Working For Werner

Yea me too. Its almost like itd be best to read alot of this stuff with the one eye open, one eye shut frame of mind. Of course what we read on corporate websites sounds like every company is a lil slice of heaven and then some. But with common sense we do know that experienced drivers have the best "real time" knowledge of the biz. So with that said, iv'e now read in the past few months countless threads, posts, and driver related opinions about numerous companys and i honestly cant count the times iv had to get up and walk away because of reading something good about a specific company and then immediately be shot down by someone else's bad comments about the company. Now do i take it all so seriously that i believe it as the gospel, NO. I know better. But my understanding of rather it be you work in a factory or in a office setting, theres two sides to EVERY complaint and story. After giving this forum some time iv come to realize, that holds more truth in the driver seat. So as i see it no one can make my mind up for me and i #### sure aint gonna let a drivers bad day predict my future in what company i choose. Its amazing how one can say so much good about a company and then immediately turn around and read someone else bash the hell out of the same company. For a newbie really wanting to get into the industry its more confusing than ever.

 

i was offered their western region does anybody have any kind of info on it.

 

You may want to look at who the advice is coming from. Go back a few years and look how many rah-rah posters are still around. Someone who has been driving for three months for one company should not be given the same credibility as some one who has ten years and been there, done that, and is trying to help you.

 

I too am just starting out. I start my CDL course on Tuesday and will be done October 8. Already talked with Werner recruiter as they hire directly out of this school. I was told a Dedicated route is available in my area and I will be considering that. It includes loading and unloading my trailer with a pallet jack so I like that as it gives me physical activity and I can handle it. Pay is solid. I am excited about it because I am headed back to work after 10 years home with the kids. Now that one is in college and one now in high school, and me being on the downside of 46 I feel now is the time to return to work. I have always loved the trucks (previously did the management thing with Roadway for 8 years) and when thinking about a solid job that will bring me back to the living, trucking is it. Being older, smarter and wiser than I used to be, I expect this to be fun. I have been scouring the web for the best opportunities with my soon to be new CDL and Werner seems as solid as any. Plus the dedicated route will get me home weekends. This is very exciting to feel like a guy again. I loved doing the family thing and would not have traded it for the world. Because of my love of the family and the fact I don't "need" the miles as others, I think the dedicated route is the best choice for me. I look forward to this venture.

 

my own opinion id go with swift but you do what you want.

 

They say western regional but they will send you east like to ILL or MN or SC or NC its a way for them to save Money. I Worked for them for 7 years. they even do that to the south west drivers also an the east regional drivers. so its pretty much driving 48 states but they pay less once you are out of the region. Just being honest here.

 

Hey Tone126995,

I saw your response to bobthetruckers post and the examples you were giving sounded awfully familiar, just like what the Werner Recruiter told me. I am starting the CDL class on Tuesday and I was told Werner is one of the companies that hire directly out of classes. The recruiter told me there was a current opening for a dedicated account with Family Dollar that would get me home frequently and make between $800-1000 per week. So I got online and started searching and even though many posts were negative, I am at a crossroads (46 and going back to work after 10 years staying home with kids) and I was not the least bit deterred from considering the position. Until I read your post.

I assume you were the former position holder as I see you are from Chambersburg. True?

Can you give me any additional insight into the company, their local people, equipment the provide, and so on? The labor doesn't scare me. I could use it. I'm a big guy and can handle it and the extra work might shed some of my excess weight. But the truth is I am not getting into this to be a city delivery driver.

My training will end October 8. I could really use some input into what this opportunity might truly be. I am also considering saying heck with it and doing OTR instead. I need experience before I can secure a local job. This is the path I think I want to take to get there.

I look forward to hearing back from you.

startingover

 

I don't know about the Family Dollar account, but all it took was a few times unloading those Dollar General loads that only paid $10 per hour to have me turn in my truck. This was back in 1996, and the Dollar General loads were considered "Driver assist" That's where you put this roller thing that goes from the back of the truck into the back of the store, and you bend over and lift a gazllion boxes of all different sizes and weights, and roll them out of the truck for a measly $10 perhour. Before that they used to pay more for driver unloads. So hope you have a strong back, cause I would rather push heavy pallets on a pallet jack all day, than bend over and pick up boxes over and over. To this day whenever I see a Dollar General trailer pulled by a Werner Driver I think about that.

 

hmmm I read that recuiter said $800 to $1000 a week , its won't Happen I'd bet on it. but if it does for you good luck, oh an it is still $10 per store an the hours are wasted bc they can take their time unloading the DG people. Good Luck with this.

 

That's right. I forgot how bad it was. It was 10 per store, not per hour. So you sit there, putting your lower back, and hamstrings into muscle spasms for hours unloading boxes of Clorox for $10, then go to maybe 2 to 4 more Stores, at $10 for each store wasting your whole day, for a lousy 30 to 40 dollars. Now that I'm older, I know to stretch out 1st, but back then my back would be killing me after a Dollar General Unload. When I started with that company they said it was a really high percentage no touch freight, but then they started giving me those stinking Generals all the time, and it got to where not only was I unloading a lot, but not making squat. So I quit, at the Ontario Terminal, visited family in California, flew home, and had a job within a day of looking.