Trainer Guidelines
Basic Qualifications: Drivers hired as Experienced (Qualified) Drivers
• No first day Trainers
• Must have 90 days of Werner experience prior to approval
• Must have at lease 3 months of recent and verified experience at another carrier
• Must have winter driving experience (Winter is defined as December, January, and February)
– Remember to consider the intended area of operation
• Must have steady employment history – No more than 2 previous employers in the 6 months prior to hire
• Must have a satisfactory Safety Record prior to hire (see “Driving Record Requirements” below)
• Must have a satisfactory Operational Performance Record while with Werner
Drivers that Promoted from the Student Training Program
• Must have Fleet Manager recommendation
• Must have 6 months of Werner experience, as calculated from their seniority date
• Must have winter driving experience (Winter is defined as Dec, Jan, and Feb)
– Remember to consider the intended area of operation
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Driving Record Requirements
• Drivers with a combination of 3 or more events in the prior 6 months will not be considered to be a Trainer until they have established 1 year of safe driving history
• Events are defined as:
– Chargeable accidents and chargeable incidents
– Citations or tickets for moving traffic offenses
– CDL Suspensions for traffic offenses, point accumulation & unpaid fines
– CSA Violations
– Log Suspensions for HOS violations
– Disciplinary events from Operations to include customer complaints and chargeable late loads. Other performance issues like high idle and low production will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Drivers with 3 or more chargeable accidents in the previous 12 months will not be considered to be a Trainer until they have established 1 year of safe driving history
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Clean MVR Requirements
• A Driver will be allowed up to 2 convictions for a moving traffic offense in the last 3 years
• If the Driver has a conviction for a serious traffic violation as defined in§383.51 of the FMCSRs, the Driver will not be eligible to be a Trainer for 6 months from the date of the conviction.
• §383.51 defines a “Serious Traffic Violation as:
1. Speeding excessively, involving any speed of 15 mph or more above the posted speed limit
2. Driving carelessly or recklessly, including but not limited to, offenses of driving a motor vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property
3. Making improper or erratic traffic lane changes
4. Following the vehicle ahead too closely
5. Violating State or local law relating to motor vehicle traffic control (other than a parking violation) arising in connection with a fatal accident
6. Texting while driving a CMV
7. Using a hand-held mobile telephone while driving a CMV
8. Driving a CMV without obtaining a CDL
9. Driving a CMV without a CDL in the driver’s possession
10. Driving a CMV without the proper class of CDL and/or endorsements
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Accidents
• Drivers involved in a chargeable DOT reportable accident must go one year accident-free before being considered to be a Trainer
• A Driver will be considered to be ineligible to be a Trainer if the driver has been involved in a major chargeable accident (jack knife, lane change, rear-end collision, intersection, head on, pedestrian, rollover, hit train, ran off road, merging, or disregarded a sign or signal)
• Any incidents or accidents within the last 60 days will be reviewed and considered on a case by case basis after an Accident Review has been completed
• If a Driver has been placed on probation as the result of an Accident Review, that Driver will not be considered to be a Trainer until the completion of the probationary period
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CSA
• Review the Driver’s Werner CSA rank
• If the overall score is 80 or higher, review with a Corporate Safety Manager
• Remember to take into account that all DOT Reportable Accidents report to CSA, including non-chargeable accidents, so consider a Driver’s ranking accordingly
• Violations in the Unsafe Driving, Hours of Service, HazMat, and Driver Fitness BASICs will each be counted as a separate event, as it relates to the “3 Events in 6 Months” criteria. Each violation should be reviewed. Consider the circumstances surrounding the violation and determine if the violation is serious in nature.
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