WernerScrews Blog

2009-07-13T15:33:00.000-07:00

Big Blue Screw Blues

Werner Enterprises complaints are now reaching poetic levels. I suspect Country & Western songs are now in the works.

Randall Owens wrote this poem about the Big Blue Screw--Posted August 13th, 2008:

Screwed again by the Big Blue Screw

If you don't know by now I'll tell you it's true
I work for a company called the Big Blue Screw.
When I first started there I knew it would be tough
but I think that I may have finally had enough.

They told me don't worry it will all be OK
but like it or not we are cutting your pay.
They said don't do anything foolish or rash
we are only taking about 1/3 of your cash.

I find it strange that those who say it will be OK
are the ones who stand to gain the most from my pay.
The worst part is that they have no real reason
My guess is that it is just the screw you season.

For now though I continue to do my best
to keep on working and not get to stressed.
I'll keep looking for jobs, keep pounding the ground
and take pleasure in knowing their time will come around.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

I hope someone transforms this into a Country song because it has all the workings of becoming a YouTube sensation. Just need some guitar instrumentation, a chorus and the kind permission of Mr. Owens.

---WernerScrews 10-4

2009-06-27T20:57:00.000-07:00

Gail Werner: Autism Action Partnership & Collecting a Pay Check

A few years ago, I received a strange e-mail from a woman who claimed WernerScrews was full of prunes. I was besmirching the sacred name of C.L. Werner and his empyrean company. I always thought the message came from Gail Werner (C.L. Werner's daughter).

Gail Werner is an active socialite and a highfalutin financial raindancer in Omaha, NB. (Bernard Madoff did the same thing, but was less discriminating with his clients.) She might have two sons with autism, but this could not be solidly verified. Gail also performs an ancillary role as a public relations spokesperson for Werner Enterprises; it is not important if she is on Werner's payroll because her charity receives donations from Werner Enterprises.

Gail's charity, GWR Sunshine Foundation (now Autism Action Partnership) was concocted in 2000. Her charity raised more than $500,000 in 2008.

Gail Werner learned from her father the importance of having several names for a company--Werner Enterprises and Driver's Management, LLC. Gail Werner first named the charity GWR Sunshine Foundation in 2000 and, at the same time, she was CEO of GWR Wealth Management, LLC. The GWR Sunshine Foundation's name changed to Autism Action Partnership in 2008. Confused? Good luck determining where the donations are spent.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center tells part of the story:

"The majority of those funds go to support stipends, scholarships and social skills programs at UNMC's Munroe-Meyer Institute (MMI)."

The rest of the funds pay administrative costs--Gail Werner and her husband's, Scott Robertson, salaries. Gail's sexy black dress and silver/platinum cross are NOT hand me downs. I'm interested in the couple's combined compensation at Autism Action Partnership. I figure it is around $100,000/year--maybe a little less maybe a lot more. Rest assured, Gail and Scott are being well compensated for their compassion. However, Gail and Scott are not alone because business is business and charity is business.

Here is an other interesting quote from University of Nebraska Medical Center:

"Before taking the job as executive director, Hirschfeld was perfectly happy just volunteering with the GWR Sunshine Foundation. However, after much consideration, he and his wife decided that they had a vested interest in helping those with developmental disabilities and decided to take the next step."

In other words, Mr. Hirschfeld is now collecting a pay check. I love the wording! This smells like a lot of management for a small charity. It is sad that people who suffer from autism are being screwed by a shell company that pays a good portion of their donations to executive managers and expects the rest of their staff to be volunteers. The Autism Action Partnership is no better than Werner Enterprises! In fact, the Autism Action Partnership is more diabolical and despicable.

Do Gail and Scott do good? Yes, autism is a condition worthy of a charity and some adults and children with autism receive a modicum of help from the Autism Action Partnership. Is the motive behind Autism Action Partnership purely altruistic? Absolutely not! Charities are tax shelters for the rich. The University of Nebraska Medical Center doesn't care what kind of company Werner Enterprises is--only the gift$:

"In recognition of this gift, UNMC has established the C.L. Werner Family Neurodevelopmental Disorders Research Laboratories on the third level of the Durham Research Center II."

C.L. Werner would rather donate $10,000 to the Autism Action Partnership--paying his daughter's salary rather than handing it to Uncle Sam. It's a smart business move, but C.L.'s donations don't translate into having a "soft heart" or "being a kind man." These are two opposing facets. Werner Enterprises safety record speaks for itself.

The bitter truth is that some charities are tax shelters for the wealthy. C.L. Werner and Werner Enterprises both benefit from the positive public relations that the Autism Action Partnership creates. How will Werner Enterprises be remembered? 1. As a corporation that cheated and misguided thousands of employees, jeopardized the safety of thousands of drivers and was DIRECTLY responsible for the deaths of innocent highway motorists; or 2. As a corporation that gave thousands of dollars to autistic children? No brainer! It's the American Way! Pity the Werner driver with autism!

---WernerScrews 10-4

2009-06-07T15:52:00.000-07:00

Werner Enterprises: Survival of the Greatest or Corporate Cockroach

With General Motors on the ropes, it seems that the great U.S. companies of yesterday are becoming burned-out shells today. The economic climate is unstable. Yet, in all this turmoil, one company has weathered the financial storm: Werner Enterprises. Some may think Werner Enterprises is handling the storm better because the are lean and competitive. If corporate survival is the only indicator that a company is “great,” survival is a poor one.

How Werner Enterprises operates:

1.Student drivers – the cheapest labor available.

2. Werner Enterprises is NOT a “diversified,” international company. Werner Enterprises has painted a mirage; freight forwarding has not delivered the profits Werner Enterprises has promised. Owners of Werner stock should REALLY research this because Werner Enterprises has pulled the alfalfa over plenty of corneas with this “Chinese freight forwarding scheme.” Werner Enterprises was and always will be a bottom feeder. The Werner Company Store makes more money than Werner in China selling rotten soy beans in a Shanghai street market.

3. As long as the Federal Government continues a blind eye towards Werner's highway "safety" (or lack of), Werner Enterprises will continue to be “successful.” A fleet of student drivers, with high turnover, doesn't bode well for highway safety advocates.

Werner's #1 Nightmare: The Union.
Consequences of Unionization

While non-union jobs have increased since the 1970s, driver's pay and highway safety has decreased. The Teamsters have little interest in unionizing Werner Enterprises, but the UAW is a strong possibility.

A strong union would benefit Werner drivers in five ways.

1. A solid, legitimate training/apprenticeship program.

2. A decrease in the 300% employee turnover. Increased employee retention. Yes, there still would be turnover, but not that high.

3. Increased pay for drivers based on seniority and NOT favoritism.

4.Better healthcare and retirement. An end to the: “I got hurt on the job and Werner fired me.”

5.Increased safety.

In some ways Werner Enterprises would benefit by becoming unionized. However, what is good for the drivers is poison for Werner executive management.

Action-Reaction

Werner executive management CANNOT work under a union model, unless C.L. and all his cronies were asked to pack-up and leave—using their corn husk suitcases. Werner Enterprises gives orders, it doesn't take them. Unionization has the strong possibility of forcing Werner Enterprises into bankruptcy.

In good or bad times, Werner Enterprises is able to generate a profit. This is accomplished solely by using cheap labor. Werner Enterprises has no problems finding drivers. Werner Enterprises—like McDonald's (see Fast Food Trucking)—is a service industry. Werner Enterprises manufactures nothing and has little intellectual property. There is nothing unique about Werner Enterprises. J.B. Hunt or Rick's Trucking could make the same deliveries. Contrasted, a McDonald's hamburger is unique compared to a Burger King hamburger or a Mel's Diner burger.

Werner's Longevity Cult

Before drinking the cherry Kool-Aid, understand how Werner operates. If you decide to worship a graven image of C.L. Werner—by placing his idol on a lofty, black marble alter in a musty, candle lite room--also include cockroaches. Cockroaches have been around since the Carboniferous period and are more worthy of your hymns.

