Your Trust in Clust

Google is a bad habit that needs to be nixed. In the past, Google gave unbiased web rankings. Seems that's not the case anymore. Google went public and commercial interests have a way of creeping into search algorithms, meta tags and a variety of proprietary web ranking technologies. Yes, habits can be changed.

Thankfully, no one is forced to use Microsoft, Google or Hotmail. Find an alternative and give it a whirl.

Two search engines that do a better job than Google:

Clusty.com and Gigablast.com

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Is Werner paying its drivers more? More drivers are finding positive things to say about Werner—great miles, good dispatchers, great pay, etc. On the other side of the coin are the negative comments. I have not heard enough “good things” to offset the negative. At the very least, Werner is bowing to current market conditions. There is a saying down South, “Ride Bulls, Meet Nurses.” It seems appropriate, “Drive For Werner, Meet Lawyers.”

---WernerScrews 10-4

Get Real

This Detroit News article is very funny. Especially these quotes:

"...truck drivers are becoming as heavily recruited as Ivy League business majors."

"Companies are offering new drivers financial incentives like first-year pay of $16 an hour plus overtime, profit-sharing and sizable 401(k) matches."

"[A driver at Werner Enterprises] makes slightly less than the average wage of $35,000."

Karen Dybis, of The Detroit News, is a Mold-O-Rama business reporter who wants her readers to feel good. She will never drive a truck or interview a driver with a different opinion. This is sad, but there is no debate in her article--just a warm feeling that the "good times" have returned and that the trucking industry will be the next Gold Rush. I was expecting to read that a truck driver, who works hard, can move into Management; the same hard work will get a driver, now a manager, into the Executive Suite. Opportunities abound--the fountain is overflowing with Hope!

Wake up. I don't see no "pay increases." A company will jettison a higher wage earner as soon as possible. This triple jackpot, money-on-trees chimera will vanish like a mirage in Death Valley. The buzzards will drop dead before Werner Enterprises will pay a proton of a cent extra.

---WernerScrews 10-4

Longing For the Good Ole Days

The real issue is what happened to change the relationship between the Omaha World-Herald and Werner Enterprises. Two negative Werner articles were given Editorial approval. WernerScrews doesn’t buy into the notion of Freedom Of the Press. In a smoke filled, up scale Omaha hotel—or a facsimile thereof, Werner screwed someone over at the Omaha World-Herald. Werner Enterprises was a primary source for Omaha World-Herald's warm and fuzzy business reports. This is a departure from the fluff.

First Settlement Reached—June 26, 2004 Omaha World-Herald article

Want to work for a company that will fire you for going to the hospital? The jury has decided against Werner. You can argue pros and cons about Werner, but this case speaks volumes about of Werner's Management during the time Mr. Phipps and I were employees.

WernerScrews is extremely happy concerning the outcome of this case and it is a positive step forward. However, not everyone goes through the ordeal Mr. Phipps had to endure. He is to be commended on his perseverance to pursue what was legally his and to obtain justice.

The second consequence of this legal decision is that it puts a case on the books. Werner failed to act properly legally, humanely and ethically concerning Mr. Phipps. Certainly, he is not alone.

Losers are Users and Users are Losers—June 25, 2004 Omaha World-Herald article

Just like I learned in Schoolhouse Rock and the crime fighting McGruff--drugs are bad. The second Omaha World-Herald article focused on Curtis Werner’s purge from C.L.'s Camelot. Fear not, Clarence will loan his son money to start a new business, but the loan will have a high interest rate. It is good to hear that Werner’s Executive Management only has a substance abuse problem.

Stay Safe and Drive Clean.

---WernerScrews 10-4

Working For Werner

Opinions are usually based on facts. The conclusions (or opinions) that are contained at WernerScrews are no different. Research is not rocket science and personal experience plays a big part in forming a conclusion.

One criticism received is that WernerScrews is bashing those poor-little-old large trucking companies. However, large companies like UPS and Federal Express demonstrate safer DOT records than Werner Enterprises. Something is clearly wrong at Werner. Could it be the GPS system?

Not all companies are buying into the GPS system. BostonCoach is one. Other models can and are used. Eweek article.

Werner Enterprises internal politics are uninteresting. It is the usual, legendary Werner infighting that is the foundation of this “great” company. The shockwaves from this attitude move down the food chain.

