During my many hours of reading, I have come to the conclusion that W/S & Schneider seem to be the choice of many when asked "who's got the best company newbie training". I have just a few questions before I call recruiters for both of them.

Watkins/Shepard - During the "4 week school" advertised on their website, do they pay you, like how Schneider pays you $300 (or $350, can't remember) a week during training? Financially, it's nearly impossible for me to up and quit my current job and go to training without some sort of income, albeit little...but it's something.

Watknis/Shepard - Is their training strictly out of Montana? There's a terminal close by in Youngstown, Ohio, just curious if we're all trained in Montana.

Watknis/Shepard - If I am OTR with them, would it mostly be terminal to terminal, or is it whatever they give me? The terminal service area map on their site leads me to believe, that if I'm OTR with them, it would be mainly deliveries between company terminals.

Schneider - From what I've read, all newbies go to Green Bay for 10 or 11 days, then finish their training at a local terminal...I have a terminal nearby in Seville, Ohio, just curious if this is how it works.

Thank you.

Back to reading!

Schneider wont pay you while at school
But will when you start traning OTR

__________________

Watkins and Shepard does not pay you during the 30 day training period, however after the 30 days, you will be in your own truck on regular pay.

I must've misread somewhere...thought I read that you get paid during training...re-reading from their site, it says "Q. As an inexperienced student, do I get paid while I’m in training? A. Students will not receive pay during their training program. A week following graduation, students will receive $300 per week up to four weeks."
Do you know what their "training program" is? Too much reading recently, but from what I understand, everyone goes to Green Bay for a specified period of time (no pay), then you're based at your nearest Schneider hub and drive with a trainer for up to 4 weeks with pay of $300/wk...then you're on the road on your own.

Thanks
Will I be going to Montana for a month? Or do they also train out of their hubs, such as Youngstown?

Also, thanks

One other main question...as a newbie to trucks, once I've (successfully) completed training and am on my own, will the company understand that I'm still new, and send me to "simple" places, so to speak, or will I be expected to go NYC my 1st day out and make 10 different drops in the heart of the city? Obviously, driving will get better with experience, being able to handle tight corners and such without causing any damage, so will they take it easy on me in the beginning?

To my knowledge, (which I gathered from another post on this site) W/S CDL training is only available in Missoula, MT. If you graduate from a local CDL school, you would be able to go to their 10 day orientation and advanced training at a closer location. Their website really doesn't have a lot of info, they really want you to call them to get more. I called them expecting an all out sales pitch, I was shocked that it was anything but.

this will be a long post but it is all you want to know about W/S

I tried to edit some so that it doesn't look like an ad, I received this as part of an email when i inquired about driving positions and yes I am still thinking about it

PROFESSIONAL TRUCK DRIVER
TRAINING PROGRAM
Located in Missoula, Montana


To meet the demand for well-trained, professional truck drivers Watkins and Shepard Trucking, Inc. operates a professional truck driving school located at its home office in Missoula, Montana. To qualify for our school you must possess an acceptable driving record and a good past work history. You must be neat and clean in appearance, you must have a desire to travel and you (and your family) must realize that being an over-the-road driver you will be away from home for at least three weeks before returning home. Then you will stay home for up to four days before returning back to the road.
Watkins and Shepard is looking for people seeking a career change and know exactly what they want. We are looking for people who enjoy excitement, adventure, and greater challenges. We are looking for individuals that are good managers of their time, can use good judgment, and have a desire to be a professional and safe driver. We need people that can be taught to handle the most adverse weather conditions, work well under stress, work well with people, and be able to emotionally handle themselves when times are difficult.
Our Professional Truck Driver Training Program trains exclusively for Watkins and Shepard Trucking. Upon successful completion of training you are guaranteed a job with our Company. We specialize in teaching our students the ten most difficult aspects of driving a semi truck and trailer—shifting gears, loading trucks safely and legally, backing, logbooks and using them properly, understanding a good safety program, routing, trip planning and city driving, wintertime driving, downhill operations, air-brake systems, and preventing fatigue. We train you to handle these challenges, plus many other aspects of the trucking industry to assure that you will be a safe and competent over-the-road driver. This is all done through our four-week training program. For most, you will be ready to jump into your own rig and head down the highways at the end of the four weeks.
At our training facility, we have a large lot used for shifting and backing practice plus a large class room where each day begins. The training program is four weeks in duration generally beginning at the end of each month. The class size varies based on the hiring needs of the Company. Classes begin promptly at 8:00 a.m. and end at about 5:00 p.m. each night. You are encouraged to drive after hours at the site every night and on weekends to help enhance your training.
Throughout the course you will drive within the city limits of Missoula, Montana and the surrounding mountainous terrain. You will be trained on both loaded and empty trailers. While attending school, if you live out of town, you will be able to stay in our driver facility at our expense. The driver facility has showers, laundry facilities, a complete kitchen, dining area, and a large TV lounge. The Company has two vehicles for use by drivers while in training. After arriving at our training site, your daily transportation and food expenses are your responsibility. It is wise to bring some work clothes for working around the yard and equipment. This includes gloves, coveralls, and a large note-pad for notes.