---WernerScrews 10-4

2009-06-06T17:39:00.000-07:00

Big Blue Screw

According to the Wiki on Werner Enterprises, Werner Enterprises has a 300% turnover rate. This is not an opinion, not a misstatement, but a fact--plain and simple. Here is another quote:

"Werner is commonly referred to as The Big Blue Screw by other drivers on the road."

I coined the term "Big Blue Screw" in the summer of 2001 and I am glad it is being frequently used to describe Werner Enterprises.

To escape this bad publicity, Werner started painting their equipment other colors to get away from the "Big Blue Screw." The tractors and trailers could be hot pink, but Werner will always be Werner; in other words, Werner will ALWAYS screw.

Stay safe.

---WernerScrews 10-4

2009-05-05T14:49:00.000-07:00

Werner: Classic Car Crusher

Here is a story about a Classic 1968 Plymouth Valiant versus a 2006 Peterbilt Werner truck. I hate to ruin the story, but the Werner truck was victorious. Thankfully, only the car was damaged in this incident. The owner of the classic car always made sure he parked far away from other cars. Unknown to the vintage car enthusiast, every Werner Enterprises truck is equipped with a demolition radar (QualComm) with the ability to seek out any vintage car; the Werner driver does the rest. The Plymouth Valiant did not have a prayer!

Read the story here. Special thanks to Larry for providing the info.

---WernerScrews 10-4

2008-12-30T23:40:00.000-08:00

Merry Werner Screwmass

Werner Enterprises is a utopia compared to Iraq. Here is an interesting article from Traffic World:
_____________________________________________________________

"Werner Enterprises Named a Top 50 Military-Friendly Employer
12/22/2008

OMAHA, Neb. -For the third year in a row, Werner Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: WERN) has been recognized in G.I. Jobs' sixth annual list of the nation's Top 50 Military-Friendly Employers®. Many military veterans possess valuable skills that transition well for Werner Enterprises, which is why they are so valuable to the company. To attract and retain veterans, the company has instituted the Werner Enterprises Professional Truck Driver Apprenticeship Program. This U.S. Department of Labor approved program provides veterans joining Werner Enterprises' professional driving force structured, on-the-job training and allows them to draw from their G.I. Bill during their first year driving for the company.

"The Apprenticeship Program and other policies are the reason veterans comprise 20 percent of our entire company workforce," said John Moore, manager of qualified recruiting for Werner Enterprises. "We emphasize the recruiting of veterans and each month we hire around 50 veterans for professional driving positions." "

_____________________________________________________

A soldier's G.I. Bill could be used at any university or community college. Werner is more than happy to take the money.

Meanwhile, Werner executives were not feeling the pinch in 2008. C.L. and the rest of the gang had a merry little Screwmass in Omaha.

"The Associated Press reported that the top four officers will share more than $1 million in bonuses, with the CEO and chairman each receiving $350,000."

--- WernerScrews 10-4

2008-11-27T03:46:00.000-08:00

BigBlueScrew

I found this website called bigbluescrew.com created by Starch. It was active for about five months and there has been no activity since May. Starch, please make a post and keep your blog active!

Werner Enterprises has joined YouTube with a video section. One video includes SuperBoy C.L. and steals shots from Superman (1978). I expected the boy C.L. to toss a blue crystal arrowhead and create the "Fortress of Fraud." Instead, the kid grinned like he was crushing a grasshopper into the ground. View for yourself, but have a barf bag handy. Something to be proud of.

Thankfully, other drivers have answered the director's call and filmed Werner. Here are a few:

Big Truck -- What Werner does best!

Werner truck on rock -- Say no more!!

Werner recruitment ad -- It's true, funny and it hurts!

Stay safe and give Werner a holiday gift--your resignation.

---WernerScrews 10-4

2008-09-27T21:51:00.000-07:00

Smokin' -- Burn Baby Burn

A Werner Enterprises tractor and trailer caught on fire. Thankfully, no people were hurt and Werner lost all its cargo. Werner Enterprises should be fined for pollution and all the toxic smoke the fire released. Proving once again that working for Werner is no easy job. Drive safe.

---WernerScrews 10-4

2008-09-13T19:44:00.000-07:00

Filling the Ranks & Pesty Overpasses

Larry is not giving C.L. a break. First, he exposed the unsanitary conditions of a Werner truck driver. Now, he takes on the equally filthy corporate office. Werner has been cheating drivers since 1956. In the past ten years, C.L. Werner has hired the finest minds to make his recruitment process a shiny paradigm of perpetual chicanery. Drivers/Student Drivers are lured to Werner with empty promises. Larry writes a thought provoking essay with wit and humor.

We think of the topic of “Shanghaiing” as something from the U.S.'s past--War of 1812. The reader will quickly discover that “Shanghaiing” is current and only the packaging is different—blue trucks instead of wood boats. Werner is up to the same antics.

Meanwhile, a Werner driver and a Swift driver were aiming to destroy the same overpass—on the same day! You cannot make these things up!

---WernerScrews 10-4

2008-08-02T23:06:00.000-07:00

Big Blue Finger

Go ahead...take a peek. This is the closest an average person will get--made possible by a Werner driver's sweat and under-employment.

Werner Visit May 10, 2004 02:00 PM

"And, if you thought the exterior was special, catch a load of the interior. Walls in leather, mahogany, and marble. Apparently, the interior of the van is decorated exactly like C. L. Werner's office."

Looks like C.L. Werner knows how to spend your money.

Drive safe.

---WernerScrews 10-4

2008-07-17T20:44:00.000-07:00

Werner Enterprises--Big Blue Baby

A few months ago, UPS discovered a way their drivers could save money—make as many right turns as possible. Here is a company that put some brains into saving fuel—instead of complaining.

What did Werner Enterprises do? C.L. Werner and his family cried to Senator John McCain. C.L. Werner got on his knees and begged McCain for lower fuel prices. Naturally, McCain told C.L. Werner to pay his drivers LESS money. Call me an *ss*ole, but I would rather see $80 a gallon for gas and Werner go bankrupt.

In 2000, Werner Enterprises had decent, newer model trucks; Werner Management was bad, but the trucks were in good shape. THAT HAS ALL CHANGED. I am hearing horror stories about trucks in disrepair. Without question, Werner is cutting every angle it can—shaving off as much money as they can. Driver and highway safety are being nickel and dimed. Beware.

And some good news. Lady Trucker, finally, received a settlement after suing Werner. Lady Trucker was seriously injured and Werner Enterprises immediately terminated her. Her blog tells the story. Way to go Lady Trucker!!

Word is spreading about Werner and Lady Trucker wouldn't go down without a fight. Times are changing for Werner Enterprises. Serious safety issues could balloon into a public relations nightmare for the Big Blue Screw. But, it is Werner's drivers and the public who are really screwed.

---WernerScrews 10-4

2008-07-01T16:59:00.000-07:00

New Website, Werner's Apprenticeship & Raw Anal Smell

It is just a matter of time before the internet becomes a garden of anti-Werner sites. Larry (HolyFlyingMonkeys) is the newest member on the block with a single passion—show Werner Enterprises in their true light. His “Werner Trainer Craps Himself” article has caused a shower or two at the Truckers' Report website—an excellent website that allows ALL views to be aired.

Speaking of raw anal juice...from Werner's website:

“Once you've obtained your professional drivers license at a Werner approved truck driving school, you will be enrolled in the industry's premier driver training apprenticeship program. Individuals successfully completing the program are certified as a Werner Enterprises Professional Truck Driver and will receive a nationally recognized certificate from the U.S. Department of Labor.”

