50,000 miles in an orange governed machine...

I had planned to make a post on my sixth month in, but I think I'll have too much to say if I wait too long. In a nutshell, this is my experience with Schneider, the good, the bad and the downright what the ####?

Like I usually do when I make long posts, I'll summarize at the BOTTOM of each portion. I'll even mark it with asterisks like *this.* I would encourage anyone interested in working for Schneider to read the whole post, but I will leave that up to each person.

Quick background: (This is not relevant to my experience, but it may help some realize where I'm coming from. I'll keep this quick.)

I started off in retail prior to becoming a trucker, paid my way through school and got hired over the Labor Day weekend. (Interview process and initial hiring process prior to orientation took place the week after Labor day.) I'm in my mid-twenties and aim to either become a safe million-mile driver or go back into healthcare into what may be my dream job. Either way, full goal is to become a Canadian citizen.

*From here on out, it's all about my experience.*

You may be required to go and get another exam by a Schneider approved doctor for your DOT card, just as a warning and heads up.

First month:

Starting off with the orientation process, Schneider makes the first week about as painless as a bandaid coming off. It's really not that bad, but there is lots of paperwork to be filled out and very little driving done the first couple days. You'll be asked to fill out the usual paperwork associated with the workplace, tax forms and so on. The 3rd day we are put behind the wheel of one of their old, beat-up training semi-trucks, 53 foot trailer included.

I liked the trainer I got, younger guy about my age with a family. He was easy-going and held his dream-career prior to being a driver; I'd learned that many people who work for Schneider started off in what they felt was their dream career and became disillusioned with what the reality was. I am curious if that is applicable to others, but I digress. The guy who I was paired with to be trained, well that's an ordeal. Our trainer's job, for sake of ease we will call him Steve, was to take us out and evaluate our ability to drive safely out on the road. Steve drove for about 20 minutes to a local truckstop and then proceeded to ask who wanted to go first. I originally volunteered to try first, I was antsy and eager to get behind the wheel of a "real" truck.

Unfortunately I would have to wait. On our ride over, we will call the other student I was paired with Anthony, began asking strange questions. I don't mean questions that would raise the eyebrow of the CIA, FBI, or otherwise. It was more like, "How did you get from that gear to the other?" "So, you're in neutral now?" "Why did you swing so far out?" No, I'm not joking. I wished I was. Steve decided that it would be wiser to have Anthony drive first.

Now, my mother is a middle school teacher, and my father is a preacher. I worked in a pharmacy and in food service prior. ...what I mean to say is, there's not much that scares me. That day, I wished I had brought at least two changes of underwear. The fact that Anthony didn't hit anything with the trailer was a marvel in and of itself. Every curb he passed was clean from the scrubbing he gave them. Starbucks would've hired this guy because he was grinding so much. I'm white-knuckling in sleeper hanging on for dear life and re-commiting my life to Christ for the 4th time that day. 3 miles down the road, after failing to shift from 5 to 6 (Never flipped the switch up.) repeatedly; Steve reached over, popped the hazards and the knobs.

"Get the #### out of the driver's seat." Steve drove back the rest of the way. All the while Anthony was trying to get another chance. When we were safely back at the terminal, Steve asked me to hang on a bit and sent Anthony back inside. Steve wanted to make sure he wasn't dreaming and that I had seen Anthony's cdl in class. I repeated what I said earlier about needing spare underwear to him.

Turns out, Anthony did get his class A. In Texas. With an automatic ton-truck pulling a flatbed hot-shot trailer; this after the school Anthony went to (Which I might add, is one of the worst in the state.) flat-out refused to let him take the CDL exam in Georgia. For reference, Georgia requires you to use the same type of truck during the exam that you'll use on the job. Thankfully, he was kicked out of the program.

From that point on, it was okay. The next student I was paired with was a hold-over from Schneider Bulk; he happened to be going on the same account I'd applied for and a ####-good driver from what I could tell. During the course of the training, we helped each other out on the areas we needed. Overall, from that point on, the training became a mix of a comedy club filled with crass, sarcastic jokes and enjoyable banter about anything and everything. We enjoyed ourselves and by the end of the week we knew what we needed to work on for the week out with our T.E.; even at that point our skills had improved greatly.

It gets faster from here, I promise.

The second week I was out with my Training Engineer. We will call him Mike. The first day Mike had full control over the truck, gave me some background on himself and explained how the week was going to go. Please note that your experience with your T.E. will very likely be different, but if it isn't similar to mine then your T.E. isn't doing his job right.

