Help: I have an offer from Watkins Shepard

David,
I understand your hesitation, but I think I also understand how W/S looks at it, When you were getting your class C when you were young after you finally got it did someone watch you drive every moment you were out for the first few months? Still tell you how to maneuver on streets and such, its the same with your CDL, you got it now they expect you to know how to use it, their 10 Day Orientation is not a training session, its a testing session. They take you out and make sure you can maneuver around a city, can handle climbing and descending hills and so forth, if they find you dont look like you can handle it or you cant prove yourself your on the first bus home that same day. The other part of Orientation is their policy and procedure, making sure you understand their rules, how to deal with the equipment and how to fill out paperwork.

What exactly do you gain with a trainer, yes an extra set of eyes, but do you need them if you GOAL? yes they would be nice, but you can do this on your own. Plus a lot of trainers are pretty new themselves for a lot of different companies, they basically become cheaply paid teams where either the blind lead the blind or you have some trainer yelling at you for not doing everything his way, even if its wrong.

I saw it as this, I could either go 10 days and do trial by fire by being on the road or I could ride with a trainer and learn all his bad habits and rely on him for everything I do. I prefer the first option as its me learning my way, and so far I am very happy with the choice I made. I am learning every day and for that I am grateful.


Anyway David, if you dont mind maybe a quick informative post about what extra is gained from a trainer that we are not getting doing it this way? Maybe I can see things from another perspective. Just whenever ya get a chance.

 

I am a firm believer in a snuggie.. HAHAHAA

If you ever see a guy chaining up and in a snuggie you know who that is LOL...

 

Oh no! Don't bend over for the chains in a snuggie, there are some weird dudes out on the road!

 

Nicely Stated Deserted1. Thanks. TD.

 

Thank, Deserted1
I do think the snuggie sounds comfortable, but I think I will wear shorts in the summer months and pants to put the chains on. lol And I do agree with the 10 day training, I was told its not for everybody, you have to be able to grab the bull by the horns and ride him. About the handle climbing and descending hills, I heard that they want you to shift as you go down hill.

 

Shaffer refrigerated has an eight week OTR trainer/trainee period of time, I believe.

W/S orientation info says the following: "It is imperative the students understand that upon completing their orientation they will be assigned a truck and dispatched as a solo driver. They will not have a 'driver trainer' with them in the truck. For that reason, it is important that the student does a reality check and personally assesses their emotional ability to handle things on their own. It is a fact that some student graduates should be with a driver trainer. However, it should be stressed to those students that believe they have the ability to go out on their own after having completed the 10-day orientation, that Watkins and Shepard Trucking will have them prepared for over-the-road trucking such that they can go out on their own and be Safe, Successful and Productive."

Apparently W/S has had sufficient luck with this process to feel if the driver has the self-confidence to give it a go, then the company has enough confidence in their training to make this arrangement work.

I remember when my family moved to Arizona thirty years ago. It was our first home purchase with a swimming pool -- about as common as having indoor plumbing for this neck of the 'woods.' The day after we moved in my wife and I along with our three children were helping the kids tread water in the shallow end. The neighbors 2 1/2 yr old came over to meet the new kids on the block. After they all visited for several minutes, this little fella went over to the diving board, dove in and swam the length of the pool!! I inspected him closely, checking for gills or a concealed aqua-lung, but the little bugger actually did it...all on his own! Came to find out that during the summer months most of the kids on the street would rotate from one house to another, using the neighborhood pools, bathrooms, cold drinks in the fridge, whatever they needed. I know AZ has a real problem with drownings anytime of the year, but we came to feel that our children were more safe and secure as they became more adept and comfortable swimming on their own. (Well, that along with swimming lessons from the 2 1/2yr neighbors Dad.)

Every new graduate W/S hires has had to pass their respective states DOT written, skills and road tests. I suppose how much one on one training, and how much trial and error OTJT each new driver requires is something that each of us has to discover individually as the experience unfolds.

 

All I can say is I am happy with my decision to join Watkins Shepard. I enjoyed the 10 day and learned a bunch of info. It was was but good at the same time to see a few people quit themselves know what comes with the job and wanting a trainer. I think it works well and have no major complaints so far. Good company with good drivers willing to help.

 

Hey Cage. I am new here and was wondering something. Did you has previous cdl training and experience before ws or did they train you in everything with the 10 day course? I have a class b cdl driving buses but have no truck driver experience.

 

I went to a 30 day school in Phoenix to get my license. After that I came to the 10 day. Now I am on my own.