Working For Werner

Orientation
The first day at Werner was pretty intense. I was impressed with the fact that they are a no BS company. They are entrusting you with their good name to get out on the road, to be safe for yourself and the motoring public.

This day was pretty much a full day of paperwork, applications and book study. If you love to do paperwork, you will love this day. One form after another till you can’t see straight. Then you get the company manual to read. They give you the chapters to concentrate on with the promise of a test the next day. Everyone takes turns getting the DOT physical throughout the day along with a mandatory drug test.When you are not filling out paperwork or getting your medical in you had better be studying. The instructor was a no nonsense kind of guy with humor mixed in to make his points.
On top of this you have to complete about four hours of computer based training before moving on to a trainer. It's tedious and tiring work but necessary to learn their safety programs and policy's.

What struck me as odd, and I should not be surprised by this is the fact that many of the men did a little too much talking and did not seem to get serious about what they were there for. It always amazes me how people act in these situations.

Here's where attitude plays a part.If you think you are going to just be handed a job and get the best runs and make the most money without applying yourself, well all I have to say is good luck. With the slowdown
in this country Werner and the other companies are in a position to look for the best talent they can find. I can tell you from just being there the first day many people will not stay. I hear griping already about one thing or another. How the company is out to take advantage of the new guys and such. If this is you then please don't apply and waste their money. If your the 'glass is half full' person well come on then.

I worked for 28 years for one of the biggest and best concrete and building materials companies in the country, Rinker Materials. They had pride in their work and stressed safety and employee involvement. They loved people who care about the company. I see the same traits in Werner.

Work hard, care about the company image, for you are the company on the front lines. One hand washes the other and when you go to work be positive, pleasant and give someone a smile. Remember it may be the only one they have gotten all day.

Be on time. This is stressed. If you are going to be late to every delivery do you think the dispatchers will keep giving you the good loads? Have some common sense and give of yourself. I firmly believe you will not go unrewarded. This attitude has served me well in the past and I am sure that it will serve me well in this endeavorer. Don't listen to the naysayers, be your own man(or woman) and give of your talents without being selfish and good things will happen.

Being a former manager I can tell you I would be very leery about some of the talent in that room and I got the distinct impression the instructor was trying to shake out some of the truck driver wannabes.

OK that's it for now. I will write about the second day in orientation later but for now good luck and God Bless to everyone.

 

The first day at Werner was pretty intense.
It was pretty much a full day of paperwork, applications and book study. If you love to do paperwork, you will love this day. One form after another till you can’t see straight. Then you get the company manual to read. They give you the chapters to concentrate on with the promise of a test the next day. Everyone takes turns getting the DOT physical throughout the day along with a mandatory drug test.When you are not filling out paperwork or getting your medical in you had better be studying. The instructor was a no nonsense kind of guy with humor mixed in to make his points.
On top of this you have to complete about four hours of computer based training before moving on to a trainer. It's tedious and tiring work but necessary to learn their safety programs and policy's.

What struck me as odd, and I should not be surprised by this is the fact that many of the men did a little too much talking and did not seem to get serious about what they were there for. It always amazes me how people act in these situations.

Here's where attitude plays a part.If you think you are going to just be handed a job and get the best runs and make the most money without applying yourself, well all I have to say is good luck. With the slowdown
in this country Werner and the other companies are in a position to look for the best talent they can find. I can tell you from just being there the first day many people will not stay. I hear griping already about one thing or another. How the company is out to take advantage of the new guys and such. If this is you then please don't apply and waste their money. If your the 'glass is half full' person well come on then.

I worked for 28 years for one of the biggest and best concrete and building materials companies in the country, Rinker Materials. They had pride in their work and stressed safety and employee involvement. They loved people who care about the company. I see the same traits in Werner.

Work hard, care about the company image, for you are the company on the front lines. One hand washes the other and when you go to work be positive, pleasant and give someone a smile. Remember it may be the only one they have gotten all day.

Be on time. This is stressed. If you are going to be late to every delivery do you think the dispatchers will keep giving you the good loads? Have some common sense and give of yourself. I firmly believe you will not go unrewarded. This attitude has served me well in the past and I am sure that it will serve me well in this endeavorer. Don't listen to the naysayers, be your own man(or woman) and give of your talents without being selfish and good things will happen.

Being a former manager I can tell you I would be very leery about some of the talent in that room and I got the distinct impression the instructor was trying to shake out some of the truck driver wannabes.

OK that's it for now. I will write about the second day in orientation later but for now good luck and God Bless to everyone.