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

Thanks for all the info, I just got word today that I need to be in Missoula on the 16th of July for my 10 day orientation. I'm looking forward to heading up there and getting going.

 

Hey W/S Drivers,

Just doing research. Darlene told me I'll be eligible for orientation if I get my CDL A.
I start school tomorrow, but am not sure when I'll be tested, so I don't have an
orientation date yet. My school is a four 1/2 week school, so I am hoping I can make
an August orientation in Conover. I am in Georgia right now, but I want to move to
Washington, and W/S is really the only reasonable choice for doing that. My back
up choices are scary , and scarier . However, my heart's in BC, and I
need to get closer to her.

I am an individualist type so the orientation process sounds challenging, but also
appealing. It's definitely way more appealing to me to go through a 10 day orientation,
and then go solo then to be in a lotto for a trainer who may have less than a years
experience, or be totally unsocialized . W/S orientation sounds like they teach
you how to drive like a professional, and then it's just developing the skills from
experience. That sounds great to me, .

I do have some concerns though, and am going to risk some vulnerability to share them.

First I haven't done more than change oil, plugs, and put air in tires, since my auto shop
class in high school . Is learning to pre trip well, really going to be enough to help me, help
W/S get a truck safe and efficient to really run? I am happy to independently add to my
driving training education if anyone has good suggestions on learning about trucks?

Second, I grew up in coastal Golden Playland, (ASL for California, .) I know a lot of you
don't like driving through it, but it has its upside, too, especially if you love beaches and the
ocean . The real point though is I have no experience driving snow. Is dealing with that
as simple as just learning the right way to deal with it, and doing so? 80,000# down hill
in a white out sounds he!!'a scary, just sayin.


Finally, I am probably one of the 5% of people in the US who tries to hydrate optimally. At
205# that's over 3 quarts a day. It's really good for me, and I can so tell the difference
when I get dehydrated even to what most people think of as normal. However, it does
make you want to pee a lot. I am not afraid to go in a container in the cab , but
doing that when driving solo seems like a bit more of a trick, . Is there a well known
solution for this, or do people just have to stop.

Thanks In Advance,

IAMRollin(soon!)

 

I was just like you in terms of mechanical knowledge. as long as you are a quick learner and have a mechanical understanding i dont see why there should be a problem, the pretrip is drilled into you so much at school its crazy, but I will say this, when in your truck i suggest you conduct good pretrip inspections, not only does this give you more knowledge of the truck, it more importantly gives you the chance to spot changes from day to day, ie an oil drip that wasnt there before or an airline than looks more worn than it was a few days ago. and finally the pretrip inspection may be the thing that stops you from being stuck at the side of the road.

in regards to "dealing" with snow id say the first thing to do is try to stay out its way, that is if you really dont want to deal with it, i however tend to throw myself in the deep end, so i chained up quite a few times this last winter(my first year driving) lol, but that being said there are lots of winter driving tips to find on here, and if you work for us dont be afriad to ask other drivers..

now with the hydration issue i say each to their own, personally i use a jug when times are bad, otherwise ill stop at a rest area, other people deal with the issue in other ways, you will figure out what you prefer...

finally dont worry , just learn everything you can, make informed choices and carry them out with confidence, because if i can come from overseas, jump into a truck with a steering wheel on the wrong side and drive on the wrong side of the road, you will be fine!!

good luck!

 

Thank you Flying Scotsman!

It seems like, as many of you drivers
have stated, that's it's just about
having the confidence to know you
can do it, or learn quickly from your
mistakes.

I appreciate that. I am excited about
the whole learning adventure, and looking
forward to and expecting to working as
a teammate of all the W/S users here.

I have a tentative date of 08/06/12 for
orientation in Conovers. It's just making
sure I have my permanent license in time
to get there for that Monday.

Thanks again, and God Bless!

 

Guys,

Not posted for some time but would like a few terms defined please

Re-power

10 hr. break

34 reset

70 hrs. of service

I think I've got the numbers right and one could be pretty obvious, but you guys prolly use these references pretty loose; I'd like to get them in simple 4- wheeler terms from you'all.

Thanks alot

 

Taking over someone else's load, for example, if they breakdown...

A break that lasts 10hrs..LOL Actually it's the minimum you must spend in the sleeper before driving...
34 reset

You can total 70hrs of driving(11hrs max a day) and on duty time(combined with driving time not to exceed 14hrs) in 7 days...

4 wheeler terms? LOL

 

Just go into it knowing you don't know everything...That will make you more cautious and inquisitive which is why I think WS doesn't have a disproportionate accident rate not using trainers...It says a lot that we are on par with those companies that use trainers for weeks on end...

Collect names and numbers from folks here that you can call when you have a question, at the time you need the answer, so you don't have to wait until you're done for day when it may be too late...That alone helped me immensely...

Good luck!!!!!

 

OK, Big thank you. I've been on the FMCSA site to learn more on HOS. As far as the term "re-powering", I had a thought that it referred to somehow taking on another load, in some way; would I mistaken?

Thanks

 

What do you, or can you do after your 70 hrs., and while on this 34 hrs. time if it lands you in BFE or totally w/nothing to do? I take it that this is off duty time!

 

Hope BFE has a Casino!

Actually, you can do laundry, read a book, shop, watch your TV or movies if you have them, paperwork or just rest...It's also a good time to get maintenance done like an oil change/lube...This is where managing your time/logs, which takes some time to get down, comes in handy...You'll figure it out, it's not rocket science...