Werner?

I hope you will reconsider some of your attitudes about training and how it should go. Werner has been at this for a long time Doug, they know what works, and for you as a the brand new guy to think their program is a "deal breaker" shows that you've still a lot to learn about how to get started in this, and how to stay in the game once you're in.

I agree 100% with everything Old School said. I think people hear that truckers are in demand and it goes to their head like suddenly they're the king, they call all the shots, and companies are going to have to really sweeten the deal to win them over. Of course these same kings have never actually driven a truck by themselves and are totally clueless when it comes to doing the job they signed up for so they have to go out with a trainer holding their hand like a 6 year for a while. But conveniently that part doesn't interfere with their delusions of grandeur.

It's not up to me to cover the cost of their training. I'd rather sign a contract (like Roehl).

Are you really going to chart the course of your career by choosing one company over another because you've convinced yourself you'll make a little more during a few weeks of training? Even if you did make a few hundred bucks more, so what? That's the criteria you're going to use for choosing the company you're going to use for the foundation of your career? Geesh. Seems like about the 1,000th most important thing I would be worried about when choosing a company to get my career started with.

I have to say, the past couple of days have been really disappointing around here. We've had a number of members that have been with us for quite a while demonstrate attitudes that show nothing we're saying is sinking in at all. Just really cr*ppy attitudes about quitting companies after a few months, walking out on contracts, and now "It ain't my job to cover the costs of my own training".

I realize there are going to be some people that just don't get it, but there are quite a few here recently I thought were capable of seeing the bigger picture when it comes to getting started in a very dangerous and difficult career but I was wrong. I suspect there's been quite a bit of moonlighting going on at the other trucker's forum because people tend to disappear from here for a couple of weeks and when they return they have these horrendous attitudes and absolutely nothing good to say about anyone or anything. It's as if everything we've said about how the industry works and how important it is to go in with the right attitude went right down the sewer pipe.

Another thing about Werner's training program. They are currently in the process of making some changes to their program. I don't have all the details, but they are making adjustments to the prerequisites to become a trainer, they have doubled the length of the train the trainer course and are making adjustments to the time trainers are required to observe the trainee.

From my experience when I was in training, while doing the team driving stage, I was happy to have the time to drive without someone watching my every move but at the same time having somebody available to ask any questions of at any time.

I switched over to Werner from KLLM with only 4-months training and all I had to do was sit in orientation and do a driving test. You have enough time if it is all OTR to not have to ride with a trainer.

One guy in my orientation had 9 months experience and had to go with a trainer due to all of his driving being local.

Press forward. Werner will let you know the route you need to take.

Welcome aboard.