Watkins Shepard 30-Day Training

Yeah, I've read all the post from head to toe like a fine tooth comb and you guys have answered a lot of questions. When i start my 10day in Conover ,NC , i will give you guys a day by day like Lynch did. Did you guys know that the Conover terminal is now the largest terminal W&S has.... (i was told that by Christy)

 

yup.... thats true, it is the largest for sure!! porb the nicest term as well... however the down side is that when the office is closed their are no drivers facilities available to the drivers. its nice tho!

 

Hey Lynch....great to hear you are having a blast out there. Sounds like you've been running hard.. How did you run over 12 curbs and almost hit a stop sign? Sounds like narrow roads or something.. did you do most of the unloading at all those stops? Extra money though....

I am getting excited. I spoke with the school recruiter today just to make sure we're on track, and all is good. I start training on Monday, and I should have my permit soon after, then look out Socal, I'll be behind the wheel!!...I'll be sure to let you know how it's going in my training thread I started...

 

I did my 10-day in Conover, but it was a little different then, and a lot quieter. But it's good, it's a good place to be, and Tim the trainer is great. You'll have a good time with him, and like S2B says, Tim has the driving experience and you'll learn a lot from him. In fact, he still had a truck and ran loads until a few months ago. I wonder who got that truck? It was a nice one...

The mountain driving you'll do isn't hard and the scenery around Asheville is awful pretty. Just make sure you look at it when somebody else is driving. Listen to Tim and you'll do fine. And if you're still new at shifting study and memorize the RPM shift chart he gives you. It will really help if you happen to miss a gear, which is easy to do when your classmates are watching you from the bunk and the trainer is riding shotgun.

But there are much worse places to be for 10 days than Conover, North Carolina. There are at least 7 restaurants within walking distance from the hotel and it just so happens that that Conover is far enough south that you can get decent sweet tea. Of course, if you're in that part of the country you ought to drink at least one Cheerwine.

 

Thanks Henley, for the info, they actually give you a gear sheet!!!!wow!!!matching the rpm's/rev's and speed with gears, thats a relief, most places you have to learn that on your own....I certainly wont have a problem now, it just makes it a lil easier when u aint gotta figure it out on your own...

 

I hope they do that in all the orientation locations and not just in Conover as I'm doing mine in Missoula....I suppose some of the current WS drivers can chime in on that.

thanks for the good info Henley!!

 

Lynch, I'm in 1697, a 05 Freight Shaker. I'm enjoying a 34 reset in Vegas. I ran a load out of Conover to Modesto. I then went to SLC then to Ogden to pick up the load I'm on now going to La Mirada. It don't deliver until Tuesday so I figured Vegas is a good spot to reset.

I went over Donner Pass and Emigrant on 80 going to SLC. Got lucky and missed most of the snow and didn't have to chain. It's a heck of a highway.

Send me a PM and let me know where your going to be.

Good luck to everyone going to school see ya when you get out on the road.

 

Ah, too bad we couldn't connect when you get to the shop in La Mirada, Mike. I'd be happy to buy you a cup of coffee, but I'm starting my schooling on Monday and won't be around there....too bad. I guess we'll just have to wait to meet....

 

Warp, Good luck and I was glad to read everything went well with your wife. We'll meet on day for sure, until then, do your best and enjoy the experience in Missoula.