Werner has information in its internal computer system stating that I was fired for things I said to my "Fleet Manager" (dispatcher - Don Fisher) and his boss (Superviser - John Spessar).
The details here are too many to write, but I will share some of the many to show my concern for how they operate behind closed doors.
Another quick issue; I was half of a team. After two weeks notice was given and the truck was delivered to our home terminal in Lakeland, FLorida, Werner has an internal report stating I was "terminated" and not eligible for rehire. Mind you, I have no intention of going back to Werner Enterprises. More importantly, they have in their system that my teammate voluntarily quit and she too has been disallowed for future employment. For her the report states that they won't rehire because of what *I* said. I believe that's outright illegal discrimination against her!
My 2wks notice was given via QualComm and (evidently) for this reason, they aren't telling other companies I was fired. That's a good thing. However, they are stating they won't rehire me and that may prevent me from getting a job elsewhere in the future. This is unfair based on the actual facts. I gave notice. The truck was returned to our home terminal. The truck was reported having NO damage caused by me or my teammate. I followed the rules, as did she.
Now the real concern. Werner owes each of us several hundred dollars, perhaps over $1,500.00 and they will not pay! This too, is illegal.
Werner owes us for driving on Christmas Day. This is April 11th and they have made no attempt to pay. They owe us for our final trip, more than 1 month ago. They owe us for roughly 20 days of layover due to broken equipment (which is the 1st reason I quit). John Spessar was notified THREE times and told me he would get these payments made. He failed miserably. Afterall, John told me he had no idea there was a problem on each of my 3 calls. He did find my messages in the QualComm during our 3rd conversation. Don Fisher said he would take care of it, but never made any attempt from what I can see. This information was sent via QualComm and is definitely on record. They wanted me to send an individualized account for the layovers, even though they know exactly when and where each occurred.
I called Werner Payroll with the problem 4 times. They referred me back to dispatch each time, but noted we were infact owed. Nobody will take responsibility. They merely want to be in charge without any responsibility.
We went into Omaha, NE and spoke to 5 different people, all of whom told us the problem would be taken care of on our next pay. It wasn't and still hasn't been, so since I'd already given notice, we did quit.
Before arriving in Florida, we were routed to Wisconsin to get a load for Tennessee. This would've put us home 2 full days late for our requested home time at a minimum. I had sent a message stating I had a doctors appoinment and they caused me to miss it, while they sent another truck from where we were, to our home terminal. That truck made it to our home on time for my appt. And we went elsewhere. The very same Fleet Manager, Don Fisher, routed each truck, knowing 3 weeks in advance I needed that time off. That's simply non-management on his part.instead of handling the problem, Don decided I needed to know that he'd been with Werner 18yrs and knew better than I, everything. He went so far as to tell me he could do my job and that I could not. Nevermind the fact he has NEVER had a CDL in his lifetime, he'd only moments before, told me he had not once driven a Class 8 or 9 vehicle.
Biggest problem: They refuse to pay what's owed. I know another person who was treated the same way before me, but I continued with this company completely expecting it wouldn't happen to me. I was wrong.
If you want to work for Werner Enterprises, BEWARE!!! Do all you can to find a good dispatcher and get (in writing) permission to be assigned to that persons board. Werner HAS good, knowledgeable, and even talented dispatchers. But they have bad ones too. And Werner apparently has no intenion of weeding out the bad from the good.
Rob
Pomona Park, Florida
U.S.A.
0 comments