From pharmaceutical products that must remain within a strict temperature range to high-value technology moving across borders, high-stakes freight demands a higher standard of care.
Werner Premium Services represents the company’s go-to-market strategy for specialized freight that demands more than standard handling. This division builds on Werner’s core operation with advanced capabilities and added layers of care designed for custom, critical, and high-visibility shipments.
Tailored solutions for complex needs
At its core, Werner Premium Services provides customized logistics for mission-critical freight where timing, security, and process integrity can’t be compromised. Every engagement begins with a deep dive into the customer’s unique requirements.
“Each opportunity is a little different,” said Doug Henn, Senior Director of Cross Border & Temperature Control Business Development at Werner. “We start by understanding what’s required, then design processes and train our people to match.”
That upfront collaboration ensures Werner’s team can tailor everything — from driver selection and vetting to equipment specifications and contingency planning — around customer expectations.
“It starts with the driver,” said Jaime Jones, Vice President of One-Way and Expedited at Werner.
Jones went on to explain that drivers working in the premium services space undergo additional screenings and background checks to ensure they are the best fit for the job. Drivers are a critical part of the Werner Premium Services team, helping to execute each client’s custom process on a day-to-day basis.
Built on compliance and capability
Werner Premium Services operates with certifications and standards that meet the highest compliance thresholds. Good Distribution Practice (GDP) and Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) certifications are key differentiators, especially in the pharmaceutical sector, which is one of the service’s largest and most established verticals.
The value of Werner Premium Services extends far beyond the pharmaceutical industry, though. The company’s premium offering has become indispensable to high-end technology firms, animal wellness providers, food processors, and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Each of these sectors has unique requirements, but all of them share a need for consistency and transparency.
OEMs, for instance, rely on premium service to prevent costly production delays, while food processors depend on Werner to keep perishable goods moving and production lines operational.
Expertise across borders
Cross-border freight — particularly shipments moving in and out of Mexico — represents another area where Werner Premium Services stands apart.
“Moving freight across the border is a unique process, and not everyone can do it,” Henn said. “We do it every day for customers who need extra security and specialized handling.”
That experience is vital for high-value shipments that are subject to complex customs requirements or an elevated theft risk. Werner’s established cross-border network, supported by rigorous vetting and visibility tools, provides shippers with peace of mind in an area where even small mistakes can have major consequences.
Security and risk mitigation
Whether a shipper is working in the international or domestic space, the need for heightened visibility and security continues to rise across the supply chain. Werner Premium Services exists to meet those new and evolving expectations.
“Security is top of mind for everyone,” Henn said. “The demand for this kind of service is only going to grow.”
Werner Premium Services focuses on identifying and mitigating risks before they impact operations. That proactive stance helps customers avoid costly disruptions, protect their assets, and maintain business continuity, especially in industries where even minor delays can cascade into significant financial losses.
Adapting to each customer’s world
The technology sector, in particular, has become a rapidly expanding vertical for Werner’s premium offering. The ongoing boom in artificial intelligence has increased demand for the secure transport of servers, computing hardware, and other high-value components essential to powering data infrastructure.
“Think about the world we live in and the rise of AI,” Jones said. “The computing power required to build those platforms creates a pretty intense logistics environment.”
Werner’s ability to adapt and scale solutions for these customers — often under tight timelines — underscores the flexibility built into its premium model.
Unlike a one-size-fits-all logistics service, Werner Premium Services offers multiple configurations that can flex up or down with demand. This adaptability allows customers to balance cost, speed, and service level depending on their priorities.
“We have a variety of solutions,” Henn says. “Adaptability is huge here at Werner, and Werner Premium Services is a big part of that.”
That flexibility also enables Werner to integrate premium service seamlessly with other parts of its network — whether that’s dedicated capacity, cross-border lanes, or temperature-controlled assets — to provide a unified customer experience across business lines.
Looking ahead
Werner Premium Services was built not just for today’s market but for where logistics is headed next.
“When we built out the program, we looked at the future,” Jones said. “It’s both speed and quality — not speed or quality. Our ability to customize variable solutions and back them up puts us a leg ahead.”
With nearly 70 years of transportation and logistics expertise, Werner brings the infrastructure, technology, and people to handle freight where precision and protection are non-negotiable. From healthcare and technology to automotive and manufacturing, Werner Premium Services delivers the level of control and care that complex supply chains now demand.
As global logistics continue to evolve, Werner’s commitment to proactive service, compliance, and adaptability ensures it remains a trusted partner for customers whose shipments simply can’t fail.
