Help: I have an offer from Watkins Shepard

Question: I know W/S has gotten lots of good posts on here and in general people seem pretty pleased with their choice-that's not what I am asking. Per that earlier post of pay rates CPM-that seems a little low??? even for newbs????

 

Sounds ridiculously low... didn't read all the posts, but I suppose by "Orientation" some of these hands actually mean "Driver Training." Good lord, a 10-day "Orientation!!!" I don't wanna know that much about a company...

 

just going based on what my husband makes at different company (not gonna post either) and he started in Feb.

 

Hmm ok. Doesn't ws offer a school as well? I think they do, just wondering.

 

Yes they teach you how to shift while on hills, its actually very easy to do, infact I cant see doing it the way DMV wants after learning this. Its actually just common sense.

 

I started in March, they recently changed the pay scale however what your not seeing is now people are being paid during the 10 day @ 100 a day, before there was no pay for the 10 day, and you made .27c to start and after 90 days it goes up .01 and so forth.

 

Thanks deserted but what's the 10 day@ 100 day? Is the training pay? Like I said I am not out to bash W/S- I actually checked out their website when I saw so many positive posts.
My husband got less during training (164hrs) but CPM is way different. Is there any other pay? unload pay or ( I can't think of what the term is) when you sit too long pay?
Again thanks just looking for some info as seems like the bashing on W/S is far and few compared to like Swift or Werner.

 

The CPM is different than the orientation pay, think about it your not working durring orientation, your learning how we do things and you are being tested. I did not get that chance to get paid durring my orientation, so my pay is different than that.

 

I just competed the 10 day and you get $100 the 1st day $100 the 5th day and $200 the last day. They called it an orientation but it is a mini training. We spend about 2 hours on company the rest on training. We get layover pay for breakdowns or wrong dispatch into @ 50 bucks a day. You are paid and average of $5 when you bump a dock. There is a bunch of different little things you are paid for.

I hope this helps. I know this forum helped me make my finally decision to join Watkins and I am glad I did. Little slow start with truck repairs but things are good and I am very happy.

 

Thanks Cage and Deserted for the info!
Good luck to you both

btw Cage hubby has 07 Volvo 760 ( I want to say?)I see you got an 05. I think his has like 450k on it- he trained on Freighliner. The Volvo is much bigger inside but of course more truck to have to manuvere. Unfortunately some of his electric/outlets aree spotty. Nice truck though. Lots of storage.