Mike told me the following: "Today, this truck is mine. Today, this load is mine. Today, you're my student. That, is today. Tomorrow, you're in my seat. Tomorrow, my job is to make sure you're not going to kill someone and that you'll do this job safely. Tomorrow, whatever you need help with will be worked on. Tomorrow, this truck is yours and I'm just a passenger."

He followed that to the letter. I made the calls and choices and I learned from his experiences. When I sat in the driver's seat, he reminded me of my job. "Your job is to get the cargo, yourself, and everyone around you safely to their destination. Being on-time comes second." It made sense to me, and I use a similar logic when I'm driving. Though I shortened it to, "In what order would I rather piss someone off? The law, the company, or the shipper?" Admittedly, I was scared. So I was slower than I should've been behind the wheel, but Mike was patient with me despite most our loads being late that week. It sucked, but there was a great deal to cover. When I left his rig, I felt confident that I could do this job effectively and Mike assured me that as I gained confidence and skill I would feel more comfortable going faster and my loads wouldn't be late without an uncontrollable reason. (Traffic, breakdown, ect.) The very last thing he told me was that the GPS doesn't have a brain, you do. If it doesn't seem right, don't do it.

Mike and I got along pretty well; in typical trucker fashion we're both busy doing our jobs but we do get the occasional chance to say hello to the other and ask how things are going. However, that's not to say I didn't hear horror stories about other T.E.'s. Schneider is very serious about their T.E.'s. If you get a bad one, or if yours doesn't allow you the chance to learn the skills you need, report them as soon as you've the chance.

Third week was about as boring as you can get. Yep. It wasn't anything but soft skills where we learned how to use our electronic nann...I mean, Qualcomm, properly and how to utilize all of it's features. That, and trip-planning. Schneider's method of trip-planning isn't what you'll use in the real world, but it's a great start until you learn how you run. (Miles * 1.1)/50= time needed for travel. The third week was also our testing week, it's nothing like what the DDS/DMV puts you through. Schneider's version is a great deal easier, plus you get to use their cards provided from the start for your pre-trips, hook-up procedures, and brake tests. So it's difficult to miss anything. The driving test is similar to what you'll see from the DDS, but admittedly that wasn't hard. Drive around, be safe, don't scrub curbs and park in the lot without hitting anything. That's the basics.

Fourth week was my first week. Alone. In the truck. Nobody looking over my shoulder in the passenger seat watching what I was doing. Nobody coaching me on load tabs, pre-trips, and trip-planning... I was alone at the wheel of a 20 ton hunk of metal... My first thought? "...oh god. Schneider trusts me. I'm new. Never done this. And they expect me to..." But the load had to be done. And it got done.

My first stop was in Rome, Ga. Not that far from home. Not even 100 miles. I got there on-time, and even got past the hiccup I had when I was out with my T.E. and missed a turn. I was relieved! Maybe I could do this! So I unloaded the truck, did my paperwork and set back out. This time my nose was aimed for Hiram, Ga. Less than 60 miles away from my first stop. All was going well until the on-board GPS threw me a curve ball. "Turn right onto Georgia highway..."

I panicked. There was no road on the right. Nothing! It was a car lot! I can't turn in there! ...but wait, at the next light I can turn right. Maybe that's what it meant? (Now, give me a break. It's dark out and I can't read the road signs. Not to mention my GPS wants me to do something stupid.) So I turn there at the light thinking I was going down the right road once more. Looking over at the GPS, I feel satisfied since it's moved onto the next set of instructions. A silent cheer starts in my mind that's interrupted by, "Out of route."

Nooooo! It can't be! I did what you said! I followed what you said! How can I be out of route?!

Immediately I began looking for a place to turn around, unfortunately all the places that had lots large enough were gated off. Anything else just didn't have the space. My option was simply to keep going forward. And then comes the dreaded sign. That sign that says, "Heh. Thought you could go this way eh? Nope! You screwed up. Have fun turning around!" The no trucks sign.

I pulled my 4-ways and my knobs immediately and got out to look around for anything that was a viable area to turn around. My only other option was to do a blind-side 90-degree back into the driveway of a shipper. A gate was at the end with just enough room for my trailer to fit on the driveway and on either side was a two foot ravine for a drainage pipe. I gave the driveway a shot, but couldn't get the right angle I needed. So I pressed on. Down a road barely large enough to allow 4-wheelers to pass each other. An hour and a half later, too many tight turns, 0 mailboxes killed, no 4-wheelers hurt, almost getting stuck going up a wet and leafy hill, and so many experience stories going through my head from other truckers, I arrived at my destination in Hiram.

