schneider questions

Well I don't run OTR with them but I haven't heard of people spending much time sitting. With most big companies like Schneider, there is a chance you could sit or wait for a load, however they do their best to keep you moving from what I have seen.

 

from what i've read/heard from other drivers, it depends on what you're running (otr,dedicated,regional, etc.) and where you are. freight varies from one place to another as do the number of other available trucks around you and your available hours compared to these other drivers as well.

 

Right...I think, lol.
*Dedicated...you are on a set account with a specific amount of other drivers...I don't think you sit at all because you have either specific stops, or a set route to complete that is assigned to you permanently, or just for that particular day.
*OTR and regional...I think this is where one would spend their time sitting, if any.
*They do brag about their computer system that, if you plan your route correctly, in theory, you should have a load assignment waiting for you at the end of the run you are doing. ie...plan yer trip, update it as you progress and they should have another assignment for you ready to go. How well that system actually works, I dunno. I think it is better however than waiting for a dispatcher to find you a load...the computer does all the work.

 

i've heard lots of schneider otr drivers talking about having to hunt for an empty trailer after a drop/hook delivery. i'm actually considering applying for one of their dedicated accounts now, just not sure if i'm going to do it or not.

 

I've heard that too but I don't know exactly what they mean...I imagine its what they have to deal with at the Operating Centers. When I trained in CA, they had a big drop yard with a bunch of orange trailers. One would go in there and have to drive around looking for another one and match up the trailer numbers with their assignment to find a new one. I don't think that problem is as bad outside of the yard. They did try to organize the yards at one time, but from what I've heard, that didn't work out that well.
At the same time, one of my classmates had a hard time finding a trailer that had no problems with it. In training, I did see them pull quitea few trailers into the work bays to get fixed or a PM...I think that lots of drivers just don't report issues. On my dedicated thing, I report the problem and as soon as it makes its way back to Denver, it gets put out of service (depending on the issue) until it gets fixed. Or if the problem is bad enough, I send in a macro and get it worked on out on the road at Bobs House of Waffles and Trailer Repair.

 

I didn't hardly ever have to wait for my next load when I was with them. You usually have your next load in your Qcom before you even drop the one you have in the box....the problems for me came when I got my paycheck...they like to screw that up weekly.

 

I've often heard that, with the big carriers liek Schneider and Swift, even in the crappy areas, they won't have you sitting for long, if at all.

I, too, am looking at a dedicated run for them...I'll just see what I'd make there as opposed to my mail run now.

 

Am I to understand that when you are sitting and waiting for a load, you are not being paid? Why is that? Why would you be okay with that? I mean you are working for the company even though you are waiting to be dispatched. What am I missing here?

 

Why would you get paid? What would they be paying you for? Truck driving isn't an hourly job really. You get paid by the mile, so if you are sitting you aren't making anything.
However, a lot of companies, including Schneider pay if you are sitting for a certain period of time....generally if you are empty and available and you sit for 24 hours then you would get layover pay.
I believe most companies do what they can to keep you moving all the time, since they don't make money if you are sitting either.