Starting Schneider National Dedicated Flex Fleet

That was kinda what I was thinking I needed to do when I woke up, that I needed to jump in the seat and take control, but I was also half thinking I need to brace for the inevitable impact.

It was one of the strangest sensations I've had in a long time.

 

Been awhile so I figured I would check in. Things are changing and I'm learning more and more. Last week I changed from the VTI account in Georgia to the PrimeSource account in New Orleans, LA. Hauled my first open-air flatbed last week and loved it... not having to mess with curtains saves sooo much time. No tarping on our loads either so that's nice. Made a couple mistakes over the past month which I won't discuss in detail here, but I'll share the lessons I learned.

Lessons:
1. Scale every load even if the shipments are typically very light. Scale literally everything. If you use the cat scale app it takes less than 5 minutes, maybe 10 if you have to slide tandems.
2. Check clearance heights when backing, even if its tight on your left and right. Have to remember to be aware of literally everything, not just your sides. Up, down, left, right, front, and back.

Currently at the Wilmer OC on a reset, about to start a week of TAH on Tuesday. Have had the hammer down ever since I started in January and I'm finally taking some much needed time off after 4 months straight. Not sure if I'm going back to the PrimeSource account when I get back from TAH, but I'm down for whatever. Hoping I go somewhere up north instead though, because I have no desire to be in my home state where it's about to start getting really hot and humid. The weather has been absolutely crazy in South Louisiana too. Was getting pelted by rain and hail every day I was in New Orleans.

Still enjoying everything overall, though the pink clouds of novelty have faded a bit, I'm still leaning into the lifestyle of living on the road and am finding things to enjoy. Till next time.

Drive Safe and GOAL.

 

Been back from TAH for a week now. Started running the Home Depot account out of Eagan, MN (Minneapolis). Have been pulling a flatbed with a Moffett all week and I LOVE IT! I've been going around getting pickups from various Home Depots in the Minneapolis metro and delivering stuff directly to houses in the suburbs. It sounds hard on paper, but it has been way easier than I thought it would be. The trailer is only 40ft long and it is sooo much easier to maneuver than anything I'm used to. I can get in places I would've never thought about with a 53ft trailer. Driving the Moffett around is way too much fun too lol.

When I got here I actually met up with my TE who trained me when I first started at SNI a few months ago, which was a cool coincidence. He's up here working this account too, so it made sense for him to take me on a ride-along to get the feel for the account. It was awesome being able to catch up with him and tell him about my experiences so far over the past few months running solo. There are a couple other NDFs running this account up here as well, which is great because I can always go to them with questions and I know they'll give it to me straight.

The DBL for this account wanted me to do two days of ride-alongs but by the end of the day riding with my TE, I was ready to get my own trailer and moffett and pound the pavement on my own. A 2nd day would've just been gratuitous. We were basically teaming by the end of the day, as I was driving the Moffett making the deliveries while he was rolling up straps and/or restrapping loads. We managed to put down a 19 stop day teaming like that, which was cool.

The only downside is that the truck stop selection around Minneapolis leaves more to be desired and finding parking is next to impossible unless you're bobtail or willing to pay for it.. so now I have to sprint to take 10 minute showers after pulling forward in the fuel island... then go park at a Home Depot for my 10 hour breaks which has it's own set of challenges that I'm learning to deal with, like trying to find somewhere to throw away the trash I accumulate weekly, or making my way to my last bathroom break before HD closes.

On the bright side, parking at Home Depot usually means that there are some pretty killer food options around like FRIED CHEESE CURDS!!!! It's also nice being next to a Target or Walmart in case I need to do some shopping... But I really do miss having easy access to a shower. I don't fuel every day so fuel island showers are few and far in between. It's looking like I'll get 2 showers a week if I'm lucky, one when I fuel, and one during my 34-hr reset while I'm bobtail... unless I can figure out a better solution. The Pilot here is 100% full always, but they have some paid bobtail spots that are only like $7 which is doable for me. The TA's free parking is 100% full always, half of TA's lot is pay only parking but its $20 a night which is way way too steep for me. If anyone knows the Minneapolis area better than I do and can point me to where I can park that actually has free parking and showers... or paid parking and free showers I'm open to suggestions.

Anyways, I'll make due with what I have regardless, as I'm still having fun. Especially now that some novelty has been injected into my career again. This is my first gig using the Moffett outside of training and I love that thing. I am also incredibly glad to not still be down in Louisiana. It's cold up here in Minneapolis (comparatively speaking) and I'm living for it.

Safe travels friends, included a photo of my new combination:

 

I was told in orientation that Schneider doesn't reimburse for parking? If they do, that's a game changer! The TA had a ton of paid spots open even at 6pm the other day. None of my loads use workflow or transflo so I couldn't submit parking receipts as an expense report... hmmm. I'll ask my DBL or DTL about it tomorrow and see what they say.

 

I actually pulled in front of a pump that was out of order just so I wouldn't feel like an a-hole