Employer Spotlight: Werner Enterprises

Choosing a CDL school is only half the decision. The other half is what comes after graduation, picking which carrier to drive for.

Werner Enterprises is one of the carriers that regularly hires graduates from Southwest Truck Driver Training. Two of those graduates, Dylan Huddleston and Nicole Fitzpatrick, spoke to us about their time at Werner and what earning a CDL helped them to achieve.

About Werner Enterprises

Werner Enterprises started in 1956 when Clarence L. Werner bought his first truck. That single truck grew into one of the largest trucking companies in the country. Werner is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, and today runs a fleet of thousands of trucks and trailers across North America.

Werner offers several types of driving positions, including Over-the-Road (OTR), regional, and dedicated routes. Werner also runs a Team Driver Match Program for drivers who want to run as a team but do not already have a partner.

Werner is a company that has hired graduates from Southwest Truck Driver Training for years. SWTDT students who complete their Class A CDL training can connect with Werner recruiters directly through the school’s job placement program.

Dylan Huddleston: From Passing His Test to Working in Safety

Dylan grew up around trucking. His grandfather drove for years, and he spent time in the cab with him as a kid. His uncle, also a graduate of Southwest Truck Driver Training, pointed him toward the school when he showed interest in truck driving.

He reflects on the moment his training paid off. After he passed his skills test and made the trip to the DMV, he said, “I was ecstatic. Southwest, they were really proud of me, and it was just like, I did it.”

Dylan shows the versitility of a CDL.  After graduation, he started driving long routes for Werner. When he wanted more time with family he switched to driving a shuttle. Then he moved back to Werner in a driver support position, and has moved his way up to safety specialist. His time behind the wheel gave him an understanding of what drivers deal with every day, which makes him better at the job he does now.

Nicole Fitzpatrick: From Styling Hair to Helping Drivers Get on the Road

Nicole was not planning a trucking career. She worked as a hairstylist until her cousin suggested she look into CDL training. As a single mom, she was looking for a career that would help her provide for her three children. Southwest Truck Driver Training helped her start the career she was looking for.

After graduating, Nicole took a driving job with Werner and spent time on the road as an Over-the-Road driver. As a parent, the extended time away from home eventually became too much. Rather than leave Werner, she moved into a fleet specialist role, where she has worked for about five years. Her job today involves pairing drivers with vehicles and keeping day-to-day operations running smoothly.

“The reason why I chose them was hearing a lot of great things about them,” Nicole said. “It was welcoming, the experience was amazing, and I’m still there six years later.”

Nicole’s message to other parents considering a trucking career is direct: “I have three children, and I was out there working. Single parent, mom, you guys can do it too. Give it an opportunity. You might like it.”

One CDL, More Than One Career Path

Dylan and Nicole both started at Werner behind the wheel. Neither of them stayed there, but neither of them left Werner. A CDL can lead to safety roles, fleet operations, dispatch, and other positions that are built on time spent driving. Werner recruiters visit both campuses frequently and host events at their terminal in Phoenix, AZ.

Think that’s all? Another Southwest graduate who went to Werner won TA Citizen Driver of the Year! 

Southwest Truck Driver Training’s job placement team works with graduates at every stage of their journey, not just in the weeks after graduation.