Running With Watkins & Shepard

Discussion in 'Watkins & Shepard' started by chralb, Aug 13, 2010.

  1. ocalag8r

    ocalag8r Bobtail Member

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    Enjoy your little bit of downtime and study time today! Don't worry 36's won't be that bad...LOL:biggrin_2559:
     
  2. chralb

    chralb Road Train Member

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    While I understand and agree with what you're saying, my particular situation is a little different than most and I'm on a quest to rebuild my life for the third time now. So being that I have no home, am in debt to WAY past my eyeballs and have no family to miss, I'm telling this company they can run me for months at a time without worrying about getting me "home". That truck will be my home.

    At the same time however, I have no real good idea what's like to "drive" that much. I did spend a month OTR without stopping so I can say I know what it's like to be out there for a long time straight. But with the added WORK of driving, I'm sure my attitude will at the very least, be adjusted a bit, at the most, find what you say to be the case for me as well.

    Ah yes, as a newbie, there is MUCH to experience and learn before I can carve my views in stone. :biggrin_25514:
     
  3. chralb

    chralb Road Train Member

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    :biggrin_2559:...Bite your tung man!!....:biggrin_2559:

    I'm NEVER going back there again. OK, a little history here. I suffered a bad back injury on a landscape crew when I was 15. It was never diagnosed or fixed correctly and I now have 30 years of beating it into the ground. Well, in October 2007 I was finally forced to hang my hammer up for good. Since it was always a "pre-existing condition", it was never covered by the insurance policies I've had over the years so I never could do much about it.

    Now all those years I fed this machine a LOT of fuel to do the work I did. When that work came to a sudden stop, my eating habits....Ummm...DIDN'T. So yep, sitting on my butt unable to walk and still pumping in the fuel made me blow up about 50 - 60 pounds and into a size FORTY!!!

    I've spent the last 6 months getting rid of that and I'm now back in a 35 comfortably and can put 34's on. They fit, but lets just say I don't need a belt for them.... (YET)...:biggrin_25523:

    OK, a diet tip: With my back I really can't do any exercises. I did this all by just watching what I ate and a lot of resisting the "feeling" of being hungry. The body is an amazing thing and it "gets used to" whatever you give it. If you eat, it wants more. If you don't it becomes accustomed to eating less. That's why the first two weeks are always the hardest. You have to fight the feeling that you "need" more food. You may "want" it, but if it's not actually FUEL to do work, you don't "need" it. So don't let anyone tell you it can't be done. I'm living proof!
     
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  4. ocalag8r

    ocalag8r Bobtail Member

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    :biggrin_25514: LOL!! Congratulations on your weight loss! In a similar situation myself...got up to 250lbs, size 40. Back down around 200 and size 36 (BIG Thank You, Dr. Atkins!). Got back into a pair of old 34s, not comfortably, mind you. Completely understand your desire not go back up again. Good luck on keeping it off.
     
  5. halfburn

    halfburn Medium Load Member

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    I should have expanded and say I have seen hundreds of drivers trying to make an income goal by running hard just burn out. In the old days they might use drugs. You will see some of them sitting next to you in the truckstops working on their coloring books. (with crayons as well as trying to decipher their logs).

    I don't have the time or inclination to call bs to all the mileage claims made on these boards but I know from experience that a company driver can not keep those miles really high for very long. Now with the economy the company has to spread the miles around also, which has always been the case.

    With no family distractions you are in a good position to run but just remember to moderate it and not burn yourself out in 6 months like so many do.

    Being a Sunday morning I am feeling generous so let me give you some advice about dealing with your company. With a little experience you are in a position to be a go to guy for your dispatcher. It's a good deal which will keep your income good but you have to know your limits and know exactly what you can do so you don't overcommit. For example, for the hundreth time they have goofed around dispatched a load late and are getting ready to take some heat from their account. They ask if you can get it delivered on time. If you say yes like you want to, then you are in the hot seat. When you say yes you are commited. No second chance to look at the mileage, where it is going et.... so you ask some questions about if it is preloaded, how long does it take to load...blah blah and make them take ownership for as much as possible. And remember if you run over 15 mins on your log book and have an accident you can be in a world of 365 hurt in the graybar jumpsuit. All that will come with experience. But there is no worse feeling than to be almost there and realize you can't make it or run yourself into the ground with exhaustion knowing that you are taking on more liablility than you can handle.

