Watkins shepard

BG you just making excuses now... I know #### well W&S has chains hanging on those trucks

 

what are these chains you speak of??

and actually the cascadia dont have a place to " hang " chains...

warp, im heading back sunday night, ill be driving through 3 tues-wed. im sure... so are you all set up to head off to missoula??

 

All set...I just have to go Monday for the HPE and whiz quiz. Not worried about that, but a little worried about the HPE part...I spoke with Roxy and Kristy on Friday and they assured me I'm all set. Kristy told me once I finish the HPE and drug screen to call her and she will start watching for the results and let me know I'm ok to get there.

A question, is there a road and/or backing test there on the first day like some places? I did drive a straight 9 for 2 days so I should be ok with the straight 10's they have there. I do plan on doing a lot of extra cirricular practice on backing and shifting around the yard every evening after class.

Also, are most days filled with driving, or a little driving and a lot of class time? I'd love the practice of driving, but know I need the class training on their way of doing things like qualcomm, logs, and WS operating practices...

And I suppose I'll have to get myself to the east coast or talk you into coming this way so we can meet up..I'll buy you lunch for all your help. That offer is open to all of the WS drivers that have helped me out

 

The 10 days really is not a program to help you practice more driving. It will be to see if you can drive or not. You'll spend more time doing procedures and videos than out on the road. W/S brings you to 10 day expecting you were fully taught in school. Hopefully you did spend more than 2 days driving Warp, b/c I'm going to be worried for ya if you didnt.

 

Oh, I did spend more than 2 days driving...it's just all except the last 2 days were on a Super 10 and WS uses Straight 10's. Both instructors I had said I drove fine for a student. I'd even hazard a guess and say I was the 2nd best in our class, the best one being a guy who had driven a cement mixer class B, so he was used to large vehicles.

I know that we will drive with some weight in the truck at some point, and all I drove was an empty 40 and 45' trailer and a 45' flatbed, so I know hauling the weight will feel much different.

I will say the school I attended was the one WS recommended to me when they decided to suspend their school operation, so they shouldn't have issues with how I was trained.

 

Hey s2b you get those pretty hands dirty throwin iron yet lmao

 

no red!!! see, staying on the east coast is nice because they dont have chain laws on the eastern states!!!

Warp, driving a super 10 is like driving a straight 10, just without using the splitter between every gear.. youll keep the splitter down for gears 1-5 the whole time, then once in 5th gear youll Split up and go through gears 6-10.
its not hard..

but really i think ALL the schools should only use straight 10s not super 10s not 9spds,

 

Warp, I have to echo what BackIsSore said. Don't go there with the expectation of being taught on the driving side of things. When they take you out in the truck they are making the determination if you can drive well enough to be hired.

They took us into town and had us drive around the shopping centers, hitting curbs was a big no no. Other no no's include: taking the truck out of gear before a stop; not being able to find a gear if you mess up and are coasting.

Downshift as little as possible. Some guys were trying to impress the instructors with their downshifting and were messing up big time.

Good luck.

 

Thanks for the info....I don't have the expectation of being taught, I just want as much driving as possible before I hit the road...and as for downshifting, my instructor taught us (in the straight 10 at least) to just downshift once from 7th right to 4th and bring it to a stop. We also learned to find a gear if we messed up....just get it back to where it was!

Is there a driving test when you first get there, or is it at the end of the 10 days? I was careful enough to not hit any curbs while in school, came close to one on my DMV test, but did manage to miss it. I learned on mostly a 40' trailer, so the 53' will be different to say the least.

Oh, if you do hit the curb, take out of gear before a stop, or not find a gear if you mess up, do they send you home, or do they give you a chance?

Thanks again to all of you who have helped answer my incessant questions..you guys rock!

 

What up mike nc lmao how them miles