Werner Enterprises

Werner Enterprises, Inc. (nasdaq|WERN) is one of the largest trucking companies in the United States and has its Corporate headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska. Werner was originally founded in 1956 by Clarence L. Werner in Council Bluffs, Iowa, who began his business at the age of 19 with only one truck. As of 2006, the company has roughly 9,000 trucks, 25,000 trailers, and 14,000 employees in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Asia. Werner Enterprises is well known for their Light Continental Blue tractors and trailers. Werner became a publicly traded company in June 1986. Werner is commonly referred to as The Big Blue Screw by other drivers on the road. Werner is often compared to other companies such as Swift, CR England, Central Refrigerated, JB Hunt, etc.

Fleet

Fleet sales is the division of Werner that actually purchases, operates and eventually sells the equipment.

The tractors are equipped with either a C-15 Caterpillar engine or a Detroit Diesel 60 series engine, and all the tractors are equipped with a 9 speed Eaton Fuller transmission. Werner's tractors are regulated to go no faster than 65mph.

The current fleet is made up of the following:
*Freightliner LLC Classic XL, Century Class S/T, and Cascadia
*Peterbilt 379,387, and 389
*Kenworth T600, W900L, and T660But as fuel and operating costs have risen over the years, Werner has elected to remove the "long-nose" tractors from their fleet. The Pete 379/389, Kenworth W-900, and the Freightliner Classic are being retired from the fleet and are being replaced with the more aerodynamic tractors. The tractors in the fleet with 200,000 miles or less are being retro-fitted with auxillary power units (APU's) to reduce the engine idling time as many states are puuting anti-idle laws into effect as well as to save wear on the engines and reduce fuel costs. It is estimated that a tractor burns one gallon of fuel for every hour it is idling.

The main color of their tractors is light blue, however as this color has become so synonymous with Werner in the transportation industry, Werner has diversified it's colors to assist in tractor resale.

The new colors include, but are not limited to:Red, Black, Dark Blue, White, Yellow, Tan & Purple

The Werner van and temperature controlled trailer fleet is comprised mostly of 53' Wabash trailers, while their flatbeds are 48' spread axle trailers.

Divisions

Werner has three main divisions that operate in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. They are the Temperature Controlled Division (TCU), Flatbed, and Dry Van. The dry van division is the largest of the three.

Werner operates 11 terminals here in the United States and has a terminal in Milton, Ontario. Of the 11 terminals operated 9 are full service terminals meaning that drivers are able to have their tractors and trailers serviced there while resting or conducting safety meetings. The other terminals offer a drop yard and safety services but no maintenance facilities.

Paperless Logs

Werner Enterprises was the first trucking company to use the paperless log system. In June 1998 Werner Enterprises and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) entered into a pilot program to use a "paperless" log system designed to replace the paper logbooks for recording drivers Hours Of Service (HOS) duty statuses. This process was tested and monitored by the FMCSA for a period of six years. Through the six year period drivers used the computer system via the Qualcomm on board computers in the truck and still maintaining a paper log while the system was perfected. From 1995 through September 2004 Werner continued to improve the paperless log system and in this time contacted the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and informed them of their findings and showed Werner's commitment to the safety of their drivers and more importantly the motoring public. On September 21, 2004 the FMCSA granted Werner Enterprises an exemption from paper log use and in December of 2004 was formally granted the exemption at a ceremony at the corporate headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska. To this date Werner Enterprises is the only Motor Carrier allowed to use the "Paperless Logs." But there are many other trucking companies trying this out for themselves.

External links

* [http://www.werner.com/content/home/ Official Site]
* [http://www.classadrivers.com/truckingcompanies.php?Cid=2162 Werner Enterprises Profile Sheet]
* [http://www.ai.volpe.dot.gov/SafeStat/CarrierOverview.asp?DOT=53467 SafeStat] official safety statistics on Werner Enterprises from the United States Department of Transportation