JayB presents an interesting analogy with inmates running an asylum--one I don’t fully acknowledge. An executive should make executive decisions. However, a Werner truck driver needs to be in complete control over her truck and NOT be coerced by a Dispatcher to exceed her limitations.

Another law firm is on the Werner Watch and is offering statistics galore. Werner is fertile ground.

JayB has decided to work for Werner and that’s his choice. Maybe he’ll find a satisfying career. The alternative is what Werner does best: screw.

---WernerScrews 10-4

SafeStat Data

Many thanks to Tony TurboTrucker over in Google Groups for bringing this site:

http://www.safersys.org

to the attention of the public and drivers.

Read TurboTrucker's post for more details and carrier rankings. Werner's DOT # is 53467 or go here:

http://ai.volpe.dot.gov/SafeStat/CarrierOverview.asp?DOT=53467&WhichForm=safer

Werner ranks "Deficient" with a score of 94.6--having "Extensive Available Data." As TurboTrucker warns:

[ In this game, the higher score is not a winning score. It is an indication of a losing proposition. Take the time to view all information of a prospective carrier you are considering, or one that you already work for, and use this tool as one means to determine your destiny. ]

Outstanding advice. Stay safe.

---WernerScrews 10-4

An All Time Low

On August 11, 2003, Werner Enterprises was ranked near the bottom in the Customer Respect Index. Seven months later, they exceeded all expectations and finished last with a ranking of 1.6. Need two signs? Look at Werner's website; the site has been unmodified for over three years. If Werner doesn't respect their employees, why should a customer be different? Nothing new under the sun.

---WernerScrews 10-4

In the winter of 2001, I was waiting for my next trainer in Allentown, PA. Jason, from Knoxville, TN, was a few years younger than me; he had an outstanding personality, excellent hospitality, and a strong confidence. Jason was not the best trucker, but his excellent personality replaced any deficiencies.

I would have liked to stay on-board with him, but I had to cash four Werner checks. I told him I had a personal emergency and needed to go home.

I hope Jason left Werner. He was a hard working and loyal employee and he would give you the shirt off his back.

Werner has a lot of good drivers. These drivers will go all out to keep Werner happy, but Werner’s Management is flawed. The computerized dispatch has created far too many problems. Sometimes it’s not the drivers who are driving—it’s the Dispatcher using the QualComm. There is little or no driver-dispatcher arbitration in Werner’s current system. Currently, Werner’s profits are high and the NHTSA is happy with Werner’s compliance. Does this mean there isn’t a serious problem? Too many lives hang in the balance. You may not drive for Werner, but you may share the road with a Werner. This puts everyone at risk.

The WernerScrews site has been updated. This is the place for the other story—the story untold on Werner’s site.

---WernerScrews 10-4

Werner Valley Ranch

Background: Werner Valley Ranch is a privately owned wildlife retreat owned by Clarence Werner—CEO of Werner Enterprises. Several hundred acres of Nebraskan prairie provide marksmanship practice, hunting and other leisure activities as prescribed by Mr. Werner. Werner Valley Ranch also serves as a VIP guest resort for Werner Enterprises. Like a mounted white bison, inside Werner's Omaha terminal is a plaque listing Werner's deceased drivers.

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A benchmark study written by humanitarian Dr. Albert Schweitzer correlated, with causality, that animal cruelty developed into human cruelty. "Anyone who has accustomed himself to regard the life of any living creature as worthless is in danger of arriving also at the idea of worthless human lives."—Dr. Albert Schweitzer. The sagas played out at Werner Valley Ranch have a profound influence in Werner's boardroom and, in turn, are passed down to Werner Management.

Hunting for subsistence differs greatly from hunting for sport. My Native friends have the utmost of respect for the animals they hunt. It is in their traditional beliefs that the hunted animal offers its spirit to the hunter. The implications of this simple relationship form a rich cosmology where the distinction between man, animal and nature are often intertwined.


