Schneider National Carriers - Green Bay, Wi.

I don't see this necessarily as a negative. It sounds like an incentive and pay to encourage people to work a little longer out there at a time. It's more than other companies offer.

90% is high, but below the national average. Drivers that are cut from class or orientation are for several reasons, mainly in conjunction with background investigations, and where people will attempt to hide negative issues from their applications. Some will fail physicals. Others will fail the drug testing.

Well...there's another postive.

I would never argue on that point. I don't like being a number either.

I don't really think that anyone HAS tried to assert that Schneider is perfect.

I can see where this was handled wrong. It's also a common issue with the larger companies.

I'm confused. You would have received pay for a two week period on that check. Why would you not have had more than $500.00 for each week in the can? You did run miles in the second week..right? I don't see that you got ripped off, but rather that your pay was delayed because it involved travel beyond the first week, before you emptied on the load, which was accounted for along with everything else you did on that second week.

I do think this is a valid complaint. And one of the ways to set me off, is to hear someone tell me...."sometimes things will not work out." It's one of those issues that makes drivers quit. Those empowered to oversee drivers will spend more time in a month with their families, than drivers will spend in six months, on average, so when I am hit with a statement like that, I am not going to receive it very well.

And this is also why Schneider's turnover rates are what they are. Hometime, or rather a lack of it, is the number one complaint. Getting on with them in a dedicated position is far better than what they offer to OTR drivers, without question.

I can't say as I blame you, but there might have been some way to salvage the job, by going over this person's head.

And you won't. They don't hound people for tuition. They write it off.

I think that's totally unnecessary. First of all, why sue for an issue that isn't an issue. It will go nowhere. Second, even if they were to enter this into your credit report, which they are not known for doing, it would only affect you for seven years maximum.

And you don't have any legal reason to fight it. You voluntarily quit under contract, without making reasonable efforts to work out the problem. The debt would be ruled valid.

Don't waste time and money on suing them before there is something to sue them for. They aren't going to trash your record in any way. People can say what they will about the company, but they would rather have someone quit, and go on with their life, than to be known for any abuse issues.

 

They cant Change it Because Every Truck has a black box its part of the Qualcomm Set up, you have a GPS antenna, connected to a blackbox thats connected to the trucks ECM and also EATONVORAD if so equiped for accident reconstruction then connected to the qualcomm unit so they can change it all day but yours cant be changed

Also i would like to point out that MobleMax units by alther are a little better than qualcomm and you can purchase one yourself and plug it into the same connection a qualcomm is, and with that you can scroll save and manage messages better

 

Being a new grad reminds me of going to town the first time when I I was in the service, every one was out pray on you for whatever reason.

Keep in mind I'm da new guy, here is what happend to me at SN--------

Schneider National
2420 Starita Rd.
Charlotte, NC 28269

Dennis Yonish

Dennis

As you may know, or not, I turned in the study material and food coupons I was given to the terminal service desk today 9/10/06 at 7:45 am. Per your request I would have gladly talked to you or one of your staff before leaving however there was no decision maker on site until Tuesday when you yourself returned. Based on my experience so far with Schneider I was not going to chance wasting my time on someone’s maybe answer for my ride was leaving today and I was not going to be at someone else mercy.

It was my understanding based on the SN liaison in WI. I would be at your site 3.5 to 4 days for company training/orientation then off with at trainer. On the first day I was told I would be there a week and someone else said I would be leaving on the 4th day.

After that I found my bonus, pay, and tuition reimbursement would come from Maverick who I had talked to a week before and they indicated they had no idea how any of this changing of hands was going to be handled. Based on that I felt the SN rep in WI was correct in saying nothing would change right away and I would be a SN employee for a short time, with all agreements we made (SN & self) would be adsorbed by Maverick.

None of that was a big matter for I knew I could meet with someone Monday that could find the answer. Now comes what really got to me. First we were told we would end our day at noon on or about. At that hour I was told I was to meet with a person that would evaluate my skills. I found it sudden but not a surprise for you had indicated this would happen, with results being passed on to my trainer for his teaching objectives. As it turns out this was not an evaluation it was a test with no room for error, that, I did not realize until I made an error and found the so called evaluation was cover.

Her is what happened, the evaluator and I went to do a backing maneuver in the rear between two other trailers; this was the equivalent of backing into a narrow driveway on a residential street. To do this was OK with me but I knew it would take a few tries or more, however upon my set up the evaluator asked to get out and as he did so he raised his fist and said this means stop. I felt much better for I thought I had a spotter watching my blind right side and at least I would not have to get in an out of the truck to look. Only did I realize this was a test when he had me shut down the rig and come look at how close I was to the trailer on my right rear side and then the comment was made “you didn’t even get out and look”. If I had realized I was being tested my actions would have been different, in fact this being my first time in this type of maneuver he may have had a meal and some sun screen brought in due to the time it would have taken me to safely get to my spot without a spotter.

At that point we went back to the terminal and I was informed the “evaluation” was over and I failed. I asked what now happens and was told I would have to take the whole 14-day course. I indicated that given extra instruction on this type of maneuver would be more appropriate and he said this may be a possibility but the training group would decide this idea.

