"CDL Mill" and "Bottom Feeders": Definitions, please?

Boy did you hit the nail on the head!

 

I have to disagree with you. Back in 2007, I went through Schneider National Academy (when it was free with no obligation). Our instructors were thorough, in the classroom and in the tractor; even hard when they had to be. Granted I was only on the road three months before I had to return home, I saw MANY other drivers making the mistakes I was specifically taught not to (mountain braking comes to mind). In my three months, I was never cited or had accidents.

 

While many here might disagree with me, I don't consider Schneider a "bottom-feeder." As soon as the economy started to tank, Schneider closed its training schools, and also stopped hiring new drivers. On the other hand you've got companies like Werner, who are beyond doubt "bottom-feeders," that continue to flood a difficult market w/inexperienced drivers.

 

Schneider was probably one of the best places to start your career when they were still training back a few years ago. Not only could you start there, they were and still are a decent company to stay with for a while. Just about every other company I can think of that dabbled in training, and still hires students, aren't places you want to hang around with. I've never had anything against them, in fact, I've considered going to work for them once or twice.

 

This sounds to me like something the CEO of a bottom feeder company would say .

http://www.heavydutytrucking.com/2006/10/016a0610.asp
Lofgren is CEO of Schneider .

 

Schneider is a good place to start...and Lofgren is an idiot (DeFazio set him straight though).

Lofgren only wants to double his profits, he don't care about the drivers or anybody else...he just wants to make himself more $$$.

 

They need to get rid of that Lofgren POS or vote in a union, which seems to be what CEO Lofgren is hoping for with such a stupid remark.

 

lol, I did go to a CDL Mill though. I was prepped to pass the test. Small city, only one person does the testing and I even knew exactly what route we would take on the driving part.

The instructors were good and did the best they could in a short time but it was basically nothing more than prep for the test and they didn't hide it.

 

I wish I hadn't had to leave.. shortly after I did, I got a notice in the mail (and verified with my training partner who stayed on with SNI) that the new drivers received a raise from $.25 per mile to $.35 a mile (Western Regional).

The fleet managers were always good to me and always accommodating when I had an issue.