Does teams at w/s get good miles?

Discussion in 'Watkins & Shepard' started by Mtn. Dew, Jun 17, 2014.

  1. Mtn. Dew

    Mtn. Dew Light Load Member

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    i'm considering teaming with my cousin and we are looking at different companies right now.

    i was wonderin if teams at w/s get good miles, 5000 or more a week? I know the starting out pay is .31 cpm which is lower than everyone else we've looked at.

    you get new volvo's that are automatic? how do you like that?

    what type of freight do you haul as a team?

    thnks
     
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  3. blairandgretchen

    blairandgretchen Road Train Member

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    Best check out some other threads going on non this very topic right now . . .

    In short - no.
     
  4. jungledrums

    jungledrums Heavy Load Member

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    Hi mtn dew,

    Me and my hubby are newbie team drivers at W&S. We've been driving for about 4 months now. We mainly chose w&s because of their 10 day orientation where we could train together. The trainers at the Conover, NC terminal are great.

    We were issued a new 2015 Volvo automatic and we love it. At first my husband did not want an automatic but after he drove it for a day or two, he became a believer. We love having an automatic, it takes all the work out of driving!

    We mainly haul carpet or furniture, sometimes talc, light bulbs, etc

    Miles: We contacted the driver liaison a couple months ago requesting more miles because we run hard and have never been late for a load unless a problem came up that was out of our control. We get too many short/solo type runs that absolutely kills our weekly mileage.

    Last night I got out our check stubs just to see what our mileage was for each week for the past 12 weeks. Here it is, make your own judgement:

    2825, 3163, 4593, 2401, 4817, 2058, 3912, 4831, 2878, 3628, 2618, 3749


    The people at W/S at super nice, good people. We don't want to go anywhere else, but at this rate we are not able to pay our bills, so we are being forced to look for another team job that has better miles and pay.
     
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  5. blairandgretchen

    blairandgretchen Road Train Member

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    3456 average over that time frame. I didn't realize it was quite that bad.
    We've averaged 5500 miles in that time, and that should be about a low average for a team.

    This is good info to take to management, and moving forward.
     
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  6. jungledrums

    jungledrums Heavy Load Member

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    Unfortunately, looks like thats what we're gonna have to do. At $.31 cpm with low miles, we just can't make it on that.

    Of all the solo guys we have talked to at W/S, they all say that they get great miles and make good money. Seems W/S is a great solo company, but for us, it hasn't been a good team company. We would love to at least stay for one year but we just can't afford to. Gotta do what we gotta do to make a living.
     
  7. Mtn. Dew

    Mtn. Dew Light Load Member

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    thanks for that valuable information JD. blairandgretchen is right, when its that bad, and you have already approached management asking for more miles, and it stays bad, then it is certainly time to dust your feet and walk away with a clear conscience.

    any company should do all they can to keep a good husband and wife team! what's wrong with these people?

    How do they expect you to make it off of such low pay coupled with low miles? It's impossible.

    There are many companies out there begging for teams JD. You won't have any trouble finding another job that pays much better! Usxpress, Quest, Schneider, Covenant all offer great team pay.

    Best of luck to you JD!
     
  8. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Benny Whitehead Trucking in Eufaula, AL runs teams. Mostly produce between FL/Southeast and West Coast/Pacific Northwest. The hire new CDL grads. Don't know about the miles; you will have to call and ask. They have a website. I know one driver that left Swift and went to Benny Whitehead and said he made lots more money there. He's not there now; decided to get out of trucking.

    It's a smaller company; maybe 70 or 80 trucks.
     
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  9. blairandgretchen

    blairandgretchen Road Train Member

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    Well, call me old fashioned, but -

    Take those figures - miles, cpm, gross and nett to the boss.
    Explain you can't meet your commitments on that.
    Ask for a cpm raise and more miles.

    If nothing changes, walk - BUT, I'd wait till at least the 6 month mark.If you don't - it may hinder your next move.

    It may limit your potential list of employers, or you may be faced with retraining.

    Though loyalty is a dead idea these days, they did allow you to skip separate training as new drivers. It may sour the path for those behind you, and 4 months is not a good signal to a potential employer.

    Just my 65 cents.
     
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  10. TruckDuo

    TruckDuo Road Train Member

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    Jungle Drums, to put things into perspective. A friend of mine who teamed at CR England got 31 cpm after six months. He left because he wasn't getting the miles & couldn't pay his bills. CR England has the worst reputation in the industry. Your story is similar to his. What does that tell you ?
     
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  11. wd40

    wd40 Light Load Member

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    yep, good point truckerduo.
     
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