*Schneider isn't going to put anyone on the road they know is unsafe, but their program isn't difficult to pass either. Don't expect your hand to be held, because there won't be anyone holding your hand when you're on your own. One of the first things you may learn on the road is that we are all a good friend of "Murphy." As in Murphy's Law. The second thing you may learn is that your gps is a tool, one you can use and should use; but DON'T rely upon it. 4-wheelers call it a, "Global Positioning System." We call it a, "Good Place to Start." I've encountered primarily friendly and helpful Schneider drivers, none of them haven't offered to help me somehow and all of their advice has been useful.*

Check back in a while for Month Two:

 

Month Two: Arrival of the burnt toast.

The second month was truthfully rather boring, though most of what I experienced will detail more of personal revelations and beginning to understand where my dispatcher/DBL is coming from. So I'm going to apologize in advance in the event this is a rather boring month. ...although, given the title, maybe it wasn't that boring.

So far the shininess of my new job hasn't worn off yet, the days still goes by and I'm in personal disbelief of two things. I'm making triple what I was at my previous job, and it's mostly less stressful too. There's of course the obvious moment I think everyone still has where you sit behind the wheel and think, "Yep. I'm really driving this time." And you marvel at what you're actively doing. Again, for the sake of ease, my Dispatcher/DBL will be called Bailey. It's important to note I'm not using anyone's real name; frankly the moniker I use on TTR is the closest thing to anyone's real name I've used.

Bailey was a former driver herself, when I had the chance I would sit and talk with her in her office to try and learn new things. She told me when she first met me that she was to both be my boss, but also a good resource and friend on the road. I was in disbelief at the time when she also added, "I was new once. You have a great deal to learn and it isn't because you're new; it's because this job demands it. The other two new hires that we brought onto this account both have former driving experience, which means you have a long ways to go. Stick with me though and we'll make you a trucker yet. That being said, there's very little that you can do or say that will surprise me." At the end of that short conversation I had to leave for my load to be delivered that day. Bailey's words rung repeatedly in my mind and admittedly scared me some. To be specific, it was the knowledge that the other two people who had been hired with me and I met in classes not only had previous driving experience (So I felt like I was competing against them.), but also that I had thought my T.E. Mike had taught me everything I needed to know about this account and my duties. Maybe he hadn't prepared me as well as I thought...

In the middle of all this, I'm hooking my trailer up. It's pre-tripped and I note that the tread on the tires is low. At this point, I didn't have a way to measure the tread depth so I was only going on what felt like too low. So my first instinct was to run over to the nearby operating center to get the tires changed. It was a good idea and I'm glad I stuck to it, but between the distraction of what Bailey had told me and now the tires, I had forgotten something important. You're welcome to guess.

I pull out of where the loaded trailer is parked, trailer in tow, brakes checked, lights checked and everything seems norm...SCRAAAPE. What the hell?! I panic for a moment and immediately pull my brakes, make sure the transmission is in neutral and plunge out the door making sure to keep my 3 points of contact on the way out. The plunging out the door in such a manner is admittedly a feat, especially when you're new to getting in and out of a rig. Schneider did push 3 points, and they push it constantly. Thankfully, that pushing hasn't failed me yet and to the day I'm writing this it still hasn't.

Anyone figure it out? It's really easy. My landing gear was still down. I felt flushed and immediately fixed the issue; then proceeded to re-check over everything else. Just in case. As I've said before, Murphy rides with us constantly. We are no strangers to Murphy's set of annoying laws. Again, I proceeded to pull out and away. This time successfully getting out onto the road and headed to the operating center to have the tire checked and if needed changed.

The remainder of that day went off without a hitch. My load wasn't on-time, mostly because of the tire, but I was legal. So being late didn't matter to me.

In truth, the remainder of the week went off without a hitch. Although I did come across a few other tires I felt that needed changing, but only that first one really needed it.

The next week was also relatively boring, although I began to realize three things.

1) The way SNI wanted me to trip plan didn't work that well for me, it gave too much time for me to get anywhere and I was wasting my 14.
2) The way Mike taught me to trip plan also didn't work, it always made me late.
3) There's a reason most of Schneider's dedicated accounts need a year worth of experience when applying.

That meant I needed to figure out my own way of trip-planning that worked for me. It wasn't in this month where I accomplished that, but in the third month. It also meant that I knew I had a long ways to go.

In the process of trying to figure out how to trip plan in a way that worked for me, all of my thoughts got thrown topsy turvy. Murphy decided to toss a monkey wrench into my little world of equations and calculable outcomes. I'm the kind of person who believes everything happens for a specific reason and there are no coincidences. It's a fine line that frequently crosses from the realm of free-will and choice, into repeatable circumstances of which we have no control over, and just as frequently crossed back over into free will.

