You wish you had it this good :) Watkins & Shepard

You most likely will see your husband more often than every 14 days, due to your location. Is that a good enough thing to say?

Of course, it will depend on the load and routing. Add the time of delivery expected. You may get to see him as often as once a week at times.

I work the south/east regional. I occasionally run west. I-5 and 15 corridors are used a lot with W&S. So you do have something to look forward too occasionally...like a surprise visit when you least expect it.

Good luck to you both, and best wishes.

 

Okay thanks for the information. But I really do not care so much about the home time right now. Well sort of, like I forgot to put out the garbage last week, but I can adjust. But besides that, not really. I am more concerned about how much $ he will make because it is difficult for me to support him and our 4 children on my $700 a week paycheck. The more OTR for him the better. Its a blessing. I also believe that it makes him feel good and productive like a man should be. Hallauah. I have so much respect for you truck drivers because I know it is hard work but you do the best you do to provide for our economy and your families. Just know that you are so loved and appreciated by your familes.

 

This is true, the last two times out I have been able to take my 10 hr breaks at home at least once. I've been out one week right now, I don't deliver my load until tomorrow morning so I planned it out and was able to be home for a 34 hr reset. Just ran hard to get here. Didn't really need the reset but sometimes you just get lucky. I'd be making more money if I was running but it's nice to be able to get some free hometime too.

 

The money will be there. No worries there.

I realize you guys live in an area that has a much higher cost of living. So your needs will be greater than mine. But he will make pretty good money. So long as he stays after it.

You can do some things that help increase his bring home too.

Invest in a good cooler (plug in type). If he drinks a lot of bottled drinks, buy them at Wally World. I save about $25 a week, on soft drinks alone.

If you guys can handle the cost, an invertor is the way to go. That allows him to put a microwave on the truck also. While it's not "OutBack". Sandwiches, canned soups, and heat n go meals are tasty when your hungry

If the invertor is large enough. You can get a dorm fridge for the truck.

All told, a simple 2-400 dollar investment. Can bring a net return of at least $100 per week, for the life of the appliances. That's an extra $5K a year.

 

Well my hubby survived through the long endless 10 day orientation and got hired by the company yesturday. He is soo exited and I am sooo.. proud of him. He worked very hard to get in and did not give up like other people who just walked out. He is coming home for the weekend and he will pick up his truck on Monday in Los Angeles. His terminal will be in Modesto, Ca. My question is, does this company assist him with money to eat? I know Covenant used to give him some card to borrow $100 a week and they would take it out of his paycheck every week. Can he do that here at this company because right now he does not have any money after being without work for 2 months? Also how soon can he expect to get his first paycheck? Does it take 1, 2, or 3 weeks? Please let me know so I can plan out our budget. thanks.

 

Wow. I thought SwiftQuit's 5-day orientation was long.

 

You have to keep in mind that though we may have a 10-day orientation (for CDL holders only), we don't get sentenced to weeks on the road with training pay and an OTR trainer like Swift does. We actually go 10 days and get our own truck and start making money. HUGE difference, and to even compare Swift with W/S is like comparing a broken skate board to a Formula one racecar.

 

truckin916,

that is a good comparison and from what I hear W/S is one of the best to be. They take care of their employees and treat them with dignity and respect unlike some others. I would compare w/s with crete.

Kinghunter

 

Ive never worked for WS so I will take you at your word that you believe they are great. But what does a new driver hungry for a job really know what is great?

If you have to depend on a bunch of new drivers to keep the trucks seated, that should tell you something about just how great they really are. I see the newbies at Roel say the same thing about how great they are and then either them or a experienced driver come back with a nightmare story on how they got screwed at the company.

There is no such thing as a great OTR company that has to have a driver mill to keep the trucks filled. Many new drivers think they made the right choice, but most don't even make it a year at a carrier before either they, or the company decide the love fest is over and the DAC report and your career is trashed

My company has hired 2 drivers in 5 years. I replaced a guy who quit to move back east for his wifes new job. How many does a "great outfit" like WS have to replace each day?

Good Luck!

I

 

W/S says that they have 1/3rd the industry average in turnover. How many trucks does your company have and are they an OTR company.