Watkins shepard

Hi Kane

I emailed Bonnie before I took off to the MDV and told her I would fax the Report today if her Boss found out it was Legal to do so but my contract with my credit agency I have says no.

Later today I was told by Bonnie after she talked to her Boss that my loan papers were sent off to the bank just like the rest of the troops earlier. She said Sorry for the mix up in their trying a new deal and didn't need my credit report.

Bonnie was my recruiter at first and then some place in the process it is turned over to the Closer/Processor Gwen. I don't think she is fully trained yet.

So maybe they are working out the wrinkles. I would think with them CO Signing the bank has nothing to loose so should OK about any student that has some credit.

I understand their W/S point if they have had to eat to many loans.
Maybe they should quit CO-Signing the loans.

Anyway I am in a much better position right now even if I get shot down. I have my Medical Cert and I have my CDL permit. Something I didn't have 3 months ago. Plus it got me to the Dr. so now on the right track to keep my body healthy.

I have my airplane ticket also and sent them copies. Not one comment about that either. I saved them almost 80.00 over the Grayhound ticket they were going to buy me 170.00 it said online. I paid 97.40 for my ticket.

Arkie

 

My flight lands at 11:40 AM on Sat Nov 24th

My old friend in Missoula is going to pick me up. Probably take me Honky Tonky that nite if I say yes. But I think I want to get settled in first.

Arkie

 

Just thinking about this and it is hard to say just how much W/S could loose.

You get the loan with them as C0 Maker. The bank gives them the money for your schooling. You either work 24 months for them and they pay back 100.00 a month to the bank plus you pay back 60.00 a momth to the bank.

If you quit driving or they fire you, you still have to pay it back. But if you default they have to make it good to the bank.

But they got the money in the first place. I know they ran the student thru school but I don't see how they loose too much, other than the pay for schooling you at their facilities with their equipment and their instructors. It is a Win Win for them when you drive for them 24 months, and a small loss if you don't.

But why alot of defaults? Sounds like alot of students making it to employees are not happy and are quitting before their 24 months are up.

Anyway I am ready to work for them 24 months or longer and I hope we have a Happy Relationship.

Arkie

 

Jeff (Raak) and I passed our CDL exams yesterday and we now have our licenses! We found out on Tuesday that we would be the first to test yesterday morning. I won't get in to the exact testing procedure here, so don't drill me on the details. Suffice to say, it is EXACTLY like the instructors will tell you it is and like you will practice it numerous time before hand.

Don't know what's happening for us yet today, the other students in the class are filtering down there today in stages to take their exams and there are a few more in class lessons to do. But the end is drawing near!

Jon

 

How much do you think they spend training? 3-5 instructors at any given time at, what, $750/week? Seems reasonable to me, but entirely a guess. So I would estimate they spend $12000-$13000 just in salary during the 30 day training period. In each class there may be from 4 to 12 students depending on the month recruiting had. Oh, and then there some 10 day students (students with CDL's already) that they have to spend 10 days with without any compensation. Anyway, that works out to an average of about $1600 per student just in salary (and that doesn't include the cost of those employee's benefits and such). Add to that the hundreds (if not more) of dollars in fuel and the two depreciating trucks we are using that could also be out making the company money (I only count two because their are some older trucks we've used as our third and fourth to fill in that otherwise wouldn't be moving at all). Add to that their expenses incurred keeping us housed (some in hotel rooms for 10 days to a month), giving us free use of vehicles (and their fuel) to get around in the off hours, and other incidentals. They spend a lot of money training new employees.

I think the loan comes pretty close to just paying them back for the cost of training and hiring you. If you default on it, they've paid to train you and you don't work for them anymore. Them paying a portion of the loan payments after you get hired is just an incentive for you to stay.

I think the reasons for this are numerous. Many people just decide that this isn't for them. Some come into this thinking that it will be like living out of an RV. That they can cruise around to any destination that they please, hang out for a few days if they want, and move on to the next place without a care in the world. Those that think that are in for a rude awakening. If that truck isn't moving with freight in the trailer, the company is losing money. It's that simple. Now you may have home time coming or something, and you can take that wherever you want, but that has to be planned well in advance. And you don't get to take whatever time you want, you take whatever you've accumulated or less.

Some think that things they find they don't like about trucking might only be true with this company and they want to try life with another company. To each his own.

Hell, if there weren't unhappy truck drivers there wouldn't be companies like W/S trying to hire people like you and me to come work for them.

Jon

 

I don't think they pay the same amount as the online tickets. I think they get the 14 day advance rate and a corporate discount. My ticket was about $60 cheaper than I could have bought if for online (from Detroit). Of course, my airline ticket would have been about $300-$400 dollars from there too, so the point was moot for me anyway.

Cheapest airline ticket I can find from Vegas is on Friday and its $123, plus tax. Did you get a Senior discount or something?

 

Senior Doscount
Ha Ha Ha

They didn't even ask my age. Just went online and searched for the best deal, 97.40 including tax from Vegas

Grayhound online was 170.00

Arkie

 

Well then I guess they and other companys should make for Happier Employees. The whole industry has too much turnover.

Good for us Newbies trying to get in though.

Arkie

 

Flight 2396 from Seattle? That's the one I'll be on.

United Airlines from Detroit to Chicago, then American Airlines to Seattle, then Alaska Airlines to Missoula.

Still a lot better then 46 hours with Greyhound/Trailways.