Return to Werner - any advice??

Folks, I'm thinking about returning to Werner (from retirement) for just a year or so. Since I haven't driven since mid-'08 they want to run me out with a road trainer for "140 hours". Does anyone know if they will allow the trainer to shorten this time, if it's VERY obvious that I can handle the truck in all situations?? Recruiting says YES, but we know they will say most anything to get a "victim".

Also, does Werner follow the normal industry policy of allowing a driver to take as much as 30 days off (if the tractor is turned in) and come back without having to go thru new-hire training again (orientation), etc.

Being retired, I wouldn't mine being out for 6 weeks, and then taking 2-3 weeks off. I'm very close to their Phoenix terminal, BTW.

Thanks

Boobear

 

Another option would be to find a cheap truck for around $20,000 and work whenever you want to. If you aren't going to run hard you don't need anything fancy and taking time off can allow you to tinker around with it (maintenance wise). When you want a load just go to Werner and grab a trailer and go. I personally wouldn't recommend Werner but for example purposes you get my drift. This will save you from buying a trailer, although you could lease one. You could also get a gig picking up the brand new tractors for say Werner or whomever. They usually stack two or three on a tractor piggy-back style. When my wife and I worked for Central they just flew us around to pick-up the new tractors and deliver them to the terminals. Pretty easy gig and you don't have to wait on getting loaded or unloaded. There are tons of options out there. You just need to spend some time and do some research. Try checking out the OOIDA website. You may find some interesting ideas and info on that site. They have lots of good links too. Good luck to you!

 

Find out if they have any repossession work that could be done. Usually you end up riding with someone or they pay you to travel to wherever to go pick up an abandoned truck.

 

My best advice for you about returning to Werner is:



NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


DONT DO IT!!!!!!!!

 

No kidding:

"Werner Transport: You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy!"

-Obi Wan Kenobi

 

Have you looked around your area to see if there are any "casual" driver openings? Usually short notice type of driving, but it allows you to keep your hand in the industry without having the stress of a full time position.

 

For someone who is retired the company job of recovery which all mega-carriers have like werner swift england ets. They are such crumby company's they got all kind of trucks just being abandoned everywhere. So they hire crews whose only job it is, is to go recover all these abandoned trucks. Talked to a few england guys who do it. They dont really get squat for miles or pay its more of a part time job than a full one, but seems like a cool adventure. They fly you everywhere sometimes a few times a week. Maby catch a ride to a truckstop from the airport to a truck stop restop walmart ets. Pickup the truck and drive it to a terminal. Eather fly back or catch a ride on truck back to your terminal.

 

Hey, thanks to all for the replies (so far). The recovery seems like a good idea as does the picking up new trucks.

As far as Werner being a bad company..... well FEW of them are GREAT. When I was there before, it was bearable (for me at least). Even Crete (best one I drove for) has it's nay-sayers.

No matter what, I'm going to have to endure the "refresher" training before they will put me out solo, do to length of time since last drove.

The "casual" thing would be wonderful, but the only company that does it in this area (that I know of) is Knight. They were ready to take me on in that capacity (actually got thru 1.5 days of orientation) when the changed their mind. They accused me of falsifying my app.

I think I accidentally omitted a minor INCIDENT with less than $100 damage.
Nothing devious intended, but that's not the way they saw it. 8-(
Hell, I can barely remember my own name after 4-5 years, let alone every little "boo boo" I ever had. I keep an eye on my DAC and my MVR, but pretty much have to strain my brain to remember anything else.

I love how these companies "grill" you during the hiring process for safety reasons, but then try to force loads onto to you when you are clearly UNSAFE (although technically legal) to drive. Seems rather disingenuous to me.

Boobear

 

Swift has a casual position usually taking trucks to phoenix to turn them in and bring new ones back plus some local stuff and they have a terminal in Denver not sure if thats an option for you...

 

Not so big on the truck recovery gig. I have done a few of those. Usually 1 out of 10 trucks is able to be driven back to the terminal. Most of them you need a hazmat suit and air tanks to drive. They are so nasty! There's no telling what drivers do to those trucks to try and get back at the companies. Well, some of them are just plain slobs!

You'll find something. Keep your eye out on Craigslist. I have seen some pretty decent gigs posted on there. Good luck!