Watkins & Shepard - Yesterday and Today

Any newbs reading this please and I mean please, removed insult believe u own a company your life cause they gave u an job.
It's called an career not an sororiety, you write your own ticket literally in this business. It is all about u and your family. If u do not want to be over the road after a year and a half switch companies, it's like the jeffersons u move up.
Thats why they have regional and ltl after otr.
If u like smelling urine soaked cement, god awful truck stop food to each it's own.

 

Now I finally understand the icon you have Nawlins...your someone with the brain power of a toy tyco R/C car...yea...that's what it is...now first of all...I ain't a clown...and neither is S2B...now you said i'm living at home with my mom?...lol...son...please...let me throw someone common sense at you...first of all...I don't live at home with my mom...if I had to say...I would say that I basicly live in my truck...now before you giggle and break your hands trying to reply laughing...let me tell you why...just ask yaself this question...why spend around $800 a month for a house/apartment when i'm gone be on the road for months at a time?...no place in the world is worth around $800 a month for me to only be there a week and a half every 2 to 3 months...I rather use common sense and save that money...so with that said...you go live at home basicly crying about pay because maybe you can't maintain your lifestyle that you had when you was getting paid more...while every check I get is saved after I pay my cell phone...internet card and sirius radio...so even if I make $500 a month...I still was able to save money...so basicly...i'ma whisper this so nobody else hears...."I tend to think I have more money in the bank then you..."...It kinda feels good to just take a day off...go blow some money...buy tons of DVD's that this very very very bad company never lets me get the time to watch because they keep me so busy being forced to make money...but hey...that's life isn't it?...and to me it sounds like you wanna just do whatever you wanna do while you work for someone else...well let me give you a little tip...until the side of ya truck says "Naw'lins Born"...wit a little robot tank or whatever as ya logo...you won't be able to do what you want...and there will always be someone that tells you what to do...even owner ops have appointments i'm pretty sure...so you just stay mad...ima relax in my truck and play madden 2010 on my playstation 3 with my 22 inch tv because i'm such a poor company driver...I should sell my surround sound too because times is hard around here at Watkins and Shepard...yea...lol...oh and on ya little..."It's like the Jeffersons...you move up" comment...well incase you didn't know...the Jeffersons lived in the projects...so what is there to move up too if i'm already doing good?...yea...exactly...ohhhh...I know what you mean...you mean instead of buying a $11,000 motorcycle for my birthday I should buy a $15,000 ducati?...ok...i'll think about it to make you happy...just don't park ya car to close next to it when your coming back to re-apply here when you realize your Watkins tattoos won't be coming off with water...because i'm sure you loved this company...just a mad driver like normally anybody else who quits is...oh and smelled soaded cement with piss on it is kinda bad...really nasty drivers out there...so tell all the other old LAZY drivers that need a log book reset just to climb out of there truck...to make it to the bathroom...or just dont be ignorant...I keep empty bottles in a bag in my truck incase I need to use the bathroom in the middle of the night...because I try to be respectful to everybody else...nobody wants to do a load check in piss...plus people have kids walking around...that's just rude...so yea I agree with you on the pissing comment...and of course...if someone doesn't like OTR then change...that's is exactly what regional and LTL is...your correct...but in your case...making great money being at home...getting to do whatever...go to sleep with something by ya side......is very good...so when all that stops...to go OTR...of course your going to be mad...that's like feeding kids candy for months...then try to change they diet up to veggies...it just doesn't work...

So...to sum everything up...to anyone that is a Watkins hater...I suggest driving a hazmat tanker down hill with no brakes...that a be a wonderful "Hey Folks" message moment...

To all newbs...or people instrested in any company...no matter what company or whatever job...it's always someone that loves it...and in Naw'lins case...someone that hates it...when your mad...your mad and tend to hate...how many people really leave jail sayin how fun it was?...

Oh I forgot...i'm not a number...and I don't feel like a number...I call in to Watkins...singing...playing around...just talking to not be bored...I don't feel like a number...but I kinda been here since January too...so things take time to build a relationship and to get a understanding for someones personality...but let me ask you this Naw'lins...this should make you feel kinda stupid...Watkins has over 600 drivers i'm sure...more i'm sure...but ima just say 600...now...if your dispatch...which is like 7 people total counting flatbed dispatch...you expect everyone of them to know who all 600 people look like...what all 600 names is???...don't think Cleo the psychic can do that...plus not to mention that we have new students coming all the time..I bet you couldn't even name all the people in any of ya highschool classes...so you expect them too?...sorry buy Watkins hires humans for us to deal with...not Ipods with memory sticks...

Oh and anothing thing...lol...sorry this is so long...but I keep remembering stuff as I go on...you said were under paid tourist or something?...lol...that was kinda funny til you actually think about it...tourist go places on there own...it's my job to go to these places...meaing...tourist "pays"...for fuel...hotel...everything they need...I pay for nothin and seen everything that's on anybodys camera...

