I seek direction/Counsel **Thoughts or Advice??**

My training and experience before I joined civilian life after the Army was everything they had that had rubber wheels on it! When I got out I goofed off for a little while and then went and talked to my first employer. He asked me a few questions gave me the keys to a truck and told me if I didn't wreck the truck on my test drive I had the job! I drove where he told me to in that old International Cabover and got the job.
Now I'll admit that my Army days wasn't exactly like driving OTR or even like doing local work but I learned how to back a tractor and trailer up and other things but it was similar to when I became an Instructor for a driving school for a short time.
You were given the basics of what you need. I'd go with W/S for the job as they won't try to force that fleece on you. I drove for TA about 8 years ago and they were a PIT company back then and look at the threads on them now and it's NOT a lease but a bad rental Call OOIDA about their lease or any of them! I wouldn't send my worst enemy there for a job. Take your chances on the others in your list as they also have bad reviews. Wakins Sheppard is the best choice out of many of them out there.

You don't need to be trained by a trainee! I feel that a trainer needs to have a few years under his/her belt before they have enough "knowledge" to pass on! I've seen companies that the trainer had 6 months total driving time but their company thought that just having a CDL ment they were professionals! Not even close! But we turn our children loose on the streets with very little training. You already know the rules on driving from driving your car. You'd be surprised how many "newbe" drivers AND old timers FORGET that those rules for driving a car also apply to driving a car. Remember those and remember the new rules that go along with the first ones you learned and then apply them to how you handle your first truck.

I'm sure when you finish W/S's training period you'll have picked up enough knowledge to handle "being on your own" fairly well. I do not believe W/S will turn you lose before it's time! Just keep in mind "there is no such thing as a stupid question, just stupid answers!"

One area you MUST ask a lot of questions are with the pre trip! Understanding what everything on the truck does and how it operates is essential. Especially the braking system! Pay attention to how a properly adjusted brake looks, ask how they "automatically adjust" and ask them if you need to manually adjust them which I hope they tell you NOT TO TOUCH except for the old manually adjustable brakes.

When turned loose don't sweat it! Just do what you know is right and still don't be afraid to ask another driver a question. Now loading will take a few years to get down to an art! It can be confusing but there will be another driver next to you so ask or ask the loader how other drivers load. Now the most important thing after loading is to scale the load, get it legal and if you can't get it legal tell dispatch and go get it legal! You can't afford an over weight or bridge law ticket!

And go through the threads in The Truckers Report, Me and others have written some long and informative posts that rookies cab find helpful with a lot of information. Just click on their screen name and follow the clicks to see where they posted or just start with "Report a bad company" thread and work your way down!

Another thing is these mills have this idea you want to be bent with low pay being locked in a closet with another person you never met, have no idea on their personal hygene habits, their morals of bringing a lot lizzard into the truck for some horozinal exercise or other habits that can be on the not so fun side! Read the first post here. http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...-here/39618-werner-trainer-craps-himself.html

Good Luck
Rollover

 

I was fresh out of school and got behind the wheel of a truck. Handed me the keys and said go get this load. It was in the middle of a snow storm and I had to deadhead almost 100 miles in Maine. Talk about white knuckles!! I got there loaded Got stuck!! another driver told me how to get out it all worked well. First trip was to Texas. Heart was in my throat and I had a death grip on the wheel first two weeks. After that all was good. knock on wood no accidents or anything!! I listened to the old timers and all went good for me my first winter most of my loads where from Maine to Chicago/Wisconsin. All snow all winter was crazy but I did it. Some can do it some cant. I did it. think positive and you will to. listen to the old drivers and stay away from people who talk about running the grape vine Donner and cabbage they are new and think they are super truckers. Good luck no matter what your choice.

 

I am a product of the WS 10 day program. Let me tell you, in school, I learned how to get my CDL. In the 10 day program, I learned how to be a driver. They teach you everything you need to know to get out there on your own. As another poster said, only you know if you can do it or not. I was a paper pusher for 10 years working for a very large phone company whose initials are AT&T, and jumped into this with no experience, and I'm doing fine here. I get the miles I need and the company has a family type feel to it in my opinion. I think this is one of the best starter companies out there. Is it for everyone? No. Does it have it's bad points? Yes, as all companies do...It was the best fit for me and my family. Check out these threads for all the info you need on WS:
http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...s-the-inside-scoop/27211-watkins-shepard.html
That thread is almost 300 pages long, but if you are serious about researching companies, read it all.. Here's a couple others:
http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...kins-shepard-30-day-training-experienced.html
This thread was started by me, but it ended up being about the 10 day program, not the 30 day one.
http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/watkins-and-shepard/
This last one takes you to the WS DAC section. Some more useful info there, including a thread by CAGEtrucker detailing his 10 day experience.

I hope you find what you're looking for out there....

 

Hey MM, welcome to the forum!

It sounds to me like you may be a bit lacking in the self confidence department. Not putting you down, a LOT of folks have that problem, and in the long run, it is probably better than being over confident.

It doesn't matter what job you go to, whether it is flipping burgers, bagging groceries, sweeping the floor or whatever, there is always that "first day" that is nerve wracking. No, I'm not trying to compare those jobs to handling an 80,000 pound truck on mountain passes with ice and snow. Just pointing out that everybody is a bit nervous about a new job, whether they will admit it or not.

I can't tell you what to do here, but I can relate my story for you and then you can decide.

When I first got out of school and went to work, I made a one day trip with a "trainer." A stone cold alcoholic that had problems functioning. He "certified" me to go out on my own.

I struggled along for several years, learning the hard way. Then a situation occurred where I took a job team driving. It was a temporary job that only lasted a couple of months. But the first month, I was teamed with an experienced, although much younger than me, driver. I learned more in that one month than I had in YEARS by myself. He moved on to a permanent job, and they brought another driver on board who was a complete flipping idiot. Anyway, the job ended before he killed us both, so I guess it all worked out.

The point that I'm making here, is that you can really be helped by teaming with somebody, trainer or not. If they don't get you killed. . .

In looking back on it, I really wish I had gone with a driver mill company that had a decent trainer, right out of the chute. I think my years of trucking would have been a much better experience, had I learned early the things it took me several years to learn.

 

No way I would go out without a trainer the first time out. With Roehl, it was mandatory you ride and drive for a minimum of 8 weeks with a trainer and it works. Even though I rode with someone for that long it was still scary when I first went out alone. They are able to teach you stuff on the road that you just can't learn in the classroom. Even after I finished riding with the trainers, Roehl makes you take another driving test just to be sure. Made me feel better about going solo!

 

There are valid points on both sides of the trainer vs no trainer option.

Mostly IMO it comes down to being able to make an honest and realistic self-assessment regarding capabilities and abilities. Either way there's no glory or shame whatever option an individual chooses.

Again IMO, I would think that time on the road, with a trainer probably benefits most people.

.......... Jim