Tuesday, December 30, 2003

Happy New Year from Werner Enterprises!

Pay drivers more? C.L. laughs!

An alert reader brought this story to my attention from LandLine.

Drivers, don't expect a raise at Werner. Not this year--or the next, or the next...

Make a resolution: leave Werner Enterprises.

---WernerScrews 10-4

Monday, December 22, 2003

These comments were submitted to http://dms.dot.gov in regards to Werner's GPS Exemption: Docket No. FMCSA-2003-15818
-------
WernerScrews
http://www.angelfire.com/rebellion/wernerscrews
On-Line Keywords: Werner Screws

Werner Enterprises has enjoyed profitability since the introduction of the QualComm system, however the system has not benefited the safety of highway motorists or Werner's drivers. Having drove for Werner Enterprises and as a Webmaster for WernerScrews, I am in a position to offer an opinion of Werner Enterprises. During the past two years, I have collected the opinions of over forty Werner drivers. Some messages have expressed a negative opinion of Werner's QualComm system and the remainder are critical of Werner's employment practices. In the past six months, four people have posted positive comments. During Werner's next exemption, the need for further investigation is warranted. WernerScrews doesn't oppose exemption, however under no circumstances should Werner Enterprises be afforded permanent status.

In order for Werner to improve highway safety three guidelines need to be enacted:

1. Unadulterated information sent from the QualComm Corporation directly to the FMCSA or an independent agency created to review Werner's driving records

2. An outlet for drivers to grieve safety concerns-not affiliated with Werner Enterprises or its safety department

3. Rigorous external auditing of Werner's proprietary software

I. Unmodified QualComm Data

The following statements were taken from Docket No. FMCSA-2003-15818 under these sections:

System Operation and Quarterly Reports

[...correction by company management.]

[...internal auditing...]

Reporting of Corrections or Amendments to Records

[...agree to furnish...]

[...identifying who authorized each altered record.]

The above four statements assume that Werner Executive Management or Werner Management will act ethically concerning the data received from the QualComm Corporation. With no redundancy in raw data, Werner Enterprises has the ability to alter a driver's log to corporate/personal advantage; there is a strong possibility for chicanery. A scenario might develop where a manager acted without authorization from Werner Executive Management and changed a driver's log; if caught, this manager would be terminated. However, the original data was erased.

II. Third-party Intervention

The recent docket highlights Werner's responsibility to be in compliance with the MOU, but ignores the key issue of a driver's responsibility for his safety and the safety of highway motorists. Werner's reliance on QualComm system has had a profound impact on the ability of a driver to make decisions. Werner drivers are told to take any safety related issue(s) to the Safety Department. My correspondence with Werner drivers has revealed Werner's Safety Department is aligned with logistics; safety is ignored. If a driver is unwilling to deliver a load because of a safety issue, Werner Management may terminate him because he refused a load. A driver needs to be able to state his limitations without fear of reprisal. As Werner is the only carrier to use paperless logs, a separate agency-not affiliated with Werner-is needed to address safety issues. A driver should be able to call a FMCSA hotline that will resolve a safety situation without a driver losing his job or receiving a negative DAC's report. Currently, a driver will ignore safety issues to keep their position; when a driver acts on his own accord, the incident's root cause becomes obfuscated.

III. External Software Auditing


The safety of highway motorists has been placed on the QualComm hardware and Werner's software. Werner's software, during my brief employment with Werner, was considered infallible, however the proprietary technology was not without defects or glitches. Some Werner drivers quit or were terminated because of erroneous information; some dispatchers trusted false information over a driver's word. Information is power-albeit, misleading or false information. One situation arose when a dispatcher used intimidation and coercion on a driver to accept a load after it was "discovered" he had more on-duty driving hours.

Docket No. FMCSA-2003-15818:

[FMCSA would continue its policy of not divulging to any third party proprietary information related to Werner's GPS technology or related safety management computer systems.]

If Werner's 2002 safety improved-compared to 1998, this would not be an issue, however Werner's safety management system has degraded since the introduction of the QualComm system and Werner's software.

http://www.angelfire.com/rebellion/wernerscrews/chart.html

Technology is not infallible and Werner's proprietary software needs independent examination and rigorous auditing. Without outside testing, the software continues to perpetuate errors and cause unneeded risks. Given Werner's unique position, their software should be disclosed and tested by an independent agency; independent recommendations would be used to improve Werner's software.