But that's the end of my story...i'm dockin the red volvo til I choose to go local or regional...or if I choose to stay OTR for a few years...i'll be a owner OP...so I don't gotta worry about the big bad dispatchers that will huff...and puff...and blow my house down...lol...

Ohhhhhh...I promise this is my last comment...I hate when the company drivers here sit in the terminals cryin about how the shop didn't fix that...didn't do this...didn't wash they truck...whatever...incase yall didn't know..."ITS THEY TRUCK!"...long as it runs...that's it's job...to run and make you some money and the company...it's not about having the best paint job or APU's on every truck or the best tire brand...so if they don't wanna fix things...then they don't have too...everybody has the option to be a owner OP...so you can only cry so much...I love seeing my truck hood filled with bugs...it's letting me know i'm getting miles...I'll take a big check and a dirty truck over a clean truck and a small check any day...and if you don't wanna get that biggggggg pete or western star wit the big glass window on the side..."Which I love...just hate the western fronts"...then get yaself a F-350 and pull cars like the rest of the clowns that think there pros cause they back park a F-350 wit 4 cars on top wit no pull ups...wow...your cool...

 

Maturity is an virtue my friend.
Now lets see the jeffersons or Jj Evans lived in the projects, now everyone will see how full of stink your post is. Lets be honest here paid to see what people see on their cameras, son how many times u want to see it. Hell I figure after the second time the scenery aint gonna change. material posses aint what I'm after the pursuit of happiness is what I'm after, you may be right about me coming back to watkins yet it still will be on my terms and I will be welcomed. With that I can assure u it won't be with a sleep in the back I burned no bridges son.
Ask s2b how much pull I have at ur home terminal . surround sound and madden in a truck I have that in my house meet u on line 9thward504 is the tag. My bad u have to wait to get back to moms house to go online.
Within the last year I honestly talked to dispatch twice and both times it was down to goergia and back so I could care less about relationships. Don't kiss butt yet remember you got this here conversation rules the nation.
paying rent while ur home 1 week out of the month is definitely not worth it working for watkins they don't pay enough, but other companies have drivers do it all the time your excuse is awful -man up you could of jioned the service for that atleast you would of had better benefits speaking of how is the benefits, 401k. yet yall always compare watkins to swift and such.
Honestly swift has dedicated accounts, local work, Intermodal accounts, and more big business, so over the long run they really have more to offer than Watkins. True story I was in denver last year and 2 swift drivers asked me whats watkins pay scale and they actually said same thing and left now looking back I know what they mean.
anyone coming back to watkins is it because the former company closed, got brought out, or they were fired thats what I want know cause you don't go back to watkins for the pay seriously. unless your like me and come back as an hourly driver.
I know u think w/s is big business but my friend they are not.

 

Aight...sorry I had my shows mixed up...yea..the Evans lived in the projects...the Jeffersons was a church family prayin to God to "move on up...to the easttttttt side"...but from reading you post...you said that it's a chance you'll come back long as things fit your terms...but then you bash them right afterwards...I would suggest runnin for Swift...you seem to like them so much...drive the truck wit the big S on the side...run around seeing tons of drivers you never seen before or will see again...if that's what you wanna do...then do it...I could honestly care if you work for W/S or not...doesn't effect me...I just don't like the fact you talk trash about the company...but might come back...and yea your right...I see alot of the same areas...but at the same time...i'm being paid to work the same areas...any honestly by me seeing the same places...makes it actually more easy for me...i'm not driving 3 mph looking for a building I never been too...you know if you do local at any company...your going to have old trucks wit no A/C...dirty paint jobs...and to make things worst...you gone have the local trucks that drive that white rims...lol...that's the worst...to have a truck wit white rims...lol...now your saying how much Watkins and everything pays...now just because another company may pay more...doesn't always mean i'll get more miles...and Im sure some drivers do go out and get apartments while they live OTR...but most of the times it's the drivers that have kids or a girlfriend that doesn't wanna work and they basicly HAVE too...now why come back to Watkins as a hourly driver...i'm sure someone else pays more...but the internet joke was cute...I actually have a internet card...so I do have online access...but you havin madden isn't the point...the point is I have the #### in my truck...I even got a recording studio in my truck...I can upload a video if I need too...but once again...all i'm saying is...I basicly have everything I need with me...so I ain't missin nothin...but i'm happy...and me talking about old lazy drivers...I just call it how I see it...I don't see how some of these guys pass to get medical cards...and i'm pretty sure most of these old guys don't get the 10-15 furniture runs like I get...they get the "no touch"..."we a bring ya paper work to ya truck for you"...type of runs...they the ones they get...and it ain't even just lazy drivers...it's girls that can't lift stuff too...I get sick of seeing females getting paid the same amount as me...but i'm pretty sure would die if they got the furniture runs I got...so as a company that hauls alot of furniture...I think you should be able to show and prove that you can work in a trailer lifting and moving heavy boxes...but that's alot of lazy drivers...because some of the women I see don't even try...of they do that "Fake" try..where they grab something and act like they gone fall when they see a guy looking at them...so the guy helps out...makes the company look bad in my opinion if i'm buying something and I need to go and get dirty because the driver they sent can't do it when they are being paid for it...but alot of these drivers are lazy...dirty...they hang out terminals all day...neverrrrr shower...all they do is complain...here I am...young gun ready to work...ready to make this money...and I got a future ahead of me...no kids...no wife feeding off my checks...I'm making money for me...and me only...and like I said...if I plan on being OTR for a few years...i'll be a owner op for Watkins...so you do what you gotta do to get ya money..and ima do mine...

