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

Oh and by the way we were doing sharp turns yesterday I'm pretty sure I was the only one who was going to fast I kept going into the turns in 6th instead of 5th I drove a totally different truck in school. I am having a hard time judging my slowing distance for a turn but my shifting is getting much better than it was.

 

Keep up the good work fatmacdad. I'm sure you will catch on to it and not have any problems. If you are passed and assigned your own truck then I'm sure they believe that you are ready and capable of being out on the road on your own. Keep pressing forward and keep us posted!

 

####! I drove right past the Missoula terminal today, i forgot you where there. I would have stoped to meet ya! I'll probably be back there sometime monday though, i'm only 2.5 hours north of ya sitting here doing a 34 waiting to deliver on monday.



American Trucker

 

Guys,

What've been your experiences as a Watkins and Sheppard driver, with how others have loaded your trailers; can anyone talk about had been frequently loaded in way's that's put you at excessive risk for potential damages to the frieght? Has a problem with loading caused delays for you leaving the docks anyplace?

Or are your trailers loaded generally well, by folks who know how to load. Are load locks that A/T has spoke of provided by W/S?

Am almost through reading Bumper to Bumper guide to Tractor Trailer Operations; Chapter 28 on loading and securing has made me want to bounce around here. Because the book stipulates that damages be the drivers responsibility; is it less of a problem than this book states, more of a load awareness thing? Since many loads I suppose, you don't witness being loaded.

Thanks guys!
Keep on truckin'

Mike

 

Freight damage is the companys problem not our, UNLESS it was caused by you doing something really stupid but even then i dont think the driver pays, but you could get fired i supose.

OUR people load our trailers fine, they may not load it in the right order for the stops or so that us normal size people can unload it but its fine. But they do sometime tare the furniture up while loading it and not say anything. But thats no big deal the customer takes there damaged stuff and files a claim with W/S and W/S will deal with it.

Load Locks you shouldnt need them 99% of the time, i only needed them because only some of our reefers have the E-Tracks for Straps and this one did not. W/S supplies Straps and I bought some of my own for extras.

Unless you drive like an idiot or the freight is VERY unstable you wont have a problem.

Example: I loaded at out Indy terminal and took it all the way to conover, nc. they had a chair balanceing on top at the back, that i couldnt move to get it down so it didnt fall. i get to conover open the doors to get my straps out...chair is still right there where it was.

Example2: at my last job we had some sheety drivers, constantly had their pallets tipping over so they had to restack them, they took corners way to fast slamed on the brakes, took of like they were drag racing or somthing. They tried to make the loaders load it "better" and strap the pallets....didnt work still happend. I loaded a full trailer load and told the Logistics manager to drive and have the driver watch him...they get to the first stop...all the pallets were still standing EVEN though I purposely loaded it with big unstable pallets next to little pallets yet magicly it didnt fall over because this guy drove PROPERLY.


so no you shouldnt have a problem most of the stuff i've pulled was loaded find and with straps on the back i've never had a problem.


Load locks are usless trailers flex ALLOT as so as they do they fall to the floor.....useless haha





American Trucker

 

6th isn't too high a gear to make a turn in...The gear I use depends on many factors such as the weight I'm carrying, sharpness of turn and other obstacles...

 

I was just taught the double down technique here in Conover. Goes along with what the guys are saying about using 6th. This is a beautiful thing. Hammering down the interstate, get off your exit, brake and double down to 8th, brake and double down to 6th, if the light turns green your good to go and you've only shifted twice! Gotta love that.