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Werner is a good company!

Discussion in 'Discuss Your Favorite Trucking Company Here' started by mugzy, Mar 20, 2009.

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Stump Heavy Load Member

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For new drivers, Family Dollar is a great start. For one, it makes you become a better driver and better at backing alot faster then OTR. Like the one guy said, its real easy to lose your job with these account, mainly because of accidents in those tight parking lots. To do a good job on these dedicated runs, use your hours wisely, this way you are not in a hurry to back in and out of these small parking lots. Just G.O.A.L. and smile at the angry shoppers that try and trap you in. I have had 2 trainees go to a dedicated run, one had a backing accident 2 months in and was let go, the other is doing a great job on a D.G. run, he calls me at least 2 times a week and ask questions about makeing his logs work better for him. I always tell him try and get as close or all the way to his next stop before he shuts down at night. Well goodluck fellas, and the training period is long and drains you be the end of it all, Try your best at a dedicated run, this where you can make good money. Us 48 state drivers are becomeing less and less with the economy, but once it picks up it will be good once more, lets hope

Stump, Mar 28, 2009

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mugzy Bobtail Member

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hunts2much said: ↑

I'm going to guess that is what he is on. I'm on the same account. It is very physical but the pay is pretty good for a newb like myself and the op. Home time is nice to. On the flip side the stress of this account is out of this world. Backing into these FD stores gets down right ridiculous at times. Obstacles EVERYWHERE! Very easy to loose your job on this account. You do get paid well but it is definitely EARNED!
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Actually I am on DG, and from what I understand it has to be a fairly serious accident to lose your job over it. As far as the stress goes, I just do my best and as long as I'm doing that - thats all I can do - I don't stress over it... (except maybe once in a while when I'm 20 minutes from a truck stop and only have 15 left on my 14... hehe!)

mugzy, Apr 10, 2009

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mugzy Bobtail Member

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Stump said: ↑

Just G.O.A.L. and smile at the angry shoppers that try and trap you in.
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You got that right! I thought I was getting pretty good and then on about my 4th or 5th run they sent me to this store where I had to back all the way around the alley behind "C" shaped strip-mall. I nearly gave up right then and there, and I told my dispatcher "I don't think I can do this!" - He said "Just get out and look - a lot!" After I made it in, I figured, "well, I guess this ain't so bad..."

mugzy, Apr 10, 2009

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luvtheroad Thanks this.
luvtheroad Road Train Member

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That's great that you're happy there. I read so many posts, me and OrdinaryGuy, that are Werner bashing that this a really refreshing. Like a blast of clean air LOL. Keep up the great posts and continue to GOAL. Best of luck!

luvtheroad, Apr 13, 2009

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ordinaryguy Light Load Member

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get out and look 40 times if you have to, it's better than having a backing accident....so many people are so lazy anymore to GOAL. Family Dollar and DG are good accounts to teach you close quarter manuvering...especially at those Noon deliveries heh. My 2nd trainer was dedicated dollar general out of Scottsville, KY...whoooo doggy, talk about some tight backing lol...i am dedicated anheuser busch, so i see alot of the same places...not complaining though, always know where i am going.

ordinaryguy, Apr 13, 2009

#15

luvtheroad Thanks this.
jeepkid7998 Light Load Member

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Hey Mugzy,

I know what you mean when you said unloading 53 footers is hard work. I'm being trained right now on the Family Dollar fleet out of Odessa, TX. I'll be on my own here in about 3 weeks and i'm very excited to get my own rig and start making money. My question is what kind of pay checks should i expect to see the first few weeks or month of solo? Be safe out there and hope to hear from you.

mugzy said: ↑

The short story:

First, lets get the negatives out of the way:

Werner is a "training company"... There are quite a few folks out there that "wanabe" a truck driver, but just aren't cut out for it. Those folks usually leave or get fired and have nothing good to say. Since Werner is also one of the largest companies, there is a lot of negative feedback out there.

