Werner Or May? 10 Or 13 Speed?

So I am going through trucking school right now... still. I already have a pre-hire letter from Werner. I am also considering May as an option. I live in Eagle, ID. The closest Werner terminal is in Denver, CO. I will be able to take my truck home with me, but chances are I will not have any good place to park it unless I park it at a truck stop. The closest may terminal is in Payette, ID, which is about an hour away from my house. I will have to park my truck at their terminal up there. I like that May is so close to home for the terminal. I know the pay for both Werner and May trucking, so I am not worried about that. My next thing is that Werner runs almost all 10 speed, where as May runs all 13 speed. So here is what I am wanting to know, hopefully from current drivers and past drivers of Werner and May is what you think about the company and which would better to start with? My second thing I am wanting to know is, which is easier/better to drive, a 10 speed or a 13 speed? Any information I could get would be awesome. Thank you guys.

I prefer the Fuller 13-speed. The ten speed is just a bit doggy for me in the middle gears.

There's nothing like having those extra gears to split when climbing a hill under a heavy load - I love those 13 and 18 speed transmissions. Most companies are running the ten speeds now days, but I learned to drive in a big Pete with an 18 speed, I've always been partial to them.

Both those companies are great places to start - Werner may have more opportunities available to you if you were to want to switch around to a different type of work. I see May trucks a lot when I'm out west, which makes me think they must concentrate on that area of the country.

Hi Aron,

I am in Boise, looking at Trucking Companies as well. I don't have any knowledge of transmissions, but I have done some research on May. May is attractive to me for a few reasons:

- The Payette Terminal is close. That means no hassles trying to find a place to park the truck when home.

_ The 90/90 program is really attractive. A big complaint from rookie drivers is the inconsistency of pay from week to week. Having a guaranteed pay of $630 a week is nice. If based on miles you make more than that, they pay you the difference every 90 days.

- They have western 11 and OTR. The OTR runs are set up to get big miles.The terminals are west coast, indiana, and east/southeast. The western 11 you run less, but you get home more. 2-3 weeks out, 1 day off per week.

- The only complaints I heard about May were inconsistent miles with the Western 11. It looks like the 90/90 program is working on solving that.

I want to find a company sponsored school with terminals in the Treasure Valley area. Going to school for 22 weeks, working, and the cost is not appealing. I am looking at CWI though.

If you want to bat around ideas and info, feel free to private message me.

I'm noticing that everyone is under the impression that just because a terminal is close by means its a huge positive. I strongly disagree, and if anything, I think it's actually a huge disadvantage.

Consider this:

When you go home you'll need to drive the car another hour home. Who wants to drive an hour everytime they have to go home?

You're acquiring another gas bill by doing all that driving.

Another thing, I'm assuming you won't be having someone pick you up. So you'll need an extra car to leave at the terminal for days on end.

I can't tell you how awesome it feels to get your first solo truck and take it home to show it off to the family. Oh wait! You can't take the truck home. Being forced to park at the terminal kills all of this excitement.

And worse of all, they won't let you take the trailer home with you. So after Hometime, the first thing you'll be doing is driving back to the yard on your own gas money and praying that they have either a preloaded trailer or an empty trailer for you to take. And believe me, I've never seen a terminal abundant with empty trailers.

Listen, they'll still get you home on time without a terminal nearby. You'll deliver to a facility nearby then drive the truck and trailer home. In your case, you'll park it at the truck stop. You'll save yourself a lot of hassle including gas money.

In my case, I usually delivery to either the Bay Area or Central CA then drive a few hours deadhead (trailer with no freight) to the Walmart three miles from my house. Zero gas money and I take the trailer home so I don't have to worry about "will I have a trailer?" when I'm at home.

I'm not trying to persuade you to go anywhere. But maybe give this terminal idea a second thought.

I don't know anything about May, but went through Werner's training & now have my own truck.....training was tough for me because I started on Nov 5th, and with the holidays, it dragged on too long. My trainer took 6 days off over thanksgiving, which left me stuck in a hotel for 6 days, I got off the trainers truck on Dec 19th after 235 hours of the 275 they normally require to be completed. I am able to take my truck home, you drop the trailer in a drop yard, or terminal so parking it is easier. Driver placement offers a lot of opportunities for new drivers, so that was a plus in my choosing Werner. Pay scales are different for each type of account - OTR - Regional - Dedicated - Etc. As for the 10 speed, I have not driven anything but a 10 speed, but I have a Cummins in my Kenworth, and so far so good! I have been told that the engine makes a bid difference on the power pulling up hills with heavy loads....etc

I don't know if they will ever do this but what if you have to park your truck at the terminal for your home time and they need a truck so they take yours

I have not driven anything but a 10 speed, but I have a Cummins in my Kenworth, and so far so good! I have been told that the engine makes a bid difference on the power pulling up hills with heavy loads....etc

I had to laugh at this heavy loads part when most gross 80k. It is not just the motor, with small horsepower and low gears you can do the same as large horsepower and tall gears. When I went a rescued a Prime flatbed a month ago the driver asked me how my truck did pulling that heavy trailer up the hill. I just looked at her and said "What Trailer?". Then I proceeded to tell her that grossing 80k was what my truck does for lunch on most days... LOL Normally between 100 and 128k with my loads. With a 3+2 lowboy, I am going to be able to scale 80k of divisible payload and 112k, of non divisible payload. Gross will be 130k and 162k respectively. Tare weight will be around 50k.

I'm noticing that everyone is under the impression that just because a terminal is close by means its a huge positive. I strongly disagree, and if anything, I think it's actually a huge disadvantage.

Thanks Daniel, this is good information. I know there are pluses and minuses to every choice and this gives me something to think about. I will be able to consider this when looking for employment.

I don't know if they will ever do this but what if you have to park your truck at the terminal for your home time and they need a truck so they take yours

The only time they'll do that is if you're going to be home for an extended amount of time and you've cleaned your truck out. They won't take the liberty of jumping in your truck and using it without your knowledge. That's a great way to send drivers on a rampage for sure....let them come back from home time to find someone's been rummaging around in their truck. Not good.