Watkins shepard

That well could be. Because she is the only person I have had this issue with. Everyone else has been great.

I don't expect a "positive" response from my FM. But I do expect A response.

Your experience may be entirely differant. I dunno. I only know what mine is.

If you recall, we had a big shpeil about calls not being answered a few months ago. I wasn't having issues then (other fm). So I can't say with any "informed" comment that it involved 1 or 10 folks

 

Jon,

just to clarify, what I consider A response.

After I've sat for more than 30-45 minutes, I generally QC my FM to see whats going on.

My last one would always respond. Negative or positive.

Generally, it would be "We're looking, will get back asap"...not a big deal. I would send a message back telling him/her I was going to lie down, call me if I don't respond to the QC.

And we were done for the day...unless a load came my way. I didn't waste their time...and mine wasn't wasted either.

I don't want to call my FM at all. For any reason, if I can handle it myself. But when you hang me out to dry, with no input, I'm fixing to call.

Tell me anything...just answer the #### QC. And we're done

 

Hey Jon, I was dealing with Denise when I was first running and she always found a load quickly and got me running without delay and like D said she would ALWAYS respond to my QC calls. It may have been a simple yes or no but she always let me know my message was received. By the way I am in Gouverneur, NY currently. I will be in your neck of the woods later tonight though as I'm running to Milan, MI and then hopefully to the Taylor, MI terminal. Like I said to D the company for the most part seems up on their game and I haven't had any problems so far. Maybe she is just overwhelmed right now but if so she needs to ask for some help because she is making it difficult on us guys by just continuing to struggle.

 

Actually, the FM isn't the one that finds the loads. They're responsible for relaying that information to the driver. They let the planners know you are empty.

If your FM is on their toes, you get quick responses. Now a load? Thats a bird of another feather And out of their control pretty much.

On occasion I will speak directly to someone else....they call me. And get asked if I will be empty by such and such time. I deal with it as it happens. Namely because I never can give my FM an exact ETA of empty my first day or so out. Because I have so many stops. We have a given ETA, but it's a guideline basically. So I constantly update them throughout the day. If I see a window of opportunity, I want to make my FM aware of it as far in advance as possible.

 

Hey guys, I sure enjoy reading your comments on here. It gives me some insight into your world, of which I'm planning to join in the very near future. Thanks for taking the time to share your stuff on here, I appreciate it.

 

Well that was cute. I hit the tab key and my message was sent before I finished it. Learn something new every day I guess.

I just wanted to toss my plans out on the table (share) if you don't mind. I live in Spokane WA. and I've had my Class A CDL for over 15 yrs. but only have Class B experience. I'm studying the drivers manual and concentrating on the pre-trip again. There's a Sage Driving School just 30 minutes east of here that I'm thinking of attending, with the hopes that Watkins / Sheapard might be interested in me if I do good in training.

I'm driving a transit bus right now and travel I-90 as part of my current route. I can't help but notice all the big rigs traveling the interstate everyday, and I always take note of the company's names on the side of each rig. I've only been driving bus since Jan. of this year and can't stand it. I'd rather haul potatoes than people. It's a union job, good pay, bennys and home every night but I can't wait to get out of it. I never realized how many idiot drivers live in this area. I know, you'll tell me their all over the country.

I'm trying to get my condo remodeled for my wife before I take the plunge into the world of trucking. Not to many people can understand why I would want to go out and do it, and I don't know how to answer them, other than it's been a monkey on my back for many years that comes and goes over time, but I'm not getting any younger so I'm going to give it try. So again, thanks guys for keeping in touch on this site. I look forward to checking in you when I can. Stay safe out there, and thanks for keeping our economy moving. Take care, hope to see you on the road soon.

 

Don't do it, you have a good thing going and want to get into a hit and miss job. You'll be sorry. Maybe a year ago would have been diffrent. Your not hearing the whole deal on the trucking industery these days. It seems to change from day to day.Your crazy to make the change at this time.

But Good Luck On Whatever You Do


I was afraid I'd hear "don't do it" from someone out there. Thanks for the reply regardless. I'm the kind of guy that has to learn from the school of "hard knocks". I would certainly listen to each and every reason everyone has as to why I shouldn't go out on the road, but would probably still go anyway. Perhaps a bit more cautious and educated on the reality of trucking instead of chasing a misconceived conception of the OTR trucking life.

My long term goals won't be to stay out there, but rather get some experience and miles behind me so I'll qualify for some of the local trucking jobs I'm missing out on in my area due to lack of experience and miles. Plus a year on the road might be enough to get that monkey ( my strong desire to experience OTR) off my back as well as give me the qualifications to apply for something local. I hope I'm being logical in my thinking here.

I like to fill my life with adventure and experience and learn new things about myself and world around me. I could never be the guy that goes to the same place everyday to work, for 20 plus years, only to retire with a pension, and then sit around and wait to get old. Filling my life with a variety of experiences is worth more to me than the $$$, and bennys any single good paying job has to offer.

Enough ranting about myself. Thats not what this thread is about and I'll probably hear about it from some of you. Sorry. Just hoping someone relates with me or understands what I'm saying.

Again, thanks all, stay safe, have fun, enjoy life.

Lawman

 

I see I didn't post the quote properly in my last message. I'll get the proper protocol figured out one of these days, sorry.

 

Lawman, Trucking isnt for everyone, but having said that, you wont know if it IS for you or not is to give it a try. Some people come out here and wonder why they didnt do it sooner. It is one of those jobs that you either Love or Hate. But if you like adventure and truly not knowing what you will be doing or where are going next, then this may just be for you. Only you will be able to make that determination. Good luck.