Do most companies Throttle miles?

Well, that's when you say, "I really don't care what anyone else runs, but either put me to work or I'm gone. Your choice. "

 

With only 6 months of experience, this may not be his best option. Hiring is slow right now and so is freight.

 

Yes, I do, on occasion if it's the only company that has something a particular driver wants, such as paid cdl school + tankers at graduation. Also, if a potential driver is in an area where very few companies hire new drivers, such as Miami and South of Miami or lives in the Northeast close to the Canadian border.

 

It's the slow time of the year, in a slow economy. All you can do is keep asking for miles and don't turn down trips that aren't dream trips.

 

Are you setting your NAT or are you letting ETAI/trip planning app set your NAT?

 

@SafetyPin --

Schneider veteran here.

If you now have 6 months experience....and you are (still) running with Schneider out of the Dallas area....one option you might consider (in lieu of quitting for another carrier) is to look for other opportunities within Schneider.

One of the BIG advantages of running with a starter carrier like Schneider is that there are so many accounts, and also.....several different types of freight. You can "job hop" inside of Schneider, and build up some good experience with different types of freight -- without having to go on to another carrier.

Most new(er) drivers that run with a carrier like that totally overlook the many and varied opportunities that exist.....often right at their feet.

As you've already seen earlier, and elsewhere -- freight in general right now pretty much stinks, and so going to another carrier may or may not solve your mileage (and $$$$) problem.

With all that said -- a suggestion: now that you have 6 months under your belt with the "Big Orange"...instead of quitting and going on to another carrier, put in for a request to move over to INTERMODAL duty.

"Intermodal -- where the rubber meets the rail"

As I recall -- in the Dallas area Schneider has A LOT of intermodal work.

The intermodal group is often the "darling" of the fleets at Schneider -- because that division has consistently made them the most money.

And because of this -- you're very likely to make more money over in intermodal, as well.

With intermodal -- depending on your situation, you could be home every night -- or run regional, and be home every week.

I ran regional -- and thus was home every week.

In hindsight -- I'm glad I made a move like that -- because it gave me a worthwhile chance to exit a situation there that I was unhappy with, and it also gave me some longevity with my first carrier -- which (later on) makes any driver look more like the kind of "team player" that other carriers like to hire anyway.

If there are absolutely no intermodal opportunities currently available where you are -- try something else....like looking for and requesting a dedicated Schneider account. A dedicated account will often get you the consistent miles that you need, anyway.

HOWEVER -- AVOID ANY/ALL DEDICATED ACCOUNTS WITH ANY OF THE "DOLLAR" STORES: Dollar General, Family Dollar, and Dollar Tree.

Those jobs are nightmares for newer drivers.

-- L

 

Note they said what you could "expect" this does not mean it is a done deal, now if for instance they guaranteed you the miles or they'd pay you the difference and this was written in your contract then yes you'd have something valid to talk about, saying one thing and doing another with a company are two very different things, as some have mentioned the recruiters aren't going to say "oh you might get 2500 miles a week" are they, no their going to be solid about it "yes you can expect 2500 miles" expect and get are two very different things which I'm sure your finding out. Stick with it though a pay check is a pay check better then not earning anything right? See if things improve during early March as the temps warm up and work starts to improve after the winter months. If it's still bad by around April then I might be inclined to look elsewhere. Other things to consider to is to get 2500 miles is that over 5 days or 6. Like for example if you could drive at an average speed of 60 mph over 11 hours that's around 660 miles per day. Over 5 days that should give you over 3000 miles. If your getting less than 2500 miles per week that means your averaging less than 500 miles per day. As a regional driver though I would not expect to be getting the same miles as an OTR driver. Anyway hope things pick up for you in spring.

 

Oh man, sign me up for all the lumper grocery warehouse loads. Real nice to make big bucks while I'm sleeping waiting around forever.