Schneider Bulk Training

Finally finished with my TE and will do my final testing (SQTs) Monday - Wednesday. After this I will be issued my own truck. They told me that I can choose to take 3 to 4 days off or request a truck and see if it will be issued the next day. This will be what I will try to do, I ended up getting Saturday and Sunday off so I can head right out. The Bulk division is in the middle of making a transition to the workflow process that the Van side uses so everything that I have learned over the past 2 weeks with my TE will be changed and I will need to attend another 4 hour training seminar for this new process.

Here are a few things I learned along the way,

Dont expect it to be a one on one experience with the trainer, you may or may not be in the truck with a TE alone. My TE had 2 guys at all times. I believe this applies mostly to the local and regional trainers. I had to take last Monday and Tuesday off, with pay, so that he could run a couple of experienced guys through. They are apparently very understaffed.

Whatever you learned your first 2 weeks at the Academy, try to forget most of that and re-learn everything the way it actually works. Remember to retain just enough of the original content to pass your final tests.

Just because your based out of a certain OC doesnt mean you will test out there. For instance, I am out of the Houston OC and there was a timelast week when they wanted to send me to Gary, IN to do my testing.

Schnieder can be very disorganized at times.


I am enjoying it and feel I made a good decision coming here. I am waiting, somewhat impatiently, to get out on my own and experience what the day to day operations are really like.

I am interested in being an IC for them after 6 mo to a yr. I understand they have a very good program for ICs.

 

SQTs are done and I have been issued a truck. I asked to be issued a truck right after testing and they did just that. It was being cleaned and a pm done yesterday and this morning. I will have to meet with an OSR Friday at noon to get the truck outfitted with everything they want you to have on it and hopefully get my 1st load.

Here is how the SQTs went for me,

Day 1 - Pre trip, Coupling, Driving, slow manuevers & backing, post trip and uncoupling. You will also have trip planning.

Day 2 - Unnloading reviews for pump and air in the morning, testing on both in the afternoon.

Day 3 - Unloading troubleshooting class, this was a fun day, today was fun. They will "break" the equipment and teach you ways to fix or continue even though you have these issues. Very informative.

There are some other items that will be mixed in these 3 days.

Various surveys of you TE
4 Cascadia videos showing you how the different items on your truck work. Truck interior, Motor, Onguard and Park Smart.
Workflow Class and 1 Video

 

Thanks Firespock, my truck number is 27560. I was not told of the slow manuevers test but thanks for the heads up. I am not too concerned about it though, I have driven before, back in 2010, and operated a hotshot company before this, last year, so I have spent plenty of time in and out of the truckstops. Schneider wouldnt recognize my past driving experience since there was misinformation from the company back in 2010 so I was put in the ADTC class. I didnt mind too much though it seemed the training was much better than the experienced guys recieved. They moved me between experienced and ADTC 4 times before I started. I even started class as experienced and was switched the final time 2 days after class started. Your forum was one of the things that helped make my decision to go to Schneider. It took a while but I enjoyed reading all 135 pages of it!!
I meet with an OSR tomorrow at noon to get everything fitted out. My DBL is as new as I am and I am concerned about that being an issue. I was told they could have me a load by 1500 tomorrow, I hope so but I wont be holding my breath.
I saw you posted that you were switching to QC but I had noticed you were talking about being an IC for Schneider before that, what changed your mind, if you dont mind sharing. I have been considering making the swtich to an IC after 6 months and would appreciate the insight. I spoke to a QC IC 2 weeks ago and he had nothing but good things to say, he had been there for 2 yrs.
I look forward to reading about your new adventures and Good luck to you. I will see if I can find the pm area on here and message you. If you get through Houston before your time is up let me know. Thanks again!!

 

I'm understand being home more. Ive got 3 kids myself and hate being away but most all my jobs have taken me away. I was interested in the choice program if it ever actually makes it to the bulk side. I'm not stuck on any company really, I want to make money and have the option for being home. I came here for the training and to gain the experience I need. There are a lot of tanker companies hiring in the Houston area almost always. I had planned on staying 6 mo to a yr and exploring my options then. They told me they were going to find me a regional spot or dedicated. Ill wait and see.