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Watkins Shepard 30 day training as experienced by Warpdrvr

Discussion in 'Discuss Your Favorite Trucking Company Here' started by Warpdrvr, Dec 8, 2009.

Page 20 of 30
  1. Feb 25, 2010 #191
    Warpdrvr

    Warpdrvr Heavy Load Member

    758
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    Oct 16, 2009
    Corona, CA
    0
    Hey Alex...the yard trucks here at WS in Missoula are both Freightliner Columbias, 2004. The trucks in school were Freightliners as well, but 1995 versions, old and beat up.

    As for my day today, we talked about equipment here at WS, talked about coupling and uncoupling and a couple other things that escape me at the moment. After break, we coupled empty trailers to the trucks and did alley docking, actually getting to bump a real dock. We all did it twice. I did ok I think, almost got way out of position, but sat for a moment and was able to recover it without too many pull ups.

    We then put the empties away, one truck hooked up to a fully loaded trailer (loaded with huge cement blocks) and parked it as it was lunch time.

    After lunch, we did the sliding tandem thing and then our instructor said ok, load up, lets go....we did a road excursion today, getting to drive thru downtown Missoula (more bicycle riders than I've ever seen!) and some freeway driving. I did pretty well, not grinding the gears too much :biggrin_25523: The instructor then drove for a while and narrated what he was doing and what he was watching etc. After we got back to the yard, we unhooked the trailer and our day was over.

    Don't know what is going on tomorrow....
     
    Warpdrvr, Feb 25, 2010
    Warpdrvr, Feb 25, 2010
    #191
    JustSonny Thanks this.
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  3. Feb 26, 2010 #192
    Znine

    Znine Light Load Member

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    Nov 18, 2009
    Spokane, wa
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    Sounds like you will be hitting the hills soon Warp! Speaking of hills why does Missoula have that weird hill side? I know but want to read your theory before you look it up or ask a local! If you know already you are schooled well!
     
    Znine, Feb 26, 2010
    Znine, Feb 26, 2010
    #192
    Warpdrvr Thanks this.
  4. Feb 26, 2010 #193
    alex94

    alex94 Light Load Member

    286
    78
    Dec 6, 2008
    good ol CG
    0
    wow warpd. would much rather have thos 04s. sounds like you are doing well. and i cant believe you are already out on the roads of missoula. great job and keep doin well!
     
    alex94, Feb 26, 2010
    alex94, Feb 26, 2010
    #193
    Warpdrvr Thanks this.
  5. Feb 26, 2010 #194
    Warpdrvr

    Warpdrvr Heavy Load Member

    758
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    Oct 16, 2009
    Corona, CA
    0
    Not sure what you mean about that "weird hill side" you speak of...so I guess I'm not schooled well yet!

    Yeah it was pretty cool...

    We didn't get out on the road today, because today was LOGS day!! Oh, yay... All day long, more about logs than I really ever wanted to know, but I know it now! Long discussion about them, oh but before that it was defensive driving, the Smith System...I'm sure many of you drivers are familiar with it. Anyways, we talked about logs and how they relate to us until about lunch time.

    After lunch, we talked about WS policies regarding logs and how if we mess up, we'll be talking to the logs girl.

    We then did an exercise in a real log book that lasted for 4 days, so we had to do what we would really do in the real world. We also got homework that continue the same scenario...we did get done early, so they cut us loose an hour early.

    Clay13 and I then practiced backing trailers into the tight spaces between 2 other ones....

    Tomorrow we will practice alley docking, straight backing, and backing between trailers all on our own. We have free reign of the yard trucks and student trailers all weekend, so we will take full advantage of the time to practice, as I think we have our backing test on Monday, but I'm not sure....
     
