Watkins Shepard is a joke

You could just do what I have, put him on your ignore list.

 

I've been with W/S as an O/O for 11yrs so hear me out.I have 830000 on my own trk and it's still like new.But i watch for any issues like a hawk.U say ur trk smelled like smoke.I guess alot of trks in the industry are like that.Just spend some downtime and work on it.I do know they will get u a new mattress to.Water leaking inside the trk may have never been brought to there attention before.The guy b4 u broke the seat and may have had a dont care attitude and has quit.But u say they put u a new seat in.And the shop put a new sending unit for the fuel gauge but it might have a broke wire or something now.But ur fuel card will always work and u can keep up with ur miles on each fillup so no excuse if U run out.And the headlights,just pullup close to a wall at night a do alittle adj,really not to hard.What trks they buy makes no difference to me.But 2 months ago they bought about 90 late model trls from The Furniture Group as they were going bellyup.I saw some of the FG trks parked here in MS.Real nice newer looking trks and trls,but they were out of business and W/S was still going.Not trying to be a cheerleader just stating a fact.Do I get an old trl sometimes that the tadems r a pain to slide and the doors dont want to shut,YES.But in 11 yrs my settlement has been short 1 time for 27 dollars and they offered a tchk for that.I just laughed and said no I can wait.If u stay long enough they will know ur voice on the phone and who u are not just a trk #.Everyone at WS has a bad day,or load or week,but thats trking not just WS.So instead of just bashing a company without a chance,give them a month and c if u and WS can workout ur trk issues which really seem minor to me.And all the drivers on the WS thread has issues just like me every week,but most are just to trivial to mention cause it sound like whining to the rest of us.And all this is just and opinion from one of the old guys at WS.

 

Screw all the baby stuff, let's talk about when and where you seen those +/- 90 trucks?! East or West? That way I'll know to bug Tim or Kelby......Haha

P.s. My windshield leaked every time it rained, drivers side, at the bottom. As the wiper came down, "SPLASH" right in my face! $0.50 rag temp fixed! I bought a tube of sealer, fixed the leak, and got reimbursed for the purchase the following week. Dam company sucks! I had to wait a whole week to get reimbursed for my purchase! They should have wired the money to my bank account, before I purchased the sealer! I'm quitting!

 

No trks fom TFG just trls.Sorry

 

Ok, trucks not so new, got that part, but, how's the miles and pay?

 

I read the whole thread...waiting to find out whose daddy could whip the other guys daddy!

Now I'm so disappointed....might as well go back to bed!

 

It's because all these buts know my daddy will hurt all of theirs automatically! Can't argue that!

 

I started at $0.25 per mile with no experience, just a CDL in my hand, entry level pay. 90 days you go up to $0.28, 6 months $0.29, 1 year $0.31 and 1 cent per year after that. Personally, I have not had an issue getting all the miles I wanted and they pay hub miles. You can use the truck to run errands (laundry, shopping, etc) on your off time (within reason) and I've never been questioned about the extra miles, put them on my trip envelope as out of route with an explanation of what I did and I've been paid for every mile the odometer turned.
I could be wrong, as this is the first place I've worked as a truck driver, so I can only go off what I've been told, but their pay is low for the industry, when it comes to experienced drivers, but I like the fact that in the short time I've been with this company, most people know me by name.
$50 layover pay, $50 breakdown pay, $5 per drop/hook or dock and depending if you're running furniture/carpet and were it originates, I'm currently getting $20 per stop. Just finished up a 22 stop load up the California coast, so I got an additional $50 bonus for running up to Norther California. 450 mile run with 22 stops paid over $600, it took me 2 1/2 days to complete, then I had a load waiting for me to return to Los Angeles on the 3rd day, so three day total was approximately $750. The guy's that have been doing these runs for awhile can have it done and heading back down south in 2 days, but I'm still trying to identify where the customers are and the best way in and out of the stops, comes with time on the job.
Like I said, being an entry level driver, I'm not complaining about the pay, I'm essentially a mailroom clerk trying to work my way of the ladder...
I know it's a bit long winded, but I hope that answers your question.

 

In the months I've been with Watkins I've been frustrated at dispatch and the shop, but it's nothing I'd lose sleep over. I've talked with other W/S drivers that make mountains out of mole hills, I guess it's just how you were raised, "what can I do for myself" or "what have they done for me lately", again its a character issue, not a W/S issue.
Fact: Two months on the job, this company made sure I was not only home for the birth of my 4th child, they didn't question the fact that I was absent from work for almost 20 days combined (pre and post birth), that goes a long way in my book....IMO

 

As for knocking AT on his rear, I'd watch yourself, he's a pretty big guy, when I met him he was lifting a trailer off his tractor with one hand, just using a little bar for leverage....