Werner Enterprises, Inc. - Omaha, Ne.?

Hey haze1,

I have been pre-hired by Werner...I'm in NYC and I'm scheduled to start jan.8. for orientation and then i guess OTR for 6-8weeks the recruiter told me...So what can i expect? I know the money isn't too good and the training period is going to be tough she (the recruiter) said I would be traveling all 48 states.

 

As long as you know the log requirements you should not be stuck in the middle of no where, stop prior to your 11 hours & 14 hours is up and that computer should not affect you with being stuck in the middle of no where. DOT says look 2 to 3 truck stops before your 11 or 14 is up or 70 (usually the 11 & 14 is the issue). The drivers that get stuck on the road is their own faults for not stopping prior! I do know the computer does not allow you to log line 4 after your 14 hour (that is what several drivers told me about it) which you can legally be on line 4. I hear it is nice having the computer if you want to run legal! Which I always suggest doing anyhow!
That would solve your 1 issue on your decission to go with werner

 

all I can tell ya for sure is that their trainers are not required to have very much experience prior to becoming a trainer.......that would make me uneasy from the get go.

 

Yeah that would make me un easy to! Nothing like trusting someone with your life. I would not want to be a trainer or trainee PLAN SCARRY!

 

. .

 

MrBill, I just finished about 5 mos with them as a 48 state driver and there are only two issues I have (had): The first is too much sitting around at shippers and consignees. I wasted A LOT of time at the docks for the most part. As a new driver, you will get the *crap* runs until you build a rep. Unless you have the wherewithall to endure this period of time ( of indeterminate length ), you'll find yourself making LESS than minimum wage. That is, stuffing burgers at a Mickey D's would make you more money...

You can also spend a lot of time at a terminal if your truck or trailer gets "red tagged" for maintenance or repair. I once spent 3.5 days in the Atlanta terminal waiting for a "oil change" (routine maintenance). This was unacceptable and did not qualify me for any wage compensation because it happened over a weekend...

The second issue I had was subjective. It seems to me that the Planning people and the Dispatch people don't communicate very well. I was sent out a number of times to shippers only to find that there "was no load" to be had, the load was not ready, the delivery time at consignee was wrong, the shippers had cancelled the load, etc. Any way, it's uncompensated (wasted) time for the driver UNLESS he/she is delayed for over 8 hours.

On the other hand, I enjoyed my truck, an '05 Peterbilt 379 while I drove for them and my dispatcher did try and honor my home time requests.

Using the "paperless log" system is "ok", once you learn to "babysit" your Qualcomm. Otherwise, the system eats up your 70hr clock leaving you with a diminished HOS to drive. The "time saved" not having to do a paper log is cancelled out by the time you will spend (on your cell phone and at your expense) calling the log department and getting your log "fixed". This is something that is hard to explain and you would have to experience it to understand what I mean by "fixed".

If I were to go out looking for a carrier now, I would probably try a different one and I would DEFINATELY keep with paper logs.

One last suggestion: try and attend a truck driving school NOT affliated with a carrier. You'll get MUCH better training and have fewer strings attached.

Good luck to you.

 

That's saying a lot especially to a newbie like me.

 

Based on the research I have done there are over 14,000 employees and independent contractors that work for Werner. There is LESS than 1% talking bad about them in here. In my books LESS than 1% is pretty good. Is it because we are only hearing from the drivers that have had a bad experience with Werner. If that is the case then LESS than 1% isn't bad at all.

 

It's been kinda the same thing with Central Refridgeration Service here in Utah. You have to look pretty hard to find a bad word about them. No matter how good any of them are, they're always going to make everyone mad from time to time, including you and me. What employer won't? They can be the best company on earth and someone will find or imagine something they don't like and run them down forever. The reverse is also true. There's people that love CR England and will defend them with their dying breath.

 

Is it less than "one percent" of the X amount of posters/members on this site who actually comment on Werner? Or, Is it of the 14,000 employees/independent contractors who you say work for Werner? Logic would say, it must be less than "one percent" of posted threads relating to Werner. However, I do not have any real way of determining this, or the validity of your statements one way or the other. Just trying to find clarity.

I ask because of the information I read about Werner from those who are on this site and have worked for them, or are currently working for them, it seems quite negative. But, maybe I'm wrong. If Werner is a good company to work for, even posters on this site who do not work for Werner would still comment favorably on Werner's behalf if they received postive feedback. I realize some people have personal issues with certain carriers for various reason. However, there should be more balanced information positive and negative as it relates to Werner. Even second hand information can be useful. I person need not work directly for werner to have some insight on its pro's and con's.

Werner, as it appears me, is the typical large carrier who expolites the inexprienced driver. On the opposite end. Schneider seems to get more favorable commentary from those who are currently working, or have worked for Schneider. But then again, maybe Schneider employees flood the website promoting their company. I've always been curious as to why it's this way. Maybe it's only MY small perception but, i'm not quite sure. Or, indeed is there something else behind their commentary.