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

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

Merry Werner Screwmass

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

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

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

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.

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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

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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