I'm going to be a new driver - I've heard the nightmares about Werner....

I work at Werner, I love working at Werner. Frankly I find most of the people whom are ######## about Werner are expecting way too much out of a large company. I've worked for a few large companies and they all are pretty much the same, Werner is no different. There isn't a darn thing Werner has done to prove any of the claims made here.

Sometimes miles suck, but when our miles suck so does most others. Its not because dispatch hates you, dispatch doesn't even assign the loads. I've had two at fault incidents here at Werner, one resulting in less then 300 dollars damage to another car, that was not reported to anything. And one resulting in a tow truck due to taking a turn to sharp, again nothing reported (though I did get charged for the tow, at 10.00 a week for a while >.>).

All these horror stories you hear are just not seeming to be true, sure Werner isn't Lollipops and Dollars, but its still a #### good company and has treated us with undoubtedly the most respect that any company I have ever worked for has.

But in the end whats really important to drivers is, you get loads, you get paid, you get home. And really I cannot see Werner having failed that. We get loads, not always as great as we want but thats not Werner thats the economy. We have never had a pay issue go unresolved more then 2 weeks. And we get home every time we ask, only 2 times have they been late getting us home and BOTH times it was OTHER Werner drivers screwing up and failing to meet us for swaps that caused the issue.

Been here a year and been through 3 trucks, not because of breakdowns so much as upgrades. First truck was 280k when we got it, when we switched to team it had to be replaced. Truck worked fine after a few little issues, loved the truck didn't really want to replace it. But when they offered up the keys to a 2 year newer 379 with less miles on it... it was love at first shift.

But sadly the girl got out of shape with team running, and a few months ago the failed ole girl failed to start, which got us eventually towed to Omaha, where after the starter was repaired (rush repaired due to JT load) she failed DOT inspection in the safety lane (due to the week being the week DOT was going to be PITA about inspections they actually started hardcore looking for stuff) with about 30 things wrong... none serious but Werner didn't want the tickets so they pulled her off us to be repaired rented us a car to get home and then gave us our new truck. In fact they even had it all setup for us to just go in inspect and go when we got to the terminal we didn't have to wait for the driver truck pool. And our dispatcher did try, he got us the right make, wrong model... -_-

Anyway I am sorry I got distracted there, but its starting to irk me when people so utterly badmouth a company and tell another person to avoid them or commit suicide rather then work for them. I am having a hard time choosing between staying with Werner where I am happy or going to a job that MIGHT let me be home daily and make a little more because I really have enjoyed my time at Werner. Do I enjoy it 24/7 no. Point me to someone whom has never gotten annoyed about something at work?


I do not know if they will hire you, honestly I sorta hope not. But not to be mean to you, but thats a long sheet and I am hoping they are sorta discriminatory on that kind of thing >.>

But they DID hire me, and I have several tickets, including reckless driving, and some other stuff. No felonies though. I am not sure about that, I could ask my friend in admin tomorrow if you'd like.

Werner usually only cares about the last 3 years driving history, so you might luck out there. Sometimes five years again you might luck out there. The DWAI is over 7 years old I am PRETTY SURE that it won't be looked at. I know they said they were going to start looking further back in backgrounds but I am unsure if they have actually started doing that yet. The bad thing for you will be the felonies, generally you tell them the circumstances and they send it to the board. Basically its less about you then it is about the cost to insure you and the risk you pose to their reputation/trucks. So you might be okay. But please don't let all the naysayers tell you Werner is totally corrupt horrible and will rob you blind.

As for the pay issue, to date I have made about 26k with per diem and miles pay. Figure about 600 a week for the last 10 weeks, and I wil easily hit 30k this year. This is my first year with Werner, however, to be fair my pay is .42 cents a mile (.38 once all the deductions are done for school loan and stuff). I do run team however, my starting pay was .32 cents a mile. My husband whom has several years expierence was placed as first seat so we get paid at HIS rate. Also to be fair we'd make more if we ran harder, its not Werner causing the low team pay its us running like crap trust me. Trying to hash this out.

On a side note I am not taking per diem next year, in the end I think I could make more back on taxes at the end of the year if I don't take it.

 

Pan Fish? First time that been said to me, lol.. Busted a few fishermen though, and a few Drug runners and busted a few Chinese and Cubans coming illegal into the Country. But I also know a Gun will not go off unless the one handling it does something to cause it to go. 99% accidental shootings are cause of careless handling. My wonder will you be careless while driving a Truck?

Military Officers can be careless also, I know a few who are.

I agree with what your saying, it all sounds far fetch and fishy.. Most Cops I know are bit safer with firearms. But there are a few bad cops. But you would guess being one to handle guns Military and Police Force experience he would been more careful with a Gun, a loaded gun at that.

