Another Watkins Shepard Thread

Thanks for the updates! Keep 'em coming..

 

H4L, I will be making my way up there for 30 day training starting on the 20th of October if everything goes well.
Sandy called me today and let me know I was approved.
Have to fax in my dot health papers in the morning.
I applied to one other company but when they started talking in circles I set my mind on W&S or I would just keep driving a forklift for Meridian.
Funny thing is at Meridian if you drive a 2000 or newer Volvo, Freightliner and some Peterbuilts the exterior of the cab was built in my plant.

We have a retired Kenworth on the grounds we use as a yard truck. Maybe Ill use it over the weekend to get some practice.
I should do fine backing as I grew up on a rather large Pennsylvania farm.

Are there any hazmat drivers there?

 

Thanks.

I live in North Carolina and they actually want me to run out of High Point, but I'm going to look into moving to Golden CO, after I get established with the company. Id like to move to flat beds after 6 months though.

Although after reading more about the company, I think I may be more interested in running the vans and doing the manual unloading.

Hows the weather there?
I'm from Upstate PA originally and I think they are simalier with Montana being a touch colder.

 

I remember the head instructor Dick from when I went to the WS school back in 2005. I'm not suprised to hear that he hasn't changed much. Truly the biggest ### I've ever met in the trucking world. Just remember, his job isn't to teach people how to drive a truck. His job is to stress you out and see if you can handle trucking without running into a ditch or losing your cool when somebody treats you like crap (a common occurence in the job). The thing to do is just let him yell and throw a fit and be assured that once you get through the program he's somebody else's problem. I do think that he is dangerous though, he will purposely knock the truck out of gear with his foot while driving down McDonald Pass (8% grade) to get a rise out of students. Still, WS was a good starting company for me and I hope it works out for you.

 

Wrong, Bucko. That's part of the curriculum. You must have taken it personally. What to do? 10-10-5, right? Kelby was the one that knocked the stick out of gear when I went down....

Dick is a good guy. I never had a bad day with him or a cross word. I hate that you had a personality conflict with him, but resorting to name calling or publicly accusing him of less than professional conduct leaves you looking like the biggest #$$ in trucking, your own self. He has a law enforcement background. That could explain your attitude toward him.....Regardless of what you tell anyone that may be headed his way in W/S school, he could care less. He just does his job.

Glad your career has gone forward.

 

Almost every 10 day guy said the same thing during the 30 days I was there.

 

when one goes to the 30 day program, what do they help u get besides a cdl ? for example double permit, hazmat.

I might go to the class that starts in Feb. 2009. I turn 21 in Feb. so I wanna really know whats the whole deal with the program.

 

Ya know I laugh when I see people worried about endorsements and cdl permits.

Its common sense. Hazmat is the only thing that really requires any studying and that because your dealing with volatile possibilities.

Read the book one time through, Make sure you know the exact answers to test questions and use a highlighter.
Your instructor will teach you whats needed in the real world.

I'm not interested in Watkins and Shepard because I will make tons of money.
I'm interested because I want a stable career with a company that respects its employees and include such employees in their companies future.
My grandfather had multiple million mile rings with just one company.
I want a company I can ride with for the long haul not just get an easy ticket to a cdl.
I chose Watkins and Shepard for all the good things I have heard and What their CEO does for the industry.
If I make 30,000 my first year that will be double what I made last year and my former job consumed my life just like I'm sure trucking will.

I went and got my permit before I even Applied. I will have all my endorsements except hazmat before I arrive and I'm financing my 4 weeks 100% on my own. How could I expect a company to find me reliable when at 28 years of age I cant contribute $4000 dollars towards making 40,000 plus?
No banks, No contract and more money per mile.
I don't consider it jumping through hoops for this company, I consider it reaching small goals on my way to a long term goal for myself.
I plan on wearing Kaki pants and collared shirts and looking and smelling professional for ALL my deliveries.

I'm going to take every load available to me, I'm going to cover my co drivers when needed and I'm going to properly clean my truck every 34 hour reset and wax my truck every 4th reset.

I'm going to set an example for other drivers who need that example.
I don't plan on driving a truck forever and when the time comes I want this company to thankfully move me into a stationary job.

I imagine one day I will be that instructor kicking the nervous students truck out of gear.