Positives:

I'm solo driver on a dedicated run averageing about $1200 a week, (in a good week I can make $1500), I do a 34 hr reset at home every week, I got a new Peterbuilt 387 with an APU, refrigerator, TV, microwave... what more can I say? Not bad for a man who's had his CDL only since November 2008!

The longer story:

I have a history of being a hard-working, loyal employee. I worked for the same company for 23 years before the economy went south and I found myself looking for a new career. Truck driving sorta runs in my family, and I had about five and a half years experience at that, (over 23 years ago..), so I decided to get my CDL.

First I searched around for the highest paying company I could find that would take students and applied to Crete Carrier. After fooling arround with my application for weeks, they came back and said "no" because failed to disclose 2 tickets I had received 3-5 years ago on the application. I had told the recruiter that I only had a 39 month MVR and did not have specific information older than that and was told not to worry about it (my record is clean for 39 months). Well anyway - I wound up going to work for Werner and am very pleased overall with the experience.

My first trainer was one of Werners Million-Mile Drivers, (Werner has more of those than any other company, that tell you anything?) - and the guy was great! (Once I was assinged a student manager I asked for an experienced trainer, and said I'd prefer a MMD..)

I knocked out 200 of my 300 training hours before Christmas and took paid time off for the holidays, came back and was assigned a trainer on a dedicated run like the one I eventually got assigned to.

After completing my training, I was assigned to the western 11 regional division at -get this- 21 cents a mile... you heard right... 21 cents! It's supposed to be a "sliding scale" where you make 34 cents for shorter runs and 21 for long runs, (but the short runs were virtually non-existant). But here's the thing - I'd get a 1000 mile run and they'd give me three days to get there and I'd get there in a day and a half, and my dispatcher kept throwing these "performance bonuses" on to my paycheck, so I was making about $750 a week running 2500 - 3000 miles - not bad for a driver right out of training. (This division pays fuel, milage and some other montly bonuses too, but I did not stick arround long enough to get any of those or my pay would have probably been higher).

During my training I had the opportunity to meet a manager for the division im working in now, I let him know at that time I'd like to come to work for him and got his phone number and called him once a week to check on openings, (I really liked the "home every week part"). About 3-4 weeks later I got the call and now have the job I wanted.

Im not gona kid you here, its very hard work - on this dedicated run I have to unload 53 foot trailers... and the first week doing it by myself I wasn't sure if I was gona be able to handle it - I was sore! But you know what? I've gone form 270 lbs, (not really that fat, I'm a big guy), to 235 and the work has gotten a lot easier, (and my wife is not complaining about my changing phisique either! hehe!). The hard work has been good for me.

Any way, all in all, I'm making good money, I got a real nice truck... and I'm happy.

Every day I ask God to keep me safe, and thank Him for His help in all this.

Be Safe
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jeepkid7998, Aug 17, 2009

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spankdog Bobtail Member

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Hey Jeepkid, Let me know how it all turns out, I start at International TD School Sept 8th At Odessa College. I sent an app for a prehire letter this morning to werner and got it back today. I spoke with Lisa (recruiter), and she informed me of the weekly home time with a regional run. Any tips for the road ahead?

spankdog, Aug 24, 2009

#17
Larz Light Load Member

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This is refreshing to hear. I start orientation with Werner on Monday!

Larz, Aug 28, 2009

#18
tre607 Bobtail Member

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hey spankdog,
you can go home every weekend on a regional division but don't expect to make a lot of money. its harder for your dispatcher to give you enough runs so you can make enough money and get you home on time for your 1 day off. And yes i did say 1 day off cuz Werner only gives 1 day off for every 6 days worked unless you're on a dedicated account. so i suggest you try to get on a dedicated account if you want to be home every weekend.

tre607, Aug 31, 2009

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LostSoulCA Medium Load Member

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I got medical clearance today so will be off to training within a week. I am looking forward to it. This thread really puts a positive spin on the prospects. I appreciate the input. Let's keep this one alive and use it to share stories.

LostSoulCA, Aug 31, 2009

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