    I actually did this with a big company but I had more than 10 years experience after I sold my truck and only left to get married and stay at home to be abused.

    And remember that your company is reading this so it is best not disclose many of your exploits down the road. Keep your mileage and anything incriminating to yourself so one of your fellow drivers or a jealous dispatcher does not stab you in the back.

    On a funny note picure us in a dispatch office.
    1. "My driver can beat your driver. He is my go to guy."
    2. "Your goto guy couldn't wipe my drivers ###."
    1. "Want to bet on it? Let's race em"
    Later that week........
    2. "##### I am going to get you and your driver if its the last thing I do........."
     
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  6. Mike_NC

    Mike_NC Medium Load Member

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    I've been out for a while now and halfburn is right about pacing yourself. I like to run hard but I k now my limit. When I first started I got tired easier than I do now, the stress of being new played a big role.
     
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  7. chralb

    chralb Road Train Member

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    I appreciate the advice. One of my very favorite lines from Clint Eastwood is..."A man has got to know his limitations". I know mine.

    Being self employed with a family to raise since age 16 provided me a 7 day week, 3:00am to 12 midnight schedule. I'd get up at 3, do a couple hours of paperwork (invoices, material lists, blueprints etc. etc.), out the door at 6 on the job at 7, work till around 6, get home at 7, shower, eat and do more paperwork until midnight. I don't burn out easiely...LOL

    Never did drugs, never will. Heck, I don't even go that "power drink" route. Good food and lots of water. I will admit to my love of coffee in the morning. More for the taste really but the wake up is good too.

    I'm sure this will have to be something I'll ease into but I'm pretty confidant about being able to run pretty well. Now what that means to me (without any experience to back this up), is....an average of around 2700 a week if possible. I too have seen the wild claims of 5000 a week and such. Even if possible it surely isn't safe and can't be done long term I'd imagine.

    I'm also not the type to delude myself against reality. If I find that an average like that is too much, I won't push it. If I find I can do more, I will if it's available. I simply won't know until I get out there and can determine what's right for me.

    As far as dispatch playing betting games? Let them. I'll do my recap every night and know exactly what I can run. Baring any "unforeseen" issues (which I'm sure will occur at times), I'll never commit to a load I can't complete. I just HATE leaving things undone...LOL

    No doubt folks, I have MUCH to learn and a long way to go yet. I'm sure I'll make my share of mistakes along the way. But there will come a time when I understand how it all works and things will then smooth out a bit....No?...:biggrin_25524:.....
     
  8. chralb

    chralb Road Train Member

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    Well I just finished the second two log scenarios. Man, that driver makes runs that have the log looking more like a heart monitor! :biggrin_2559:

    But it's all done now and I can get back to the "easy" stuff like memorizing the shift ratios and Qualcomm macros.......:biggrin_2556:......NOT (easy that is)....LOL
     
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  9. Warpdrvr

    Warpdrvr Heavy Load Member

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    Just to throw a monkey wrench into the works...after all that hard work memorizing the shift ratios for the Detroit, ya just have to know they will put you in a Volvo with a Cummins engine...LOL But don't worry, it's not much different, at least to me.

    You seem like you're picking up on the WS policies and procedures ok. It wasn't that hard once I got out here, but just remember, here at WS we are a family, and I'm sure you'll have numbers of drivers you can call...heck, I'll give you mine if you want, just send me a PM. I"m not an expert or anything, only have about 6 months with the company, but it's nice to be able to have someone to call when you need a particular piece of advice...

    You're almost done!! We'll see you out here sooner or later, I suppose!
     
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  10. chralb

    chralb Road Train Member

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    Thanks Warp....I think?? LOL

    I'm actually hoping for a FL. I like the room in them and it's what I'm used to. I have a few numbers of drivers but sure, I'll shoot you a PM. You can never have enough family out there. That's what I really like about this company, it's small enough for folks to get to know one another.
     
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