During a pre-trip I discovered an air leak in my brakes. It was bad enough to cause the brakes to pop on their own with no pressure being placed upon the pedal in a half-hour or less. That was a 5 hour fix because the mechanic that SNI sent me too found several leaks, but each one he fixed wasn't the one that was causing the issue. Eventually, the issue was found. It was a switch in behind the dash that needed to be replaced. Curiously though, I noted right after that my cruise control didn't work. That's not a big deal, I don't mind. I did however discover how difficult it was to keep a consistent speed. On a flat surface it was easy, but on hills it was easy to not have the right amount of pressure on the accelerator. That meant that my once consistent 58-60mph was now an inconsistent 50-64mph.

Schneider brought in my tractor for it's quarterly preventative maintenance the weekend after the air-leak was discovered, I reminded the mechanics at the operating center of the air leak (the mechanic had found one more, but wasn't able to fix it.), and asked for the cruise control to be fixed as well. The mechanics stated they would look at the issues and fix what they could. Everything they could fix and do, they did. Except the cruise. They said they couldn't find anything wrong with it but they'd need more time to look at it if it still didn't work and gave me a few pointers.

It's no joke when Schneider says they take care of their equipment. People here on the forums will say that their trailers are beat up, and in truth they are. However, think about that for a moment. You can only do so much with what you have. It's harder and more costly to maintain a tractor, but it's also more expensive to replace a tractor. It's easy enough to putty up a hole in the side of a trailer so the DOT is satisfied; it doesn't look pretty but it is their method of keeping costs down. Other companies have nice equipment, trailers that look pretty and so on; so why can't Schneider? Look at those companies, they probably don't hire new drivers. If they do, it is far and few between.

I will move onto the very last week in that month. That week. That week sucked. It sucked so bad that Bill Clinton would've left his wife over it. Even Monika couldn't have compared. Every load that week was late, Bailey was on me about being late and I just couldn't get ahead no matter what I did. It was truly the week when the honeymoon was over, and believe me the burnt toast was not avoidable. By Friday, I was about ready to quit. I thought for sure I would be fired. It didn't help that my cruise wasn't working, but despite what other Schneider drivers had told me I was going to try and keep my overspeed at a relatively good level. They told me that if my cruise was busted, keep your foot on the floor. I was determined to make my bonus. I will admit that I eventually broke that thought, not because I wanted to, but because I knew I could drive safely at 64 and felt no real point in staying at 60.

The primary issue with this week was my last load. Houma, La. About a third of the way across the US. Some of you have already made a point about not using your gps as your only means of navigation. Now, I will make my point about it. Halfway through the trip, the GPS on my qualcomm froze. I couldn't do anything with it. When I realized this, I decided it was time to stop and make sure I knew which way I was going. I had read everything it told me prior to leaving, but knowing what it looked like on a map did wonders; plus I needed to verify what I had written down earlier. Everything seemed to check out just fine, and so I set back out on my journey. I called Bailey just for the sake of letting her know what was going on, and she seemed okay with it.

Here's where the problems started. Going through La, you eventually come to New Orleans with the way I was going. I was supposed to catch US 90 to get out to Houma. And I did. But instead of following the written instructions, I took an earlier exit for US 90. Big mistake. That exit took me through the heart of New Orleans and within a stones throw of the French Quarter, fully loaded with merchandise. I suppose that's not a big deal as long as you're moving. Except I lost sight of US 90 due to construction and a road closure. The closure made me realize that I needed to get back onto i10 and find where I was really supposed to be. Unfortunately, my only option out was to go the wrong-way down a one-way street, or to squeeze that tractor down a tiny road full of cars parked on either side. I will now introduce you to South Gayoso Street.

https://www.google.ca/maps/place/18...2!3m1!1s0x8620a5980c58a681:0xb58e4d8bbf1fa354

Go on, take a look. I encourage you to look, and if you can use the street view too. When I was on that street, everyone was home it seemed. Now, before I even went down that road I parked, pulled my brakes and started my 4-ways. Then I went and walked about halfway down the street to make sure I had the space I needed both vertical and horizontally, and from what i could tell I did.