For what it is worth--not much--and as a service to the public, I am offering free modified certificates (800x618 px) to any one interested in obtaining a “recognized certificate” from Werner Enterprises and the “U.S. Department of Labor.” The certificate will include your full legal/illegal name and state of residence. Why go through Werner hell? Do what C.L. and his executives do—create your own documents.

Werner Enterprises in no way, shape or form qualifies as a bona fide apprenticeship program. The U.S. Department of Labor has no authority sanctioning this certificate—especially with an outfit like Werner Enterprises. Government By the Elite, For the Elite.

Send your requests to: WernerScrews@hotmail.com

Disclaimer: WernerScrews is not responsible for any financial consequences the misuse of this all-around bogus certificate may entail. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. In all likelihood, the use of this certificate may cause other carriers/employers to question your Werner training—resulting in adverse penalties and/or sanctions.

Werner Enterprises--no win situation. Drive safe.

---WernerScrews 10-4

2008-06-27T16:23:00.000-07:00

Here is the story:

06/27/2008 08:57:58 AM MDT

CHEYENNE, WYO. — A Cheyenne jury has awarded a Colorado Springs couple more than $18 million for injuries from a 2006 crash at the intersection of Interstate 25 and Interstate 80.

A tractor-trailer struck a 1993 BMW driven by Peter Brohpy.

Denver attorney Gary Ceriani says Brohpy suffered severe brain damage in the crash, and that Brohpy now uses a wheelchair and can barely speak.

District Court documents show that a jury found negligence on the part of the trucking company, Omaha, Neb.-based Werner Enterprises, and the truck driver, Cheryl Neal.

The jury awarded Brohpy $15.8 million and his wife, Kate Brohpy, $2.3 million for loss of her husband's future income.

An attorney for Werner Enterprises declined to comment.

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

---WernerScrews 10-4

2008-04-10T20:21:00.000-07:00

Win One For the Gipper

The 08 Presidential Race is starting to feel like Wolf 359, The Alamo and Waterloo for the Republican Party, so WernerScrews created a patriotic, exciting banner for Mr. McCain. I don’t care for McCain or the Republican Party, but we all pity an underdog. Unless things change, McCain is going to get a butt beatin' in November, but you have to respect a man who willing to face his defeat, his Waterloo. (McCain could win, but the Democrats would have to royally screw-up. Something this website knows a lot about.)

Any Graphic Designer can create high-energy, witty banners for Hillary or Obama. The real challenge is McCain. I looked at CafePress and nothing excited me; all the T-shirt designs made McCain as exciting as three-week old bread bleaching under a Saguaro cactus. My banner “borrows” images off the internet--like stealing votes. The resulting image—yes, not perfect—embodies McCain and the Republican Party. I challenge other Graphic Designers to get off their lethargic butts and come up with similar images and help McCain in his greatest hour of need! If they are still employed and their work hasn’t been outsourced to China or if they still have a home with a computer!

---WernerScrews 10-4

2008-04-05T20:56:00.000-07:00

Communist Computerworld and Empty Scrotum Journalism

I have some one-sided news to report! Mr. Donald Broughton of Avondale Partners calls Omaha-based Werner Enterprises "best in class" for its use of information and communications technologies to reduce costs and improve profitability. From a ComputerWorld article.

Naturally, I have two issues.

1. Here is a great quote.

"It's impossible to fudge the numbers. You can't claim you're resting when the truck is moving," says Donald Broughton, a transportation industry analyst at investment banking firm Avondale Partners.

A quote that continually paints a misperception about technology and safety.

Werner Enterprises did, in fact, fudge the numbers. Back in 2002, a Werner truck moving in 5 mph traffic would be logged into non-duty hours. Maybe this has changed, but it doesn't remove the possibility from happening again. After all, Werner Enterprises exploited this loop-hole in 2002 to increase driver hours. Something Mr. Broughton has not stated or is ignorant of.

Did Mr. Broughton research Werner's safety record? Nope.

Had Mr. Broughton researched Werner's safety, he would be surprised that Werner Enterprises is not any safer now with its fancy technology. That is a fact. Pure and simple.

2. The real villain is not Mr. Broughton. It is Computerworld. Several years ago, I called Computerworld a practitioner of "empty scrotum journalism." It seems Computerworld cannot and will not report fairly. The U.S. doesn't teach Communist news reporting. (Not what I learned.) Most journalism colleges--including two outstanding professors I had--instruct aspiring reporters to find two sides to every story. Puppies are cute, but find someone who hates puppies, talk to them and quote them. That is balanced journalism. Something Computerworld neglects.

That's why business pieces like this do more harm than good. Stay safe. Stay away from Werner.

---WernerScrews 10-4

2007-11-05T05:23:00.000-08:00

Werner Enterprises is feeling the pinch. Investors, to put it mildly, are not happy how Werner Enterprises’ stocks are performing. Business buzzwords mean nothing to investors--U.S. Customs Broker, licensed Freight Forwarder in China, licensed China NVOCC and a TSA approved Indirect Air Carrier.

What investors want to know is how Werner Enterprises is making money in China or what Werner Enterprises is doing in China? These questions need to be sufficiently answered.

Mr. Steele’s report might focus on how market share in China will be developed. In short, Werner Enterprises is losing money in China. This is natural for any international business starting in China. But, is Werner Enterprises too late? U.S. companies that are enjoying profitability in China have been in China over 10 years. And there are plenty of other shipping companies in China at this moment--Maersk, UPS, and DHL. Werner Enterprises cannot claim deep knowledge or experience in China . Werner Enterprises is a new kid on the block in a convoluted business maze. A small branch office located in the central business district of Shanghai might signal to investors that Werner Enterprises can no longer compete in the U.S. market or excessive, useless overseas spending is not producing tangible results.

November 7th, investors will have a perfect opportunity to question Werner Enterprises' international business model.

From Business Wire:

---------------------------------
OMAHA, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Werner Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq:WERN), one of the nation’s largest truckload transportation and logistics companies, will be making two presentations to the investment community.

The first presentation will be held at the Baird Industrial Conference on Wednesday, November 7, 2007, in Chicago. The presentation by John J. Steele, Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, will begin at 11:05 A.M. (EST) and will be approximately 30 minutes in length, including questions and answers after the presentation.
--------------------------------

---WernerScrews 10-4

2007-10-30T20:55:00.000-07:00

Werner Enterprises -- Not a Halloween Scare, but a Real Screwing

What isn't said is more important than what is said. Case in point, Werner Enterprises is not on the list of the 100 most respected companies. Rodney Dangerfield would be right at home with Werner Enterprises. (Sorry Rodney about the bad joke.)

Werner Enterprises is gearing up for the holiday shipping (screwing) season. If you are looking for work, gear-up at another company.

---WernerScrews 10-4

2007-10-10T21:25:00.000-07:00

Fast Food Trucking

You have to give credit where credit is due. Werner Enterprises is not the best or safest trucking company out on the roads, but it is the most visible. Visible in driver recruitment and making a sales pitch to companies--who need products shipped from Point A to Point B. Werner Enterprises is McDonald’s; C.L. Werner is Ray Kroc--who commoditized the rough and tumble trucking industry. Some would hail C.L. Werner as a hero and great businessman, however, he is no greater or worse than the rest; C.L. had a successful business plan how to screw drivers and obtain shipping contracts. That’s all.

Why Werner Enterprises Sucks

WernerScrews has been around for seven years. The relevancy of the website and this WebBlog are clear. Werner Enterprises is committed to screwing the driver and this won’t change anytime soon. Werner profits by each hot, new body that comes into their organization. Read this news article why.

Here is a link of a person like me making comments about Werner Enterprises.

Very disappointed and angry with Werner Enterprises

Back at the WernerScrews Guestbook, J.J. made some comments about Werner Enterprises spamming unemployed Illinois Department of Economic Security clients.

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

I was recently laid off, 25 yrs of experience.

Illinois Dept. of Unemployment kept sending job prospects from Werner at a rate of 6-9 per day.