    Warpdrvr, Feb 26, 2010
    Warpdrvr, Feb 26, 2010
    #194
    MTdarin and JustSonny Thank this.
  7. Feb 27, 2010 #195
    Znine

    Znine Light Load Member

    263
    89
    Nov 18, 2009
    Spokane, wa
    0
    Znine, Feb 27, 2010
    Znine, Feb 27, 2010
    #195
  8. Feb 27, 2010 #196
    MTdarin

    MTdarin Bobtail Member

    5
    2
    Oct 15, 2007
    Missoula, MT
    0
    Hey Warp,
    Sounds like your learning a lot up there. I'll be in my final week at United school on Monday, and with some luck have my CDL Thursday. When you were at United, did you practice with 48' trailers? Have you pulled a 53' yet? If so, how does that change your turning; I'm guessing you just go straight a bit longer. Since you're from So Cal like me, be sure to have breakfast at least once at Cracker Barrel! Keep having fun up there and keep us posted :biggrin_25525:
    Darin
     
    MTdarin, Feb 27, 2010
    MTdarin, Feb 27, 2010
    #196
  9. Feb 27, 2010 #197
    pchem10

    pchem10 Bobtail Member

    13
    24
    Feb 27, 2010
    TN
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    Hello,
    I went through the 30 day school in Missoula in 2007 and drove for WKSH for a while then left for a teaching job (which I have been doing for the past two years), but got driving in my system and have been missing it ever since I left. I actually just planned to do it for a short while and signed a contract for my current job, but really didn't want to leave trucking after I was in it a few months. Since I had already signed a contract, I went ahead and fulfilled my commitment to take my current job. I may go back OTR in September. I liked WKSH, and was treated well as a new driver. According to my W-2, I would have made around 43K when extrapolated over a year, but not sure where it all went (perhaps to overpriced food at truck stops). Have you heard if they will be purchasing any new trucks? When I started in 07, it was common for them to have several new Volvos/Cascadias in the yard each month, but in 08 (when I left) the fuel prices skyrocketed and then the recession hit affecting the whole industry and that tapered off. Now that things are supposedly picking up, I was wondering if you had heard any inside info on truck purchasing. If not, ask Kelby or Macon or someone of power what their thoughts are. I am glad you are enjoying the school. We had a blast, but it is hard on your own for about the first month and a lot of people quit. If you stick with it, it will get a lot easier b/c Qualcomm/logs/planning/etc all becomes routine.
     
    pchem10, Feb 27, 2010
    pchem10, Feb 27, 2010
    #197
  10. Feb 27, 2010 #198
    Znine

    Znine Light Load Member

    263
    89
    Nov 18, 2009
    Spokane, wa
    0
    Long story short Missoula once was under a lake about a 1000 feet 10-15 thousand years ago. That hill was a shore line and you can see the layers as the lake filled. Water was damed by ice and busted. This youtube video shows E WA. Dry fall had 9.5 cubic miles of water flowing over it per second at times. The pot holes were formed by under water votex thanks to lake Missoula. Not many people seem to know and when you drive I-90 in E WA and I-84 in E Oregon you can see the water damage.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ni6phTO0r78&feature=related
     
    Znine, Feb 27, 2010
    Znine, Feb 27, 2010
    #198
  11. Feb 27, 2010 #199
    Warpdrvr

    Warpdrvr Heavy Load Member

    758
    341
    Oct 16, 2009
    Corona, CA
    0
    Huh, the only thing I thought you were talking about was the M on the hill...LOL. Thanks for the info!

    As for today, all I did was drive around the yard some, do some alley docking, and some backing. I didn't feel well, so I tried to rest...
     
    Warpdrvr, Feb 27, 2010
    Warpdrvr, Feb 27, 2010
    #199
  12. Feb 27, 2010 #200
    spotmister

    spotmister Bobtail Member

    10
    1
    Feb 15, 2010
    bakersfield, Ca
    0
    What clutches are in the Missoula yard trucks? May be signing up for the orientation in April
     
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2010
    spotmister, Feb 27, 2010
    spotmister, Feb 27, 2010
    #200
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