How competitive is schneider choice?

What company do you drive for? Do you drive for Schneider? My problem right now as a Company man is that support staff is always messing with my miles. I've been down since yesterday morning in Paris, TX because support staff gave me my next load after delivering to IP in Valiant. I guess they didn't know the customer was closed on Saturday, or didn't care to check. Either way, I've been down waiting for this load to be loaded at KC here, and it won't be until tonight.

Sure, I can call my DBL and get layover, but that's not going to amend the money I could have made. I've only ever driven for PAM (right out of school), and then Schneider, but I've been driving for them for a little over two years now, and I can't say that I love my pay for the sacrifices I'm having to make. I have a wife at home and three children... Two of which I'm in a custody battle with because their mother doesn't give a #### about them.

If I can make even that much money consistently (and as I've heard, it will be my choice on whether I make that consistently), then I think I'll be on a step above where I'm at right now, at the very least.

 

On the choice board consistent revenue is harder to come by now than in the past, to many load cancellations and customer service scree ups.

They are just as bad at screwing up IC loads as they are company loads in fact they're all the same people. We don't haul IC loads we haul company loads they can't cover with company drivers.

 

have you looked into dedicated side? more consistent miles and money.

 

So is thou only option to save money for a down payment and go through loan mountain?! Looks like Schneider choice had #### the bed......uhhhg that’s disappointing to say the least.

 

Let me make sure I understand - you showed up Sat afternoon with hours to run and find out they wont load until Sunday night.

If thats the case why didnt you get the load pulled?

Another thing to mull over - there are approximately 2,500 IC trucks at Schneider. Every week we bring in about 20 new ICs. So 800-1000 a year, or 40% turnover a year (conservatively, I think that number is higher). I've never been a L/O cheer leader, and taken flak for all the times I've called ICs company drivers with a different pay structure. But thats what SNI (and the industry as a whole) looks at ICs as. Going that route can be a good thing - if you have a plan and long term goals to get out on your own. Planning on being a long term L/O is planning for subsidence living.

 

You misread. I showed up to the PU Saturday morning, and called in because they were closed. Sat on hold for about an hour while Schneider tried to figure out what was going on. That's when they pulled the load. I now have a new load, that is not going to be ready for pickup until tonight. That's 48 hours of just sitting around doing nothing, because somebody wasn't paying attention.

What I was saying, was, that I wouldn't have let that happen to myself.

That is a good point, and one that I have been told before. I do not plan on running under Schneider forever. I am at a point in my life, where I want to do something more. I want to do more with my life than just work for someone else. I want to be in charge of my own well-being. Nobody is going to look out for me like I can. Nobody is going to look out for my family like I am.

This is just one of many steps I'm planning to take on furthering my career for my family's sake.

The only dedicated accounts near me are FDG...
I was on an account around early December that picked up out of Memphis and ran to Little Rock every night. I was home every night and making $1400/wk. Life was great. Until freight slowed down and eventually kept getting pulled off of my nights. That gig only lasted for about two-three weeks, and I was told it would only last until early January, but I still miss it.

 

You have the right attitude. The Choice board is a great way to learn self dispatch, self discipline and money management. If you can make it as a SFI O/O, then you can make it on your own. If not, you turn the truck in, pay the fee and move on. You won't be left in ruins, except maybe your pride.