ubet, I have talked to several companies in the last 6 months, they seem to be the best fit for me, will let you know. This is a whole new thing to me, I am looking forward to this.

So what company were you driving with that the trainer was not doing any training?

Seems this is what many companys do and that is not good. I hope I get a decent trainer that does not crawl into the back and sleep. I am 65 and retired twice, I can quit in an instant after I drag him out of the truck.

Oh would I do that!!

I don't want to say the Company because, the doom sayers will start their thing, it really had nothing to do with the Company because they are a good Company and I would work for them again.

I am your age and less willing to put up with some things, not sure if he (the "Trainer") is still there or not.

I wanna be trained good and safe.
As an ex machinist I always was racing to do a good job and done in time or early, I just loved to have my project turn out good and beat the next guy. I was always competeing against time and even as a computer specialist, my last position before base closure and early retirement back in 94 I would put my best into any project.

But as a driver running 80,000 lbs down the road I don't want to kill anybody, especially myself. And I don't want to loose my job because my log books are crap.

I have nothing to brag about but between SS and Govt retirement I don't have to get up in the morning. I am doing this project because I have always wanted to do it. After a year I will look back and see if I want to continue. Maybe my own truck and work off the load board. I know that will not be easy if I believe everything people say here but for some reason their are thousands doing just that.

I want my truck. And it better be a Freightliner

smile

No matter what our background, a lot of us "old farts" think alike, want to get the job done, safe, sound and when it is supposed to be done.

I have been retired for 1.5 years, this somethine I want to do, not something I have to do, I refuse to, just get in a Truck and drive, I want it done correctly and I am willing to do what ever to learn the right way, everything I have read, heard and seen, Watkins is the best fit for me.

retiredmb

I'm with you. In the long run getting it there safe and on schedule if they don't cut it too close is the right way.

The chart about the hours you can run before rest time can get confusing but I like the restart deal. I will have to take a hobby with me in the Condo. I build model boats some times. And I golf.

Does Watkins do the complete training? I looked at them and they have my app from Layover.com and have requested more info but that is an automatic thing. You are close to my age of 65? and they hire safe old farts.

How long is their training for a rank newbie and how long with a company driver?

Pay while training?

Thanks

Here is the link to the Web Site: http://www.wksh.com/

Their School is 4 weeks, then you are assigned a Truck and on your own, W/O a Trainer, if you already have a School completed the orientation is 10 days (unpaid) and you are out on your own.

They are located in Missouls MT, you will get plenty of Mountain Training so when you are trained there, you should be able to drive anywhere. The Drivers that I have talked to, that work there, say if you have any questions, there is plenty of support, from other Drivers and everyone else.

You can contact [email protected] he works there and is willing to give you better info than I can

This youngster (58) just Faxed the long app in saturday. It was between CFI & W/S both sound real good but i chose W/S cause of the mountain / winter training . And I'll be waiting for the Nov class to start. It will give me more time to make sure everything is taken care here at the house / Gardner and whatever :? Well good luck to you

Your just a Kid Walter would say.
My old fishing Buddy Walter last Oct told me while I was doing the Bait Boy job sitting between him at 84 and Louie at 77.
"You young Whipper Snapper you still got time for two more careers"
He was 84 and passed on last Feb. Fell and broke his collar and went down from there in a very short time.

I sent Mike a email, just as well keep looking while a wait for my other recruiter to send me something firming up the school, like a real official offer, They got my papers on file and I have nothing from them.

All the BS you're going to be putting up with in OTR trucking just isn't worth it at that age guys. Watkins likes to keep you busy and the idea of it being a scenic picnic will wear off very quickly. You'll become tired of being treated like crap very quickly from low-life dock workers and truckers after all you've guys been through over the years. Take mine and others advice... take the last quarter of your life and enjoy it with just a simple side job to pay the bills. OTR trucking is nothing like going out RV'ing. Read the Davis flatbed thread for example.