Final issues:

On Feb. 2, 1999, Jeffrey Shober and Louis Ottaviano were burned to death while westbound on the Schuylkill Expressway. Just before the accident, it was determined that the Werner driver was sending a message over the QualComm system.

What action(s) has Werner Enterprises taken to prevent further distractions while driving? Specifically, has the QualComm system been deactivated while the truck is in motion?

Werner Enterprises has discouraged the use of "double logs" in order to eliminate discrepancies. If a driver choices to keep a separate log book, as detailed in 49 CFR 395.8, and a discrepancy arises-whose log is valid?

The FMCSA has given absolute trust to Werner Enterprises. During the past five-years, safety at Werner Enterprises has been decreasing. Rigorous, unbiased third-party intervention is needed to help Werner Enterprises improve highway safety.
------
---WernerScrews 10-4

Friday, December 19, 2003

Some big news:

Werner Enterprises has expressed interest to move from FMCSA exemption status to FMCSA permanent status--concerning Werner's use of the QualComm System.

The public is encouraged to make comments and the last day for comments is 12 Jan 2004.

The Werner Exemption is Docket No. FMCSA-2003-15818

This is the message I got from:
http://www.dms.dot.gov

[
-Go to dms.dot.gov
-Select the Comment/Submissions tab at the top of the screen
-If you wish to register select the link REGISTER in the Unregistered users section. Registration is not necessary though and you can just select the continue button at the bottom of the screen
-Fill in the following information about the docket and the submitter information (you will have the option of selecting Enter a comment or attach a file)
-Select continue at the bottom of the screen
-the next screen will allow you to either type in a comment or attach a file
-select continue
-You will receive a notification that your submission was recieved and it will take 1-3 days before you can see it on the website.

Should you require further assistance please feel free to contact us through the dms.dot.gov support site. Should you prefer assistance over the phone, please provide us with a phone number and we will be glad to call you and assist you further.

Thank you,
DMS Web Support Staff
]

Or mail your comments to:

Docket Management Facility
Docket No. FMCSA-2003-15818
U.S. Department of Transportation
400 Seventh Street
SW.
Nassif Building
Room PL-401
Washington, DC 20590-0001


Many e-mails were sent to WernerScrews about this outrage. Thank you very much! The power of the internet is awesome!

WernerScrews comments should be on the dms.dot.gov site next week. I will also place those comments on this blog.

---WernerScrews 10-4

Friday, December 12, 2003

TruckZ.com considers WernerScrews a website designed by a nut. That doesn’t bother me. Back in 1996, when I learned basic web design, a web site was an exclamation mark—it conveyed information and was meaningful. (That’s all changed.)

WernerScrews is not an anti-trucking or anti-driver site. Werner has excellent drivers and most drivers follow safety first and foremost. Drivers that exceed their limitations often run into trouble. What causes a driver to exceed their limitations? Possible answers are an aggressive dispatcher, eager receiver, or a noisy QualComm.

WernerScrews is not the best designed or best content site concerning Werner Enterprises. It is one website. Look to other sites for more info. Here is a list of other sites that have an open forum:

Trucking Solutions
idodac.com
realdrivers.com
truckersreport.com
Driver's Roundtable

The key word is “open” forum. The first three are old standards. Daniel, at Trucking Solutions, has done some excellent research. Kevin, over at Trucker's Reports, has a heads-up site. The Roundtable allows a good place to post information.

One site that has an excessive profit agenda is called TruckZ.com. The editors of that site didn’t like WernerScrews stirring-up dirt and “bad-mouthing” Werner. Using SamSpade.org, I discovered they were owned by CRN Media Group--a division of Corporate Media Press. The fact that TruckZ obfuscates ownership isn’t too surprising. Interestingly, TruckZ’s editors took it upon themselves to vilify WernerScrews.

TruckZ.com’s Forum:
1. Edited my post with out permission.
2. Placed false information in the post.
3. Banned me from their forum
4. Removed a friend’s post.

A forum doesn’t need to follow freedom of speech. Editors can slant the forum any way they want; someone has to pay the server bills. Why didn’t TruckZ remove all the WernerScrew’s posts? The Tech Whizzes at TruckZ realize big trucking companies will appreciate this modified (slandered) post. TruckZ has optimized search engine placement and procured large carrier banner ads. That’s how TruckZ’s editors are paid. It is doubtful TruckZ will ever allow hard-core topics that criticize big company safety. The end result, TruckZ has lost all credibility and usefulness to surfers.