I forwarded this URL [WernerScrews Website] to IDES. No more Werner spam. Thanks

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

I was very happy to hear that the Illinois Department of Economic Security considers Werner Enterprises an insecure employer and that J.J. can devote his time looking for better employment instead of wasting his time deleting Werner spam or possibly being lured into working for an unscrupulous outfit. It is also interesting to hear that Werner Enterprises is using spam as a form of recruitment. Werner Enterprises will deal in anything low. Werner Enterprises will conveniently deny knowledge of spamming and, finally, terminate an overzealous recruiter; this procedure is getting old.

Tools of the Trade

Werner Enterprises has two tried and true methods of dealing with people who complain about the Big Blue Screw—Intimidation and Defamation. It is interesting that I would be the subject of a stake-out 7 years ago. Some gentleman with black-glasses was parked in a car across the street where I lived just when the WernerScrews Website was created. Maybe this was a coincidence. I approached the vehicle “to give him directions,” but he drove away.

Defamation is Werner’s preferred tool. People with criticism are cry babies, silver-spooned adults, slackers, mentally insane and the list goes on. I know because I’ve been called them all. These Puritanesque, ironic comments always come from Werner Enterprises’ drivers with over 10 years experience OR individuals with NO financial interests in Werner Enterprises and NO email address.

Newbie drivers, Werner Enterprises will ALWAYS be right. A character by the name of Shuffler has been drumming up positive PR for the Big Blue Screw for over seven years now! He must have a really peachy job with Werner, so he can step up to the plate and defame or criticize anyone who had a bad experience with Werner Enterprises. Shuffler’s posts are all the same…go to this department and speak to this person…go to that department and speak to that person…finally, speak to an executive. According to Shuffler (sounds like a magician and his deck of cards), taking these steps set you apart from Joe Trucker and prove you are a responsible and professional trucker. Shuffler is a master of propaganda--he will even admit Werner Enterprises is not perfect. His arguments appeal to a “gentlemen logic” that Werner will give you a fair handshake, if you give them one. The second you turn around, Werner will shoot your spine.

There is always a job opening at Werner Enterprises; this is by design. Drive elsewhere or not at all. Don’t give Werner Enterprises the satisfaction. Other drivers and I made a mistake selecting Werner Enterprises. Thankfully, you do not have to.

---WernerScrews 10-4

2007-09-16T07:58:00.000-07:00

Werner Crash Statistics -- Werner vs. UPS Freight

An updated Werner safety record follows and the results are not surprising. These statistics answer a tired question: Has Werner's safety record improved? You be the judge. The Werner statistics are available here:

Werner Enterprises State Reported Crashes (within 30 months)
Contains data as of August 24, 2007

Number of Vehicles Involved in State Reported Crashes 1,969
Number of Vehicles Involved in Crashes Resulting in Fatalities 48
Number of Vehicles Involved in Crashes Resulting in Injuries 712
Average Number of Power Units 10,618.0
Number of Drivers 12,651

UPS Ground Freight State Reported Crashes (within 30 months)
Contains data as of August 24, 2007

Number of Vehicles Involved in State Reported Crashes 571
Number of Vehicles Involved in Crashes Resulting in Fatalities 17
Number of Vehicles Involved in Crashes Resulting in Injuries 210
Average Number of Power Units 6,642.3
Number of Drivers 8,260

Feel free to pick another truck company for a third comparison. An interesting statistic is the number of Werner's power units to drivers; a good company doesn't need to recruit 2000 drivers.

---WernerScrews 10-4

2007-08-26T06:34:00.000-07:00

Omaha Adolf – Raiders of the Lost Arrowheads

WernerScrews has unearthed another rotting corpse in Werner’s quiver: Grave Robbing.

From Flickr:

"The board room itself was also visible from the main lobby. I didn't know it at first, but was later told that the table in the board room was custom made. It had a glass top with an amazing display of Indian arrowheads. Apparently there's a member of the Werner board that has among the most extensive arrowhead collections in the world. When the collection under the glass was assembled, the staff even used masks and white gloves."

A Werner Enterprises' Board of Director, correct my accusations if they are false with solid proof as to the legitimate source of the arrowheads, is engaged in collecting Indian arrowheads. Antiquarians are a polite name for grave robbers; a name used for people who profit from cultural antiquities.

In many cases, obtaining cultural history may be legal, but rarely ethical. Two concerns from professional Anthropologists are that amateurs and antiquarians destroy stratigraphy and are ignorant/disrespectful of the culture they are robbing. Organic materials are destroyed—for example, middens and charcoal. Antiquarians only seek enduring remnants (lithics and pottery), which can be sold. The natural question to ask Werner's Board of Director is where were all these arrowheads found and was a university called to perform an excavation? The Director is guilty of grave robbing, until he has supporting evidence.

Indian Arrowhead sites provide valuable anthropological information on the lifestyles of Native Americans. If an archaeological excavation is performed at the state or university level, information is published and made available to the public, but Werner’s designer arrowhead table, is considered private property—enjoyed by Werner’s Board of Directors, Executive Management and an under-paid janitor who is ordered to clean the coffee spills.

Werner's Hyper-aggressive XYY Mentality and Universal Disrespect for Humanity

In the likes of Rockefeller and Carnegie, C.L. has a truck museum and Big Blue Discounts. Werner, like Uncle McDonald’s, offers minimum wage employment to keep the undesirables of society just off welfare—with the tantalizing chimera of career advancement and internal promotion. Werner Enterprises employs thousands of workers and this fact alone makes them a “respected company”—worthy of the highest admiration and praise from the public.

Next, C.L. Werner what is up with the Plaque of Deceased Drivers who died under Werner employment? Is that a sick tribute, a mockery or both? This plaque could be seen at various Werner terminals.

This might seem like exaggeration, but it is well within Werner’s skewed logic as new, viable antiques for C.L's corporate boardroom.

1. A coprolite statue of C.L.’s head
2. A door knob from the skull of a Werner driver who passed away when hauling Kellogg’s Fruit Loops.

Sounds like free masonry or skull and bones sorority stuff. Very creepy.

When will Werner Enterprises go extinct?

--- WernerScrews 10-4

2007-07-17T10:22:00.000-07:00

Big Blue Bozos

Werner Enterprises has several trucking related accidents a day. Ever wonder what happens to Werner's damaged cargo?

Disposed of? Salvaged and Recycled? The Omaha Boy Scouts?

Sold to Suckers!!

Another Werner's SS (Specialized Screw) business plans:

Big Blue Bargains

More like Big Blue Screws.

WernerScrews detractors are quick to point out Werner would NEVER do this. Friends, this is not a joke. This is Werner.

Bye-bye Wal-Mart and Best Buy. The new cost-saving giant is Werner World.

Werner is going retail. No questions about that!

2007-07-16T03:44:00.000-07:00

Werner Enterprises -- Still Learning

Several years ago, I bought a Werner Enterprises hat. Now, I could show all those “other” truckers that I had the support of a large, driver oriented company. I made sure I wore my blue and yellow hat everywhere. I was a company man for the Big-Blue machine and was proud as punch! The hat is still in fine shape.

C.L's Retail Lesson
Werner Enterprises can learn a few lessons from Henry Ford. Werner's hats last far too long. Henry Ford was wickedly wise when he reduced the quality of the kingpin; the kingpin was the only part of the Model T that lasted in car junkyards; all other automotive parts wore out.

Most Werner employees last only a few months, so a cheaper hat is in order. Even if a Werner driver lasts several years, a long-term Werner driver would be more than happy to buy a second hat! A one-cent savings on a hat, could translate into saving millions of dollars and larger profits! Reduce hat quality and increase hat price!

Werner's Retail Lesson 2 -- Learn From Best Buy

If this website doesn't say enough:

http://www.BestBuySux.com

Best Buy's Receipt Check

Best Buy even created dual, semi-identical websites--internal and external. The external website had a lower price and the internal website had a higher price. That's pretty clever.

