Watkins and Shepard - Page 2 - Truckers' Trucking Forum | Message Board

geargrinder · **^ Top** #11 07.19.2007

I looked at W/S. They have a terminal in Y'town, OH. Their starting pay was kind of low. Also it was my understanding that drivers in the East can be out for really extended periods. Just my 2-cents.

Quote:

Originally Posted by red95king

I've been at W/S for about a month. Its a nice little company but has some quirks. The regional dispatch setup kinda sucks IMO. As soon as you are "handed-off" to the next dispatcher the fact that you would prefer a load in a certain direction (to get home perhaps) is someone else's problem.

But overall I agree. Not a bad company so far. Its early yet, I'll keep you folks posted.

Pharaun · **^ Top** #12 07.19.2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-rad

Pharaun,

I have read that in the 30 day school that you are in a truck on the second day of school. How do the weeks go as far as driving time and class time. Is most of the driving around Missoula or do they take you on live loads out of state.

Brad

They do a lot of Missoula driving at first, but we also went on a couple trips to Seattle and LA with our trainers. You get the required amount of behind the wheel time in the class- I'm not sure what that is now, but it was something like 168 hours or somewhere around there. We would also practice on our own after school.

The first day of training is pretty much the day for paper work, introductions, and room assignments. They covered a few things, but yeah, we didn't get into a truck until the next day.

Pharaun · **^ Top** #13 07.19.2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by geargrinder

I looked at W/S. They have a terminal in Y'town, OH. Their starting pay was kind of low. Also it was my understanding that drivers in the East can be out for really extended periods. Just my 2-cents.

It was a little low, and thus the reason most people won't go with them, but truthfully, I would rather take a bit lower pay to work for a decent company. And they are paying for your school as long as your there, so I didn't complain.

We were driving to West to East quite often in flatbed and weren't gone too much. It wasn't too bad for us, I suppose it all depends on the dispatcher and such.

johnnypage · **^ Top** #14 07.19.2007

Thanks for your previous reply Pharaun. One last question (for me, lol). Does flatbed pay better than van at WS?

doubledog · **^ Top** #15 07.19.2007

Can you give me an idea as to what kind of pay that w/s pays? If so do they hire husband/wife teams and what is the compensation?

antc7 · **^ Top** #16 07.20.2007

hm, thanks for all the info.

Any info on their New Jersey terminal?
Or driving from them while living in the east coast.

Pharaun · **^ Top** #17 07.20.2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnypage

Thanks for your previous reply Pharaun. One last question (for me, lol). Does flatbed pay better than van at WS?

When we were there, flatbed paid the same mile rate, but you got additional pay for tarping, untarping, etc. It came out to pay more than van for us.

Pharaun · **^ Top** #18 07.20.2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by doubledog

Can you give me an idea as to what kind of pay that w/s pays? If so do they hire husband/wife teams and what is the compensation?

I can't say what they pay now, but about 4 years ago they started newbie drivers at 29 cpm. Of coarse, you got more doe. Sorry, I don't know what pay is for teams- I was solo. I do know that they hire teams though. There is drop and hook pay, load and unload pay. If you actually help unload the truck you get additional pay. Nice and easy when you have a Staples load.

Pharaun · **^ Top** #19 07.20.2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by antc7

hm, thanks for all the info.

Any info on their New Jersey terminal?
Or driving from them while living in the east coast.

Sorry, I don't live in the east, so I can't tell you what it's like. There is a lot of freight there, so I would assume that you would be loaded regularly.

I never saw the New Jersey terminal, but I have an address and phone number... I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post that kind of information on this forum though. *shrugs*

Mach 5 · **^ Top** #20 07.21.2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnypage

How are the trucks Pharaun, are they governed? I hear they use Volvo's.

If you want to stay out as long as you want, will they let you?

Also, do they drive east coast too, or mostly west of the Mississippi? I'm in Calif if that makes any difference.

W/S is my first choice and I am sending in my paperwork this week to start in Sept. and I still have a couple of questions about them. Anything else you can add would be cool.

Thanks
Johnnypage

They recently purchased a bunch of new Volvo's. Most of the ones I saw at their Helena Terminal had APU's as well. I deliver furniture to their Kent, WA and Helena, MT terminals from time to time, so I get to see what they have on their lot every so often.

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