HOME TIME | HOW DOES HOME TIME WORK AT WERNER ENTERPRISES? | Werner Trucking OTR Driver Explains

[@Mr.JoshuaCovert]

Hey Kevin: just wanna say THANK YOU, Sir. Watching your videos has made-up my mind to start Trucking. I'm 51 years old, and I leave for Training with WERNER (Roadmasters) in 5 Days. You're an AWESOME MAN (and Ms. Tonya, too). Thanks Guys!!!!

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

WOW! Big decision! Congratulations! We hope you find it a fulfilling career. Glad we could share our experience and insights with you and other viewers. Grateful that our videos were helpful and we could be of service! Best of luck at school! Hope to see you on the road!

[@elgordo496]

Joshua, you are still young. I started at 59 and love it. You will do great! I drive for Werner. It's a great place to start!

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

@@elgordo496 We agree!!! Kevin also started at 59. He’s happy with it!!

[@elgordo496]

@@TheJoyofTrucking I think as you get older, you're more settled and ready to try new things like trucking!

[@elgordo496]

I started at 59. You're still a pup !

[@elgordo496]

I drive for Werner and they are so good about getting me home every week !

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

Happy to hear that!!!

[@TheVonRashad]

The pay still good?

[@elgordo496]

@@TheVonRashad it's good. Not great. You can make a living off it.

[@truckerryan4019]

When I first started driving I use to stay out 2 to 3 months at a time but only could stand to be home for 3 to 4 days. That is a long deadhead to bobtail home. Its not easy finding places to park a 53' trailer. Great video Kevin and Tanja.

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

Thanks for watching and sharing your experience! How long do you tend to stay out now?

[@truckerryan4019]

@@TheJoyofTrucking not driving right now but it's more 4 to 6 weeks. That time frame seems to be a good balance for the pocket book and sanity.

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

@@truckerryan4019 Yes!! We agree. That’s a good time frame for us too.

[@thedale2112]

@@truckerryan4019 Hear ye, hear ye!!

[@davidmedina5536]

I plan to join werner soon and you guys give such helpful info about the company. Thank you guys!

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

Glad to help other new drivers learn from our experience!!! We look forward to seeing you there!!

[@thedale2112]

Yeah, I've got 3 to 4 weeks on my mind. First, to stay realistic with doing OTR. Secondly, to keep a money flow in the right times of month. I CAN'T WAIT!!

[@truckerryan4019]

don't be afraid to stay out longer at times when you get started. Side note, dispatchers no matter the company love drivers that like to run hard.

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

Yes, you'll get a feel for what balance works well for you. We've done between anywhere between two and five and a half weeks so far.

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

That's what we heard too. But, so far it's tough for Kevin to get the long runs, even though he has told his FM repeatedly and proven that he likes to run hard and far. It's disappointing to us because they often put him on runs under 500 miles.

[@truckerryan4019]

@@TheJoyofTrucking a lot of that might be that they don't have long runs in a certain area

[@thedale2112]

@@truckerryan4019 Believe me, when I get out there, I'll be ready to pound the pavement. I'll be sure to make it well known! I don't really want to be OTR for much more than 2 years. We'll see what happens at that point...👍🏼

[@courtneywissler7983]

I am starting at Werner soon and I'm unsure where to park my trailer. I could bobtail home though. No way in hades I could fit my trailer through my neighborhood.

[@mrfahrenheit3607]

Hi Guys! Big Fan here! Questions…. What do you do with the Truck, you take it with you home? Wherever that is? Werner pays for Diesel to go home? When you are on the road and have to stop for your 35hr, you are sleeping in the truck? Motor running with AC all of those hours? Werner pays for diesel too? If Werner put you on waiting time for a load to appear for whatever hours, do you get paid? You sleep in the truck?

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

Hey there!!! Glad you are enjoying our channel!! 1. We take it to home time or leave it at a terminal. Can also leave it at a Werner drop yard. 2. Werner pays diesel to drive it to home time. 3. Yes. We tend to spend 34 hour reset on the truck. Though you can head out to do things or even stay with family/friends/hotel depending where and when you have your reset. 4. Werner pays for diesel to keep running A/C though there is an automated 5 minute idle shutdown which sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t. Not sure on why it changes. They prefer you don’t idle, but when it’s super hot we need a/c. We have had a/c on all night sometimes, but generally try to be conservative with running truck continually. In some places there are laws and signs that tell you not to idle, but most trucks do. Especially when it’s hot! 5. You don’t get paid for waiting for a load. Sometimes, if you wait several hours or more than two hours for unloading or other situations Kevin will call his fleet manager. He has a discretionary fund and will top up Kevin’s pay if certain situations were unreasonable. 6. Yes. Kevin (and I) sleep on the truck. Thanks for watching!! Hope that answers your questions!

[@salvatoregonzalez4819]

Does Werner offer vacation pay?

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

Not when we were there. Crete does.

[@Goodbye-Charlie]

I'm interested in driving for Warner I'm actually going to start my CDL classes in the morning but I was wondering what is the if you're out for like 5 to 6 months does the time you accumulate max out in a certain number and if so would you mind for me what it is and if I was to be out for and would I be able to use the full amount I have saved all at once or is it a limit on home time should I apply with them now or wait until I have my CDL

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

Congratulations on your decision to get your CDL! Yes…definitely apply to Werner now, because you can get a pre-hire letter :-)) As for your question about home time…that is a good question, but unfortunately we don’t know the answer. Best to speak with a recruiter for such details. And we’d love it if you could comment here with what you find out. Best of luck with your CDL school!! And thanks for watching!!

[@scottglieden1564]

I start with Werner soon doing the Dollar General account. It's supposed to be home weekly but do they automatically get me home weekly or would I have to put in for it every week?

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

Congratulations!!! Sorry. We don’t know how it works for that account. We were OTR48 and had to ask. You might not have to if it’s a home weekly. Best ask them. Good luck with everything!

[@paulstone4804]

I am researching companies that let you 'bank' home time so I could work for say 6 months and then take 3 weeks home time or something like that. Do you guys have any input? Also, what is Crete's home time policy for how many days you can take off at one time? Thanks guys and I watch all your videos!

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

Hey Paul! It depends on the account. Kevin gets one day for every 6 days out. Minimum out three weeks. But the accounts vary. We have a couple viewers who said they work 6 months and then take 6 months off. Crete takes them back every time. But not sure how much you can ‘bank’. At Werner it was a 2 week limit. The question too is if they then give your truck away. How long will they hold it for you. Sorry we don’t know more. Please let us know what you find out.

[@paulstone4804]

Okay that’s good information and when I find out something I will let you know ! Thank you !

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

@@paulstone4804 👍😃

[@MsVNG]

Hey, how does vacation time work?

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

There’s no paid vacation. You get a week’s pay after a year there as a ‘longevity’ bonus. You do get some unpaid personal days you can take.

[@supersonica16]

Oh noo that s not good.

[@timothyjohnson9284]

Is it mandatory to take home time or can you constantly stay out

[@TheJoyofTrucking]

At Werner, if you are on OTR48, you can stay out for how long you want as long as it’s a minimum of 2 weeks. :-))