I went with Werner......

[ericmrtt]

.......just out of desperation. I needed a job asap and since I missed my training at Watkin Shepard (another one is weeks away) because my blood pressure(which I just checked, Its normal now), I had to go with Werner. Roehl was my 2nd choice but training starts in May which I need a job before than. US Xpress was on the list but for some reason everytime I fax them something they never get it. So out of convience and desperation I went with Werner. Hope its not too bad..... :shock: Also I notice Werner uses those boxy Peterbilt styles. Are those harder to drive than the shorter sloped nose. It seems like you'll have to judge your turns even more.

Roehl was my 2nd choice

I don't think roehl is much better than werner.

I believe werner only gives the pete 387's to more "experienced" drivers. And yes it's harder to back those up compared to a century class.

Please keep us posted. Good luck.

[Trukrswyfe]

Hey ericmrtt,

I believe Drew10 drives for them, check with him on things.

Just a thought, you already decided to go with them

sometimes it's nice to get help from someone inside the company, besides that He's smart.

[dle]

Werner gives what trucks are available to drivers - they don't look at how much experience a driver has. Or what their training was in.

I saw them give fresh off the training truck people the KW900l, Classic XL's, and the long nose Pete's on a number of occassions.

All I got to say is good luck.

BTW, I did drive for Werner.

[Drew10]

ericmrtt wrote:

So out of convience and desperation I went with Werner. Hope its not too bad.....

Well...you could do worse. Any company you go to will have pros and cons associated with it. Depends on which driver you ask and when you ask.
As a 48state driver, Werners pay package definitly needs updating. It really is one of the lowest in the industry. More than likely you will be assigned as a 48state driver after training. Im also suspecting that this time of the year and mostly the economy 48state freight is really slow. From some reliable "inside" information Ive been told that newly qualified drivers are not being assigned trucks at this time due to the slow freight, as the company is probably barely keeping a majority of there drivers busy. Possibly by the time you complete your orientation and the training program the economy may be picking up enough to get the drivers assigned trucks.
I would also recommend that you find a good dedicated account to run on, some generally pay more and will keep you continuosly running.

Also I notice Werner uses those boxy Peterbilt styles. Are those harder to drive than the shorter sloped nose. It seems like you'll have to judge your turns even more.

Dont fret over the style of the truck, you will adapt to its ability to turn in short order. Maybe your trainers truck will be a long nose, to give you time to adapt and practice. Also it is possible to "request" the style of truck you prefer, if available Fleet assignments could put you in one.

If you have any specific questions, feel free to add to you thread or PM me. Im generally on the board every night, and occassionally during the day.

Trukrswyfe wrote:

I believe Drew10 drives for them, check with him on things.

Just a thought, you already decided to go with them

sometimes it's nice to get help from someone inside the company, besides that He's smart.

Awww Shucks TW ....Your alright....

[Drew10]

double post

[Soladad]

Phil McCracken has an ax to grind about Roehl. Werner is a very large company. I interviewed for a dispatch job with them and by the end of the interview I had a rather bad taste in my mouth about them. Was very glad that I did not get the job.

If you find you don't like Werner after you get your training then talk with Roehl. Often times is isn't the company that has the problems but the attitude of the driver. I'm not saying that companies don't have problems but sometimes is just isn't a good fit for a driver. I drove for Roehl and found them for the most part to be a good company for the first 1-2 years. Drew10 says it right in that driver's attitude varies from day to day with a company. There were some days I was ready to walk away from Roehl. Other days I enjoyed my time with them.

Phil McCracken has an ax to grind about Roehl.

Wow you're very perceptive. Yeah I disliked them so much I spent time and money putting together a website for roehl drivers (roehldriver.com)

Don't like people expressing their opinions I see.

[Soladad]

Phil McCracken...I don't mind your opinion but sometimes it comes across rather harsh and gratting on the nerves. Yes, I know you put a web site up for Roehl drivers did but did you put the web site up before or after you left Roehl? Thanks for giving drivers a spot to discuss the company. It is unfortunate that you started having problems with spam and had to shut it down but maybe it's better now that you are with Crete. I'm have no intention of getting into an all out word war with you over your opinions of Roehl.

Roehl does have good and bad points to it like any company does. I would not put Werner and Roehl on the same rung of the ladder, however. Personally I wouldn't want to run for Crete due to their hometime policy even at their cents/mile but that's my decision.

New drivers need to be given the good and bad of companies. You didn't like Roehl when you left but it doesn't make it all that bad of a company. I had my gripes about certain things with them too but I still will not trash Roehl completely but try to educate a new driver on things to be careful about when looking then over.

.......just out of desperation. I needed a job asap and since I missed my training at Watkin Shepard (another one is weeks away) because my blood pressure(which I just checked, Its normal now), I had to go with Werner. Roehl was my 2nd choice but training starts in May which I need a job before than. US Xpress was on the list but for some reason everytime I fax them something they never get it. So out of convience and desperation I went with Werner. Hope its not too bad..... :shock:

In a perfect world, nobody would pull for these cut-rate sweatshop outfits like Werner, England, Prime, FedEx Ground, etc. Then wages would go up across the board and we would all reap the spoils. But this isn't a perfect world and you've gotta do what you gotta do I guess to put food on the table. The only advice I can offer is to get your 6 months or 1 year of clean driving in and then run for the hills to greener pastures.

