Comments By Saxon W.

Sears dealer. The GPS sends you in from the top of the picture (Green line). The outdoor dock is under the "Dock" label, the tiny white square on the back of the building. Ferguson Dr. is a through street, traffic goes both ways.

How do you get the back end of the trailer up against that dock?

Errol, I missed your backing threads. Hope all is well!

Good luck... back every chance you can while in school.

OTR and Dollar Gen,Family Dollar.Recuritor said they going to train me on Dollar Gen and I could get off any time I wanted.

Is that all they offered for your zip code?

They got lift gates on the truck. Get in good with people at the stores. You'll make good money and in a year you can become a trainer. Werner pays trainers very well. Just one year dude and you're golden.

Hi all!

I'm not new to the site as I have been browsing it for a long time but just recently decided to register and post. I need some help getting trucking off my mind. I know that sounds weird but its driving me crazy. I currently have a job I love but trucking has always been this passion I have kinda had on the side. My dad and all of my wife's family drive trucks so its something I have always been around and hear about constantly. I love trucks and have had some time driving (not licensed though just in parking lots and stuff). For a while I actually thought about starting a career in that field but realized quickly that its not the right time. You see I am in my late 20's, married and two children (ages 5 and 9) and being away from them drove me bananas! I know I know. I have read the threads about people with young children should wait about driving until they grow up which is solid advice but its something I want so bad that it physically hurts! Bottom line, its not an option for me at the moment no matter how bad I want it due to I would miss out on so much of my kids but I need help getting it off my mind. I can't stop wanting to drive! And to make matters worse, I work at a DC (Yep see trucks all day long). Anyone with advice???

Advice? Yeah, do the job for month, that'll get your head straight. Don't get me wrong, I like the work, but the people who dispatch loads and run these companies, they don't know and they don't care.

I don't care what anyone says, this job is not for the weak.

Is that all they offered for your zip code?

Inner City Driving

Okay, so after, after conquering Black Mountain, they put you into some crazy city driving situations. "Hey, drive this truck where it won't fit, and don't hit anything, especially curbs or light poles." Well, that sounds like fun doesn't?

Either way, I made it through these obstacles and am still here to tell you about it.

The rest

Basically, after you prove you can drive without damaging their equipment or someone's property, you will spend the rest of your time learning everything else associated with trucking. You will slide tandems, cage spring brakes, learn to repair air lines, trip plan, couple and uncouple (the Watkins way), etc.

We have finally starting the out processing paperwork. So, it looks like I am gonna make it. Just a heads up, these two weeks can be trying and are intense. If you ever consider working for Watkins & Shepard, keep the following in mind:

1>Be willing to learn. Know matter what you think you know, realize that you don't know everything.

2>Be confident, but courteous. You will be put through very taxing driving situations. Don't panic. Just drive through and drive on. DON'T HIT ANYTHING. Stay on the pavement.

3>Do it their way. That's what they are paying you for.

4>Pay attention. Aim high in steering. Read every sign. Keep your head on a swivel. Manage your space. ANTICIPATE!

5>Leave your bad attitude and smart ### mouth at home.

6>This company is a close knit unit. You are not a number here. You are a driver. Learn the Watkins way and become part of the family.

I'll continue to keep you posted as time permits.

Watkins and Shepard seems like a good company from what I have read about them. They were on my short list when I got out of school. (didn't hurt that thier Conover terminal is only 30 miles from my house either)

Black Mountain is no joke with all those curves. Watch out for the bears as well. They like to sit all over that mountain.

If the Conover terminal is where you are going to run out of you are going to hate the I40 gorge much worse than Black Mountain...

Good luck to you and be safe.

Yeah, I drove the gorge in my personal car on the way up here. I can only imagine what what that will be like the first time I run it a truck.

So today I drove black mountain:

So we go up the mountain first. We are 77,000 gross. I was able to pull 2/3 of it in 7th, trying to keep it at 1400+ rpm. I hit this steep spot and the rpm are just coming down, nothing to do but down shift...so I do. It feels weird when you let off the clutch and the vehicle just kinda "hangs" from all the weight mixed with gravity.

After climbing up, they have you get your speed up so you can double-down on the ramp off the interstate. Twice! 10th to 8th, then 8th to 6th. You got be quick, the ramp is only so long.

To Double-down:

Lay into the brake hard and quick. Get the rpm down to 800 and drop two gears. Immediately after, lay into the brake again. Get the rpm down to 800 rpm and drop two two gears.

Now it's time to go back down:

There is a mandatory CMV information stop at the top. It is controlled by lights. There is info on the regulations (i.e. speed, lane restrictions, etc). Also, the have a diagram showing the mile marker that the runaway ramps are on. Get the green light, and it's your turn!

I don't think I have ever shifted so quickly life. You almost have to double-up. i could have, they prefer you too, but I am still in the habit of "CDL school" shifting...one at a time.

Get to 8th, jakes on high, bring the to rpm 800 and double down to sixth. Oh $#%@, missed it!!!! Speed at 35mph?!?! Recover to 8th...damn near rip the knob of the shifter (not kidding) doing it...try again. Got it! Do it again...Got it! i hadn't ever been shown how to use jakes before. They are awesome. Once your down the mountain? Get the speed back to 65mph and double down in the exit ramp at the bottom. Twice (as explained above).

The training has been real world:

These guys do a fantastic job of training. We have cover so much information the past 5 days. They cover everything. Way to much for me to list.

We took loads on Wednesday. You do some city driving in places that tractors with trailers, literally, barely fit. I mean the light poles are damaged from previous students. Two inches of clearance in some places. Splitting lanes for turns is good training and should be taught everywhere.

Not sure what next week will bring:

But I will let you know.

Alright, so it is a long story how I ended up here this week. But I have been to two company driving academies (completed the first) in less than 3 weeks.

WS was my first choice and I am glad I am here now. Never actually made it to a truck with the other company, they accepted my resignation before I went out with a trainer.

I definitely feel like I have made the right decision with WS.

This school is intense. Lots on info, real quickly, and they are NOT baby feeding anyone. I got here Monday morning and I already have watched more videos and have had more homework than I had in the whole 6 weeks of my CDL school.

The hotel is decent. They don't feed you like the other company did. None at all actually.

But there are some real pluses here...

Very specialized driver training. I drove Black Mountain with my personal car on the way here just to check it out. Holy COW!!! And they want us to double-down shift??? Awe, this should be great! Let's see, I have never driven with a load before, much less with 75,000lbs down a 6% grade for 6 miles, double-up shifting and double-down shifting. No wonder they don't send you out with a trainer when you complete the school. If you survive this you should be good! If not, what does matter anyway, right?!?!

In all seriousness, these guys are obviously confident in their ability to train. Info, info, info...until the brain hurts.

Then they tell us right before we left today, "You guys are running loads tomorrow." What? I have been here less than two days...Well then, this ought to be good. Not sure what they have in mind, but I will let you know when I get back to the hotel...

At the notorious W&S school!

Will update as soon as time allows...

SEC Training Centers in Flowood, MS offers a refresher course for 1,500 dollars. If you go with their lodging, under 2k. No test out, just put in the time and you get a certificate. Plus the training is good.