Looking for Paid CDL for western US ie... FFE Transportation for CDL

You hit the nail on the head Tip!

You must have your LP before you go to the school. They pay for your physical, drug test then you take the test for your LP then head off to school. They say you are in the truck by the second day of school. You will run unloaded and actual loads while in the school with a trainer. So there really is time with a trainer just no slave labor for 9 weeks after schooling. They also have trucks available for you to practice with after hours and on weekends, and encourage you to practices. (I am not sure how this actually works with the practice ie... if they have someone to drive with you or it is just in the lot or what.)

 

Ef, Watkins' way sounds like a good way to train a driver. I've wondered before why companies don't do this. It may be more economical for them to train you on an actual truck that's making deliveries. You get to drive at least a little, maybe a lot, so you learn how to drive in real conditions. From Watkins' standpoint, your labor is free or nearly so.

I'd gladly do this instead of paying through the nose for training or signing a indentured-servitude contract with a company for "free" training. It sounds like a "win-win" situation. I guess if their insurance company has no problem with it, Watkins can do this. They may also be like Crete and be self-insured. Either way, this is a far better option for newbies who need training. But it bypasses the training "machine" that has sprung up in trucking since Clinton's "welfare to work" moves back in the mid-90s, so it is probably supressed. When fat-cats start missing out, they soon put up barriers to make sure they once again get a cut. You know how it is.

Schools will spend two weeks in classrooms covering material that is on the LP test. I even say that this will probably be "required". But for my own situation, and for guys like me, I know an LP can be had in a week or even less. I could get it after one day's study, I'm sure. I'd just need the CDL manual from the DMV. I remember my old training school had my class sitting in a classroom for two weeks studying that thing. What a waste of time. I could have been making money during at least one of those weeks instead of being bored to tears.

 

Well I have been in the W/S training for 2 weeks now and it has been great! They bussed me to Missoula and I stay in a room at the terminal right down the hall from the truckers lounge. They have a kitchen for us to use as well as 2 cars we can use when not in class. School runs form 8 to 5 M-F. We have 10 students to 3 instructors.

We were in the truck bobtailing on the first day of class around the yard. We were on I-90 and frontage roads on the second day and by the end of the week we where hooking to empty trailers running I-90 between Missoula and Superior, MT. We go up and down every on and off ramp along this stretch of 70 miles or so. 3 students and on instructor in every truck. We swap out at various exits along the way. We did this run twice a day there and back before lunch and there and back after lunch.

In the second week we have been driving in the morning and in class after lunch. We have done backing (45, 90, glides, docks and DMV backs), city driving and mountain passes. On the passes we ran a 6% downgrade up and down all day and then the next day we did McDonald Pass between Helena and Missoula a 8% grade, up and down at least once for each student with fully loaded trailers.

So far it has been great training. I had never been in a truck before this training and am already feeling comfortable behind the wheel. ( I know I still have lots to learn) I am not perfect by any means but feel I have been taught well enough to deal with handle most situations with out panicking. Next week we will be taking live loads from Missoula to LA.

I feel very good about the choice I made to go with Watkins and Sheppard and would highly recommend it to others.

Efergstar

 

Hey efergstar

I'm planning on starting at Watkins Shepard in Sept. and it sounds like you are very satisfied with them.

Let us know how you like it there from time to time, there is almost nothing about Watkins in this forum.

A few questions for you, do you have a room to yourself or do you have a roommate.

Also, is there classes on the weekends or is it M-F.

How are your other schoolmates?

Do you like training with them and are the teachers cool?

They said they require trainees to purchase tools, what tools are they referring too?

Hope all is well.

 

Most students have roommates, I do not. I was last one in so all other rooms were full. They do put some 3 or 10 day students up in a hotel but they share rooms as well.

The classes run M-F but the trucks are available for in yard driving 24 hrs a day and you are pretty much expected to practice on them as much as possible.

My schoolmates are great. I think W/S is a little more picky about who they hire so the classmates are all pretty good. There are 10 students in my class to 3 instructors.

The instructors are cool and range from l 4 to 9 years of experience at W/S. Some have more experience with other companies.

They tools you need are just the basics and I actually had most of mine around the house already, here is the list they sent me:

Small assortment of tools:
9/16” wrench
Flat screwdriver
Phillips screwdriver
Vice grips
Heavy hammer
Crowbar or Prybar - 30”
Pliers
Knife
Duct tape
Tape measure – 25’
Hope this helps.

 

I apppreciate the info. I was going to go w/ Schneider until I saw an ad for W & S. And nobody can say a bad thing about them anywhere.

Good luck and I hope everything goes well for ya. And I'm sure I'll meet you in the coming few months.

 

One thing about FFE - they don't have terminals in the Pacific Northwest, but they run a LOT of LTL up to SeaTac. And I do mean a lot. Three or four FFE trucks running LTL bumping the docks at cold storage facilities in Tacoma at the same time. I suspect its similar in Portland. Second thing: FFE is part of a group of companies, including Lisa and American Eagle, both dry van. You may be able to go with one of them instead.

Now, there are quite a few other companies that hire out of the NW, even if their school isn't up there. Search around and you can find them.

 

Hey efergstar:

I was just wondering how you like the training so far. Are you still happy with the company training?

Johnny

 

The training has been great! I got my CDL on my first try yesterday! The program is awesome and I would highly recommend it to anyone. A couple more days of classes and then I get my own truck! The company has been straight forward and has done a great job. Most the drivers I have met in the lounge (and I have met a lot of then), for the most part are clean and happy. There is the usual venting about a load or dispatch here and there but even those end up saying the company always keeps then going! They all also say the Prepass(for the weigh stations) and company safety rating is worth it's weight in gold! I have been very satisfied! Look forward to seeing you around!