Running With Schneider!

Thank you..it seems to be just that way

 

So $1100 a week run say 2500 miles a week fuel $4.25 @7mpg so your about $1500 a week in fuel $1500+$1100=$2600 a week yep OK. My bad



So I forget what kind if truck do you lease again?

 

sometimes the night shift can be better less traffic LOL.. just sucks when winter sets in and your driving in bad weather..

 

Well I'm crossing my fingers and saying a long prayer tonight San Antonio freightliner said they finally, after 8 days, got my part in today and that my truck should be up and running tomorrow afternoon.. I spoke with my ICR today filled them in they advise me to get the truck and road test it myself then log into the qualcomm and reset my NAT and then book loads so prob won't leave SA till thursday night or Friday morning but at least I'll be running and only cost to me for the truck will be oil change Yeah I lost a week but I've made over 2k in my first 4 weeks then I did at my other job so I'm not died yet.. now a few more days maybe different story but I'll be back up and running and stashing away money in no time.. I'm not scared to push it and run hard to get back on top again.. hope everyone is trucking down the road

 

Freight has slowed down, I don't know if its to many IC's on the choice program.

 

Bunch of freight coming out of p&g neelys landing, mo between sept 1st thru sept 12th. Paying company drivers bonus to stay out during that time, supposedly 100+ loads per day. Not sure if its available for choice drivers or what it pays, just an FYI

 

We use the same load boards as company drivers. Thanks for the heads up

 

Well sounds like the issues with my company truck were more serious than the fan clutch, the radiator itself is being replaced along with who knows what else. They had everything they needed except they "lost" 4 bolts that apparently are needed because some mounting bracket changed. How a truck shop can get a repair held up by 4 bolts going missing, I do not know. But then again, yes, this is the Atlanta shop.

Needless to say I've been bored all day sitting at the hotel, so I just finished up my o/o application on Schneiders site. There was an application for the Choice program, and another one for Company Driver to O/O, I chose to fill out the latter one, hopefully its the right one. Anyway... here's to hoping they'll get back with me soon so I can get the ball rolling.

Can someone explain a bit about the maintenance accounts - I know it varies depending on the age of the truck. My biggest concern about purchasing a truck from Schneider has been the high payments. If I were to choose an older, cheaper truck that I found to be in solid shape, could I "fill" up that maintenance account at the start (kind of like a down payment), and then only have the truck and associated insurance, etc., payments to make?

If I do get accepted into the Choice program I will really be weighing my options between financing through Schneider or brining in an "outside" truck that I finance through someone else or a dealer. My problem is my credit history - its not bad, its just NOT THERE. I (stupidly) have never used a credit card much and any big purchases I have made I've simply saved up for and made when I had the cash... I've never borrowed from the bank.

I have a feeling that will make purchasing a truck from any kind of a dealer all but impossible. I looked into Lone Mountain a little bit, their payments are reasonable but I am not interested in any of their inventory... They have some Peterbilts with a 13 speed and an ISX but I've heard about a lot of drivers having issues with ISX's after they started putting the EGR valves on them, and I'm guessing these probably have a DPF too. Won't even look at an International or a Volvo. They have some T660s too, but again, ISX and Ultrashift. Nope. If I could find a pre-EGR ISX I'd consider it... but if I'm going with a Cummins I'd much rather just have an N14, but no leasing company is gonna have a truck with one of them in it.

So that may just leave me with needing to purchase a truck from Schneider... I like the Cascadias and mine (the company truck) has been really reliable with no problems other than this issue with the cooling system. The DD15 gets great mileage and the truck would have a warranty too if I went the new truck route... I know thats what most of ya'll are doing and it seems to be working out well for you. My only issue is that when I get this truck, I don't have any plans to just lease it and then turn it back in at the end... I keep vehicles for a long time (I still drive the same pickup truck I got when I was 16) and enjoy making them "my own". That's all to say I'm a little uneasy about making the payments on a new truck that is not spec'd to my liking - if Schneider would be willing to let me order one with a 13/18spd I'd be much more interested in this route. The Kenworths they have look like really nice trucks but that Paccar engine is just too much of an oddball. Its a little guy that would be working really hard compared to a larger engine, and parts availability would be nothing like it is compared to Detroit/Cummins/CAT.

The website doesn't show any of their inventory at the moment, but I know they get some Pete 387s and Kenworth T2000s from time to time that have a Cat C15 and a 13spd. While I'm not a fan of any EGR motor, if I had to go with a used truck with an EGR engine the C15 would probably be my choice.

I dunno, its all just speculation for now, who knows if I'll even be accepted into the program in the first place. Just all things for me to consider.

I really appreciate ya'll posting so much about what all is involved in being an o/o for Schneider here... its really helped me feel comfortable wanting to get on board.