Starting at Schneider

lol, guess I'm a lazy sucker, retired and sleep 9-10 hrs.

doc, says it's heathy to get enough sleep.

 

If you are running loads out of/from Missouri -- you may well spend some time pulling Schneider loads out west....& also during cold weather.

Thus -- nothing ventured, nothing gained: somewhere during your training phase -- ask a trainer or instructor to personally demonstrate/walk/guide you through the procedure of chaining up your tires.

Schneider will likely discourage you from chaining up: their logic being, "you chain up to get OUT of trouble -- & not INTO trouble".

But...at some point ...if you are at the wrong place at the wrong time when chain laws go into effect -- knowing how to do this ahead of time will save you misery, time...& hassle -- & make you more confident about running out west during the cooler months.

Also -- during your training period -- try to get some time driving in the mountains with a trainer.

A good trainer will (also) teach you how to ascend/descend a mountain range safely -- & without burning up your brakes.

NOTE: Unless things have since changed -- the aforementioned Schneider Workbook will NOT discuss/illustrate the procedure for installing tire chains/socks.

-- L

 

Good luck to you on your new journey.

I have a feeling you are going to do just fine.

 

As a pumpkin driver you will:

1. Be one of the slowest trucks on the road
2. Will be passed constantly and you will frustrate other drivers behind you
3. Will need to stay in the right lane 99% of your life. Please keep this in mind. The left lane is for trucks that can actually do the speed limit. 10-15 under means keep your happy ### in the right lane, period. (can you tell I've been caught behind a rolling roadblock and a pumpkin truck in the left lane creating the nightmare?)
4. Will drive the dirtiest tractors on the road today.
5. Will only see a truck wash as you pass one on the side of the interstate.
6. Will most likely become very frustrated with this job.
7. You will enjoy, I believe they have, forward and rearward facing cameras. Remember, they are NEVER used to help you. It's like your miranda rights. You have a right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be HELD AGAINST YOU in a court of law. That's like a miranda camera. Anything it sees will be held against you in a safety meeting. It was NOT put there to help you.
8. I'm pretty sure you'll end up in a crappycadia. You'll become very good friends with the maintenance crews at all your locations. You'll be on a first name basis. You'll know about their kids, wives, etc.

Good luck.

 

Gosh, somebody doesn't like Schneider!

 

You'll do just fine.

 

That would be because their drivers are half morons and half idiots. I've had more pumpkin drivers do stupid stuff on the road than any other company OTHER than StupidEgo. That is also the only company that had a recruiter call me repeatedly until I finally told him to leave me alone and the dude cursed me out. Like, REALLY? So he was in turn the only recruiter I ever cursed out. F*** Schneider. I wouldn't work for that scummy company if they were the only trucking company left.