Trying to, but stuff does not add up and would you want someone careless on the road in a truck with your family? I just see some bright red flags of danger... As I said in an earlier post glad he not drinking now. That a good sign, but these other means danger.. As in being in the news Trucker runs over a School bus killing several kids. details at 11..

JMC1972 has some major problems to deal with harsher than what we are giving him here. Hopefully if nothing else prepare him for what to come while applying for jobs. Cause you know what we are asking him will be asked or wondered by any potential employer.

 

jmc1972, I would suggest you find another line of work than truck driving. You come across as someone with too much attitude and an extensive arrest record to boot.

I see nothing but trouble in the future for any company that hires you.

 

I hear what you are saying, but frankly this is right out of a Jerry Springer show. I mean why would anyone(unless they are nuts) come on here and tell us all this--if they actually researched this industry, and they had been a law enforcement officer(as they say) then they would already know that they are pretty much screwed at least in this industry. Wouldnt you agree? I mean the police force booted him, what does he expect here?

 

JMC1972, What I and a few others been trying to say is it will be very hard for you to get a JOB, As you stated in one post Werner and May both have turned you down. You will find that alot. If you really want to be a trucker, wait another year to 5 years. Most wants 10 years from the last incident and a very few will accept 5 years after wards. It not that your guilty or not guilty but something there to say you may have been to be put in that situation.

 

If you think that you are gonna sue either Werner or May for not hiring you--have fun. These companies get sued all the time over stuff and beleive me they have a team of lawyers on staff for that purpose. Also a company can hire and fire you for any reason they want to, and they can also choose not to hire you for any reason that they want to. You live in Colorado which means that you live in a work-at-will state--which means that they can terminate you anytime they want to with no notice and with no reason, and that also means that they can choose not to hire you for any reason that they want to. There are only 6 states that are not this way California, Florida, New York, New Hampshire, Washington, and Georgia. These 6 have to give you a valid reason all others do not.

As far as prejudice, a company has to go by what their insurance and safety departments state--so beleive me, it is not prejudice--it is the fact that these companies dont want to spend thousands of dollars on you and then have you repeat the same things that got you in trouble. YOU say you wont repeat it, but where is their guarantee? You are still saying that the alcohol is to blame for your actions, that tells me right there that you can still not take responsibility for your own actions and blame them on other things, and I'm not even in the personnel dept at any of these companies and even I see that. I see that you have an excuse for each thing that you did, I think that maybe you should revisit your 12-step program. As far as the DUI, it is only .04 in any state while holding a CDL, and that is no matter if you are driving a car or a truck. Also you may want to check out the law in Colorado at the link, and you will see that a DUI is also .08 there:
http://www.dui-advisor.com/law.htm
also you may want to check this link out for MANDATORY sentencing under Colorado Criminal code:
http://littleton-dui.com/subart/penalty.jpg

Have you thought maybe about driving a dump truck or something locally there in Denver for a few years until your record gets better. Just a thought. You still would be required to get a CDL, but you may try something there. I dont know about the driving schools in your area, but the one I went to in Indiana wouldnt even train somebody with a record like yours, because nobody that recruited from them would take somebody with that record.

 

Well I do not know how you will be able to sue a company for not wanting to hire you.

After all it was your mistakes that is the reason you can not get a pre hire.

I had a buddy that had a felony on his record it was next to impossible for him to get a job because of the hiring requierments stated no felony's ever and that was for factory jobs.

They are probaly worried you may act dumb again and they do not want the risk if you use the 80000 lb truck as a weapon.

I also think you may be leaving other stuff out.

May and Werner has seen that you made alot oif bad decisions in the last 10 years that is a bad thing also did you even consider that if there is not good employment history that could be a reason for not wanting you too.

Self employment only works if you actually pay taxes and have past tax returns for it. I know I had to show all of mine for the last few years and they still wanted verification from the people that I was contracted through for it.

Here is a copy and paste from may's website under faq's for entry level drivers
6. If I have a felony conviction will I still qualify to drive for MTC?
All felony convictions must be at least 5 years old. Each felony conviction is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
7. I have a driving under the influence conviction. Will this keep me from being qualified?
A driving under the influence conviction must be five years or older, more than one in a lifetime will disqualify you.

9. What if I have been convicted of a crime involving drugs. Will this keep me from being qualified?
We will not qualify anyone with any type of drug conviction within the last five years, and all convictions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
10. What if my driving record isn't perfect?
May Trucking Company reviews all motor vehicle records for each driver applicant. You will be approved before you are scheduled for orientation.