Werner Dedicated accounts (general dollar, family dollar etc.)

Don't have any info on Werner dedicated although Have you seen family dollar or general dollar locations not a good place to be learning to back into. Many are very tight locations. Plus they are driver unload.

 

Before you make a decision...
Go look at the parking lot of your average family dollar store. Now think how is a sleeper truck and 53' trailer getting around in there. You will hit stuff. You will be dinged for it. It will go against your driving record. It's not worth it, at least until you get experience to not hit stuff in the tiny lots.

 

It is slave work. That account is a fast way to derail your new career due to backing accidents. Every week on this forum new drivers are complaining they were fired by Werner or another company due to wrecks on the Dollar General account and now no other company will hire them. This is why the recruiters are hitting the cdl schools across the nation, looking for replacements. Werner even bought two cdl schools; Roadmaster and AIT.
Where is your location; we'll help you find a decent driving job.

 

While I'm sure it is technically possible to make 75k right out of school, it would be extremely unlikely. I'm sure there is some guy at Werner on that account that makes that much but his circumstance is probably very unique.
What I would do, if I were you, is start applying to tanker companies in your area. You won't make 75k but 65k your first year is not unheard of.

 

I went to Werner dedicated family dollar. I was promised the world and what you "could" make. In reality is was horrible. The dollar tree account you use rollars and I forget what we used to support them put you hand print every box. And you'll be touching more than boxes. I'm talking 4 pack 1 gallon packages of water and more. The down fall is no matter how hard you work. The workers at dollar tree hold you up. I'm serious. The line could sometimes move a box a minute once you load your rollers into their store. They basically determine how long you're going to be there regardless of how hard you work or what you do. The lots are horrible and I was in the north east up in northern CT by the airport...Windsor locks, CT. Did a lot of CT, some PA, and a lot of NY and Long Island. It was scary as hell driving for your first time in those low bridge areas and tight parking lots I left after getting some experience to J&R Schugel. It wasn't worth it to me at that time and that pay for the harsh reality that you could #### up, or hit something before you're career really even took off. Some trailers were loaded to the top and all the way back to the doors. I'm telling you it's crazy. These stores are in bad neighborhoods and real nasty areas. When you go in you better be ready to meat basically the guys and gals who didn't want to do #### but smoke pot and party and maybe a decent manager. I remember one time I worked 14 hours I just stopped I was half way through a trailer on a 3 stop load and it was 12am I was like nope. Finish in the morning I was exhausted. Winters sucks, dirty work, really. It bad.

With that being said, I'm sure some guys kill it, and make great money. But I didn't like it at all. Dollar general is a little different. They have these huge like carts with nets on wheels. So it's a bit easier to unload and I think they use a lift gate.

Honestly if I knew now what it was going to be like I wouldn't go there. I would have just done like regional or OTR. But you live you learn.

Best of luck. The turnover rate at those account are unbelievable probably like 200% lol maybe more.

Where ever you live post it or your area code and we'll find you something better than that. Give us some info on your situation. Kids family want to me home?

 

Two words.. Meat Grinder. Werner's dedicated accounts DG. FD and DT are all similar as it relates to new drivers. Think long and hard about going out on these accounts! CAN you make that money? Possibly if you survive with a job more that a couple of months. The accident rates at all these accounts are high! VERY high. There is a company store aspect to these accounts. You get in a little scrape? Training and some documentation, if you have another accident in a relatively short time.. You go back out with a trainer for up to 7 days. If you have a third accident in less that 90 days.. you are terminated. Think of these places as an upside down funnel.. LOTS of drivers are flooded into the top and a few plop out of the bottom. There are drivers who do make it and they make it well.. but the turnover due to the conditions is absolutely pathetic.

 

Go with that first thought, fella.
'Worst safety rating in the fleet' - Safety Manager, Allentown Terminal.

I met guys with their relatives on the truck to help them unload just so they could get home on time..... or at all.

The only good dedicated Werner accounts are the Drop/Hook reefer services - which seem to be reserved for trainers (teams).

I did dry van OTR for 14 months. I survived, and did alright. But I won't live in a truck anymore; someone else can have that gig.

 

Did the recruiter mention you would have to unload at all your stops?Also as someone said many of those dollar general stores are tight and there will be times pull have to back in from a narrow and busy street.If you choose a dollar general or family dollar account you make sure you can back and back well while in training.

 

Don't do it.