Watkins shepard

"I agree with Old Man Dance, people are scared to leave any company right now for fear they will end up jobless....."

You're right about people being scared to leave! I'll definitely be looking elsewhere once I get some miles under my belt; but for now, ya gotta take what you can get. Got my first week with the trainer out of the way. Don't think it'll be a full 4 weeks as expected. If it were up to my trainer, I'd be done after next week. Have to practice a little more on the backing maneuvers, but all is going much better than expected! How's things with you, S2B?

 

vicki things are going good, and bad, good thing is im done working for sayrevill!!! the gooder thing is that im OTR now
the bad thing is that my truck is down for a week OR SO
so are you home for the weekend? no training on the weekend?

 

Greetings everyone.
Can anyone tell me how tight the competition is to get on board with Watkins Shepard. I've had my Class A since 1991, and my DOT medical card is current, but I've only got Class B experience, of which I have over ten years running dump trucks and boom trucks. My plan was to go through the Sage driver training near my home here in Spokane WA. before hitting up W/S for a job, but have since decided that I might like to go through W/S training in Missoula Mt. instead. Are things pretty tight or are they still looking for good solid candidates for the school?
I tried calling the toll free info line today but didn't get an answer. So then I started to fill out the online application when I ran into the issue of being able to get into Canada. How critical is that? I had issues over 25 years ago (state side DUI) that I heard may be a problem with getting into Canada. Does anyone know about the border issue at all?
I see your W/S rigs running I-90 through Spokane on occasion and I've noticed that you have a yard out in the Spokane Industrial Park. Hope I don't overstep my bounds if I see a W/S driver sitting in the yard and I pull in for a little conversation. Heck, if we both have the time, I'll take ya to lunch.
Anyway, stay safe out there everyone. Take care, and thanks.

 

My trainer likes to stop through home a couple times a week, if possible. We're leaving out early Sunday morning; have to deliver near Houston, TX Sunday afternoon. Glad we're not going back to OH!! That was some scary ######!! Major ice storms!! Never seen anything quite like it before.... one rig was flipped completely over in the ditch, another was jacknifed... trees were getting iced up and falling onto the highways, just a mess!! The Pilot we were staying at lost all its power, so we drove up the road 40 miles to a Loves. Was one of the very few places that had any electricity. Not sure where we'll be going after TX. I know it's mandatory to take a load through the mountains too. I'll just be glad when the training is done and overwith. Don't like spending 24 hrs a day with a complete stranger. At least she's pretty cool... could be worse!!

Sorry to hear about your truck!! Hope they get it back n' running soon!!

 

Lawman, welcome to the thread,
ill fill ya in best i can.
as far as going to canada, you wont have a problem, dont worry about going into canada, just tell them you cant go in there, and what your reason is, they have guy/glas to do those runs, so it wont be to big an issue,
you do have an issue as far as getting in the school however, try calling them on monday, and talk to Sandy, and their is a nother guy i cant remember his name, talk to one of those 2, they will help you and get you going,
as far as going through the school, i would recomend it, they will train you the way they want you to drive their truck.
if you see me in that yard you speak of, and wanna take me to lunch... you let me no when, and ill be there haha
really, i dont think it would hurt to run in and chat for a min or 2 with a driver, as long as you see them sitting in the driver seat, dont go knocking on the door, they may be sleeping
well best of luck on monday, and let me no how you make out.
take care.

 

Yea, I got turned down for school so went and got my own schooling. Then turned down again. I live in the same area, N of ATL, close to Dalton and have a perfect MVR, Criminal, and job history. Great references from previous employers.

Hicksie has 8 years so maybe they're just not doing rookies at this time .. if it's not that, I wish they would be honest so I could correct or clarify whatever it is causing the issue. It does look like I'll get on with Conway soon so at least I'll get to work.

 

well hell, if i could get in with con-way id be there,
i cant imagine why they rejected you in the first place... cause to me it seems as tho companies are sending the vet drivers on their way, cause they make more money then the rookie drivers, also, it could that it cost the company to much money to train someone, if you had gotten your cdl from a private school, then you should have been eligable to get hired, case you would start off at around .28-.29 cpm.. something does not add up to me.
i no that someone had made a previous post about not getting hired due to a very low turn over rate.
sorry you couldnt get on board here, im going to call roxy on monday and the scoop, and im going to post on here what the deal is, so that way potential newbs have a heads up
i wouldnt say they lied to you about anything, they are pretty blunt when it comes down to biz.
well, best of luck to you at con-way, let me no what its like there.
take care

 

I havent been hired yet. I have to call matt back on monday and see what he has to say. My problem and i told him about it is that the last 5 years i have been doing a local gig and driving what ever has wheels. alot of concrete trucks, dump wagons etc. I also called conway and talked to them and explained to them the last 5 years and they told me NO. LOL had to have OTR in the last 6 months. so i said thanks and went with plan A. There are a couple of others im looking at. Roehl being one of them. Reason being is this. they have a term in atl. close to me. if i hire on with w/s i have to go to jersey for orin. and if I get a truck there i have to park it at either the dalton yard or hickory yard and then figure out how to get home that 1st time. If it is a sat or sun no problem but if it is thru the week oops. no ride lol so im trying to sort it all out and see what is best for me. My concern is, are the miles going to be there, I dont need 3000 a week would be nice but 2000 is my goal to make more then i am now. welp im out.

 

I thought I would quickly touch on the question about miles. Since I have started driving with W/S in Mid November I have kept track of all my miles, and my current average is just under 2100 miles per week. That also includes a lot of sitting during the holiday period. Of course I had to leave out the week I had to take off to go to Mexico.
This week I am going to hit 3500 miles, mainly due to the SFS to North Carolina run.

Hope that helps some of you out there.

 

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S2B, did you ever get PC Miler installed ???