My story is not poor customer service or factory seconds. The very fabric of this country—Freedom of Speech—is being flaunted by Best Buy.

A few weeks ago, my parents were shopping at Best Buy. A customer was looking at washing machines and they asked my parents which models were good. My father heard one model had a problem with the control panel catching fire. The saleslady was swift to add this was not true for the models Best Buy were selling. The saleslady yelled at my parents and asked a body-builder salesman to issue a warning to my parents: shut up or leave the store. Sometime later, another salesperson asked my parents to leave the store; my parents did so peacefully.

This is the America our troops in Iraq are fighting for! In the not-so-distant future, there will only be four U.S. companies--Werner Enterprises, Microsoft, Best Buy and McDonald's. It is ironic that the very principles of Freedom of Speech and democracy allowed these four companies to become what they are; then they have a change of heart and feel these principles do not apply when they conduct business.

It will take Werner some time to catch up with Best Buy and their retail tricks. However, Werner is taking careful notes.

---WernerScrews 10-4

2007-06-27T01:04:00.000-07:00

An Educated Driver is Not A Werner Driver

WernerScrews is confused by the love and loyalty some “drivers” and “employees” exhibit for their leather-clad, whip-in-hand employer: Werner Enterprises. You might say it's perverse.

C.L.'s Spin Doctors
WernerScrews has yet to claim $100 for each driver who does NOT sign with Werner—nor do we want it. We are a very small operation—with the latest Werner info coming from former employees and people who search the web. The same doesn't hold true for Werner. Each driver benefits Werner financially—not just a driver who receives low-wages either. No wonder the employee turnover resembles fast-food statistics—thousands and thousands hired.

This web site and blog have placed blemishes on Werner's squeaky clean PR image--an image that C.L. wants to faithfully preserve. Werner is a high-tech company. Several Werner employees “work” the truck-driving forums. (Employees hired by Werner Enterprises for manipulating positive PR.) They do not offer unbiased opinions either.

Here is the cast of characters who bait the WernerScrews' forums.

Personal Attack Guy
“Why is this website still up?”
“This guy couldn't cut it as a Werner truck driver. He smashed up a Werner truck. I would fire him to.”

These posts are called deflection. They switch the focus on me and off Werner. Naturally, they must discredit me, so Werner looks good. By the way, I never smashed up a Werner truck; I only blew out a back tire. The stories, like goat's milk and snake meat, get tastier over time.

Cowboy Capitalist
“You are not a man if you complain about Werner. Only babies complain. Shut-up and drive.”
This appeals to a person with a strong work ethic.

Psycho Driver From Hell / Drug Drivin' Dude
A driver gets fired from Werner for using drugs or acting like a complete nut. This “individual” makes a post at WernerScrews. The former driver or employee complains about mistreatment. Some of these posts are phony. Obviously, a person with half-brain would agree that Werner should fire a driver using drugs. In this case, Werner looks like a responsible company that is interested in safety.

Wish Werner Success—Not on this Blog
Should a company make money? Yes! That was never the issue of this website. HOW Werner makes money is the issue. It's is more than services performed and payment received. Werner behaves above the law--like a Communist Corporation; that is why Werner is in China.

Fraternal Werner Pledge -- I Like That; Please Give Me More
Werner is a paddle to the posterior, but unlike the pledging men at Omega House—from Animal House (1978)—a Werner pledge carries no brotherhood. Thankfully, other former drivers are stepping up to the keyboard and creating Blogs and Websites. Alexander is a programmer and a former Werner Driver; read his Werner experience. Keep Werner in check.

--- WernerScrews 10-4

2007-05-31T02:09:00.000-07:00

Another Anti-Werner Blog

After six years, WernerScrews is pleased to report that Lady Trucker has created a WebLog. Right on!

http://mybattleagainstwernerenterprisesdmi.blogspot.com/

Cool name.

You can read her story here. This sentence pretty much tells it all.

“They violated what every working person wants... respect and loyalty.”

Proving once again, Werner doesn’t give a rodent’s butt about its employees.

Creating a Blog is easy and Werner Enterprises hopes screwed employees won’t bother. Werner Enterprises can dismiss one website, but its hired guns—those who work in Marketing and PR—have a much harder time discrediting two or more complaint sites.

WernerScrews received an e-mail from a truck dispatcher. They write:

“Just wanted you to know that I'm not surprised by this site. I know this is

hard for drivers to believe, but they treat dispatchers the same way, at least

the night and weekend people. If a guy would call me and tell me he was tired,

I'd tell him to stop, JT load or not. And trust me, I was busy...I usually had

300 trucks to watch on my shift. There were countless times when a driver would

call me very emotional, wanting to why his home load was taken, as he was

heading home for home time and/or had a family emergency. Even if we put the

note in Qualcomm to send the driver home, days and/or management would take that

load from him. And who got the brunt of their anger? You got it, we did.”

No one is surprised how Werner treats its office employees. However, WernerScrews receives very few comments from its office workers. Send them in! Especially when your at the office busting your butt for C.L.!

Werner Enterprises’ Top Executives Feather Bedding

Executive Pay: The 9/11 Factor (based on a Wall Street Journal article)

WSJ: "As stocks sank after the 9/11 attacks, scores of companies rushed to issue options to top officials. For recipients of options, the lower their company's stock price when options are awarded the better, since the options grant a right to buy shares at that price for years to come. The grants set recipients up for millions of dollars in profit if the shares recovered. Here is a look at grants made in September 2001."

“ Werner Enterprises
Number of top-level executives receiving grants: 5
Total estimated Black-Scholes value at time of grants: $8.5 million
Difference between Sept. 10 close and the options' exercise price: Down 26%

Company comment: Chief Financial Officer John J. Steele said the Sept. 28 grant did not mark a yearly low, and said "no one knew what direction the market was going to move in the future."”

The Enron-style executives at Werner Enterprises are Mr. Steele and Mr. Reiser—the “brains” behind Werner Enterprises; ethics are left in the dust to die.

--- WernerScrews 10-4

2007-05-16T02:42:00.000-07:00

Bottom Feeding—Not Good Enough

Werner is never satisfied. International dreams of domination drift Werner Enterprises into the global arena—an arena where Werner has NO expertise and NO product or usable service to offer.

Werner hopes to become the next Motorola in China. However, Motorola produces mobile phones. What does Werner offer China?

“Werner does no trucking itself in China, instead contracting for its customers with the emerging Chinese trucking industry.” “Werner's new freight forwarding business”

The transportation industry in China is fierce; this is NOT an emerging industry.

The largest transportation company in China is COSCO; COSCO can handle freight forwarding rather well.

The WTO seemingly provided equal footing for foreign companies to do business in China.

At first, Werner will be granted “preferential treatment” in China--much like it has received in the U.S.

Once Werner's Chinese employees learn the business, they will form their own company. Werner will be squeezed out sooner or later; the Chinese Government will always favor a Chinese business over a foreign one.

Werner Executive Management is naive to believe that the “successful” U.S. model of doing business can be transplanted in China.

In conclusion, Werner shareholders need to understand how successful foreign companies survive in China--namely, Intel, Motorola and GM.

Werner is merely capitalizing on International buzzwords and Cloud 9 business models.

“Freight forwarding is the smallest of the three, Steele said, but has the most potential for growth.”

FUD – Fear, Uncertainty Doubt?
Visit China and learn for yourself.

Werner is clearly out of its league and should focus on its U.S. operations—cleaning up its safety record, respecting employees as human beings and ceasing its authoritarian behavior.

---WernerScrews 10-4

2007-05-16T02:25:00.000-07:00

C.L. in Shanghai

Set your browser for Chinese Language Encoding. Here's Werner's first Chinese (Mandarin) lesson.

