Hey folks, after graduating truck driving school, from a privet school, i realized that with my age, and speeding ticket that it was going to be rather hard for me to get a job both those 2 things. so i decided to go with Werner, but i really didnt want to go there, but after looking, and looking and more looking, they were pretty much the only ones that would take me, so i finaly sucked it up, and accepted that i had to start off somewhere.
then, one day while browsing the information highway, i accedently came across this Watkin Shepard. did some research, and to my saticfaction, i was unable to locate anything bad about the company.
well. ok, let me tell you the 2 bad things about them
1. trainning/oreiantation is 10-days, ** un-paid **
however, to me, that is no big deal, still live at home, no kinds, and not married
2. Cant take the truck home with me. again, not worried about it at all, i live with-in 60 miles of one of there terms.
I head out sunday night for orie.
im really excited about this, they a mid-sized company, and from talking to some of there driver's that i have come across. they are a very decent company to work for. all 3 drivers, been there 3 months - 9 years, seemed to be very pleased with them.
As i start my new life as a trucker, and during orei. i will keep constant updates as to how i am doing, how they are treating me, as a # or as a human.
well anyhow, i must get going, gotta get packing...
again, ill keep updates on how things are going.
soon2be will soon be trucking!!

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my dream of becoming an o/o and making something of myself is starting to become nothing more then a fairytale

I think you will like it there..A few of the instructors at the school I attened said they were a good place to start,and you could do much worse then them.The classroom instructors didnt talk about the companies,but the yard instructors told us who was ok,and who to avoid..I wanted to go with them,but I wanted to go out with a trainer..I didnt think I would have the nerve to do 10 days of their local training,and then hop in a truck and leave...I wanted the 3-4 weeks of otr training with a trainer..Came back to bite me in the butt,cause I made a few bad choices on companies...But I think you should be square for a couple years+ with these guys..

yah,

Those two items bug me, too. But I can deal with it. At least they allow pets and ride-alongs (after probationary period)

I'll be at orientation on May 7th,assuming I pass the physical

I was leased to them. Had a Pete extended hood and would top out 91 MPH. Learn how to tarp and do the flatbed stuff or you'll be hauling carpet and furniture and unloading it plus you'll be hauling a 48 & a pup. No fun w/underpowered co equipment in the winter out west. Flatbeds are fun. Keep us posted. Be nice to the dispatchers, they are your best friends. BTW/They do'nt gripe if you are late, they gripe if you dont call in and tell them. Enjoy Seattle area, thats where they go a LOT.

Almost forgot: Watkins-Shepard is the best company I ever worked for and I'm 59 years old and have sold out.

I have to pick on IraqVet a bit here...nothing personal.

Watkins Shepard is not just a good place to start. It's a good place period. I took what I thought was a cut in pay to come here. But, I've actually made as much or more most weeks.

That's my personal biased opinion. I've been here a year now. And feel as welcome as the day I hired on. I've only worked for a few companies (very few) of their size, that treat the drivers as well as they do.

However, I give you fair warning.

First impressions are not what they appear. You will not be impressed with the home terminal. They have not invested their money on fancy buildings. But they have invested it in maintaining their equipment and keeping the drivers.

Your first year pay, will not be that magic $52k that you see others advertise. But, it is a more relaxed atmosphere to work in. Many of the things they pay you for, are not placed in any of their ads. Although you may have to ask about them during orientation, to get a clear picture.

And, I know drivers who have quit and drivers who have gotten fired. Many of the drivers that quit. Have their reasons, and I agree with the ones I've spoken too (with one exception).

The ones that I am aware of who got fired/terminated. Got fired for good reason. Not some BS reason that was cooked up through the use of worthless legal language in a employee handbook.

They could fire me tommorrow for my attitude. It would pi$$ me off. But I would not be able to state with any honesty, that they treated me poorly.

I intend to stay as long as they will allow me too. Albeit, my mouth has a bad habit of overloading my ### from time to time.

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Just because your mother always told you that you were special. Doesn't mean your mother was the smartest person in the world.

All of Jerry's kids are special.

Actually you are in a 53' van. After your probation period you can move into the flatbed division or you can train to pull the rocky mtn doubles but neither is a requirement.
Yes lots and lots of furniture and carpet deliveries. The furniture multi-stop loads eat up a lot of time so your miles drop when you get 'em.
Overall it's been a good company to work for. My only gripe would be that when it's time to go home, it's more often than not that you don't get there in a reasonable amount of time. I am actually looking for another job right now because of this. I wouldn't mind if I was delayed getting home by a day or two but a week is ridiculous when you've already been out for 3. Keep in mind that this is only a big deal if you have a wife and kids like I do. I just need more time with them.
If you have a family and expect to see them with any regularity you may need to look elsewhere. They tell you in orientation that you can get home every 10-14 days and on their website they say "Hometime you can plan on"....I say BAH....not true at all. I planned on a weekend away for my anniversary with my wife....missed it. I planned on getting home for my wife's birthday....missed it. The only thing you can plan on is missing your family.

Hey Folks, I just got home for the weekend, * still in training, there is no training on the weekend, * i live an hour away, so i decided to come home grab a few things. i forgot my laptop at home, but hopefuly ill be taking it back with me. anyway.
as far as the training goes so far, well, i really have nothing to complain about, at all, My trainer is very cool of a person, but very serious.
i started on monday, the 28th, so far we have done a few drop and hooks, iv talked to 2 drivers that have been there for over a year now, they love it, they had nothing bad to say at all.
based on what i have seen so far, i dont think ill have much bad to say myself.
as for me, family-wise, i have no kids, not married, young ( 22 ) still live at home, so if they want me out and running, then im going to be out and running.
i backed into my first REAL ACTUAL dock today, if i had to say so for myself, and considering the place i did it in, i would have to say that i did a pretty good job, with only doin 2 pull ups. ( sayreville nj term ) with trucks pullin in and out all around me. it was pretty exciting. i was nervous for sure!! ill admit to that.
ok, well, i just got home, im going to head off to MY BED, reather then the hotel bed for a good nights rest.
** ill be around till sunday. anyquestions feel free to ask and ill get back to the thread asap
--Soon2betrucking is almost trucking!!

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my dream of becoming an o/o and making something of myself is starting to become nothing more then a fairytale

WHere is Watkin and Shepard located? I can't find them on line.

Missoula, Montana.