Wannabe to Watkins Shepard Driver

Ok, quick update here. I started orientation on Monday with two other guys. All we did the first day was watch videos, pee in a cup and lift test. Not all at the same time of course. Today we had a chance to take one of the Freightliners out with a fully loaded 53' trailer, grossing nearly 80K. I have never pulled anything other than sail boat fuel in school so this was quite different. Just when I thought I was getting the hang of shifting it all went out the window when you put some weight in the trailer. The area around the Conover, NC terminal is rolling hills, it was amazing to me how this load was pushing down the hills and requiring down shifting going up. And I'm talking small hills not mountains.
Tomorrow we are doing our first LTL load of furniture. They are sending us out with an instructor to deliver 8 stops. Should be interesting.

 

Richard, welcome to the forum buddy. Had you not let all those questions out I feel the build up could have damaged you in some way. All of those questions are the same as I had when I first started on this venture a few months ago. I found answers to all of them here on the forum. I'm about as green as Kermit the Frog, so I really feel others are more qualified to answer them.

As for Watkins Shepard. I live 6 miles from their terminal, big plus. They have a 10 day orientation and then you are issued a truck and sent on your way, no driver trainers, additional plus. They haul furniture out of the local terminal here in Conover, neither a plus or minus in my book. Small company, roughly 750 tractors, not thousands like other companies, plus in my book.

Once again with your question about Prime. Go to the company DAC reports and you could read for days about each company. My buddy seems to like it. He's been there for about 5 months now. They get tons of miles but never see home. He's OK with that as he has no home.

Richard, I hope this helped you to some degree. And once again, welcome to the forum.

 

Welcome to the Forum Mr. Grassmann. Just like I told Poor Richard, I'm probably not the best guy to ask but I'll tell ya what I know and try to point you in the right direction.
Watkins Shepard needs something like 25 drivers in Conover. The warehouse is packed with freight, loaded trailers are sitting in the yard. Thats good if you want to work. W/S is a LTL carrier meaning you have to do some work when you get to your stop. Some guys can't handle that, they just want to sit in the cab and look pretty. And hey, that's why they make multiple flavors of ice cream as well. One flavor doesn't satisfy everyone.
Some company's will not look at you if you have been out of school for over 90 days. They figure you have some sort of issue. If you are past 90 days, try to make a personal contact with a terminal manager and explain your case.
W/S Conover will gladly except someone living in Highpoint, NC. They have eased up on hiring radius as the driver shortage is starting to hit them. You would have to use your personal vehicle to and from the terminal as W/S will not let you take the truck home. Also, there are companies that will get you home most weekends, W/S is not one of them. If this is important to you and it sounds like it is, look for one of them.
Search for Watkins Shepard Whats Your 20 in the forum and you'll see what type of schedule the drivers are on.

Hope this helps and best of luck to ya grassmann.