Watkins & Shepard Trucking, Inc. - Missoula, Mt.?

i don't think so..........

 

well they are definitly not the same, and I have to say, the company is pretty good, that being said, I figured out tonight I'm not cut out for the job. The good is trhey pay hub miles and that has been my experience with them. Can not complain about getting home for WE if you are OK with 34 hours as a weekend. But feel as though they are "just another company using drivers"
not really sure why I got into it and after talking with drivers at the "docks" not really sure why they stay with it ( I think getting talked into O/O has something to do with it). You have to want to OTR more than fpr the moaney cause it is not there. Goodn thing is I don't owe money on my training, I really think that is what keeps a loot of people staying on.

My deal breaking point was 4 weeks in NJ and to toop it off Deroit / bad area. Then screw around with next load and put me in rush hour twice.
The shippers don't care and neither the carrier on this. As far as I'm concerned unless they pay by the hour the hell with them. I think by the mile is unsafe. And I say this from the perspective of a company that wants you to play by the rules. Anything on the east coast is not worth the trouble by the mile. i made good money and they paid hub miles but the 2 week notice is in tomorrow. I would rather make 1/2 the money and spend 1/'2 the time at docks. As I see it the business model has serious problems.

 

Happy Birthday To Youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!

 

Well here is the update to this company.

I at the time I provided my notice that I was offered a local job, I was pulling a A-Train flatbed. Running the Northwest. I was offered every weekend home, and a couple pennies more a mile.. Was earning a base of 34 cents a mile. When I turned in my notice the first weekend dispatch, whom promissed to get me home to clean out the truck, wanted me to deadhead from Helena to Missoula and that is as close as the could get me. When I said "ummmm, I gave my two week notice less then a week ago" Oh, well then here is a load that will get you through the house, and off to the coast. My last day was to be the tuesday after next. So holding to my word, I still drove. So on thursday late afternoon they send me to SLC, UT to drop off a load and they will find a load when I get there. Also I was in a custody battle for my son, and had visits with my son every weekend and I could not miss.. So you do the math. SLC to Bonners Ferry, ID. can you legal it in a day....

So I went old school, I did things which I hadn't done for years, I made it home. Tired and beat. The next morning I picked up my son and the family help me clear out my truck. Being that they KNEW I had to be home, and I was quiting, they, in my eye, decided so what if we don't get him home, he is already quiting. I sent several q-comms to dispatch that I was quiting sooner, and I would finish my load to Spokane, and would reload for a trip to Missoula to turn in my truck and trailers. I recieved some real flame q-comms from both dispatch and the head of the flatbed div. Saying I should keep my word. The next message was to diliver my load in spokane and turn my truck into the terminal in Spokane. Great.

Truck turned in with problems.. being a Newer Volvo, spec'ed for heavy haul, it had a tranny problem where the overdrive spliter would jump out of gear, the headlights would not shut off, used oil like it was going out of style, etc. but could not get it fixed due to the truck not being parked in thier yard. My trailers had ABS problems which were never fixed, Pup trailer did not have working ABS while the rest of the rig did. My pup more then once, empty, tried to pass the rig. I was told by the head of the shop that it was just dirt in the sensors for the ABS and not to worry about it.


I used to steer people to them even when I was not working for them, as I had been hired by a local company, and when I came back, they welcomed me with open arms, for that I am thankful. But due to the last dealings I had with them, I will no longer. This was in june of 06. I had time to cool off. I wanted to report it as I see them and not with a bunch od emotional B.S. involved.

Last I heard, as of a few weeks ago, they did some dirty pool to the flatbed maxi drivers, and made sure they had all the loads in Missoula for the weekend and sold the trailers. This is rumor, so I can not say yes it happened. But it would not surprise me if they did.. This company is taking a turn for the worse.

Do your research, and on a personal note, beware of a dispatcher who was a driver, whom you thought you knew when you drove with them. They can hurt you.

 

Just wondering if they did remove the Maxi-Flatbed or not. I used to see them running through here alot, but haven't seen any for several months.

As for your statements of being a driver.. I can't agree with you more, be it local, or regional, etc. You have to do it. I get paid by the hour, but I still have the pay per mile mentality. I most likely wont lose that.

Anyhow, Like my prior post, I would look at them with suspiction.

Have a great night.

 

Can anyone give me any info on the Missoula Montana area trucking companies like Watkins Shepard, davis transport, or Jones brothers???

 

From what I understand, you are trained for 10 days. (unpaid) after the 10 days, they hand you a set of keys to a truck.
They do alot of multi stop furniture loads. Driver does the unloading. If you pull doubles, they make pretty good bank. You have to do van, before you can move to flatbed if that's your cup of tea.