Another Watkins Shepard Thread

You will need clothes for 2 weeks, I would bring a flashlight, gloves and warm clothes depending on when you get out here. They will send you a list of items to bring. So far out of that list I have only used personal items and the flashlight. There are several guys that brought their laptops and they have wireless internet here as well. If you plan on going home before you go out on the road, then bring most everything on that list or you can just buy them here if you have the money. If you are going to swing by home then wait to bring most of the stuff.

I would take every chance to practice that you can. Don't wait around and just watch others. If you are good on backups then help others and you will learn even more. If you need more practice with back ups, then I would suggest the serpetine back up. That worked wonders for me. You won't get a lot of driving out of the yard, but you can get a lot of pratice driving in tight areas around the yard, take advantage of it. Hook up a trailer and drive it around the yard in tight areas. It will get you used to city driving. You will like it out here. This seems to be a great company so far, everyone has been really nice here.

I agree you learn quicker by doing, but one of the 30 day students took the time to help me better understand how backing a trailer is done. He backed trailers before and was great at it. All it took was a few mintues to show me and explain the best ways to back. Why Dick or any of the other trainers couldn't do this is still beyond me. They know we haven't had all the driving time that the students get here. So Yes I do expect them to help out and train even us 10 dayers where needed. They are trainers and that is their job.
I can understand that we should already know how to do this stuff, but that doesn't mean we can't use a little additional help with a few things.

Anyway, I have finally been successful at backing my trailer without much problems, at least not a much as I have had in the past. I better understand how to turn, when and how much, from here it just adjusting to each sitituation.
We went out a little into the city and did some driving. I was so nervous I was sweating bullets. But once I got out there I was fine. We went through some tight places and was just fine. Went out with Mark and he would actually give some tips for better turns. I was told that by Mark that he feels comfortable with me driving so that is a good sign since he is mostly the one that offers you a job here. Tommorrow we are going to pratice shifting on hills and mountains, both up and down. Something that was taught not to do in other schools. That should be fun. I am looking forward to that. I will let you know how that goes. Be Safe.

 

Well I survived the the down hill shifting. It was not bad at all. Just like Danc694u says, just like getting off an exit ramp. It was fun to do. So it looks like I will be offered a job here, they have asked me if i want to go home before i start driving and asked if i want to do direct deposit. So I take that as a good sign I have the job. Tomorrow we go over winter operations, loading and health benefits. I am so ready to go home right now. I will update later on. Be safe.

 

I was offered the job and assigned a truck out of Salt Lake, which is great, but it's an automatic. Just the thing I didn't want. I guess it's the only truck they had available in SLC terminal. The manager told me I could trade when a truck becomes available and I will. Having an auto is not going to help my CDL career, it will limit where I can go if I don't stay with Watkins, or even if I do stay with Watkins I won't be able to get into flatbeds as easy. There is a truck here that was given to another 10 dayer that was in the shop, he ended up taking another one due to having a load that delivers tomorrow in OR and the windshield needed to be replaced. Its a newer Freightliner and I would be more than happy to wait for that one instead. I should see if I can take that over the auto in SLC. I don't know exactly how they decide who gets what truck, but it would seem easier if they just gave us trucks that were nearby. One 10 dayer has to go to SantaFe Springs, CA to get his truck. He is from there but didn't request home time before getting started.

But at least I have a job with this company and everyone seems to like it here. I have talked with several drivers and they all like it here, so it has to be worth sticking it out for a better truck, at least one that is not an auto.

Today we went over loading and winter operations, holly cow, I thought I was just driving from one location to another. There is a lot more to it than that. You have to know how to balance your load, make sure it's legal and safe before you get to a DOT weigh station or pay a hefty fine. The days of just driving from point A to point B is over, there is so much more involved in being a truck driver. I guess that is why the are now saying a you are a professional driver instead of just a truck driver. You really have to know what you are doing in this business or you will pay dearly. I have a new respect for professional truck drivers. It's not as easy as it looks, if it was then everyone would be doing this.

There was one person that didn't make the cut. I really feel bad for this guy because he was the most dedicated one here. He was always out in the yard practicing his shifting, backing and whatever else he could. The sad thing about it was he was just not safe enough drive to let him have a truck, according to the trainers. I think if he went with a company that has a trainer driving with you for a few weeks then maybe he would be better off. That's just too bad cause I liked the guy, but what can you do.

For anyone thinking of coming to this company as either a 30 day program, 10 day program or as an experience driver I would have to recommend them so far. For the 30 day program, I don't think you will find a better 30 day progarm out there with this much drive time.

Well I will go for now, I will keep you all updated on how the automatic truck is. Man, that really ticks me off though. Be Safe.

 

Good luck, hope it works out for you. You will get plenty of drive time and have some experience behind the wheel with real loads and deliverys before you graduate. It's well worth the time and money.