The way I see it no one at SN has any idea what my skill level is for only one was looked at and for the record, I can do the backing maneuvers required by the NC DMV and that should not be a surprise for we all know I just finished operating training with Shage Technical where I was solicited by Schneider National. I was prepared for the real world by top-notch experienced drivers to meet the CDL-A exam and basic ins and outs so someone like Schneider could save time and money building on the foundation they laid. My 3K+ investment that came out of my pocket while others receive aid of some sort defines my comment to my success.

This is what I thought an evaluation would mean. First I would be asked what I thought my weaknesses are. My reply would have been tight spot backing and some shifting concerns with general road skill experience required. How much of each would have been discussed with the evaluator and trainer who would be the person I would ride with unless I was too much of a danger to the public highways. That amount of time with him/her would be adjustable based on my skill progress.

IM very disappointed and hope my situation is a isolated case. To pursue this would require details in writing with agreement by Maverick.

 

I'm going to reveal something here, because it is very relevant to what you have written, and I've been driving for 29 years now.

I had a minor backing accident this past Wednesday. The customer in question has a very tight lot, and while you can go to the back of the lot to turn around after coming in the gate, you must pull back out through the gate, and back into the dock at a ninety degree angle to your left. There's no other way to do it.

It was raining hard that morning, and it was dark as well. I pulled completely out of the gate, which was painted black, and the lighting on the lot is very poor, but I could see the fencing pretty well, or so I thought.

I began backing, and suddenly I hear the unmistakeable sound of chain link fencing being disturbed. I stopped immediately and got out of the truck. Sure enough, I had caught the edge pole and shoved it backwards, lifting it out of the concrete, but not creating any damage to the pole itself. The pole I had seen in my rear view mirror was three feet to the right of it, and I had mistaken it for the edge pole.

I now have a preventable accident on my record, for the first time in many years. There's no way that it will be ruled any differently. I failed to get out and look, to determine that I was clear of objects behind me. I wished that I had.

Two Dogs, welcome to the forums, and I can appreciate your being upset at the experience that occured at Schneider, and while you may not be looking for it, I think a little criticism is in order.

You offered:

Your skill level is and was zero. The training that people receive in the CDL mills are inferior in all categories, and it prepares you for nothing in terms of driving a truck out here in the real world.

Sage Technical, located in Spindale, N.C., the facility I am assuming that you attended, is one of the better schools out there, and one that I personally recommend to people, but they only teach a driver enough to pass the CDL examination, and the examiners who test you for the issuing of your CDL are much more forgiving than one realizes, so to think that just because you passed to CDL test, that you are "skilled" in some manner, is not quite the attitude that one should adopt. A fresh Attorney will have passed the Bar Examination, but I'm not quite sure I would want him to defend me, if years behind bars upon conviction of a crime, was staring me in the face.

Schneider is a stickler about safety issues, and because they sat down at some point several years ago, due to a horribly out of control safety rating, and amended their training policies, they now enjoy the BEST safety standards and ratings, while maintaining the hiring and placement of a large number of newbies. When they turn out a driver into a truck of their own, they are less likely to experience an accident, than a driver of any other training company out there. There's no disputing that fact.

Look...I am one of many long time drivers out here that did not have to go through formal training. When I started driving, all that was needed in my state to obtain the proper class driver's license, was for a motor carrier official to sign a piece of paper, and I was on my way. I do understand the frustration level that people have, in the delay of getting out there and running up and down the highway as the standards are set today. We all know it's not exactly rocket science that we're talking about here. But you see, things have changed so much over the years, and the stakes are so much higher, if you screw up.

You also have to keep in mind that the reason that they are so careful to make sure that their drivers are trained, is because if something goes horribly wrong out there, and an accident occurs, they are facing the tab for the mistake, or in worse cases, their insurance company will pay. Accidents of any nature are costly, and insurance rates are adjusted based on claims, as we all know. Trucking insurance is not cheap at all.

Reading your story, the "evaluator" was a bit less than cordial about every thing, but why dump the company, when a few more days would have made all the difference? You've effectively assured that you will have to spend that amount of time, and more, to find another place to start.

That aside, it may have been a blessing in disguise, because according to one member of the forums, the drivers being hired by Schneider for their former glass hauling division, and going over to Maverick, are not exactly happy with the way the transition. It happens sometimes.

I don't know where this leaves you, but hopefully Sage Technical will help place you with another company more to your liking.

I do wish you well...but, please take what I have offered as a friendly bit of criticism, and not a condemnation, because that is the spirit in which I offer it.

 

I never said anyting was wrong about the 3800 that a person can make in 28 days. i was letting him know so that he knows he should go for his pack pay if he was out as long as he clamed he was.