---WernerScrews 10-4

Tuesday, November 25, 2003

Intentional Disregard for Driver Safety


From 1972-2002, L.E. Myers reported to OSHA at least 35 deaths from linemen working on high-voltage power lines.

L.E. Myers defense maintained that the company could not be expected to prevent employee errors--despite numerous safety short-cuts.

The OSHA Commission ruled that federal law holds companies accountable for the failure of supervisors to enforce safety rules.

The precedent is clear with regards to Werner Enterprises. For years, we have heard Werner give excuses like, "…it’s the nature of the business" and "…it’s the nature of the industry." Since a dispatcher acts as a Supervisor, any DOT violation that occurs with the knowledge and condonation of the dispatcher becomes an intentional disregard for driver safety. Werner Enterprises is held accountable. I wonder how many drivers sued Werner claiming OSHA violations. One thing is certain--the DOT doesn’t act against Werner. Werner’s safety record during the past five years is proof positive that inaction is deadly.

If you are going to sue Werner Enterprises, the linemen’s OSHA case is your fodder.

---WernerScrews 10-4

Friday, November 07, 2003

A few months ago, WernerScrews was banned from TruckZ.com’s forum. The flimsy reason was WernerScrews perpetuated slander against Werner Enterprises. The fact is TruckZ.com had strong financial interest to keep Werner Enterprises as a "good pal." Those little banners on web sites generate revenue and money is what trucking is all about. Naive and desperate students keep companies like TruckZ.com in business.

The issue came up about highway fatalities and what Werner Enterprises has been doing about it. The argument was this, crash statistics—a tragic part of trucking—cannot be blamed on the carrier, but it is the driver who is wholly responsible for safety.

WernerScrews begs to differ. For the past four years, safety at Werner Enterprises has been decreasing. Highway fatalities and crashes are increasing at an alarming rate! WernerScrews believes that the QualComm is the nexus of tragedy. Werner uses the QualComm to their corporate advantage. Driver’s safety is not, and never will be, an issue.

TruckZ.com had the audacity to claim WernerScrews was delighted to report about these causalities. It doesn’t! To date, I don’t see one website that scrutinizes Werner. TruckZ.com likes to report about the fluffy issues of trucking life--like women flashing their breasts at drivers. Get real TruckZ.com!! TruckZ.com will never discuss Werner’s safety problems. This Chart shows Werner's declining safety during the past five years.

The DOT released the 2002 crash statistics for Werner Enterprises--One fatal crash for every 391 tractors and one crash for every 15 tractors. While taking a trip out West, I saw over 15 Werner trucks and I wondered if the Werner driver was wide awake and in command of his vehicle. If I pass a second Werner truck, what’s his/her condition? The general public doesn’t have an idea how deadly Werner is. That’s why Werner has a public relations dragster.

One question needs to be answered by Werner Enterprises. What has Werner been doing to increase safety? To date all their efforts appear fruitless.

The last issue, if Werner cannot reform itself, it’s time the government stop being lethargic and take crucial steps to reform trucking and increase highway safety. Werner Enterprises is a menace to society and they have no right to be in business.

---WernerScrews 10-4

Sunday, October 26, 2003

The most beautiful landfill in America—the Fillmore County Waste Management facility

In light of the "contributions" Mr. Clarence Werner and Werner Enterprises have bestowed to the State of Nebraska and humanity, WernerScrews hereby decrees the Fillmore County Landfill christened: Mt. Werner.

This opprobrium conferred solemnly to Mr. Clarence Werner on Friday, October 24, 2003 A.D. outside of Seward, Nebraska in recognition for future generations to bethink Mr. Werner’s infamy.

Since 1998, fifty-one drivers and motorists have lost their lives after Werner Enterprises introduced computerized dispatch and monitoring. To date, Werner Enterprises has not addressed any safety issues.

Three ways Werner Enterprises resembles a landfill:

CONTENTS:
Garbage

ESSENCE:
Full of methane

PERSITENCE:
Leeches into the soil--contaminating water and soil for future generations

---WernerScrews 10-4

Friday, October 24, 2003

The latest high-tech gizmo since Omni-Tracks

Heralded as a revolution in trailer logistics

UTAM: Untethered Trailer Asset Management: by QualComm

Werner’s statement:
“…intended to meet the real-world needs of carriers, including cargo security and cost savings per load.” Greg Werner

Werner Enterprises will never buy any technology that would increase highway safety or the safety of their drivers.