Applying for Training and General Requirements
Prerequisites for the course will include filling out an application. The application process is very competitive. We receive many more applications than spots are available. An in-person or telephone interview is required of all applicants. After the application process, those chosen for the training will be required to obtain the Learners Permit for their Commercial Driver’s License (“CDL.”) The tests required are: (1) General Knowledge, (2) Air Brakes and (3) Combination Vehicles. The manual for these tests can be obtained from your local Drivers License Bureau and the approximate cost to test is $80. Prior to enrolling in the training program you will also be required to have:
A pre-employment DOT Physical, DOT drug test performed by a certified collection site and Human Performance Evaluation, which we will pay for; A 5-year copy of your official motor vehicle record from the state in which you are currently licensed; A Post Job Offer Questionnaire, which is a series of questions designed to determine your ability to meet the essential functions of the over-the-road professional truck driver at Watkins and Shepard Trucking.

Tuition Costs
The tuition for the Professional Truck Driver Training Program is $4000. Once approved for hire, you’ll be given access to a 7.75% loan through Transportation Alliance Bank (TAB). You will be required to pay at least $250 of the tuition at the time you enroll as a down payment (payable by check, money order or cash. We do not accept credit cards). The remainder will be financed with TAB. The first payment will be due a couple of weeks after you start driving. The loan payments are approximately $40/week for 104 weeks. As long as you stay with Watkins and Shepard, we will make the first $25 of your weekly payment leaving you with a balance of $15 each week. If you leave for any reason before the loan is paid in full, any unpaid balance will be entirely your responsibility. The tuition also covers the cost to get you to Missoula and lodging while you’re here.

Benefits of a Professional Truck Driver at Watkins and Shepard Trucking, Inc.
Our average first-year drivers earned just over $44,000 dollars in 2007 and our average experienced driver earned $52,000. You are paid on a mileage basis, that means you will be paid for every routed mile you drive. You will also be paid for loading or unloading the truck when required. We also pay for times in which you are not driving for more than 24 hours at a time. As a new driver, each month you will be expected to drive 10,000 miles or more. Our experienced drivers are averaging 12,000 miles/month. You can legally drive about 13,000 to 14,000 miles a month by DOT standards. Our current starting pay is 28 cents per mile, with a raise to 30 cents at 6 months and another raise to 32 cents at one year.
We have an excellent employee benefit program. We offer medical, dental, vision, prescription, and life insurance for you and your dependents after 90 days of employment! The Company also offers employees a 401(k) retirement plan after six months of employment with a generous Company match, and you are paid a week’s vacation after one year, two weeks after three years, and three weeks after five years. We also offer a rider program if you would like to take a family member along as a passenger after your first 90 days of employment. Most drivers take about one week’s worth of clothing with them. All major truckstops have laundry facilities and showers. The trucks are equipped with a sleeper, you will be required to provide your own bedding and pillow. Other needs will be your bathroom needs and a small assortment of tools. An AM/FM Cassette or CD player and CB radios are provided in the trucks. Many drivers will purchase a twelve volt cooler to help cut down on food expenses. Most drivers will spend between $75 and $100 a week on the average for their living expenses. You are allowed to take a weekly $100 advance from your pay for living expenses on the road.
If you are considered an average to above average driver you should never be out of work

About Watkins and Shepard Trucking, Inc. In General
As we have mentioned before, we train drivers for this Company only, so a brief description of our Company is in order. Watkins and Shepard has been in business for over 32 years. We are headquartered in Missoula, Montana and we have a total of 23 terminals/drop yards throughout the nation. We operate over 650 company trucks and have about 100 owner-operators leased to our Company. We have been granted 48 state authority from the federal ICC, and operate primarily in 40 states.
Our drivers run locally, regionally, team runs, and over-the-road.

After doing A LOT of research on this board, and talking to drivers, I am going to go with W/S. I too, considered Schnieder but thought W/S was a better fit FOR ME.

x2. It was a very nice phone call..

Thanks for the responses

I will still call W/S for ##### & giggles, but if their newbie training is in Montana for 30 days, that's a bit more than I could handle financially, and more so, emotionally, with a little one and a wife here at home. Got to find something closer.

So, I did some more research, and found Millis Transfer to add to my list of possible calls. Seems they have a training facility near Cincy. 3 weeks of unpaid classroom training, Mon-Fri, then a graduated pay scale for the remainder of your otr training. This looks more appealing than Schneider to me...closer to home, more starting $$$, and not too much I've found on the negative side. Their training requirements do not list a current CDL, so I'm assuming they have newbie training? Any info on them?

Decisions, decisions.

My luck, I'll go thru all of this initial research, and find out later when I call these places, they're not hiring or training currently

Again, thanks to all.

Good luck, keep us posted

Will do.

I have 3 little ones at home, but I gotta get trained at some point...