What should i do? How should i do it?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by TypicalLowLife, Nov 22, 2014.

  1. TypicalLowLife

    TypicalLowLife Bobtail Member

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    I didn't mean to be a caps warrior in the description, I just wanted to have a bold title.
    Anywhoo.... I'm writing because I was thinking, well not really thinking I've already made my mind up that I'm going away for truck driving in January to hopefully become a team driver at Schneider. I guess being a femalei can never be too sure if the choice to drive for Schneider is the best I keep watching YouTube videos, reading blogs and forums to get others opinions and suggestions. So far I've heard great things..... Until just recently when I was browsing the YouTube and found a video about different truck driver pays. I was reading the comments and BOOM! Someone made a comment saying "I would never work for a big company like Schneider, CR England, Prime, etc. Always go with the smaller companies. I don't know what I would do if I made less than 1,000 a week" the comment had me so confused because I thought Schneider was a good paying company and had never heard about any smaller companies that pay that great. I guess my question to this forum is.. which is better? Big companies (I.e. Schneider, Prime, CR England, Knight) or something smaller and if something smaller are there any companies like those in Indianapolis, IN that hire new grads?? Please let me know.

    PS. SORRY FOR THE BROKEN ENGLISH. THIS IS ALL. VIA: CELLPHONE.
     
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  3. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Schneider is a good company; not a bad choice at all.
    Some mega companies aren't the best for solo drivers but are excellent for team operations.

    Here's some good ones:

    Old Dominion (terminal in Indy)
    Pride Transport
    US Express
    Covenant Transport
    Tyson Foods

    There's dozens more, but these hire new CDL grads and have good reputation for teams & Indianapolis is in their hiring area.
     
    Last edited: Nov 22, 2014
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  4. Vilhiem

    Vilhiem Road Train Member

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    I'm working for SNI now, and while I'm on a dedicated account I have to say the pay is pretty good. I'm starting out, so right now it isn't uncommon for me to bring home 800-900$ checks weekly, BUT that will go up to 1k a week after six months. At least during my training, they know that you're not only someone looking for a job, but also an investment for them. So they'll work with you in most cases if you need something.

    My only caution to you about team, especially *if* you are new, is to make sure you know and can trust the person you're teaming with... I personally couldn't ever do team, I like my space and I like my quiet.

    Side note, I believe J B Hunt also hires new grads. You might check there? (I don't know their rep)

    I have heard bad things about Prime drivers/the company... Either way, best of luck to you!

    http://schneiderjobs.com/
     
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  5. CJndaTruck

    CJndaTruck Road Train Member

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    As with anything you have to remember that you need a start. It's like starting in the mailroom. Not the best pay but a good base to learn from. What you do with that initial knowledge will determine if you are successful or not. I say work hard, remember it's not for ever and don't think everything will be rosy from day one. It's a tough industry. You will be tested.
     
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  6. Vilhiem

    Vilhiem Road Train Member

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    I was told that from day 1. In the past two months driving, I have learned quite a bit. I enjoy a hellish learning curve and challenge.

    So that's about as accurate as you can get.
     
  7. Moosetek13

    Moosetek13 Road Train Member

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    TLL... funny name.

    Why would you want to be a team driver, when you have no experience at all?
    You need to learn to drive - and do the things a trucker does - before you decide to share your space and time with someone else.

    You may have heard that teams make a bit more money, but that comes at a high cost.
    You give up half your storage space for food and clothing. And it is not very big to begin with.
    You give most forms of alone time.
    You give up just relaxing at the end of your day, because you are always bouncing around in a moving truck.
    If both of you prefer to run in the day time, which of you run at night? Because you can't simply switch your day/night cycle at a whim.

    At any rate you, as a new driver, don't have the option of going for most small companies that only hire more experienced drivers.
    You are just starting out, so you'll likely have to go with a starter company - like Prime or Swift or...

    As such you will probably be in a training program that starts you out as solo and then moves you and your trainer into team status.
    It is at that point that you will know if you really want to run as a team, or be by yourself as a solo driver.
    Keep in mind that everything that bothers you while training in team status will only get worse if you team full time.
     
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  8. Sik_Life

    Sik_Life Medium Load Member

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    Jan 25, 2014
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    You gotta remember most of the people who will comment on a YouTube video will one up anything that's presented in the video. A guy could claim to make 1 million dollars a day driving for so and so and there would be 10 guys that say that's nothing I been driving for 31 years and wouldn't get out of bed for that much.
     
  9. seamallowance

    seamallowance Medium Load Member

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    Check out May Trucking (Gary, IN)
    A lot smaller than Schneider, and not bad pay for entry level drivers.
     
  10. dennisroc

    dennisroc Road Train Member

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    Where in Indiana are you from ? Carter Express out of Anderson , IN hires students. Seems like a good company. Might want to check them out also.
     
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  11. PChase

    PChase Road Train Member

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    "In order to fly one must first stand and walk" (Friedrich Nietzsche)
    at a very minimum start with a company like Prime and after you've paid off the training note and have accumated OTR experience switch to another company.
     
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