 

minus stop working up an migrane on the behalf of another driver wishes.
Thats my piont all work and no play; live a little and u will see that type of stuff is irrelevant.

Question, do all w/s otr drivers turn out like this?
u and this other guy say the same thing.

 

heres the truth about watkins shepard.
1. if u say NO to disp, they hate you <~~ industry fact!
2. Be lazy, dispacth hates you,
3. you should always offer to help in each zone, <~~ disp will love you
4. dont turn any load down, then cry about sitting.
5. take the short runs, they add up, quick.
6. levi sucks.. w.s fact!!
7. trainers will not make u downshift a xx% grade in a 55mph zone, at 65mph
8. do them the favors, they'll do u favors.
9. prepare to see the west coast, ull get stuck there, till you ask to go elswhere in the country. they are usually pretty good at that, but freight may not be going there, and they cant always fallow through.
10. dont quit, then post on here cause u thought u were going to make a lot of money, you knew the pay scale before u even started.
11. the ladies in reqruiting told u the truth before u started.
12. be prepared to get diry, we touch freight, more on the east coast then the west coast. but we touch it, mosty furniture
13. also prepare to go into the nort east, its not as bad as people make it sound, its where i learned to drive, accident free. never forget about low bridges, lots and lots of em, everywhere, no matter what people say about the bridges in NY, if its less then 13'6 steer clear of it. and stay off ALL Parkways on the east coast, all parkways are NON TRUCKS rts.
14. saftey is key to watkins. 600+ trucks, the avrg is 4-9 mishaps a week... they want better then that.
15. expect to stay out for 3-6 weeks minimum.
16. w.s cleary does not work on a seniority level.
17. dont expect to come here and make mega bucks.
18. you can expect to sit for a few hours while waiting on your next load.
19. you can ALWAYS get a hold of someone at anytime of the day and night. no matter the time.
20. dont expect new equipment anytime soon, 04 is the oldst truck we have.
21. no matter what term u work at, or how long u been here, u dont have any " pull "
22. youll never have an issue with payroll.
23. youll have to pull teeth to get breakdown/layover pay.
24. youll drive some steep hills.
25. we have chains, you dont HAVE to use them.
26. not every truck has an APU
27. you need to be 85% qualcomm compliant, 85% fuel compliant to get ur saftey/fuel bonus.
29. if u get fired you prob desearve to be.
30. you can take home time/vacation time anywhere as long as the truck is parked on watkin shepard property.
31. no rude people work in any office.
32. w.s home base is a dump. but its a biz, not a showing for home magazine.
33. o/o's get first pick of loads, then teams, then solo's.
34. if ur truck needs to go in the shop, they'll get u to one.
35. open door policy through out the company.
36. youll see the same places a lot, its called being a truck driver
37. if u quit, be a man/women and quit, and post here why or how come and leave it at that, you dont work here anymore.
38_________________________

 

Whats up S2B,How you been lately? I just finished reading this thread....lol All I can say is.....Nawlins,WTF????

 

39. U will never be promoted otr is all they have.
40. U can make money just not with watkins.
41. running east coast doing ltl do it before winter, after that u will be bankedrupt running cpm. You get stuck in snow alot at these drops it looks shoveled but packed deep.
42. you live on the east coast u aint seeing nowhere near I-85 till next month.
43. first one in first out is hog wash team and o/o roll up behind u grab a snicker.
44. recruiting won't tell you all you do is west coast regional.
45. stay out of touch of any terminal for a week and your check will be delayed for a week or u can pay for shipping your pay. At .29 cpm as a newb I suggest just hold it.
46. I made money with watkins as shortline driver salary actually I could afford to get stuck in snow can u.
47. New jersey terminal is the only hourly local terminal at watkins all others get paid cpm and drop.
And terminal managers pick their drivers hence s2b otr every slow down, the furniture business is like that.
48. dispatched on monday pick up monday night and deliver on wednesday morning going 680 miles you get those alot cause watkins deal with alot of brokers with no real clientel geographically.
49. get caught between were they do business like kansas missouri area grab a snicker. no terminal no where near there.

thats my experience I'll add more I'm sure.

 

You know, as a hopeful soon to be W/S, you two are sure confusing the hell outta me. S2BT you post points that sound like .... reality in the trucking world and that sounds good to me. It's not always going to be good times while trucking and I think if you know this going in and are still willing to work hard it can be a good company that knows your name and a very rewarding career.

Then I see what you're writing Naw'lins and I've concluded that the company just hates you. Which doesn't make sense, cause I've heard a bit about how well this company treats its drivers, which means more to me than getting 5k miles a week.

So confused