---WernerScrews 10-4

Monday, October 20, 2003

Links were made from main WernerScrews site to Blog. Minor changes will be made. Breaking Werner news and discussion will be located here.

---WernerScrews 10-4

Saturday, October 18, 2003

Nothing new at Werner. The Screw-O-Matic will get reprogrammed, but will still be working at 100% screwing efficiency.

---------------------------------------------------------
Business Wire Report
---------------------------------------------------------


"Werner Enterprises has completed software reprogramming for the new hours of service rules of its proprietary Paperless Log System (PLS) that is used to (1) monitor driver hours of service on a real-time basis and (2) preplan the assignment of shipments to drivers based on their available driving hours."

Werner Enterprises would not reprogram their software because of driver safety issues. Federal compliance is the issue.

No major changes over at Werner.

"Since the annual driver turnover rate in the truckload industry exceeds 100% per year, the competitive market would likely require carriers to raise the rate of pay per mile to drivers if miles decline."

Sure. Business Wire must think C.L. Werner is a fool. Werner will open a terminal in India, train drivers in India and have the neophytes move to the U.S. Werner will always follow the cheapest path.

What of Werner driver/highway motorist safety? That issue was not brought up in this article. Werner's revenue is far more important.

Friday, October 17, 2003

Welcome to WernerScrews: The Blog!!

Tuesday, September 16, 2003

Mr. Werner, don't blame WernerScrews for Werner's problems. Be a man and straighten your company out. If you can't, hire someone who can!

--------------------------

Staff, news services
September 15, 2003

Truck destroyed by fire on I-5

Drivers on Interstate 5 south of Salem spent a good part of Sunday going nowhere, as traffic came to a standstill on Ankeny Hill after a truck crashed and caught fire.

The crash occurred after 7 a.m. between mileposts 244 and 243 when a truck from Nebraska-based Werner Enterprises struck the metal guardrail. The impact caused sparks to ignite diesel fuel that escaped from the truck’s punctured tanks.

The truck, carrying a partial load of tires, remained upright, but fire engulfed the truck and spread to grass growing near the roadway.

The incident closed southbound I-5 until 3:30 p.m., according to the Oregon State Police, and caused a backup that stretched as far as 15 miles as motorists were squeezed onto side roads.

All lanes were reported open at 3:30 p.m. The crash is being investigated, Hageman said.

------------------------

I would love to hear the results of this investigation!

---WernerScrews 10-4

Wednesday, August 20, 2003

Werner Drivers:
Want to spill a drink on C.L.? That honor will cost you $5000 per team, so save up. This exclusive shootout is NOT designed for a Werner driver's empty pocket.

Kind of sad that the Boy Scouts would take money from an outfit like Werner.

-----------------------------------------------------------
News Story
-----------------------------------------------------------

Second annual Shoot-Out for Boy Scouts
Events include:
Pistol Range
5-Stand
Sporting Clays

The event will be held at C.L. Werner's "Werner Valley Shooting Fields," near Valley, Nebraska. Werner started Werner Enterprises as a one-man, one-truck operation and built it into one of the largest trucking operations in the country.

++++++++++++++++++++
C.L. Werner single-handedly built the company with his sweat and muscle. I love reading corporate history, but all the company histories seem the same.
++++++++++++++++++++

Over the course of 45 years, Werner, who is chairman, CEO, and founder of Werner Enterprises, has led the increase of his company's fleet from one truck to more than 7,900 trucks and 19,855 trailers. Since its founding in 1956, Werner Enterprises has been committed to giving back to the community and its people.

++++++++++++++++++
It's a tax write off. Spare me. "Community" my wet-brown anus!
++++++++++++++++++

Werner Valley is a hunter's dream site ... sporting clays, pistol ranges, and a world-class collection of exotic and world-class mounts, including a white bison, are on display at Werner Valley. C.L.'s extensive gun collection includes the prop tommy gun used by actor Tom Hanks in the movie "Saving Private Ryan."

++++++++++++++++++++++
"Watch it boy...C.L. Werner is going to shot your privates." Yes, in more ways than one.
Excuse me, I am going to throw-up.
++++++++++++++++++++++

The Mid-America Council, Boy Scouts of America, is the largest youth-serving agency in Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota. The Council serves more than 35,067 youth in 58 counties. The Council is headquartered in Omaha and is supported by 10,946 volunteer leaders.

