Running With Watkins & Shepard

Chralb,

You're doing great! Please keep posting with your experience at orientation. When you leave out with your first load it's as good a feeling as when you took your first drive in a car by yourself!

Most of the "trainers" with other trucking companies are a real pain in the.... I went with two "trainers" for a total of four weeks and couldn't stand it anymore. I then went with WS out of Conover and had a great six months with them. I had two different older trucks that ran great!

Enjoy North Carolina and keep up the good work!

 

No buddy...you didn't offend me. I guess folks don't realize that LOL = Laughing Out Loud?? So anytime you see me type that, it means I have a smile on my face and I'm just busting your chops a little....LOL

 

Thank you sir and tyou're gonna love it when you do. The folks here are simply GREAT and it's been fun and inviting thus far. It's a no BS course and as long as you pay attention and study at night, you'll be fine.

Naaaa...I feel GREAT!! I have a bit of study to do and I went out to dinner with Vernon tonight. MAN!!! Did I ever make a pig out of myself. Folks down here sure can COOK!! LOL I ate more food tonight than I've eating in a week. So I'm good till at least Friday now....

Thanks Cruiser.... ....and I can't wait for the day. That was a BIG part of my decision to go here. I like the feeling of being on my own and learning the way "I learn". I'm the type that does best when you "show me once, and let me go"...LOL

 

I just finished a LONG post and lost it due to the hotel connection cutting me off. Sorry folks but I have to study. I'll try to get DAY ONE up here later. DARN!!

 

I got the LOL thing, lol. I think I was just busting your chops. Actually, I wanted to use this smiley head.

I presume you got my pm?

 

God bless you as you embark upon the journey of a lifetime.

 

Just curious but what are you studying? and is there some sort of a test?



American Trucker

 

Hey Chris I hope day one well! When you get a chance catch us up!

 

OK folks, I'll have to make this quick as it's getting late here and it seems my laptop is having "issues" all of a sudden...

Day one was a lot of initial paper work. You know, sign this sign that. Mostly singing things that state we received various books and what not. They took all the forms of ID we had and made copies for their files.

The folks here are simply GREAT! very friendly and helpful and love to have a good time joking around. A very comfortable atmosphere for sure.

Matt (our classroom instructor has a great way of breaking things down in a nice, logical manner. We took a few pre tests to see where everyones knowlege wa at. One on the Fed regs, one on log books, one on air breaks.

These folks teach you how to shift the truck the right way. Unlike the school which was pretty much just get the truck moving so you can pass the road test...LOL

The "correct way" to shift so you can in any circumstances like up and down steep hills is all about throtal control. They are BIG on that here and we have to memorize the "Speed Matches" so that's what I've studying non stop. don't have time to put it all up but as and example....

10 MPH at 1050 is 5th Gear..
15 MPH at 1150 is 6th Gear..
20 MPH at 1500 is 6th Gear..

25 MPH at 1400 is 7th Gear...
30 Mph at 1300 is 8th Gear... ect...ect..

You HAVE to KNOW these. They will ask you out of the blue to call out a few and unless you've comitted them memory by the end of 10 days, you ain't getting in a truck!

Now the "throtle control" is nothing like what that rather expensive school showed me. BEFORE shifting you must look at the tack so you know where it is. They use a 400 RPM split (flat ground) to get to the next gear. So you "hold" the throtle at the speed your at, and then gently message it up or down (depending on up or down shifting) to get that 400 rpm difference and then get the next gear. Basically, your foot never leaves the pedal. In school...it did...LOL

We were in the classroom all day so didn't get a chance to try this yet but it sounds perfectly logical to my mind.

Now for mountain shifting things change a bit with that split.

Upshifting (uphill) is a 600 RPM
Upshifting (downhill) is 300.
Downshifting (downhill) is 600
Downshifting (Uphill) is 300

Again, makes perfect sense.

Well I gotta run...will update more later as I can. Having a GREAT time thus far!!

 

Chris, Thanks for the update. Been following your journey as well as ORG's. You guys will do well in the trucking industry. You have the right perspective and attitude. I believe you chose the right company to start your career with. I have been on here for a few months and these guys do a great job of answering your questions and I haven't seen any negative comments at all. Take care and keep the posts coming.