I would say it takes a week at most (if it takes more than 5-7 days you better call them about it right away). You send in a Macro (Authorization for expenditure) on your QualComm and need to get an authorization number from your STL. If you have a Windows computer (I have a Mac) you can check on it (pay and reimbursements) online (good idea to make sure you are getting paid)

With Canadian driving I would say the Canadian weather and crossing the border would worry me the most. Driving in the darker Winter months.

Plugging in a Semi at home during Winter may get expensive also. You drive 2 hrs to get to work for a week or two at a time =that's not really that bad.

Schneider is a great trucking company to start with and New York is a great state to drive in. East Coast driving (and parking!!) can be difficult during certain times of the day= many run early AM or Night for EastCoast runs.

With Schneider you will most likely be all over depending on what account they set you up with. A dedicated NY account may not be that bad once you get the roads down, but scary the first time.

Living in NY you are right in the middle of the East Coast runs and MidWest Manufacturing =you are where the trucking industry wants you to be.

re: Shneider
Thank you for sharing that.I am not a trucker. Have a cdl (b) thinking about driving a truck. Was considering Schneider. I have heard good things about them. travis

I feel over all Schneider is a good company. More so for new drivers. I don't mind being flexible and love my time at home. However, when they get you out freight is slow. I had a nice 1000 mile load out the house and a 700 mile load that finished on Sunday morning. I picked up a 100 mile plus run to delivery on Monday morning. On Monday I picked up another 100 miles that delivers on Tuesday. I'm told freight is slow. I have resources where I see where freight is. Anyway today I picked up 620 miles that drop by the 8th.I feel the senior drivers are being forced out because we know too much and cost too much. We normally won't do anything unsafe but will get the job done if we can safely fugging a bit when necessary. I just hope the new drivers listen up and realize that the truck only moves when you are ready to move it. I am maybe looking to be a Walmart driver after the New Year. We are hiring a lot of new drivers when they say freight is short. Good Luck!

First off let me state that I am with Schneider's Canadian Division. I hear that some people's Schneider experience is very different if you are from the US. Anyways I am just finishing up my two weeks over the road with my TE. So far I am very happy with Schneider. The training is exceptional. A little challenging but very thorough. I am told freight is slow and a lot of drivers are complaining about it around here but such is life. So far I can see Schneider does its best to keep us loaded but sometimes its not always possible especially for us Canadian drivers because once we deliver a load in the US the only load we can take after that has to be coming back to Canada. One thing I can say is if you get a week or so with some crappy loads and limited miles don't stress too much about it because it could be setting you up for a load with a lot of miles. I would really recommend new drivers to come to Schneider just for the simple fact of their training program. The pay isn't the greatest while you are in training but hey atleast you're getting paid.

The T.E. Experience
------------------------------

Being out with a TE has some pro's and con's to it. I liked having a professional there to help me out with any questions I had. (i.e. customs paperwork) It kind of sucks living in the truck with somebody you do not know for 2 weeks as well. I only have 3 days left with my TE before my SQT (which I should pass with no problems) and we have not listened to 30 seconds of the radio or cd's. The CB has been off the whole time so it can get pretty boring in the truck. Another thing that is tough is having somebody beside you 24/7 for 2 weeks criticizing your every move whether it is good criticism or bad. I have to tell anybody that is going to pursue training with Schneider is that there hasn't been one day go by where I have thought about quitting. Just try to motivate yourself to keep going. This job is more than a career, its a lifestyle change and a pretty hard one at that. If you are new to this industry the hardest thing (atleast for me anyway) is being away from your loved ones. 2 weeks out at a time seems like forever in the beginning but you will be surprised how fast those two weeks will go.

I have worked for Schneider for over a year now. I have been driving since '92. Based on the companies that I have worked for before (3 of which went bankrupt), I find Schneider one of the better companies.

Once you get out on your own, just keep in mind to do the best you can. Yes, the trucks are governed between 63-67, but over the years I have learned that it is not how fast the truck goes, it is how much the wheels are turning, and how much you get paid per mile.

Most trucks don't run much faster than mine, and based on the research, I have found that most companies cannot come close to what I am getting paid over here at Schneider.

I actually read somewhere on here that someone would never run a orange truck, which totally had me rolling on the floor. And I get totally amazed when I hear people begging on the cb radio for money, or that they are selling something out of their truck because they don't have money to eat out here.

I run legal, don't have to worry about "fudging" my log book, and don't have to worry about going through a weigh station. I don't sit often waiting for a load unless I choose too.

I love driving, and I love being out here on the open road. It is so much better than sitting in an office doing the same thing over and over again.

Every company has their issues/problems, but on Friday when I get my paycheck, it seems to all go away.

Good luck everyone that is just starting out, and hope you don't ever get intimidated by those who just don't get it.

I have my CDL, I went to Stevens first then left and now i am on my way to Schneider the 28th of this month, wish me luck.

Biker

GOOD LUCK!!!!!

__________________
WE ARE IN CONTROL OF OUR DESTINY!!!

Funny, it was getting my paycheck that made me go away. lol

One thing to consider about Schneider is they pay Household guide mileage. I did the math and in a months time I was paid 15% less miles than I drove. If they paid practical or hub miles the paycheck would have been much more worthwhile. But if you work for Schneider you can bank that you'll lose at least 10% due to this method.
I'm heading to another company now that pays hub miles at the same rate Schneider was paying me. AND the health benefits at Schneider are VERY expensive compared to other companies yet they are comparable in features.
The only thing I found good about Schneider was their training program.

Your fist paycheck had money in it? Mine said in the amount section "smile and a pat on the back!"

Anywho...I havent written you a email novel in the last two weeks...will have to send you one here tonight just so you can get a good nights sleep.