Coming to orientation Aug 13th...

Discussion in 'Watkins & Shepard' started by SpiritWolf, Jul 23, 2012.

  1. jontank

    jontank Light Load Member

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    Jan 13, 2014
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    on mine the sound works, but no sound on navigation. did you follow my instructions exactly? Mine plays the messages when i drive and occasional beeps, etc.
     
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  3. Shake77

    Shake77 Bobtail Member

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    Yes indeed! The taco truck in Modesto was sometimes my highlight while waiting for my truck to get serviced!
     
  4. XgivemelibertyX

    XgivemelibertyX Bobtail Member

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    Great post I have read through the first 17 pages! I just got my CDL last week and I start orientation in a couple weeks at W&S!!!
     
  5. jungledrums

    jungledrums Heavy Load Member

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    Cool... Good luck!
     
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  6. SpiritWolf

    SpiritWolf Light Load Member

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    Jul 10, 2012
    North Highlands CA
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    Congrats on your CDL! Come prepared to study your rear off, and find out how much CDL school flat left out.... Dont hesitate to ask questions of W/S drivers at orientation!!!! Most will be perfectly willing to talk your ear off (and sometimes answer your questions..lol)....
     
  7. SpiritWolf

    SpiritWolf Light Load Member

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    Yep followed exactly, and it turns off all of my sound.... ::shrugg:: I just chalk it up to a flawed system, that I will have to live with. As long as I am rolling and making a living, Im ok with it... Besides, I just read that one of my REAL issues, with the 34hr restart, is VERY likely to not be an issue for the next year. The 34hr limitations look like they are going to be revoked for a while. Saw that in the front page news article on this forum... :::HAPPY DANCE:::!!!!!!!
     
  8. XgivemelibertyX

    XgivemelibertyX Bobtail Member

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    Lol! Thanks and I am ready and willing to study and learn. I studied my rear off in CDL school and got a 100% on my pre trip. I still need a lot of practice on my backing and driving and so im hoping I don't get sent home because of that. We had two trucks in my class of 5 with two groups 1 group in each truck and we switched every day. one truck had a 53ft dry van and the other was a 40ft flatbed which is what we tested with. The 40 ft was a breeze to drive around town and around tight corners but the 53ft not so much. I ran over several curbs on tight corners. I don't know if this is true but I have read on other posts that they will send people home during orientation if you run over a curb. That worries me a lot because I am quitting my job to head over to Missoula and im strapped for cash for my bills next month. Do you think I should stick with WS or go with one of the bigger companies so I can spend some time on the road with a mentor?

    Again thank you so much for this thread it was very enjoyable to read!
     
  9. SpiritWolf

    SpiritWolf Light Load Member

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    No problem. When I started, there were others making running logs of happenings, and I wanted to keep the tradition alive, even if I am not all that great at keeping it current. lol.
    Im not the end all be all fount of info about orientation, since its been a while since I was there. Having said that, I believe you will have an option to run with a "mentor" for a period of time if you are not ready to run without one. As for practice, your going to have access to the training truck and trailer "after hours", and on the weekend. You CAN'T take it off property, but you will be able to run around the terminal practicing your skills.
    I was also told they would send someone home for hitting curbs, but...... I know 2 people in my class did just that, and didnt get kicked out. I dont think they would send you home for it, unless you can't stop doing it, or there are additional reasons as well.
    As for going to a different company to start.... I have heard tons of horror stories from other companies. The only bad things I heard about starting at W/S was how they threw ya off into the deep end, and that is no longer the case since we now have a mentor program. They DO demand a person to be dedicated to learning this job, but they are not unreasonable, and they give you all the tools to complete your education.
    Is W/S perfect? nope... no company is. But this one does their absolute BEST to give a drivers everything that you NEED....and they make a Really good try at giving you everything you WANT.

    Side notes. I learned by pulling empty 20ft and the occasional empty 40ft trailer. its stupid.... A 53 is MUCH easier to back up then the shorter ones, and a loaded trailer acts significantly different than an unloaded one.
    The 2 MOST important things to remember......
    #1. Your NOT driving a "truck".....your driving a TRAILER....... Mirrors are your friends.... ALWAYS know EXACTLY where the corners of your trailer are in relation to things you do not wish to have it touch.
    And if you Dont know.....then G.O.A.L..... (Get Out And Look)
    #2. Time management.... You can NOT get back the time you waste.....that could be the extra 5 seconds needed to stop when the person in front of you hits the brakes, because you wasted those seconds by following to close.... Or the 15 minutes late you arrive at a shipper/receiver because you wasted time lollygagging that morning.. having said that...it is better to be late than dead or cause an accident...
     
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  10. XgivemelibertyX

    XgivemelibertyX Bobtail Member

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    Jun 8, 2013
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    Thank you for the info and advice it's much appreciated!
     
  11. Shiftin

    Shiftin Light Load Member

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    If your time at orientation has you pass by Vern Butler ask him about the turtle and the hare. One thing to remember is the the space between the the trailer tandem tires is your pivot point.
     
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