I safely and uneventfully got within 200 feet of where I needed to turn back onto the main road to catch up with i10. Then my trailer decided it didn't like one of the power lines and that it needed to be thrown to the ground to be taught a lesson. I hadn't noticed this until after I saw two young black guys that had a look about them similar to gangsters chasing after me waving for me to stop. I knew where I was and I didn't like the idea that someone wanted me to stop, regardless of race. ...but my instincts told me I needed to stop, so I did and cracked a window to find out that I had pulled down a line. At this point, it was all just SOP. Call Schneider, call Bailey, call the police. I waited for the police for hours, I'm really not sure how long. I called them repeatedly and told them that I needed to leave but also needed the police to come out. By the time the police had come, it was rush hour in New Orleans and there were passers by who stopped to cuss me out for blocking the road. (Admittedly I was, but I didn't want to move the tractor just in case the police had a problem and there was room for 4-wheelers to pass me.)

Turns out the neighborhood was actually full of some nice people, one lady did come out to tell me that I wasn't supposed to be on this road. I apologized to her and explained what was going on, and that I would move as soon as I was able. About a half hour later she came back out and offered me some sweet tea she just made. After being outside for an hour and directing people around me, it was good sweet tea.

The sun had begun to set by the time the police arrived, and to my annoyance the dispatcher (Not the officer) began to cuss and swear because he didn't understand why I needed an officer sent out. I smiled and politely gave the officer my info and he waved me on. I safely got to my destination that night, and very willingly went over my 14 hours. I don't encourage anyone doing that, but I was tired of the delays.

On my way back from Houma, all the while feeling sorry for myself and kicking myself for being late and having so many issues, I stopped halfway back for my 30 minute break; by the time I started moving again I was feeling better about myself. Just enough to have a small thought begin to grow in the back of my mind. "This I can do. I don't feel stressed out anymore."

I started to ask myself why it was that I wasn't stressed out on the way back. I wasn't doing anything different. I wasn't in traffic, and I had no accidents or anything that should stress me. Then it hit me, I'm not stressed because I WASN'T IN A RUSH. I knew I had someplace to be, and I knew I couldn't take my sweet time, but I wasn't rushed.

I ran for another two hours until I decided I needed to pee. And then, using what I knew, I set out to make my way of trip-planning so I wouldn't be rushed anymore. (Miles, rounded up to the nearest 50. For every 200 miles I travel, I would add 20 more miles and then divide by 50. That would equal my time to travel.) I'll admit it is odd, but I like to stop and stretch every once in a while, so between the round up and what I would add on, it gave me ample time to stop and not be in a rush and minimize my mistakes.

If you're a newbie, and you start to feel like I did. Like you can't do it, or you can't keep up. Try to repeat the same steps that I did, and if they help then pass it on to another newbie. If it doesn't, then try once more. After that, then you might want to talk to a family member or someone who can help you pace through and find out what's going on.

Upon explaining this to Bailey, she smiled, handed me my next assignment and said, "Good. Now test it out. I'm glad you figured that one out on your own."

*My apologies as this particular month is a ramble and scramble. Maybe it wasn't that boring a month. But I learned that there is no real one formula for everyone to use for trip-planning, everyone drives differently. I also learned that while it's wise to have alternate methods, it's a ####-good rule to stick to a well-thought-out plan. Sometimes what seems like the easy way, really isn't. Don't get into a rush, there's no reason to get into a rush. It's silly. Plan ahead and stick with it. Then when you think you have a plan, check it again. The less chances that you give Murphy to intervene, the better off you'll be. Schneider gave me the tools and resources to figure this one out, but they didn't hold me hand and tell me how to do it. Learning this job is a great deal like a lego set. You have all the pieces, and you have the instructions. If you can't follow the instructions, that's not lego's fault. Take responsibility for your own actions and I encourage you at the end of every day to replay the entire day and figure out what you could've done better.*

Month 3 will be on it's way soon enough, but for now I have to sleep. My load leaves at 1am, and I dare not be late anymore!

 

Month three:

Placeholder

(Only doing 4 months in. But 5 posts total, 5th post will summarize everything.)

 

Month Four:

Placeholder.

 

Last placeholder, i promise. A summary of all 6 months.

(Mods, if this isn't okay. You can merge them. I wasn't sure.)

 

I keep the gps muted now. It's something I will get into later, but keeping the gps muted causes less issues for me. I use the atlas too, but the atlas is only good to a point.

Also, I hope I wasn't sounding disparaging about the shortness of training. There's too much to just teach, you could be there months and still not properly learn everything.

As of right now, I'm working in slowly making my rig not only more livable, but more "user friendly" for me. Some of those things I'll post up when done.

A small dry erase board is what I'm after, but I plan to rig it with low-light LEDs since I drive at night so I can see what's written.

 

Thanks. I'm tired and about to fall over conveniently into my bed, but I'll keep that in mind. Luckily, I'm past month 4, come March 18 I'll be in month 6.

I can be long-winded...so hopefully it's interesting enough and has good info so it's worthwhile.