I'm confused. You would have received pay for a two week period on that check. Why would you not have had more than $500.00 for each week in the can? You did run miles in the second week..right? I don't see that you got ripped off, but rather that your pay was delayed because it involved travel beyond the first week, before you emptied on the load, which was accounted for along with everything else you did on that second week.

well first off, the long 3000 mile run was last week. just it missed pay becuse it delivered on monday after 3pm. so that was last weeks miles. this weeks miles i had less then 500.00 worth of miles.

but since they payed me for last weeks miles and this weeks miles all on one check they clam thats more then the 500.00 so they dont owe me anything. now since i was new, I have a garentee, 500.00 a week or they make up the diffents. so yes i agree they did not owe me that for the 3000.00 week. but they did owe me some for the next week since i drove under 500.00 worth of miles. just becuse they took last weeks miles and paid me with this weeks miles dont make them all this weeks miles, if it did then they would of had to pay me something for last week since i am to make no less then 500.00 a week on pay check. see how hwat im talking about. they piled the full 2 weeks on 1 check and said oh well thats over 1000.00 sure that way they are right. but 3000 of those miles was from the week before, so they dont count in this weeks money.



AS fare as letting the put it on my credit report, (I dont think so) they broke there contract with me FIRST! so in return i would not work under those conditons. so i left. once they broke the contract the contract is nel and voide in my eyes.

As fare as taking them to court, I still will do this. I have all my records school books and contract. 2 weeks out 2 days home. its clear. and they never did that for me. NEVER it was always 3 weeks out 2 days home with a load just so i could not call in and try to get another day out of them. hummm

we will see what the judge says. a contract is a contract they have to uphold there end as much as we have to uphold our end. so we will see if the judge (by the letter of the law) says i had a right to leave since they where not doing there end of the contract. and if it gets ruled in my favor that might help other drivers. schneider now will see people can wait at any time if they dont follow there own rules. and maybe that will start making them follow there rules so the drivers dont have a reason to leave.

Thanks.
TruckerTodd

P.S. sad part is i love to drive truck, i got a new job. kinda a fun one in fact. express fraight. I drive cenury truck still, but no trailer, i drive a 38foot stright truck. i still see the same miles, 2500+ the only thing GREAT about it is i went from 32cents to 47cents to me i can handle that.

 

But...and understand I am not defending them, if the two weeks combined on that check did come to more than $1,000.00 worth of miles, it may explain why they disallowed the minimum for the less mileage, second week. After all, some of those miles would have carrier over to be combined with the second week.

I'm not familiar with the pay policy, and how it is applied, but it sounds to me as if you drove part of those miles in the first week, and part of them after the start of the second week. And of course, they would calculate it and average the two weeks together. If your mileage pay for the two weeks came to more than $1,000.00, they consider that not to fall under the minimum. I see both sides of that one, but they make the decisions, and knowing Schneider, it will be according to their policy. They are not known for playing games with people.

But you admit that you didn't complete the load by the week's end, cut-off time, so some of that HAD to spill over into the next week, either in reality or by definition.

I don't think the court would see it that way, but....

Home time is spelled out in the contract for tuition? I find that to be a high improbability.

Okay...well...good luck on your lawsuit.

I hope it works out well for you.

 

Yes i did drive some on monday a total of 20 miles. log book shows that.
and then for the rest of the week i did under 300.00 worth of work.
so now they should of added the reminder of 500.00 to that weeks check.

but no they are trying to slide it by saying OH that 3000.00 trip is over 1000.00 so thats why you did not get anything added. thats BS only 20miles was driven on monday. the rest was the week before.


as fare as the lawsuit goes. Yes it is spelled it says "rules and regulations of Schneider apply to this contract" well according to the school book 2 weeks out 2 days home is spelled out. so i would have to say thats one of the regulations since its on the same page as many of the others Do's and donts. (such as garentee home time is on the same page) so you may think (becuse you do like schnieder so mch) that i dont have a case. but the lawer i showed everything to, said

Quote" you dont need me just goto small clames court for 25.00 and show the judge everythign you just did me. your a shoe in for winning. Judges dont like schools that take avantage of there students for jobs.

So who knows.. time will tell. and IF i win.. there might be a lot of others that do the same. I know when i walk in im taken 10 other drivers with me to explain what they where taught in school and all about home time that was told. one of them is a TE so that will help vary much.

 

Turbo Trucker,

I saw that you are currently monitoring BB King while he works his way through the Schneider training program. I am new to this site and was wondering if you could direct me to these posts. I am just about finished with the military and have been thinking about calling Schneider. I have been trying to read many posts on the different company's and Schneider comes up often. I would like to see some posts of some one going through the ranks being that they are a newbie like BB KING and get a new prospective of someone that is near the bottom of this industry, to here what they would have to say from the bottom always looking up. Or, any of the 5 other you are monitoring. The more knowledge I have before I have to make a decision the better.

Thanks for any help you can pass forward.

 

Unfortunately, I haven't heard from these people in some time. I don't know if that is a good thing or a bad thing.

If you are looking for an insider's view of the company, where many people regularly contribute specifics about Schneider, you might check out the unofficial website for their drivers:

www.pumpkindriver.com/

 

Thank's turbo this site was no too bad at all. I will be giving Scneider a call soon. Thank's a heap.