Also I notice Werner uses those boxy Peterbilt styles. Are those harder to drive than the shorter sloped nose. It seems like you'll have to judge your turns even more.

In the city, yes. The wheelbase on those rigs is longer than say a Volvo but you can compensate somewhat by adjusting your fifth wheel...if Werner allows it. Just watch when things get tight or you'll look like all the other training company trucks with their batwings twisted to hell.

[YoungZ.W.]

Are the Black tractors that Werner has for company drivers also or are those L/O?

[Drew10]

Are the Black tractors that Werner has for company drivers also or are those L/O?

Werner company trucks are very much a Rainbow of colors these days. With the Continental blue as there standard. I believe the only reason for the rainbow of colors is for the resale-ablility of the truck when it goes to fleet sales.
Werner company trucks have a higher truck number assigned than the o/o trucks. Look at the first two digits of the trucks number. Current company trucks are in the 43xxx-53xxx sets. The higher the number the newer the truck. O/O's are in the 12xxx and climbing.

[dle]

I drove a black KW and I was not an L/O.

I got conflicting stories from long-term employees about this as well, but supposedly at one time the color of the tractor was significant. But, at this point the color of the tractor means nothing.

[fireman932003]

The black tractors used to be on a dedicated account of some sort a while back. That is why when the trucks started to get some color all you used to see were black trucks. Now I think they are just another truck. I do know that the main reason for the different colors is to attract more drivers. They did some research several years ago and found that they could attract more divers if they had more of a choice in trucks and color. That is why when you get done with orientation, they have you fill out a paper asking you your top three choices in trucks. Plus, it helps with the resale value.Other than that, they are just another truck.

[CrazyTulip]

I don't want to be mean or anything but I saw the header and the first thing that came up in my head was : condolences!
I can understand the pressure you were under but I sure hope you can find a place that might be more to your liking soon!

[ZMDWEBE]

To the op,
when at werner watch for the trucks that say EAGLE on them.
They are owned by Kevin out of Tucson. He ownes about 110 trucks and you should get plenty of miles. The trucks still use the paperless logs, but he has a lot of pull at werner.
I really did like working for him, but I wanted to be home more than every three weeks. I think I made a mistake when I left, but may go back or go to crete. I am still up in the air.
Best of luck

[belpre122]

New drivers need to be given the good and bad of companies.

Thank You. Then why the attempt to discredit Phil McCracken because his views differ from yours?

[dle]

If you talk to enough drivers you will eventually hear the same good and the same bad about any company.

Just through ovservation, drivers (including me) are more quick to bring up (be vocal about) the bad experiences with any company. In addition, they usually do not give that much meaty information as to what caused the bad experience to occur.

IMHO, a goodly number of the bad experiences were caused by the driver (not necessarily in this order): ) not knowing the driver/employee hadbook. ) failure to know the DOT regs. ) failure to communicate clearly with their supervisor (dispatcher). I would also have to say that yes that the companies lead to some of this by: ) not communicating with the driver ) not maintaining the equipment properly.

[ThinkingAboutTrucking]

I was let go from Werner a week or so ago because of an in-cab evaluation and backing into a trailer at the end of the evaluation. I was a nervous wreck because I wasn't expecting a test that day, plus I'd been out of a truck for seven weeks. I had pneumonia, and recovered from that. Then, due to an oversight on my part, I forgot to turn in some information to the state of Indiana, so my license was disqualified for a few weeks, until I got the information the state wanted. CDL is all good now, but when everything was settled, I no longer had the dedicated account. They told me to go to a terminal and get reassigned a truck and a route. That's when I had the in-cab evaluation. I got stuck in the snow once, and they considered that an accident. The last night I drove I was sick with what later on was diagnosed as pneumonia. I shouldn't have drove anyway, but being new, I wanted to not seem like a wimp, even though I'd been sick for a week. That night, I backed into a fence. So I've got minor backing accidents that I'm ashamed of, but I've never killed anyone out on the road. I'm looking for another trucking company to work for, as I've put so much time and money into getting my CDL in the first place; it's cost me as much as my bachelor's degree did back in 1992. I may be screwed though; and it might come down to waiting for three years and then go back as a rookie. I'd only driven for six weeks before getting sick, and yes, I told Werner about going to the hospital, and getting the CDL paperwork straightened out, and they never gave me any warning that I was being taken off the account.

Many times I wanted to quit that place. But I stuck it out; I'd have been with them a year in another five months or so.

I'm beginning to rethink the whole trucking thing. Problem is, I and a lot of other people have college degrees that are not getting us the good jobs, which is why we turn to trucking. Just because you have a master's doesn't mean you have it made, unfortunately.

I'm hoping and praying someone gives me another chance. Sometimes it takes me a while to catch on to stuff.

Good luck, everyone!

[GMAN]

You seem to have had a number of accidents for someone who has only been in the business about 6 month. I am sure that if you keep submitting applications you will find someone who will hire you.