Watkins shepard

Hey Former! How are you getting any kind of miles with this company? I've been with them for two months now and I'm lucky to get anywhere even NEAR the miles you're getting! I have been averging about 1,000 to 1,500 miles per week! My zone manager is almost IMPOSSIBLE to get a hold of either on the phone or via Qualcomm. She never returns my calls and ALWAYS has me sitting in between loads. Since joining the company I've only had 2 read that TWO decent runs one out to Sacramento, CA and the other back to the East Coast. Is it me? I offer to go anywhere for the company, anytime and never cry about home time or anything else for that matter. I need to get more miles from these folks or I need to look for a new job...I'm not making enough to pay my bills. Any insight would be helpful. I made my fuel bonus, was in compliance with idling requirements, have a perfect safety record thus far so what am I doing wrong? Now that I'm done venting please help!

 

Howdy folks....I'm in week 7 of my 14-week class A CDL course here in Florida, and I've been researching companies to go work for when I graduate. Most of the info I've read about Watkins-Shepard seems to be positive overall-other than the more recent posts about problems with their new driver-dispatch system.
I'm a self-starter, and I really like the idea of their 10-day driver orientation-with no driver trainer in the truck with you afterward. I'm even willing to relocate to be near their N.C. or Mississippi terminals if they're as good as what I've read about them is true. I'm really concerned about the new problem with dispatching however. Is this something I should be worried about? Thanks for any advice someone can give me on this.
wanna-b-a-trucker

 

I'm enrolled in a CDL school here in GA, and I've got W/S at the top of my list. They told me that I need to live within 100 mi of the nearest terminal, which is the Dalton, GA terminal in my case. Also, the 10-day program isn't offered at all of their terminals.... I would be going to Hickory, NC, and I'm assuming you would be sent there as well.

If I'm not mistaken, I believe I read somewhere that they have abandoned their new zoned dispatch system, and returned to their old dispatch system. But, the old dispatch system (which supposedly was better) appears to be new to the newer drivers who initially started out under the new zoned dispatch system.... I hope I'm making at least some sense. I'm sure someone else will step and and clear this up for you if I'm not.

 

Hey keb1209......... I thought you had to get to Missoula, Montana for the 30 day OR the 10 day orientation. I didn't think they did the training at sattelite terminals. It would be great if they did, so I wouldn't have to go all the way to Montana for my 10 day orientation. (that is, if I even get accepted into the company) I'm gonna give them a call for the particulars on it. I'll post what they tell me when I call them............ TL

 

they do their 10 day orientation at three terminals i believe Hickory NC, Sayreville NJ and Missoula MT

 

Sal...good to hear things are looking up for you. Personally, I'm glad we're back to Zone dispatch. Not that it affects me that much. But still, it was better than the FM method.

Keep it mind though. This is the nature of trucking...always. Feast or famine.

We go months on end wondering when it will get better. Then we go for months on end, wondering when we will catch a break. Either time can bring you to the edge

Look for a spike in loads until Christmas, then a sharp drop during January and Febuary

Plan your budget accordingly.

 

Well, since I haven't posted in a while I just wanted to bring everyone up to speed on how my career with Watkins & Shepard was going. Myself, I like the people who are employed by the Company for the most part. Every driver I have met and the people up in the main office, again for the most part, have all been nothing but kind, welcoming and helpful. The truck I was given has been very good to me and I look forward to my next one (due next year) to be just as well maintained if not new! Long story short the miles have been MUCH less than anticipated and the pay rate, after talking to "newbie" drivers from other Companies, isn't looking so hot now. Yeah, I know, seems like every time I post it's a gripe fest but I just want to be honest so that anyone thinking of coming aboard knows what they're getting into. The head honcho in charge of the Zone Managers has been very understanding to my situation and has been sure that every time I call him and cry he does get me some better runs...for about a week then I need to call and cry some more. You know, the worst part is I have come to really love driving a truck and couldn't imagine doing anything else right now! That makes it so hard! Doing a job you absolutely love, working your coconuts off and not being able to earn enough to pay the bills. I'm new to this and I'm sure there are certain "tricks" to the trade that would help me earn more but until I learn those tricks I'm hurtin'! It's not like I have a champagne taste on a beer budget either...but if I don't pay them ex-wives (2) Sheriff is gonna be slappin' them cuffs on me when I least expect it! Anyway, in a nutshell, I love this trucking thing and want to give my company a chance to fill the shoes the recruiter originally set out for them. I hope they send Bigfoot cause they are some mighty big shoes! LOL! Be safe and keep 'em rollin' safe!

 

Thanks for the update JerseyTrucker. Sorry to hear of your lower than expected pay at W/S. That sux! Especially seeing as how I'm eager to apply at W/S in a few weeks. Are you dispatched from the same area all the time? (I don't know how the trucking system works yet) Could it be you're working out of a terminal/dispatch area that's hurting for business right now? Or is it the nature of working as a company driver that we gotta keep chasing our employer for work and miles? From from what I've been reading online, there are a lot of"unsavory"managers/companies out there these days, but I didn't think W/S was one of them. So I hope business is just slow right now, and that's why your pay is so low.
Good luck, anyway!