Watkins shepard

warp it was good meeting you today as well as the many others here I got to meet, I got tons of good info, tons of ideas for making this rolling home alot more comfortable! i am also glad because even though I am a grown man my parents still stand behind me 100% in everything I do, they know I wanted this and they pushed me to succeed, and talking to you guys today let them understand what I was looking at in alot more detail. Its strange to be almost 30 and having parents who still strive to push me as far as i can go. I am not babied just connected, its funny though having them talk to everyone and getting a feel for how things are out here.

 

Hey, just a suggestion for those that 'inherit' a truck with a residual smell.
After cleaning it, get some pet odor cleaner and mist your floor, passenger seat and area with it. Might take a couple applications, but it is enzyme activated and I've seen it do wonders with urine smells.

 

wingding. im doing good for the most part i guess... my truck has been down 2 times in the past week... looking at about 7 days of down time ...ill give you a calll this week..

d1, the only time i would refuse a load is if my truck is in the shop... my logs dont allow it, my body wont allow it, or im sick....

another suggestion, i had a small fire in my truck, my personal truck, back home, and someone suggesed putting coffee beans in a container with the lid on it, and poking holes in the lid, and it really cleaned the smell up of fire..
also, charcole wrapped up in newspaper is a good oder neautralizer.

D1, its great that you have the support from home for this job... having support from loved ones can, and will, make or breake a driver out here... its an extreamly stressfull job, specialy as a newbee, but knowing you have that support helps soooo much.... you will hear and see the drivers whos families dont want them out here...and once you see them, youll be sooo happy that your parents support you in the job...

best of luck with you and newly cleaned kinda smelling better truck

s2b

 

I finally made it home after a 3000 plus mile trip. Went from SFS to VA up to Mass. and then to Conover. I'm heading to Stone Mountain, GA tonight then pick up my load going back to Black Mt. NC. Once you show the dispatchers you can run they will give you the miles, new guys like myself have to prove that they will get it done.

One thing I do with regards to truck repair is to have a list and only get one or two things done at a time that way I'm not getting hung up at a shop. Obviously, if it's a safety issue that will have to be addressed regardless.

I saw someone mention they worry about finding a spot to park for the night at a truck stop. Run at night.. Yea it sucks but I've found it's easier to get a shower without a long wait and to get a good parking spot during the day time hours. Also if you're low on hours you can use going past midnight to keep running. Say if you have only 6 hours to run but you have 10 coming back, don't start at 10 a.m and start your 14 clock too early just to run those 6 hours, wait until 5 or 6 p.m then go.

Since I've been with W/S I've had two level 1's, 1 level 2 and who knows how many level 3's. Keep your log book in good shape. Also another benefit of running at night most scales are closed.

 

s2b u really know how to make someone cry lmao, thank you s2b for that it really put into words what alot of people need to hear also send a general message to the dispatcher in advance when u will b empty and avlable itll help TRUST ME hell ask for a local run or anything to help the dispatcher out and the reward will be VERY nice!!!!! oh s2b the waffle house has a killer specail down here baby oh btw u askn for mrs red to open a can of woop #####
as 4 mr sal CONGRATIONS traitor
mike nc i am glad u r gettin your miles!!!!

 

Very well put S2B, now to get what you have said to sink in.

 

ahhem..... how you do'in'???

 

I just got my CDL training at a fantastic school in NC. Will be graduating officially April 23rd. As soon as I had my CDL I started sending out applications. Watkins-Shepard was on top of the list due to what I have read here on this forum.

Got a call today from them. They laid it out to me as best they could while I was on a short break at school. I have some questions though I did not quite understand.

I could use some clarification from anybody who drives out of the Hickory locations and delivers furniture.

The lady said they would start me at .27 cent per mile and $20.00 per drop. She said I could expect lots of drops per day and would make more with drop pay than actual miles but could guarantee 2000-3000 miles per week. Does this sound right to you guys?

I figured it like this... if she is right and a driver gets an average of 6 drops per day with 300- 400 miles

350 miles # .27cent per mile= 94.50
6 drops= 120.00
Total= 94.50+120.00=214.50

214.50 x 6 days= 1287.00/ week


Does this sound right to anyone out there who drives for them?

Also, when they say drop furniture do they want the driver to unload and take into the house/store?

Thanks!

 

i dont run out of CONOVER, not Hickory... Conover is where the actual terminal is..
anyhow..
i do not run out of their very often... however, they are correct in a way... depending where they send you will decide how many miles you get a week... if your going up to the NE then no, your not getting 3k a week... if your going out to texas then yes, youll get the 3000 a week...
so in a way their figures do sound some-what correct...
its a lot of work.. i wont lie.. now that its summer and its gonna be hot its gonna be worse...
hand unloading... our company policy, as per w.s insurence company, only allows a driver to TAILGATE the furniture... which means you take it to the doors and have the whoever your delivering too take off the back of the trl and in the store...
now.. im not gonna lie... when i used to run LTL for w.s up in the N.E we all always used to help the customer unload to the showroom floor if thats where it is going... it made a good bond between your and said store..
you will be dealing with MOM-n-POP shops.. not to often youll see a huge warehouse.. mom-n-pop shops... how can i explain this??
remember what you should have already learned in school
G.O.A.L....well, with many of these place that G.O.A.L sticker better become your best friend...learn it! love it! know! USE IT!!!

back to your $ questions...
lets say for example that they tell you that your only gonna work mon-friday... well. friday comes around and you have more stops then the day will allow you to do... you may end up having to stay out an extra day to do these drops.. not always.. but sometimes you might just have to..
just understand that you may not get home every single weekend as promised.. sometimes things dont always work out the way they should...

now... if you have any other questions about the company.. go either just a few links below this one. or just a few links above and you can read for days anything it is that you may want to know...

best of luck to you finishing school... and best of luck to you with starting with w.k if thats where your off too..

s2b

 

Id' have to say all in all Watkins treated me pretty fairly, just don't refuse a load unless it's impossible for you to take, especially when in SFS always ask shirley if she got any local you can do for her, get on her good side and you get a load with miles outta there. they didn't lie to me it was a good starting company, I had to quit or get divorced, so I quit now I may be getting divorced anyways so I think I may be going over the road again.

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