Chinese Lesson One:

Playboy 花花公子 (hua hua gong zi):
Most Chinese know this English word. Playboy is a famous name brand of women's and men's shoes. Greg, Dad is hunting some low-mileage women; keep the business on track as C.L. has himself a good time with the little chicks 妓女 (jin nu).

Cheater 骗子 (pian zi). Certainly a word every Werner knows.

C.L. will have it easy in China--only one party to bribe 贿赂 (hui lu). He learned all the tricks when giving "campaign contributions in the U.S."

Another old, horny American businessman with Yellow fever hitting the streets of Shanghai. C.L. your actions reflect Americans so--honestly--keep your yin jing 阳物 in your pants.

---WernerScrews 10-4

2007-05-02T07:54:00.000-07:00

Werner's Promises, Promises and Promises

Werner Enterprises has one of the slickest recruiting websites on the internet. It's pretty darn persuasive. A driver/student driver might believe they will earn decent money working for Werner.

Transportation is a competitive industry and Werner's specialty—the ordinary transportation of business and consumer products—is bottom feeding on tight margins—like Swift, Hunt and similarly WalMart. Despite Werner's slogan, specialized carrier, Werner is not a specialized transportation company.

Werner's Chief Financial Officer Mr. Steele:
"We're seeing a little bit of improved driver recruiting as a result (of both)," Steele said.

In other words, Werner is axing the highest paid drivers and replacing them with equally experienced lower-paid drivers. That's the only logical conclusion one can make from Mr. Steele's statement. Werner has reported a 29% lose this year and the trucking industry is down--at this time.

A few clicks away, Werner's company driver recruiting web page claims $37,306 year. Good money for a driver with less than one year experience. Team drivers are promised $100,000 - $150,000 a year. Good luck.

Student drivers are a good portion of Werner's fleet. WernerScrews guessed that student drivers were earning the same $325 -- $350 week in 2007--the same salary they were earning in 2001. Check Werner's website. Werner neglects inflation.

A lot of conflicting information and promises. Do your homework before joining Werner.

---WernerScrews 10-4

2007-04-26T06:02:00.000-07:00

A Million Screws, Boy Scout PR and Werner Vacations
A trio of Werner news:
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1. OMAHA, Neb. -- Boy Scouts across the Omaha metro had an early start on Saturday collecting food for the Omaha Food Bank.

The scouts' annual Scouting for Food Drive started a week ago when the troops left bags at homes asking for donated food items.

On Saturday, the boys collected those bags full of food and Werner Enterprises helped out by donating a truck to make the delivery.
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Werner Cares; Werner donated one truck to help feed the hungry! The name WernerScrews no longer reflects Werner's new business practices.

2. Million-Miler Marker
My hat goes off to Mr. Bill Jefferson. He worked ten years for Werner and received--"...a plaque in honor of the feat; Jefferson also received patches, stickers and a gold watch." The biggest accomplishment is, of course, no accidents. A good driver that any respectable (or un-respectable) company would be honored to have.
Here is another interesting statement:
"He and his wife have talked about him finding a new line of work by this fall."
A bright future at Werner's Omaha Office? Or another field of work? Who knows? Unfortunately, not all Werner's employees have a similar experience as Mr. Jefferson.
Has Werner turned over a new leaf? Has WernerScrews been too hard?
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3. April 18, 2007 -- Werner deletes infamous rural route from system

A driver for Werner Enterprises Inc. survived after his rig got stuck in rural Oregon this week. His truck, however, didn’t fare as well.

The driver – Ricky Johnson, 44 – was heading west from Interstate 5 to Brookings, OR, when his tractor-trailer got stuck on winding Bear Camp Road, according to KOBI-TV. The news station reported that the driver’s tires began spinning as he tried to accelerate the truck free, causing the tires to catch fire and eventually destroy the trailer and back of the truck.

Bear Camp Road made national headlines last year when the Kim family became lost and trapped on a nearby unpaved side road. The incident resulted in the death of father and husband James Kim, who left his family in the car to find help after being stranded for nine days.

The road was recently deleted from Werner’s company system, KOBI-TV reported.
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Werner quickly removed this bad route (after two reported incidents); most removals take five years! Thankfully, no one was hurt--only Werner's trailer. Imagine Werner Vacations--where Werner plans a "perfect vacation" for tourists. Mark my words, after Greg or C.L. reads this blog, they will consider this new line of business.

--- WernerScrews 10-4

2007-04-11T08:44:00.000-07:00

Life in the Fast Lane
Where did Werner Enterprises find this nut-case? How about a background check? How about a hair follicle check? (According to internet research, meth use is detectable for 90 days using a hair check.) Folks, Werner will never perform a hair check and will continue to hire crackheads (or related substance abusers) because working for Werner will rehabilitate them. Meanwhile, if a Werner drug test finds an a non-user guilty—Werner will not bother with a re-test.

Werner: Let's just find a guy doing meth and hire him.
C.L.: Sounds good to me. As long as he works cheap.
Werner: Okay C.L.

My only question, where does a substance abuser find the money?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Officers cleared in trucker's 'delirium' death
Coroner cites meth as cause
Thomas Clouse
Staff writer
April 6, 2007
An investigation into the death of a methamphetamine-injecting Texas trucker, who later died during a scuffle with Spokane police last May, has cleared officers of any wrongdoing.
Spokane County Prosecutor Steve Tucker said the May 24 death of 40-year-old Roger D. Hanks was an "excusable homicide."
Hanks died just moments after two Spokane police officers pulled him from the cab of a tractor-trailer, handcuffed him and placed him on his belly.
"It was a felony stop, so (officers) were authorized to use force to take him into custody," Tucker said.
Dr. Marco Ross, of the Spokane County Medical Examiner's Office, determined the cause of death to be "cardiopulmonary arrest associated with a prone restraint position during a methamphetamine-induced excited delirium."
Though the city has begun to train first responders on how to treat patients suffering from "excited delirium," the mainstream medical community has yet to recognize it as a scientifically accepted diagnosis.
In most of the medical studies used in the training, the people exhibiting excited delirium were found to be under the influence of meth or cocaine. About 10 percent had a mental illness.
Medical Examiner Dr. Sally Aiken used a similar diagnosis for the cause of death of Otto Zehm, who died March 20, 2006, after a confrontation two days earlier with Spokane police in which the mentally ill janitor was hogtied, placed on his stomach and had a plastic mask placed over his face.
Local and federal investigations into Zehm's death have not yet been completed. But Tucker said the Hanks investigation landed on his desk about two weeks ago.
Hanks' 32-year-old girlfriend, who was a passenger in the truck, later told investigators that for several days prior he had been injecting himself with large amounts of meth.
Hanks and his girlfriend had stopped at a Broadway Avenue truck stop just off of Interstate 90 in Spokane Valley to rest. Just before 3 a.m. on May 24, Hanks began erratically driving westbound on I-90, police said at the time.
Hanks, who was driving a Peterbilt truck hauling a payload of Gatorade, then took the Hamilton Street exit and entered the Gonzaga University area.
He appeared to be trying to run people down, police said at the time. Witnesses said they heard a woman screaming as the Werner Enterprises truck passed them.
Hanks' girlfriend jumped out of the cab after it backed into a parked van near Sharp Avenue and Columbus Street.
Officers responded at about 3:06 a.m. and began pursuing the truck, which never exceeded 25 mph. During the pursuit, Hanks tried to ram at least one car, police spokesman Cpl. Tom Lee said.
The slow pursuit finally ended near Riverside Avenue and Division Street, but Hanks refused to come out of the cab even after officers sent in a canine and had his girlfriend attempt to coax him out.
---WernerScrews 10-4

2007-03-07T20:52:00.000-08:00

Same 'Ole Screwing

Werner Enterprises has some pretty slick salespeople and prospective drivers think they can get something out of Werner, so they sign. Reading the latest Rip-off reports indicates nothing has changed at Werner for 7 years. And why should they? Werner's profits are high and if driver causes "trouble" they can be replaced; Werner has NO interest in keeping drivers. Truck driving can be a rewarding career, but slaving for Werner doesn't help the driver or industry. Stand up and walk away from Werner.

