Profile For David O.

I drove for werner for one year as a solo driver. your start pay is obviously low. i was making about 32k a year, and heard horror stories from guys that were only getting 1200 miles a week. i got on an average 2500. they always give you garbage loads as a solo driver. they will make you start your clock just to go pick up a load 30 miles away, and take it 40 miles to a drop yard so a trainer team can take it 1000 miles. those are called shag loads, you do not get paid for the mileage on those, they give you $20 per shag load under 100 miles....joke really, so i turned them down all the time. they send you messages saying you cant turn down loads because you are a company driver.....i turned them down anyways. i will not waste my hours on shag loads, so dont fall for it! Trainer Trucks are nice, the rest are garbage. my truck did not have an apu, it had an idle shut off.....it would be 92 degrees in my truck before the truck would stay on. and it would be 36 degrees in my truck before i could keep it running for heat....i complained about it being a safety issue, but it all falls on deaf ears there. they have soo many trucks and drivers and turn around times, 5 people leave, they hire 10 more just like that. i never once got home on time. poor planning by my dispatcher frequently...i went through 6 dispatchers while i was there in a year. my last one was the dumbest. he would leave you laid over for 2 days before getting a 400 mile load...once dropped off, no messages for 2 days. if you have issues with your truck, they dont care. they put you in roach motel, and if you have to go into a terminal to get it repaired, forget about it, 5 days down for a windshield????? yep, make sure you guys do your first pretrip inspection thoroughly before you accept one of thier trucks. make sure you get EVERYTHING REPAIRED before you hit the road. GOOD LUCK and I hope the best for you out there with WERNER

I have been an OTR drive, when i went southeast regional, all the states i entered it was legal for my florida concealed weapon license due to reciprocity laws. if i was going into canada for a state that has strict gun laws, i turn down the load. it is legal for you to carry if you are in states that allow it. it is illegal for a company to violate your rights if you are law abiding and within jurisdiction. i will always carry mine.

guess we cant edit our posts. haha I have been an OTR driver** if i was going into canada or* a state that has strict gun laws

I have been an OTR drive, when i went southeast regional, all the states i entered it was legal for my florida concealed weapon license due to reciprocity laws. if i was going into canada for a state that has strict gun laws, i turn down the load. it is legal for you to carry if you are in states that allow it. it is illegal for a company to violate your rights if you are law abiding and within jurisdiction. i will always carry mine.

Every orientation location is different then. i went to werner orientation last year. soo unorganized. the pay was horrible too, thats why i left. the only way to make money there is to train. even the guys i met running teams were only making 500 a week each.

And is what Hogan put on your DAC accurate?

i ordered my DAC report 3 weeks ago. still havent got it yet. i went ahead and disputed the accidents, because HOGAN is so slow at responding to anything. They messed up 5 of my checks while i was working there. not once did payroll answer the phones, fix the issue, or call me back. should have quit there when i had the chance.

It all depends on what the company allows. some companies have idle shut off after 5 minutes and will fire you for putting inverters in their trucks....no inverter means no gaming system, no tv, no fridge, and definitely no microwave. and when its 90 degrees in your house and the engine shuts off every 5 minutes, your little fan blowing hot air around makes you want to quit. nothing worse than waking up sweating your butt off. JUST MAKE SURE YOUR COMPANY HAS THESE THINGS< even a APU can help you through that. sleeping bag, pillow, 1 month worth of clothes and soap for washing them and showers, tooth brush, toothpaste, tv, ps4, cell phone, hotspot wifi, firearm, fridge.....thats all you need besides groceries.

I was never cited.so i have no legal documentation. other than what HOGAN put on my DAC.

I have applied everywhere. No luck so far. Everyone tells me that their insurance wont pick me up. here are the accidents i have had that are preventing me from finding work.

1. 2014 Blind side backing was the only option to get into the dock in peidmont alabama. had a guy helping me back. this is why you never listen to anyone telling you to back, always get out and look regardless. i touched a guys fender. put a thumbnail scratch in his tractor. no police. or ticket.

2. 2015 A car made an illegal uturn and went under my tandems.....not cited. not preventable

3. 2015 car cut me off and she slammed on her brakes because a fire truck was waiting on a green light. truck did not have sirens or lights on, she assumed they did. i could not go into the left or right lane to avoid it. Thankfully the guys in the firetruck stayed to tell the police what happened. I was not cited. but my company let me go because of it.

all accidents there were no injuries and minimal damage. I cant find work.....any body know of a place that would hire me? Im from florida, want to get into SE REGIONAL

David,

Seems to me that you need to open your horizons a bit. I currently drive for Prime, went through their training program, drove for a short time as a company driver before moving over to being a lease operator. I can say from personal experience they treat their drivers well, pay them well, and have fairly good home time schedules.

Anything you want to know about Prime, I will do my best to help. Oh, and they do hire from FL.

Ernie

Hey Ernie email me your number so I can call you about all this. Wouldnt want it posted here Prime is starting to sound like a good thing, I just got off the phone with them and they are hiring Orlando students

davidorman600@yahoo.com

thanks in advance -Dave

David,

Check out Knight Transportation, refrigerated division out of Lakeland. You can find information on their Driver Training Program on their website or give them a call.

they said they werent taking anyone from my area. I called when I saw positions open here. Stinks..

Hmmm...Steven's Transport, Con-Way Truckload, Comcar Industries. They all have internal driving programs. Not sure how far south they go though. You're in a not so great area for hiring truck drivers.

Lol , not to mention other jobs around here. I am an X-ray and CT technologist and there are NO jobs!! Most jobs are PRN (as needed) and you only get 2 days a week. That doesnt pay the bills. Sad really. My wife doesnt want to move to the jobs so I am getting ready to hit one of these trucking schools. It will be hard with a 18 month old daughter at home, but I think the first year should fly by and I can land something locally if all goes well. If not, hopefully the economy turns around and the medical jobs pick up again.