter what industry, is perfect. You take the good times with the bad times. Its part of a job. Sorry for you if you don't have the professional attitude for the job.

He never said he wasnt going to run with it, although right now, it's a little difficult since its at Thermo King (which is what Werner wanted first) and then will be at Freightliner. Also, within the Werner Handbook it states, "Take Pride in Your Ride". How can a driver take pride in their ride, when Werner doesn't take pride in their trucks?

Additionally, you even state in your post that the older trucks in your company were replaced with new ones. You logic makes no sense in this topic other than bragging that your company is actually run by business men, and not by trust fund babies.

As for working for the same company 15 years, in one post on this board you say you worked for Mills and had good experience with them. In another post you say you worked as an OO for Gunville. In nearly all the posts on this board, you seem to know which companies are hiring or not. SO if you are happy with your job, why do you know all of this and are current on the information?

Its not about the miles on the truck. If the truck has been taken care of, then its not an issue. As for senior drivers get the better loads, well with Werner, its whoever is available. So tell me, how would you feel if the youngins got the better loads, and you didn't? Don't tell me you wouldn't be upset which indicates entitlement. Also, Werner is forced dispatch, you don't have a choice.

You post in summary is nothing but an obvious agitating ratchetjaw post. And its not about a "new" truck, its about a truck that a person takes "Pride in Their Ride". Its about ethics in a company and driver ethics, again obviously something you don't have.

 

I would also like to state that all of this may be a mute point. Last evening we went for ice cream at the local Petro. Its a way to get something free via points. We were looking at all the trucker magazines and found that not one held a Werner ad for recruiting. Looking in the newspapers and magazines, the only ads for Werner were through schools, not Werner itself. This is something that neither of us have ever seen before.

Taking this into mind, remembering that Werner cut their drivers, again, by 10% earlier in the year. Taking into consideration comparing the 2nd Q income of less than a year ago versus this year. Taking into consideration that higher ups are exercising their stock options by buying and selling said stock in the company. Taking into consideration the known budget cuts between reduction in employees at Omaha, the increase in miles with road service, the increase in miles with truck turn ins, the decrease in "trips" by management such as safety and DMs, doing away with safety lanes at certain terminals, the maintenance staff has been cut in half, simple maintenace repairs are being outsourced, this should be an obvious sign of things to come with Werner .....

 

I think you are referring to the Pony Express. A recent example of this is 22 loads being sent 2400 miles away on a dedicated account. Three of those loads were given to the drivers on the account, the rest went to OTR/Pony Express drivers.

While this makes sense, since you need drivers to continue normal deliveries on the account, a few drivers, including Highlander, were a bit disappointed to not get the loads. Again, it came down to whoever was available at the time.

As for forced dispatch, if you are sent load information on the QComm, then you have to take the load. You can not say no and refuse it. You can call dispatch and ask to be removed from it however, they can say no and you are expected to take it. If you refuse it, then you are considered no longer working for Werner.

 

It has come to my attention that Omaha is aware of this thread. I would like to point out a few things to these individuals reading this.

FIRST, I would be a fool to assume this would not get back to Omaha and also a fool to assume that it would not be figured out exactly who Highlander is.

SECOND, at no time have I stated this is a money issue so do not try to discredit with a "pay off" statement. I have however stated this, at a minimum, is an ethics, a business ethics and disrespect issue.

THIRD, the account on "The Truckers Report" is "owned" per say, by myself, Steele. I am wholly responsible for anything that is posted on this account and only I know the password for it. Highlander at no time and no way has access to this account. For my statement of "Highlander has asked me to come back" simply implies that Highlander said that everyone should know about how a senior driver at Werner is being treated. At no time did he tell me, "I want you to post, this, and this, and this and this." He simply said, people need to know. I personally chose this site because of its high visibility.

Highlander does not have the right to tell me what to do or control my actions. I alone am responsible for my actions. If you would like to take the opinion that Highlander needs to "control" my actions, then I am going to coin a phrase than a Werner employee used on me around a year ago. At that time, I questioned why another driver received a bonus, yet Highlander did not although he was eligible for it. A message from the DM was communicated down the grapevine verbally to Highlander to tell me "You are not married. It is none of your business. When it comes to Werner, keep your ##### nose out of it." My reply back to those who think Highlander should "control" me regarding this issue is that "I am not an employee of Werner. Highlander and I are not married. It is none of your business. When it comes to Highlander and I's personal life, keep your ##### nose out of it."