---WernerScrews 10-4

2007-02-26T01:35:00.000-08:00

All in the Family

Greg Werner is the new Screw-O-Matic King for Werner Enterprises. Expect no positive changes as C.L. will keep his eyes open and his wallet tight. Safety will be last!

And Werner is in China now. Werner has screwed U.S. drivers so good, that Werner will try to cheat Chinese drivers as well. With no hours-of-service in China, Werner can run a driver for 24 hours a day and pay them about $100 a month--or less. No joke when WernerScrews wrote: World Domination...Werner's SS World...Screw 'em.

2007-02-26T00:57:00.000-08:00

A DEBATE ON SAFETY GROWS

This is a good article by Stephen Labaton and the Amherst Times that discusses safety and the unholy alliance between the Feds and Werner.

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A Family’s Lawsuit

After Ms. Edwards’s death, her only son, Steve, a professional musician in Chicago, sued the trucking company, Werner Enterprises of Omaha, and the driver involved in the accident, John L. McNeal, 36. Mr. McNeal was dismissed shortly after the accident.

Mr. McNeal said in a sworn deposition that he had been tired from driving all day from Tennessee without a break. He had been in the cab for about 12 hours, including about 8 hours at the wheel. Because he had been driving trucks professionally for only a month, he was assigned a trainer, who had slept much of the trip.

After Mr. McNeal acknowledged he was at fault, Werner Enterprises settled the lawsuit for $2.4 million. Werner’s general counsel, Richard S. Reiser, said that the company had a strong safety record and that its training program far exceeded the federal requirements.

[That's a sick joke.]

Mr. Reiser said that Mr. McNeal was in compliance with both the old and new work hour rules but acknowledged he was unfamiliar with the proposals by safety groups that would have prevented the driver from working as long as he did that day. He also said that any driver who was tired should stop, regardless of how long he had been on the road.

“The driver should be the one who says, ‘If I’m tired, I should pull over,’ ” Mr. Reiser said.

[How often have we heard that lie? If a Werner driver pulls over and sleeps, they will be terminated or forced to quit.]

Mr. Edwards, though, thinks responsibility for safety goes beyond individual drivers, and links his mother’s death to the Bush administration’s decisions against imposing tighter driving limits. “These drivers are working hard every day on the road to make a living,” he said. “They are overtired and underpaid.”
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WernerScrews 10-4

2007-01-01T21:22:00.000-08:00

Makes you Think

This article from the Dallas News finally hits a nerve and provides several reasons why Werner Enterprises places last for safety and employee retention.

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Trucking companies make no bones about their willingness to hire ex-convicts. Werner Enterprises of Omaha, Neb., one of the nation's largest carriers, rejects applicants with drunken-driving convictions within the last five years but doesn't exclude other criminal convictions, according to its Web site. --------------------------------------------------------
The article goes on to describe the incentives Werner receives from hiring convicts and the consequences (safety issues) from this practice. Everyone deserves a second chance, but working for Werner--Corporate Criminal from this blog's eyes--one reformed-right (convict) and one wrong is not an ideal partnership. The Dallas News should investigate Werner Enterprises next

--- WernerScrews 10-4

2007-01-01T21:00:00.000-08:00

Take a Hint
According to the Omaha World-Herald, Work for Werner--forget the holidays and extra pay...
Just another day working for Mr. C.L. Scrooge and Werner Enterprises.
--------------------------------
Dec. 26--Being on the road on Christmas Day is the norm for Walter Brathwaite.

"I've worked so many Christmases in a row . . . I really don't mind it," Brathwaite said Monday morning as he was leaving Sapp Bros. truck stop in Omaha after refilling two huge coffee mugs.

Brathwaite, a truck driver for Werner Enterprises, said family members -- his wife in North Bonneville, Wash., and mother in North Carolina -- would rather he was at home, but he understands and has accepted the demands of his job, which took him to Rapid City, S.D., on Monday.
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--- WernerScrews 10-4

2006-12-21T00:13:00.000-08:00

Werner Does It Again

Folks...that was an armadillo and that's a Werner Truck. You can find anything on the web. Werner and roadkill.

2006-12-20T23:49:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends & Werner

Been a while since I posted. I found an interesting article written by TurboTrucker on 10/25/2005 over at the Trucker's Report. Stay smart.
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Quote:

I guess my question is this, I here allot of Negative stuff about Werner from truckers on forums and positive from truckers I meat in real life. Are the truckers in forums the winners and complainers of the industry?

Without question, you're going to read personal testimony that will be on that level. But here's the thing; You have to recognize the fact that through all that you read, the names of several carriers pop up over and over. As I've offered many times, one complaint is easy to overlook. A dozen? That's a little harder to ignore. A hundred? Well...something's got to be wrong somewhere.

Werner is like Swift. They've gone through untold numbers of people, and the sizes of the companies lend to them probably getting more attention. Yet, at the same time, there are literally dozens of other carriers that rival in size, that are never written about.

You have to sort through the various complaints to arrive at a conclusion as to what may be truth, and what may be contrived. Do you read repeated complaints about the same thing? The answer is yes. I know I have.

Quote:

We had a Werner rep come in. I read allot of negative stuff on Werner. However there is a woman in our class who's son went to the program last year and works for Werner. She said her sone loves it so far and one of the PTDI guys said don't believe anything you here and only half of what you see. He also runs a school in Pittsburgh with about 250 students. He was a trucker for 25 years.

The PTDI representative has a vested interest in seeing that there are motor carriers supporting their efforts. Now, I wouldn't go so far as to totally negate his position, but you have to understand what his motivation might be, in order to understand why he might say this, and then decide for yourself how much truth there is to it.

PTDI receives money through legislative efforts in Washington, specifically to further training and education. They work with training facilities, motor carriers, insurance companies, and financing institutions. Collectively, they take a bite out of every dollar for their "expenses". They have gone to great lengths (honestly) to improve the training standards of drivers, and have set up some rather strict guidelines that must be met, in order to lend a training facility it's stamp of approval.

They bring in motor carriers to hire the trainees. Without them on board, who's going to hire the graduates? Now, understanding that they have to convince the motor carriers that graduates of their training program is more advantageous than those of other's, and there are many groups in Washington doing this very same thing, and it leads to alot of immense butt kissing, if you'll pardon the expression. Of course, they kick a few bucks their way to grease the wheels as well. It's all legal and proper, but hardly without bias.

The bottom line to all of this is simple. For each warm body they sign up, there are several thousand dollars of taxpayer funds dispersed to several entities, when that warm body makes it into a truck. It makes no difference to PTDI which company that is, nor do they really care if the company is good to their graduates. They want them in the classrooms and graduated. The more people, the more money that can be milked from the taxpayers.

What has happened, and what is rarely revealed to the public, is that there are several companies out there, that are practically if not literally, making more for hiring drivers for any period of time, than they make from doing any actual hauling of freight. Werner is but one of them.

In the midst of all this, are people that are hoping for a new career, who are considered to be nothing but chattel, and whether or not they are content with their jobs is of no concern to anyone involved in the process. What is also happening, is that these people are being roped into some rather sordid contracts, complete with predatory lending abuses built right in, and hounded like #### if they default on their agreements. The only thing missing from this rodeo, is a firebranded stamp on everyone's hind end that is roped into all of this.

To be fair, PTDI is the only non-profit where they are a bit more careful in
holding their institutions to tighter line in areas of pricing structures, and training criteria, but they are hardly without need of due criticism for their motivations, and integrity. They truly turn a blind eye to the reality of the situation for the sake of cash.