The Boy Scouts of America has a proud tradition of preparing young people for leadership with character building programs that instill timeless values. These programs include Cub Scouts (1st-5th grade), Boy Scouting (6th-12th grade), Varsity Scouting (young men ages 14-17), Venturing (co-ed, young adults ages 14-21), Learning for Life (grades K-12), Exploring (co-ed, young adults ages 14-21), Juvenile Diversion (co-ed, ages 10-17), Teen Court
(co-ed, ages 13-17) and Scoutreach (boys 1st-12th grade).

+++++++++++++++++++++++
If the Boy Scouts idolize C.L. Werner, proper role models appear to be an endangered species. Oh, kind of like the exotic world-class mounts C.L. takes pleasure in viewing.
+++++++++++++++++++++++

The Fun Starts Now, And The Values Last A Lifetime

+++++++++++++++++++++++
What values? What ethics? Satan has more honor!
+++++++++++++++++++++++

WHERE: Werner Valley Ranch/Shooting Fields Valley, Nebraska (just northwest of Omaha)
WHO: Hosted by Werner Enterprises
WHEN: Friday, September 19, 2003
WHY: Fund-raiser for Mid-America Council, Boy Scouts of America
-------------------------------------------------------

Enough said.

---WernerScrews 10-4

Monday, August 11, 2003

At Werner Enterprises you get NO respect. That's what WernerScrews has been telling customers/public for over two years.

Why?
It's in their culture!

-----------------------------------------------

( BW)(WA-CUSTOMER-RESPECT) Transportation, Distribution & Logistics Firms Could Boost Business By Lifting Customer Online Experience: The Customer Respect Group Study

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 11, 2003--

US Postal Service Shows Highest Overall Customer Respect; 39 Percent of Firms Don't Respond to Web Site Inquiries

The Customer Respect Group, an international research and consulting firm that focuses on how corporations treat their customers online, today released the results of its Summer 2003 Online Customer Respect Study of the transportation, distribution and logistics firms that rank among the country's largest 1000 companies.

One factor that negatively contributed to lackluster scores, according to the report, is that 39 percent of companies don't respond to inquiries made at their Web site. Overall, the US Postal Service scored highest in Customer Respect, while Trinity Industries scored lowest.

The study is the only to bring objective measure to the analysis of corporate performance from an online customer's perspective. It assigns a Customer Respect Index (CRI(TM)) to each company. The Customer Respect Index is a qualitative and quantitative in-depth analysis and independent measure of a customer's online experience when interacting with companies via the Internet.
"While we were heartened to see some very good results within the sector," said Terri McNulty, CEO of The Customer Respect Group, "too many firms haven't gotten the message that treating customers with respect online will improve their business. If those firms focus on key areas such as clarity of privacy principles and interaction with online customers, they'll see improved CRI scores and more satisfied customers."

By looking at more than 1000 Web sites across a spectrum of industries in detail, The Customer Respect Group has determined 25 different attributes that combine to create the entire online customer experience. These attributes have been grouped together and measured as indicators of Privacy (respects customer privacy), Principles (values and respects customer data), Attitude (customer-focus of site), Transparency (open and honest policies), Simplicity (ease of navigation), and Responsiveness (quick and thorough responses to inquiries). Combined they measure a company's overall Customer Respect.

The highest ranked organization within the sector was US Postal Service at (8.8 out of 10), while the lowest was Trinity Industries at 2.7. The sector's average was 5.6. Beyond these scores, the report conveys in great detail improvement opportunities for each company. The sector's Summer 2003 ranking is as follows:

Company Name Overall

United States Postal Service 8.8
FedEx Corporation 8.5
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. 8.3
Ryder System, Inc. 7.6
The Pittston Company 7.5
Yellow Corporation 7.5
Amerco 7.4
Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. 7.2
C. H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. 7.0
United Parcel Service, Inc. 7.0
Airborne Inc. 6.1
Polaris Industries Inc. 5.6
Roadway Corporation 5.2
DHL 4.9
Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. 4.8
Arkansas Best Corporation 4.8
Pacer International, Inc. 4.6
Landstar System, Inc. 4.3
Hub Group Inc. 4.1
Harley-Davidson, Inc. 4.1
USFreightways Corporation 4.1
Werner Enterprises, Inc. 3.8
CNF Inc. 3.8
EGL, Inc. 3.7
Brunswick Corporation 3.5
Swift Transportation Company, Inc. 3.3
Trinity Industries, Inc. 2.7
---------------------------

Industry Average 5.6

------------------------------------------------

How important is that load? Think before you pick Werner.

---WernerScrews 10-4