Multiple Mention Thread

Stay with FedEx.Work Your way up in the company,one day You might drive tractor-trailer for them.Even driving local delivering packages You will make more $ than working for Werner,especially with no experience!
Good luck and keep us posted.

 

Well, I've only been driving for a year myself, but man have I learned a lot in that time.

I worked in the oil business for over 30 years and almost all of it was around trucks in one way shape or form. However, it was mostly bulk trucks. I got to know some of the players in that end of the business but was relativley naive when it came to vans and van companies.

When it came time for me to try driving I went with Schneider for a number of reasons. Size, I thought being big would be good for job security and advancement possibilies. I had heard good things about their training department. They have a Bulk division, which plays on my background.

Well, I no longer work for Schneider for a number of reasons. It is apparent that they and a few other big companies are the Wal Mart of the trucking industry. Although they try to give lip service to being 'driver friendly', they just don't follow through much. Their system is designed for one thing and one thing only- making money for the big boys.

Too much dead time with no or sub-par pay away from home, at least in Bulk, van surely has to be somewhat better in this regard. Although I only spent 8 months with them, I have a hundred stories to relate, sheesh.

Although medical benifits are offered they are expensive at $70ish per week if you have family.

The training was generally good, but it is geared towards the lowest common denominator, anyone can pass it if they try. Their goal seems to be to get bodies in seats to keep trucks moving, constantly struglling against the huge turnover rate they 'enjoy'. It has to be somewhere around 130% to 140% per year.

One has to conclude that they like it this way, keeping the bulk of their driver force in constant churn in order to have new, i.e. low mileage rate, drivers in the trucks to maximise profit for the company.

8 months clean experience combined with all the product experience I already had was enough to land me a much better job (company runs own product, much better mileage rate, decent hourly pay for ALL dead time, dedicated run, only out 3 nights/week, actually affordable benefits at 90/10, etc.)

Best of all, they really do seem to want the drivers to stick around. They have tried very hard to take care of me. I will give them my best.

It seems hard to find a good company that cares about their drivers, but they are out there. The problem is that they will mostly want at least a year or two of experience.

Safe driving in your new career!

 

Schneider not even included in the 'Worst Of' poll, and one of only 3 included in this poll.

Schneider, at last count, has 9 Training Centers, each pumping out about 50 new student drivers per week. That's 23,400 new drivers per year. I hear different numbers about how many trucks they have on the road but probably a good one to use is 15,000.

That's a turnover ratio of 156%. Let's give them the benefit of the doubt and say not all the TCs mange to graduate quite that many students every week.

OK, 130% or 140%. Gee, I wonder why?

 

nghthwk -- there have been a few posts on this board about Interstate -- pretty positive from what I remember. Go to the search function at the top and do an advanced search on them and you should be able to find them. Search for posts -- not threads as I seem to recall that they may have been brought up as a reply to a question, not necessarily an actual new thread. Also, search using different terms such as Interstate Dist, Interstate Distributors or just Interstate (although this one will bring up alot of unrelated posts). Best of luck on your search.

Keelady

 

I've talked with both co. drivers. Both use experienced drivers, know what they are doing! I would give the lead to Interstate thou, all the drivers that I have met were 1st class, usually 8-10 yrs+ experience. This industry is sink-or-swim. You need no tkts/no accidents to shine!!

 

Lucky for me (KNOCK ON WOOD) my last ticket was Jan 3rd 2005 speedin as it was . But that it is no dui's no reckless no felonies ever. so I feel I should be ok in this area. I have yet to talk to either of these drivers I try at the local truck stop to catch then but sometime its hard to do > I will only try to talk to someone if I see then in the front seat. I know it can be kind of a stange deal for a driver, to have a complete stranger aproach their ride . I always ask before I aproach.

 

No. I'm with ya. I have had other strange drivers step up to my window while sitting with window closed, and I ask (? more like demand) them to get down (sternly) ..I don't go for that krapp! Interstate has been growing nation wide very quickly---I have heard 'Nothing' bad about them!!

 

Thanks for the info . I guess its called respect you dont walk into someones front door with out knocking first . so why would it any different for a driver in his home on wheels. I will always wave and motion for permission to aproach the truck.

 

Fed Ex is a big dog. Leader in its field. Home time. Benefits. If it turns out to be not exciting enough for you, you can always leave and go OTR.
Chances are you only get one shot at FedX.