Any questions from prospects or lookers from real Watkins and Shepard drivers?

I've noticed a lot of guys having issues with their trucks lately, is that normal with W/S?

On the website it states the average age of a fleet truck is 2005...that seems a little older than I would think...although it is an average.

If that is fact, that probably has to do with the maintenance issues that seem to happen often.

It's tough to make any money if you're sitting...waiting a couple days for repairs.

Please voice some thoughts & opinions guys.

 

Depends on how the person before you took care of the rig. Mines a 2005, been in the shop once for more then oil changes and pm's. 2 breakdowns on the road, been in it almost a year.

 

You just log .25 for a pre-trip and flag your post trip, we have our DVIR on our log books so you just initial that you did it and check the box that says "no defects found"

Like I told you before our website is VERY old and outdated. It hasnt been updated in a LONG time.

Our trucks Range from 2004's to 2009's (not sure what year these KW's are) But MOST of our trucks are 2007's to 2008's


Its older then the big carriers like swift who lease (rent) their trucks and turn them in for new ones. Watkins Shepard OWNS all of their trucks. Most are very well maintained.

And breakdowns come with trucking if you drove your car 120,000 miles a year it would break allot too.

If you read around with other companies our trucks tend to break down less and are fixed faster then say companies like swift and Werner because our shops want the trucks fixed and out of there shops. Other carriers have 10,000 + trucks and only so many mechanics so lots of times they wait to have stuff fixed for days.

Also with W/S they are not affraid to have other shops be it independant or TA's Petro's fix somthing as aposed to makeing you run with a messed up truck OR deal with no AC till you make it to a Terminal like ALLOT of companies do.


If you want a brand new Pete or KW dont come here, but if you want to be treated with respect, get consistant good miles, and take home a good paycheck from the very first paycheck W/S is the place. You just wont get a shinny new truck to scratch the hello out of here.




American Trucker

 

I wasn't looking to rattle any cages AT, just a simple question due to some resent posts.

"Like I told you before"...?

If ya had a bad day, I'm very sorry for that...just doing research bro.

Axe-Thx for the calm version of a response

 

They will have to buy trucks very soon. Big things to happen very soon.

 

So how old are the trailer that are pulled saw that CSA score had to do with Maintenance and some of it was due to DOT reflective tape or ABS light not working sound like an easy fix. Mud flaps too need to be on truck and trailer. If one does a pre trip right and Brake test on truck and trailer should not be a problem. but csa doesn't state what state is being more picky would be nice to know what POE are being Picky and bust their bubble by having a good to go truck.

one mark on a company is not bad compare to CR Englands CSA still like my odds with Watkins and Shepard even if the ac doesn't work hope the defrosters and washer and wipers work. I will CYA myself just hope Company will do the same

 

just this morning i got red lighted at the billings weigh station...the told me to pull into dock two...i was getting a level one inspection...

apart from my logs and permits which were fine the DOT guy basically done a thorough inspection...much like a thorough pretrip inspection a driver should do(every day)...

anyway the truck trailer and I passed with no issues....so to say the equipment is poor/older that other fleets is a fair comment but the responsibility of running a DOT legal truck lies solely with the driver!!

with that said MT is possibly less stringent than say CA and generally friendlier DOT perhaps..but as long as you know your truck and trailer and after your thorough pretrip your good to go!...anything that happens between pretrip and inspection would just be unfortunate..

OUT!

 

flying scotsman Thanks

for the info on Montana looks like keeping a CDL manual with me would not hurt so I can remember all the things to check

 

you wouldnt need the manual for long....trust me, it gets repetative...but with that it can be easy become complacent through repetition..

 

Do pretrip and posttrip... just make a note of any repairs you need taken care of for the next visit to a terminal with a shop unless they are urgent. A tire that's wearing but still safe, for example. They'll go through all this in orientation, too.