Hunting for sport is a different mindset. Some hunters see a mounted nine-point deer as a supreme accomplishment. Other hunters enjoy impressing friends and acquaintances with their hunting prowess. Essentially, there are no clear distinctions. Some hunters are only sport, others for subsistence and the rest are a combination of sport and sustenance. From my communication with over 90 Werner employees, there are strong indications that Werner Valley Ranch is aimed at the sport of hunting. Werner Valley Ranch is well stocked with deer and other wildlife to afford Clarence Werner’s guests a remarkable time. The animals are confined with no means of escape; it could be argued that this is not fair sport. Werner's hunting principles are:

• Hunt the weakest

• Use fear and scare tactics

• Herd the wildlife together and offer them no escape

• Use diversionary tactics

The herd is culled; hunters are evaluated and pats on the back are rewarded. A guest will leave Werner Valley Ranch with hints how he can improve his hunting performance along with camaraderie and euphoria that sets Werner Enterprises apart from other corporations.

For top Werner employees, keeping their hunting skills sharp—at the corporate offices—would be a difficult proposition, but Werner encourages this behavior.

• An ex-Werner truck driver made a post at WernerScrews explaining how she was terminated because of an injury. Here is a sample of her post:

“Now I am 1200 miles away from home and worker’s
comp says find a doctor where you are at. So, I did. I was
then taken out of work. So Werner (DMI) says I am to drive
my truck to a terminal, even though the doctor said, ‘No.’
It gets better. Werner leaves me stranded 1200 miles away
from home with no where to sleep, no money and no car. Once
again, I was told take it up with worker’s comp.”—Tifa
(WernerScrews post)

Tifa never drove for Werner after this incident. In addition, several e-mails confirm similar actions. A truck driver that can no longer be a part of the herd must be culled.

• A dispatcher holds the power of a Werner driver’s mileage and paycheck. Running over hours and driving when tired are common occurrences. The ability for a driver to make decisions becomes reduced because it is the dispatcher, and dispatcher only, who control the truck driver’s position. The fear and anxiety caused by a dispatcher has grave consequences. The official Werner statement: driving is the driver’s responsibility.

• Werner drivers are often herded together and placed in a motel. Often the relocation circumstances are puzzling:

“I waited at home for five days, calling every morning,
(at least I was getting paid.) Finally I got a call, I was
told to be at the terminal in an hour and a half--they were
sending a couple of cars up to the Omaha, NE terminal. One
hour later, I was in Lakeland putting my stuff in a rental
car. They sent three rental cars with three people each up
to Omaha, NE, because we would be able to get a trainer faster
if we went up there. When we left there were still at least
25 people waiting on trainer at the hotel, one that had been
there almost two weeks. Like I said before I was a lucky one.”—Sanslogic
(realdrivers.com)

One explanation for this relocation is psychological control. Once a driver is away from home, Werner believes they have better control.

• Smoking mirrors are a Werner hallmark. When I was a driver, I was told to call so and so and later call this person. The calls made no difference. Confirming my experience was a post from WernerScrews.

“He was with them [Werner] for nearly a month and the
only checks that I received were void. Werner claimed he was
not given any miles because loads were thin around Thanksgiving
and that they would improve afterward. The real reason was
he was given a brand new Peterbuilt and there was a problem
with the paperless log. He told them that he was not about
to move until they got it fixed because he knew that they
would blame him and he would be sent through more safety meetings.
He argued with them to get it fixed every day and they said
that they were never told about the problem.”—Tammie
(Wife of a Driver)

When a Werner driver displays initiative, Werner Enterprises obfuscates responsibility and enfeebles issues.

Werner Valley Ranch extends far beyond the recreation and amusement it provides. There is compelling evidence that Werner’s cruel hunting strategies are used in business; the lessons of the hunt are incorporated into Werner’s management and the treatment of their employees. Just as wildlife animals are tagged, Werner's adoption of computerized dispatch has provided tighter control of their drivers. The precipitate of the dominance/submission paradigm are hostility and fear. In short, the integration of new ideas or techniques—from the bottom-up—will be diminished leading to the eventual extinction of the company.

---WernerScrews 10-4

WernerScrews received information concerning a fatal collision that took place on June 19, 2001. According to the Tri-City Herald in an article written by Mr. John Trumbo ( jtrumbo@tri-cityherald.com ), a Werner Enterprises driver crossed the center lane and collided with a Chevy Astro Van. James and Kathryn Johnson were killed. This link provides the scanned article.

---WernerScrews 10-4