Werner Overview

I started with Werner Enterprises back in August. They weren't my first choice, nor my last, but it was pretty much a guaranteed job. I was orignally hesitant to even accept the pre-hire, due to hearing and reading many negative things about Werner, but after 8 years in the Marines, I figured I'd already been through worse in my life. I'm writing this as somewhat of a guide for people considering Werner, and to share some of my experiences.

Orientation is two days. On day one you will spend the morning doing paperwork and finishing your application for employment, signing up for benefits, a piss test, and a physical, then come computer based classes along with videos. The second day is pretty much all videos, computer based training, and sitting around. At the end of day two you will be assigned a Student Driver Manager (SDM), which if all goes will you will likely never talk to. After being assigned you wait for a trainer. Some people have trainers assigned right away, some have to wait, its just the luck of the draw.

Training consists of 275 hours of drive time. The first 3 days you need to be observed by your trainer for 15 hours, then over the next 11 days you'll be observed another 15 hours. For the first 2 weeks, you cannot drive between the hours of 12 AM - 6 AM. Though the driving part is important, you will need to learn to master the Qualcomm (logs, loads, payroll, etc), how to use reward programs at truckstops to your advantage, how to find safe places to sleep/park, where to do laundry, where to eat, TripPaks, etc. You'd be amazed how many people pass the training program after they completed the 275 hours of drive time, and still don't know anything. Don't get me wrong, I could write many paragraphs about the actual driving, backing, docking, coupling, uncoupling, pretrips, etc, but your trainer can cover that.

Upon completion of training, be prepared for more computer based training courses, a log test, possibly a road test depending on your trainers "trainer score". Take a pre-trip class from Gra-Gar Inc, and its time to see Fleet Assignments to get your truck.

If at any time during your training, you feel your not being trained right, or not being taught the proper techniques, talk to your trainer first, and if that doesn't solve the problem, call your SDM to work it out, don't just walk away from it.

The pay blows. $400 per week before taxes. If you put in some good hours, there are bonuses. I got a few $145, 75, 50, etc added to some checks. After training you get a $500 bonus after delivering your first load.

Things to bring/buy: (**items between astericks are for when you get your own truck)

Flashlight , sleeping bag or blanket, sheets, pillow, flip flops for showers, towel, pocket knife, laundry bag, Lynsol,soaps, shampoos, enough clothes for 7-10 days.** Motor Carriers Atlas, GPS, CB, Bluetooth headset, laptop with TripPak scanner and internet connection.** You don't absolutly need all these items, but it'll make your life easier.

I've driven 6500 miles in the last two weeks @ 31.5 cpm. Don't complain about getting a crap load or a shag, and you'll get taken care of. When I was at the Atlanta terminal, I heard a few people complaining about only getting 2200 miles per week, and short load this, I'm not gonna do that, f-this, f-that. Don't give your dispatchers or load planners a reason to not want to give you good loads, or loads at all.

This company is far from perfect, but so am I. Start here, learn here, stay here, or leave here. Your choice. Hope this little narritive helps.

 

They sent stickers to my house, that I haven't been to for a month, for a truck I slip seat in.

 

New suggestion: Get through the training, then leave. Finding that the dispatchers, Canadian customs, permits people, spend more effort trying to not do their jobs, then actually doing the jobs right using only half the effort.