Any questions from prospects or lookers from real Watkins and Shepard drivers?

seems that the west coast guys get all over the place and when they get out here they head back west. We have allot of freight out west as well



American Trucker

 

Do any W/S trucks have APU's?

What is the idle policy?

I know how you deal with the cold (AT's bunk heater experiences), what about the heat, especially in States (like CA) that have idle laws?

Thanks.

 

Some have APU's some dont

We dont have a Idle policy, You idle when you need to, your bonus goes off MPG's and idleing will lower your MPG's so just keep an EYE on the MPG's and your good to go.

They will never say anything about idleing if you need to, they dont want you freezing to death or having a heat stroke.


Bunk heater in the winter, if no APU and bunk heater isnt working Idle, If below 30* Idle to keep engine warm and batteries charged

Heat you Idle if no APU, I use a 12v fan to try to reduce my idleing i dont like wasteing fuel regardless of the bonus.


Idleing laws????? SCREW THEM They are not the ones that will die in the truck YOU ARE. I have idled in 47 states, not one word from any cop. I have 2 cops 5 feet from my truck now and its idleing.....not a word, same thing in CA.

If they say anything, give them a little rant about heat stroke or freezing to death....





American Trucker

 

I meant in relation to me relocating over to that part of the country. Just wonder if there are any New York/New Jersey based guys here.

Watkins has a terminal in Vancouver, WA (Portland basically) which is obviously were I'd start out at. Would they hassle me at all for wanting to move to the east coast or is it no big deal?

 

they would love that, im not sure if they are still doing it but they WERE at one point offering to "help" current W/S drivers move to NC.....we REALLY need east coast drivers so that deffinatly would not be a problem




American Trucker

 

I'm continuing my WS research and would like to see if anyone can chime in with answers to a few questions:

1. I've seen a few post about a shortage of trucks, the recruiter did make a point to let me know I would be given an option to team up with someone, if I had to wait for a truck. Are they short on trucks, or is she just being overly honest?

2. I can't tell if WS ships everything or if they do a little of everything, but have a bread and butter freight they haul. Basically, aside from our ridiculous economy, does their freight get lighter and heavier with changing seasons?

3. Any fresh advice to a student, just about ready to jump in with WS on 8/22 orientation?

Thanks.

P.s. I feel everyone has the right to speak and be heard, but I'd really like to hear from those with first hand knowledge of this company, not a bunch of hearsay. TKS

 

Are you going to conover?

 

No, I'm in Southern California, she said I would go to Missoula.

 

Ah. I start conover on the 22nd. Just thought I'd ask.

 

That's cool, congrats..

Sandy (recruiter) has everything, she just needs my CDL (Test Wednesday) and school completion certificate (graduation next week).

Honestly, I need to talk to her Monday, as I'm not 100% sure I'm in, but then again, I may have missed something, she has sent me a lot of info and been in constant contact (very impressive compared to other recruiters). I've been beat up the past 3 weeks, I drive 6 hours round trip (sometimes more, traffic dictates) to school 5 days a weeks, 8 hour class each day and when I get home, I divide time with wife/kids and studying.

If I didn't fall in love with driving the trucks, I would have probably burned out and given up a couple of weeks ago. We were driving doubles around Anaheim, Ca last week, that was a blast....