My One Hour Working for Schneider

okay, so a little background. Have 2 years exp, took last 8 months off to go to college. Got tired of making $200 on a part time job in Florida, and started looking into returning to Truck driving, this time in the oilfields....

I try to do my homework on oilfields and was contacted by a recruiter who in turn relayed me to another "screener" who relayed me to a recruiter for Schneider. (First Red Flag). But I figured, hear them out. They were offering a $2500 sign on bonus with a $70k earning potential oilfield job in the Odessa, TX area. I decided to go forward with them, but then they told me that Odessa had JUST FILLED UP, but they had 4 spots open in San Antonio. This one of course DIDNT have a sign on bonus, and had a $20k reduction in first year earnings.... (hello second RED FLAG). But I figured, if it helps me to relocate to Texas (having a job HELPS haha) I decided to move forward.

I completed THEIR DOT and OSHA physicals and drug tests in Florida last week (driving an hour and a half to Sarasota just to get there from Fort Myers.) Passed both, asked the Doctor if there was anything else they needed. They said no, Schneider didnt request any further testing. At this point I was starting to think this was in the bag.

Talked to the recruiter again who told me that I would have to switch my residency to Texas within 30 days of hire... I said, no problem, I was going to be driving to Dallas for the orientation and would driver straight to San Antonio afterwards directly. (I WAS NOT GOING BACK TO FLORIDA).... She promised gas reimbursements and orientation pay of $80/day for 7 days.

I got to Dallas Sunday night, drive 2 days to get there from Florida. Slept in my truck (tacoma) overnight at a truck stop in Louisiana and checked into the hotel Sunday night after putting my dog in a boarder 30 minutes away.

Monday I was picked up for orientation and within 15 minutes of being there was told I needed to pass another physical. This one measuring a persons heartbeat while they work. I said fine, but due to lack of sleep, stress, (and probably the biscuits and gravy for breakfast) halfway through the test, my heartbeat exceeded their limit by 2 beats per minute. They allowed 167 bpm, I had gotten to 169 bpm. they informed me the test was being stopped for "safety" reasons and that I could retest in 7 days if I choose to.

When I asked why I couldnt retest then, I was told it wasnt an option. Then, in record time, they put me in a separate room, while a guy asked me if I ever thought about driving VANS for them....

I said "NO I haven't thought about driving vans for you, you dont pay for #### and you arent pet friendly." He then said, "I know pets are important..... but you know.... working is important too."..... in a VERY patronizing tone.....

When I asked why this new test wasn't administered in Florida along with the DOT and OSHA physicals, I was given no answer....

I moved across the country thinking this job was a wrap (based on THEIR tests, and words to me).... and then, KNOWING I was in-between a rock and a hard-place, they tried to PRESSURE me into driving dry vans for their #### paid fleet......


Those of you who have read my posts before know that I am not one to rail and rant against someone or a company.... but this was so low that I honestly do not even know where to begin.... I know I know.... its Schneider.... I should have known.... but trust me.... that lesson was learned.... and learned well...

If anyone is curious as to where I landed.... having limited options, and not wanting to be homeless for long... I searched through the internet, found an ad for National Carriers (who ARE pet friendly), and after explaining to the recruiter what had just happened to me, they were so horrified, (and probably due to my clean DAC, got me a hotel in Dallas THAT night (Monday 6/24/13) and worked me into orientation the next morning...... (even though their orientation started Monday)

I know it may not be the greatest company.... but they came through when I needed them to, and have treated me with some measure of respect so far.... I wasnt planning on going back to OTR.... but I guess it beats being homeless and unemployed..... (thanks to Schneider)

 

the position they brought me to Dallas for was a LOCAL driving position... I wasnt trying to bring my dog on a schneider truck... read the whole ##### story before opening up your mouth


EDIT: That was probably a little harsh with bluesparrow.... but its been a stressful few days...

Again, Schneider recruited me for a LOCAL driving job out of San Antonio... and instead of giving me all their tests in Florida, they allowed me to drive to Dallas KNOWING I was packing everything up and KNOWING I was bringing my dog.... then tried to use THAT knowledge against me so that they could squeeze me into their van fleet....

F that!

 

Bluesparrow..... from your profile, I learned that 1) you have bee a truck driver less than 3 months.... and 2) you started with Schneider....

Its always hard when you hear someone bad mouthing your first company.... was the same way for me with KLLM. The difference being.... I worked for KLLM for at least 6 months before I tried to defend them.... you have ZERO personal experience with Schneider yet... you are still on the honeymoon phase.... so what I am about to say, please take with a grain of salt.... I truly mean no disrespect....

Until you have fought with your carrier at least 2 times because they didnt get you home by your requested date...
Until you have fought with your carrier because they asked you to repower a load that was never going to be there on time and then tried to give YOU the service failure...
Until you have fought with your companies SHOP because they just cant seem to get your requested repairs done correctly...
Until you have fought with your carrier and your dispatcher because they "ALLUDED" to being in a crunch and needing you to driver after your 11/14 to get a load delivered on time...
and until you have bailed your carrier out of jam after jam KNOWING the only reward was knowing you did the right thing....

you really need to be quiet.... and LISTEN to those who have seen it, done it, and lived through it..... at least until you know the difference between double clutching and floating....