Do You Think Werner Will Fire Me?

Kash, first of all, really glad they didn't fire you. It shows that you must be performing at or above where they expect you to be. To me, that's also a positive take-away from this experience.

As far as how the forum replied to your post? You received exactly what you asked for; answers to your question, opinions and some facts from your peers. No one came out and said, "yes" they are definitely going to fire you Kash, start applying elsewhere. Who really knew what Werner was going to do? No one. What exactly did you expect from the forum?

If you re-read all of the responses (unemotionally) there is some sound, useful advice in there and sincere well wishes. The point about the lack of a handbook, be your own advocate and ask for one. I would hope they gave you some form of policy documentation during orientation. Any Werner drivers who can offer some assistance on this, confirmation, etc.?

If the responses upset you further, then honestly I too am not sure why you post on here because like it or not, the majority of the time you are going to get strong opinions based on experience and the truth. Every once in a while someone will reply with an off-the-wall, rogue rant, but not the case here. You may not always like what is written, but usually it's the truth or opinion based on experience or knowledge.

Good luck, safe travels.

Ok, first off, when you went through orientation I can guarantee they gave you an employee handbook.

Second, the whole issue of passengers and pets are pretty much always covered in orientation.

Third, when they issue you a truck, they tell you too check and make sure the permit book is in the truck. You should have never left the terminal without it.

Fourth, they will reimburse you the money for the faxes. Just make sure you write it on your trip envelope and include the receipts in your envelope. Copies are best in case they get lost.

Well they didn't fire me, but thanks to all you guys who said you would. It's my first year in this industry and I was literally unaware, not to mention I don't have a handbook at all, they didn't even give me a permit book for my truck, I had to go to a truck stop and pay for my cab registration and everything to get faxed over. But I appreciate it, I can always count on you guys to make me even more upset than I already am, not sure why I even post on this site anymore.

They are required to give you an employee handbook, you just were unaware of any of the policies or procedures because you never bothered to open anything up and read. Also, considering how massive the orientation classes are at Werner (and every other large carrier for that matter) it's almost impossible that the rider policy wasn't explained in full details by the orientation director.

Quit making excuses for your actions, and stop with the emotional bs, we're all adults we don't play that game.

Daniel B states a Fact of Life:

You just were unaware of any of the policies or procedures because you never bothered to open anything up and read.

Daniel's not really pointing fingers at you. New people get lots of stuff thrown at them, and really there's too much to read just then. (Did you read all the contract for a credit card you signed up for?)

Still, you are responsible for it!

Really - unapproved passengers are a cardinal no-no.

Kinda like picking up hitch-hikers or lot-lizzards and giving them a ride (not that it's not done).

Glad you didn't get fired - but kinda surprised personally. Says a lot for Werner (in a positive fashion).

As with a lot of things in trucking - better to ask permission, than beg forgiveness. Especially as a rookie.

Rick

This is called the Trucking Truth - Sometime the Truth hurts but I'd rather hear the worst case scenario than have people sugar coat it and tell me what they think I want to hear, and then find out later how bad it really is. I'd be relieved and greatful I still have a job. I think I'd double my efforts after that and take the severity of my actions more seriously in the future. I don't post very often I just follow but this for some reason irritated me.

A lot of you guys did act a bit safety nazi like. I have done the same thing myself pretty much back when I was with cre. Had been out on the road for four months without a single day home so even though I knew it was against the rules I did not really care. Just do not get caught.

Chance the consequences sometimes, know what I mean? Whatever happens will happen.

A lot of you guys did act a bit safety nazi like. I have done the same thing myself pretty much back when I was with cre. Had been out on the road for four months without a single day home so even though I knew it was against the rules I did not really care. Just do not get caught.

Chance the consequences sometimes, know what I mean? Whatever happens will happen.

You do realize what will happen to you if you get pulled in for a DOT inspection and they find an unauthorized passenger in your CMV right? You might as well start looking for another industry to join if that happens.

As for the underlined, you terrify me. That type of mentality has gotten innocent people killed.

A lot of you guys did act a bit safety nazi like

We're helping new drivers break into a very dangerous and difficult career and a large percentage of these new drivers need this career to keep a roof over their head and their children fed. So I'm 100% certain we should be acting like safety Nazis and so should every driver out on the road.

Now in this case it's not so much a safety issue as it is a matter of following company policies and Federal regulations. Most people don't even seem to realize it's a Federal requirement to have written permission for passengers:

From FMCSA 392.60: Unauthorized persons not to be transported:

(a) Unless specifically authorized in writing to do so by the motor carrier under whose authority the commercial motor vehicle is being operated, no driver shall transport any person or permit any person to be transported on any commercial motor vehicle other than a bus. When such authorization is issued, it shall state the name of the person to be transported, the points where the transportation is to begin and end, and the date upon which such authority expires. No written authorization, however, shall be necessary for the transportation of:

(1) Employees or other persons assigned to a commercial motor vehicle by a motor carrier;

(2) Any person transported when aid is being rendered in case of an accident or other emergency;

(3) An attendant delegated to care for livestock.

So he broke Federal regulations and a company policy but all he got was his butt chewed by some veterans for not knowing those regulations and company policies. I think that's quite fair all the way around. Claiming ignorance to company policies or Federal requirements isn't going to fly when you're dealing with safety directors and DOT officers so educating yourself has to be of the utmost importance to drivers. It's something they have to take seriously.

I can guarantee you that when we tell someone something it truly is for their own good. That's the beauty of coming to us for advice. You know you're getting helpful advice from successful experienced drivers. Now I can't guarantee you we'll all do it with perfect grace every single time but we certainly do it with the person's best interest at heart. Just like a parent has to scold a child sometimes to make them understand the severity of their poor judgment, so will we at times. Better to be given a butt chewin in our forum than to be handed a bus ticket home to find a new job.

(a) Unless specifically authorized in writing to do so by the motor carrier under whose authority the commercial motor vehicle is being operated

I'm a bit interested in this bit. If an owner operator is running under their own authority, could they just hand write something any time they wanted to bring a passenger that said something along the lines of "I hereby authorize Joe McExamplename to be transported in my Commercial Motor Vehicle" - or is there more to it than that?