Watkins Shepard-New Info

Yep, hope to see you there too. I'm calling my girl there on Monday to tell her to hold a space for me. I'll find some way to get the dough. My last resort would be to hit up my old man. He can probably afford it, but I've had to go to the well before, so that option may not be on the table. I have one other "benefactor" that has offered to assist me in getting a job or loan me some bread. I just hate to borrow that kind of money, but I know it would secure me a good job with a good company. Not to mention that getting out of this heat and spending some time in the clear, cool air in Montana is very appealing to me! One other benefit to them in terms of the learning process is that they train you to drive in snow. I think that's a valuable skill to have in training as a new driver. I'd hate to have to learn that on the job by myself. I've done a lot of winter/snow driving, but not in a fully loaded big rig!

 

Maybe if I can find a way to raise the funds we could room together. It's 2 to a room as I understand it.

 

Well thanks for your opinion. But no thanks. This is an OPEN forum, where people interested in trucking exchange opinions, ideas and things they've learned. Which is exactly what I'm doing. If you took the time to actually read the Header of THIS THREAD, you would see it says NEW INFO. Apparently, I've provided at least some people some new info they did not previously know. As someone who is doing and has done A LOT of homework and research, I feel that sharing what I know is of use to some people who may not have the time to do so.

Some people jump into this industry with little to no research, and that's ok. But if I can help ONE person land in the spot that best fits their needs, then who am I harming?

I have done two things since coming onto this forum. 1. I have asked lots of questions in lots of different places. 2. I have posted the information that I've learned or become aware of from personal experience. I've never claimed to be a 20 year trucking veteran to anyone. I also claim no expertise. I can only state what I've learned, and I know what I know. You don't have to like it, and if you don't there are certainly plenty of other options for you to occupy your time on this forum. I have been thanked countless times for the information I provided that someone else didn't have. It's good that you're such an expert that you can tell me what to do or not do. Interestingly, you have only 38 posts in nearly 6 months. I would think someone with your obvious expertise would feel compelled to share your vast knwledge with the very people who could use it most.

I spent time IN Stevens training. On their program, I speak from experience. I have done vast research on both Watkins Shepard and Prime. On Prime and W/S, I have had lengthy conversations (not all on this forum) with the people who work there. The people I've spoken with have nothing to gain by pumping up their company. I've also spent considerable time IN A TRUCK DELIVERING LOADS, which I think qualifies me to speak with a bit more authority than many of the would-be students out there looking for a good company. I've never posted a link, I'm not on anyone's payroll, and I won't be getting any kickbacks for sharing what I know. I also think I've been pretty upfront that I have a preference, and a second choice. Who I end up with is frankly none of your business.

Yes, I have posted on threads about all 3 companies. Where else would you like me to ask questions or share what I have learned? Everybody (or nearly everybody) on here is an adult, and many have life decisions to make. I don't think I'm unfairly influencing anyone to do something crazy. We all go about our pre-hire information gathering in different ways. If the info I've provided was already on here, then I wouldn't have posted it. But it isn't. Most of the people come on here and either dogpile a company they're disgruntled with, or sing the praises of their company-and most of them do it without being specific or detailed. I am both specific and detailed. It's how I was trained and it's been ingrained in me by working for 25 years in architecture.

Incidentally, I cannot think of one time I posted negatively about any of the 3 companies you listed. I have posted my personal gripes and been specific why I was hacked off. I have stated the good and the bad, just as I experience it or learn it to be. If you have a gripe with something specific that I've posted, please, enlighten us all. If I have unfairly portrayed anything about any company, please share....I'm all ears.

For some people (clearly not you) the process of choosing a company and training program is just that....a process. It involves give and take of many different people so one can come to their own conclusions. Forgive me, but I thought that was one of the key principles that this forum was founded upon. It's listed in a thread on here, if you care to read what the founders intention was.

So thanks for your opinion. Like most of the people who post negative things about a company or person on this site, you've given little detail as to what I'm doing that is so offensive to you. When and if I make a final decision as to who I am going to work for, I will post that on this site as well. I will also post the reasons I came to that decision, so that anyone who cares to know will have the information.

 

Well, in a perfect world, WS would still have their in-house financing so I wouldn't have to go try and find my own. I have spoken to people who work for them in the trenches (drivers), and I have a brother that has been driving for 15 years. I've also spoken to many who do not work for them, or once did and wish they hadn't left. Nearly universally, they all had great things to say about W/S. Couple that with the fact that they have regular drops and loads going into Eastern PA, where I will be living, and I will get hometime by accident even when I'm driving. The thought of seeing my lovely wife more often is something that is very appealing to me. I also have two of my girls in college in that area on hoops scholarships. It would allow me to catch a game here and there, even if it's just because I'm in the area working. Their training program is nearly identical to Prime's. You drive for a month before testing. The only difference being that with W/S you only take a few trips and the rest is done in or near Missoula. Either way, you still get more wheel time than you will with just about any other company that offers training. W/S also trains you to drive in foul weather and snow, and in the mountains. All very valuable things to learn as a new driver. Since the training is similar, the only real difference for a student is coming up with the money upfront, instead of being tied to the company to pay it off. Frankly, as I've posted before, I doubt I will be able to come up with the funds upfront. I've tried a few options so far, but with a move cross country coming up that is only partially paid for, I have to take care of my wife and not just consider myself.

So, we do have similar situations. We both have responsibilities at home that have to be taken into consideration. Lynch has a few options to pay that I don't have. I wish I did. I'm still exploring my options, and as of now have made no decision. As for Prime, I'm attracted to them for the same reasons you are. They have comparitively favorable terms to other companies that train for CDL. They also pay well during training. Actually, their training pay is by far the best I've found since I've been researching where to go. If I was betting the mortgage on it (and I kinda am, aren't I?), I would lay money that I will end up at Prime. That is not to say that I'm settling in any way. They are actually a great choice in my situation, and I have no doubt that I will be happy there and a credit to their company.

I do get a good vibe from W/S though. I get it everytime I come in contact with them. Hard to explain in concrete terms. All I know is that for me, everytime I get on the phone with someone who works for W/S, I am impressed that they all treat you with care and respect (and even a little humor) .....almost like you're a human, (LOL), instead of a know-nothing newbie who takes up their time. They also have the advantage of having you take your physical/drug screen/ and agility test (for me with a previous back surgery) locally before you leave. You are therefore in a much better mindset when you get there knowing there is little short of omitting something criminal or failing your CDL test that will keep you from getting the job. With almost any of the others, virtually anyone could fail a physical for company policy and be on a bus home. At least with W/S, you already know you've cleared that hurdle before leaving your house.