I do not speak for Highlander, other than when noted, and he certainly does not speak for me. Sorry, as Hillary recently said with her "meltdown" "I do not speak for Bill, I can not channel his thoughts". ADDITIONALLY, Highlander is not aware of my posting activities, unless I choose to tell him what and where I post to. And since this board's posts are private, and since he does not have an account on this board, there is no way for him to read them and know their content. This however does suggest that in order for Omaha to know about said post, they do have access to this board.

FOURTH, I would like to bring to your attention page 1.16-1.17 of the June 2008 Werner Handbook, which is the most recent copy that seems to be available when asked for. On page 1.16-1.17 under the heading of "Recording Devices"

With the exception of documenting the scene of an accident in which you were involved (see Chapter 6), Employees are prohibited from recording work related conversations, phone calls, meetings or other company activities unless express permission is received in advance from Werner's Human Resources or Legal Department. "Work Related" shall mean any conversation, phone call, meeting or activity in which one or more parties is performing job related function for the Company, or one of the participants is a Company representative in the course of his or her duties.

The prohibition applies to all types of recording devices including but not limited to: tape recorders, video recorders, cameras or cell phones with camera/video features. Employees are also prohibited from arranging for others, including non-employees (passengers, guests, family members, etc.) to engage in any recording that would have been prohibited had the Employee done the recording. Employees should regard this policy as an explicit statement that Werner/DM does not consent to recording of any conversations, phone calls, meetings, or activities without prior authorization as discussed above.
Any employee who violates this policy may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination.
If an applicable state/local law conflicts with this policy Werner/DM will comply with the state/local law to the extent the law applies to Werner/DM and the employee under the specific circumstances at issue.
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I would like to state, that I am not an employee of Werner, I have never been an employee of Werner, I am not related to an employee of Werner. Secondly, "Work Related" refers to on duty, not off duty, which according to the DOT, one is not acting as an employee for the company and does not have a legal obligation. Third, there is no way from the pictures to tell where and who took them. Fourth, if a driver or an agent for the driver does choose to take pictures of a truck they have been assigned to, to document issues with a vehicle for the vehicle inspection report of previous damage, to ensure said driver is not held responsible for said damage, this is a direct conflict with said policy. And I have never stated how these pictures were taken, who they were taken by, where they were taken, and how I acquired them.

FIFTH, in regards to Highlander future treatment at Werner. I would like to bring to your attention what are called the "Whistleblower Laws", although I am sure your legal department is aware of them.

Nevada Whistleblower Laws
Code Section: 618.445 which prohibits employer activity of discharging or discriminating if an employee files a complaint, institutes a proceeding or testifies regarding a violation of health and safety statues.
Code Section: 281.611, et seq. which states an employer can not directly or indirectly intimidate, threaten, coerce, command or influence another state officer or employee or prevent disclosure of violation of state law/regulations, abuse of authority, substantial and specific danger to public health or safety or gross waste of public money.

Nebraska Whistleblower Laws
Code Section: 81-2701, et seq. which states a person with authority to recommend, approve, direct, or take another personnel action can not dismiss, demote, transfer, reassign, suspend, or other personnel action if employee discloses information or testifies before public counsel or other officials.
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I do not think I need to make any further statement on this other than, if you harass, discipline or terminate one driver for allegedly making comments about Werner, without evidence of such action, which he did not make and is not responsible for, then you will need to do this across the board and the Internet for ANYONE who is currently a driver for Werner making such negative comments. If not, this can be considered an act of harassment.

Additionally, if you harass, discipline or terminate a driver for allegedly making comments about Werner, without evidence of such action, which he did not make and is not responsible for this may fall within harassment and the "Whistleblower" laws. This would also be very suspicious considering an employee of 18 years, a million miler plus, a stockholder and a driver with a status of "good" is terminated after such incident. And after termination, this releases Highlander from the employee policy of full disclosure. I am sure certain individuals who read this will not like that statement.

SIXTH, ultimately these are MY opinions and MY posts. What you need to focus on is not a person who is not an employee of Werner making said statements. You need to focus on why drivers, and not just Highlander, have this opinion and why Werner has an extremely HIGH turnover. And you need to remember, while he may not own 3 million shares of Werner, he is still a stockholder.

SEVENTH, Highlander is not an acting agent for me. He is not a spokesperson for me. If you wish to question me and since you know where he works at, based upon how it was made aware that Omaha knows of this post, then you know how to contact him, to obtain contact information for me. I will be more than happy to discuss this issue with you.

EIGHT: If you are not directly involved in this, my best advice to you would not be to get caught in the crossfire and stay out of it.