go with Watkins Shepard to AVOID trainers?

denverdriver · #1 (**permalink**) 08-25-2008, 04:25 AM

I'm fresh out of truck school, so now I have to pick a major over-the-road carrier. Werner, US Xpress and Watkins Shepard are all possibilities. Watkins Shepard states that a newbie goes to their 10-day orientation...then is handed the keys to a truck. NO driver trainer!! That sounds appealing....frankly I fear having to deal with a power-hungry bozo who is in the position to make or break me. I'm not a tough guy that is able to persuade trainers to show respect for m, etc. Why not bypass that whole process and just go with W-S? Please let me hear your thoughts on this question. Thanks.

pro1driver · #2 (**permalink**) 08-25-2008, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by denverdriver

I'm fresh out of truck school, so now I have to pick a major over-the-road carrier. Werner, US Xpress and Watkins Shepard are all possibilities. Watkins Shepard states that a newbie goes to their 10-day orientation...then is handed the keys to a truck. NO driver trainer!! That sounds appealing....frankly I fear having to deal with a power-hungry bozo who is in the position to make or break me. I'm not a tough guy that is able to persuade trainers to show respect for m, etc. Why not bypass that whole process and just go with W-S? Please let me hear your thoughts on this question. Thanks.

i would imagine that 10 day orientaion WILL HAVE TRAINERS you will be dealing with. most orientaions are 1 to 3 days.........so, i don't suspect you will be sitting in any classroom for all those days. they will probably have you go with a trainer for an over nighter, or local deliveries......as a newbie, i cannot see them simply handing over the keys to you....NOW, if you had (say) 1 year experience, then i'd say orientation would be 1 to 3 days, then your off and running.

you can also bet your bottom dollar that in those 10 days you had better demonstrate your newly learned skills, as i'm sure they can bounce you out real quick too.

no one is a "tough guy" when it comes to learning, you either accept the learning process for all its worth or you don't. the one's with the "tough guy attitude" are the ones with the problems the trainers try to get rid of.

yes, some trainers are power hungry bozo's, but so what. frankly, for every one story we hear about a bad trainer, we never hear the 20 stories about the good one's......the old retail sales saying was, "bad word of mouth travels fast. the good word of mouth takes weeks to travel.."

its still your choice. either way, you WILL be with a trainer, no matter what the recruiter said..............

denverdriver · #3 (**permalink**) 08-25-2008, 10:59 AM

Thanks very much, pro 1!

oilboi · #4 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 01:55 AM

The first job I applied for was long haul,they explained to me that I would be teaming with another experienced driver for a month and making only half of what a 1 year employee makes.Different companies will have different rules and or expectations.

denverdriver · #5 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 02:50 AM

Thanks for the feedback. They are all the same in many ways, but they have significant differences also. Good to keep looking and ask lots of questions. I see that Schneider sends the newbie out with the trainer only for 1 or 2 weeks, but then I have read lots of complaints about Schneider. Thanks again.

CrotchRocket · #6 (**permalink**) 08-26-2008, 11:34 AM

I'm new here too...Been doing alot of reading...What I see is that alot of the rookies are worried about training, dont know why...Either you can drive or you cant!!!

What I would like to know is what do the companies REALLY do to you to get you to stay with them???...When your in, then what REALLY happens???

I can handle the TRUTH !!!