To illustrate the problem, let's use General Motors as a counter to all of this. They have twenty times the employees that Werner has, with almost ZERO turnover. Someone dies, retires, or screws up in order to have a need to replace an employee. The applications are as high as the Empire State Building, from people willing to work there.

When you have a company, despite the national average figures that are constantly offered to defend turnover rates, that exceeds 100% of it's workforce in a year's time, something has to explain the reason that people leave their jobs and seek another. Translated: When you read all the bad things out there on Werner, there HAS to be some truth to them. If there wasn't, then why the constant need to hire drivers?

Quote:

Dose Werner really suck - or do the people that complain about Werner do something stupid to get treated as such? now I wonder about all the negative stuff I have heard on all the companies

It would be easy to just say that Werner sucks, and leave it at that, but I like to be honest. Trucking can truly suck and for some people, it wouldn't make any difference where they worked. They'd never be happy in a million years.

That being said, the only true way you will find out if Werner is worth a shot, is for you to give them that chance. People do it every day, I suppose. Why? I dunno.

Would I ever submit an application to them? No. My reasons are as long as my arm. I do not care for their attention to safety. Their safety numbers are horrible. I don't care for their obvious turnover rates, and this alone is enough to tell me that they have a problem keeping people. They are consistently in need of drivers and advertise for them all the time. I don't care for their dispatching system and their hometime policies. And quite simply, I don't care for their reputation. It's not my kind of place.

You have to set your own priorities, and make your own decision. In agreement with the PTDI rep, DON'T believe everything you read. Don't believe everything you hear. I know I don't. But, I do trust the wisdom, insight, and integrity of people that sufficiently lay out a case of complaint, and when their complaint is supported by that of other people repeatedly, then I can certainly begin to understand that there might be a little fire hidden somewhere underneath all that smoke.
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---WernerScrews 10-4

2005-01-14T20:42:00.002-08:00

They don't trust Werner. Should You?

An alert reader brought this article to WernerScrew's attention.

When a company moves it's data center to a new location, an eyebrow or two should be raised.

“[Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Nebraska] was also concerned about the data center's proximity to highway I-80, where the risk of contamination from an overturned truck spilling toxic chemicals into the air was deemed too high.”

Hmm? Omaha, NE is Werner's Headquarters. If a national health insurer thinks there is a risk, there is a risk. Blue Cross/Shield insures all Werner's drivers. They know Werner.

---WernerScrews 10-4

2004-11-30T17:00:00.000-08:00

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

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

2004-08-29T09:46:00.000-07:00

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

2004-07-18T10:15:00.000-07:00

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

2004-07-02T19:36:00.000-07:00

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

2004-03-22T22:09:00.000-08:00

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

2004-03-15T01:45:00.000-08:00

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

2004-03-11T12:51:00.000-08:00

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

2004-03-10T09:22:00.000-08:00

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.

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

2004-02-16T14:45:00.000-08:00

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

2003-12-30T17:20:00.000-08:00

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

2003-12-22T16:26:00.000-08:00

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

2003-12-19T15:55:00.000-08:00

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

2003-12-12T14:00:00.000-08:00

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

2003-11-25T13:36:00.000-08:00

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

2003-11-07T15:54:00.000-08:00

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

2003-10-26T02:50:00.000-08:00

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

2003-10-24T13:37:00.000-07:00

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

2003-10-20T17:55:00.000-07:00

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

2003-10-18T11:24:00.000-07:00

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.

2003-10-17T18:43:00.000-07:00

Welcome to WernerScrews: The Blog!!

2003-09-16T10:03:00.000-07:00

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

2003-08-20T10:14:00.000-07:00

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.
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The Fun Starts Now, And The Values Last A Lifetime

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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
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Enough said.

---WernerScrews 10-4

2003-08-11T09:22:00.000-07:00

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!

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( 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
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Industry Average 5.6

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

---WernerScrews 10-4

2002-10-18T10:32:00.000-07:00

I was wondering why Werner was all jumpy. This article is why!!!!!

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News Story
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Lawyer links trucker's messaging system to fatal crash

Margaret Gibbons, Special to The Mercury October 04, 2002

NORRISTOWN -- A truck driver's use of an onboard electronic messaging system was a major factor in the fiery 1999 multi-vehicle crash on the Schuylkill Expressway that resulted in the death of two motorists, including a Limerick man, according to the lawyers who represented the family of one of the victims.
"This accident could have been prevented and lives saved if the driver of the tractor-trailer would have been paying more attention," said lawyer Peter M. Villari of the Lansdale law firm Ostroff, Villari & Kusturiss.

But it is Werner Enterprises Inc. more so than its driver that must shoulder responsibility for the accident, Villari claimed Wednesday.

While Werner, a nationwide trucking firm headquartered in Omaha, Neb., warns its drivers not to use the messaging system while driving, it has never "taken the simple measure" of having the messaging systems disconnected when its trucks are on the road, said Villari.

"Why tempt a driver," said Villari, explaining that a light and tone go off when a message is sent to the driver. "It's like having your phone ring but being told not to answer it. It just does not make any sense to us."

Villari and law partner Paul D. Brandes represented the estate of the late Jeffrey Shober, 42, of Havertown in Delaware County. The pair recently secured a $6.5 million mediated settlement on behalf of Shober's widow and two teenage daughters.

Shober was one of two men who burned to death in the Feb. 2, 1999, collision.

The accident occurred about 2:15 p.m. in the westbound lanes of the Schuylkill Expressway near the interchange with Route 202 in King of Prussia.

Tractor-trailer driver Robert Spadaccine, 48, of Milford, Del., was driving his rig in the right-hand westbound lane while the late Louis Ottaviano, 31, of Limerick, was driving his Volkswagen west in the left-hand lane.

The Volkswagen made a sharp right turn into the right-hand lane immediately in front of the tractor-trailer, according to a police account of the incident. The car was so close to the truck that the truck rear-ended the Volkswagen, the police report said.

The Volkswagen then collided with a car driven by Shober.

Both cars exploded in a fiery blaze and Shober and Ottaviano were killed.

Cleanup of the accident, which also involved two other cars, shut down the expressway for more than six hours.

Shortly after the accident, then-District Attorney Michael D. Marino and state police Capt. Thomas LaCrosse held a press conference to announce Spadaccine was not to blame for the accident and that the tractor-trailer was in good working order.

Talking in general terms, LaCrosse said there have been problems in that area in the past with cars in the left lane cutting in front of cars in the right lane to exit onto Route 202.

However, in an independent investigation of the accident, Villari said he had learned that Spadaccine had been sending a message over his on-board messaging system just seconds before the accident.

"This means that basically he (Spadaccine) was looking down, typing a message and that when he looked up, it was too late," said Brandes. "He jammed on his brakes but could not stop in time to avoid crashing at high speed into the traffic in front of him."

The system on the Werner trucks enables dispatchers to send out written messages to its drivers and allows the drivers, who have keyboards connected to the system, to return written messages, said Villari.

It also serves as a satellite tracking system, according to Villari. Also, the system keeps a paperless log of the driver's activities, he said. Both of these capabilities could continue to function even when the actual messaging system is shut down when the vehicle is on the road, Villari said.

Villari pointed out that various states are adopting laws that bar drivers from using their cell phones while driving because the cell phones distract drivers and have resulted in accidents, including some with fatalities.

However, to date, neither Werner, the federal Department of Transportation nor the National Highway Safety Transportation Administration have taken any action limiting the use of onboard messaging systems to a time when tractor-trailers are safely stopped.

"Why there have been no investigations launched nor steps taken to eliminate the use of this tractor-trailer onboard messaging system while 40,000- to 80,000-pound trucks daily are traveling at high speeds on America's highways is frankly unbelievable to us," said Villari.

Villari said that he and Brandes, at the request of the Shober family, are trying to get the message out about the use of these systems to the public and to state and federal lawmakers in an effort to have the use of these systems restricted.
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---WernerScrews 10-4