ANOTHER new driver starting out

Hiya gang!! I'm a new driver in Detroit, and I introduced myself in the "Welcome" section, and I'm doing it here, as well...

Currently, I am a heavy duty tow truck driver, and just got my CDL... I've flooded the industry with applications, and I've gotten responses from US Truck, Schneider, and Wil-Trans. The funny thing is, I don't remember applying to Wil-Trans (I've never heard of them), but I DID apply to Prime, so maybe that's how they got my information.

I don't have any endorsements (as of yet), but Schneider wants tanker and haz-mat, so I'm not sure if I'll go with them, and Wil-Trans wants me to sign a 15 month contract... If I already have a CDL, then why would I need to sign a contract?? Besides that, they're a team outfit, and I'd really like to go solo...

With that being said, I called Watkins & Shepard, and they gave me the "go" for their orientation starting March 4th in NC... From everything I read here, it appears that W&S is where I want to be...

Wil-Trans is SO out of the question, because first of all, I don't even know how they know me, and secondly, I think it's dumb to sign a contract to learn what I already know...

Schneider is an option next year, and after I get ALL my endorsements, I'll give them a shout...

I apologize if this post is a little long-winded, but I just wanted to get you guys' take on this, and how W&S treats women drivers... As I said in my welcome thread, being a female heavy-duty tow truck driver is a hard job, but I'm sure that being a female OTR driver has its own set of problems!!!

I guess the best part is that I could tow my OWN truck if it ever breaks down on me...

Toni

 

It's pretty tough work... It's kind of easy for me because at 5'4", I have NO problems climbing under tractors to disconnect stuff, but I live in Michigan, so often times I have to dig snow out from under the tractors to get at the drive shafts, etc...

The REAL reason I love it though, is because of the looks I get when a 5'4" tall woman hops out of a 55-ton wrecker... I can't tell you how many times I've rolled up and hop out just to hear "They sent me a GIRL???"

 

Thanks for the warning, however, I'm not too concerned about driving and such... I do it every day here, so driving doesn't have me bothered, the logs and stuff do...

As far as my job is concerned, they'll take me back with no problems... I'm the craziest human being they have!! I will pull ANYTHING ANYWHERE at ANYTIME...

They've been pretty good with answering questions for me, and I'm pretty confident that I will get through orientation without too many issues... I would like to know how they treat their female drivers though...

Rerun... I live and work in S/W Detroit... Largely Latin population... I know 20-30 people named "Lupe"... I have a few in my own family, too...

 

I picked this company largely based on YOU and your precise experience with them...

So, thank you, for being SO open with your experiences, and giving others a glimpse into a GOOD company...