Starting at Schneider

Cherokee65 · Feb 8, 2026

Pilot #421 Dalton, Ga back row. Sunshine and warming up today to 55°
We had grits, gator boudin and andouille for breakfast. Good stuff with Texas Pete warm sauce. Not hot sauce, just warm.

austinmike · Feb 8, 2026

I miss boudin. Was a local grocery store here that had it when I first moved here but I guess they found out I liked it and quit carrying it. Most people here don't even know what it is.

Chinatown · Feb 8, 2026

Gearjammin' Penguin said: ↑

You drove for Fleming too?
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Yes, until Greatwide took over the transportation department. When Greatwide took over, I didn't want to be an 0/0, so I drove a Greatwide company truck because Greatwide had some long runs picking up backhauls coast to coast. Didn't stay but a few months, but overall Greatwide was a good outfit.

Cherokee65 · Feb 8, 2026

austinmike said: ↑

I miss boudin. Was a local grocery store here that had it when I first moved here but I guess they found out I liked it and quit carrying it. Most people here don't even know what it is.
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That’s terrible!! We had gator boudin and seafood boudin. We got it from Chicken on the Bayou in Breaux Bridge, La. If I’m lucky enough to get by there again, we gonna get a lot of food. Best burger you’ll Ever eat! Just right on da spice… Ca c’est Bon!! My grandparents were from W. Monroe, La.

Gearjammin' Penguin · Feb 9, 2026

Chinatown said: ↑

Yes, until Greatwide took over the transportation department. When Greatwide took over, I didn't want to be an 0/0, so I drove a Greatwide company truck because Greatwide had some long runs picking up backhauls coast to coast. Didn't stay but a few months, but overall Greatwide was a good outfit.
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I ran for them and went with Core-Mark when they spun it off. MN and AZ.

lual · Feb 11, 2026

If you have survived as a rookie for one continuous year at the "Big Orange"....& still have a clean driving record --

Then please accept my sincerest CON - GRA - TU - LA - TIONS!!!!

I would submit that you have...by far...the worst part of the CDL world behind you.

All the best -- to you, & yours....going forward....wherever/whomever your next carrier may be.

-- L

Cherokee65 · Feb 11, 2026

lual said: ↑

If you have survived as a rookie for one continuous year at the "Big Orange"....& still have a clean driving record --

Then please accept my sincerest CON - GRA - TU - LA - TIONS!!!!

I would submit that you have...by far...the worst part of the CDL world behind you.

All the best -- to you, & yours....going forward....wherever/whomever your next carrier may be.

-- L
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I appreciate that very much!! I have 0 on my driving record. Not a scratch on this 2026 Cascadia Schneider put me into. I’ve been pulled over a total of 3 times, once for tandems in the wrong place and 2 other times just for spot inspections and both of those were 100% clean. It hasn’t been easy being Orange.
I honestly think the company I’m going to is going to be the best for me. Might not be for everyone, but I think it’ll be just fine.

48Packard · Feb 11, 2026

lual said: ↑

If you have survived as a rookie for one continuous year at the "Big Orange"....& still have a clean driving record --

Then please accept my sincerest CON - GRA - TU - LA - TIONS!!!!

I would submit that you have...by far...the worst part of the CDL world behind you.

All the best -- to you, & yours....going forward....wherever/whomever your next carrier may be.

-- L
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I second this. And as a former pumpkin myself, best of luck in your new endeavor!

Judge · Feb 12, 2026

lual said: ↑

I stayed at Schneider past one year....for several different reasons:

I had a shakey employment history prior to Schneider -- & wanted to build a history of better stability

I saw all those accounts that Schneider works (beyond the "dollar store" boobytraps )...& the different freight types -- & didn't want to leave all that opportunity that existed under one carrier

Driving for a mega-fleet does offer A LOT of advantages. I still miss those DC cafeterias! And all those oh-so-nice additional parking options.

I didn't want the hassles of changing employers, starting all over at the bottom again with seniority, learning new systems & new computer/tablet programs, & having to "prove" myself again...to a new fleet & new dispatch

All this to say.....you might find a much better gig inside Schneider -- rather than just leave the company outright.

A Schneider veteran of many years "coached" me....that the real money for drivers at Schneider....was in intermodal.

Why?

Intermodal was/is Schneider's most profitable fleet -- so they could afford to treat their drivers better.

NOTE: Intermodal is NOT all day cabs. Some tractors/drivers stayed out....& drove in sleeper cabs; that's how I did intermodal there.

And...since intermodal works with the railroads -- intermodal freight is MUCH MORE CONSISTENT....than a lot of OTR there.

Either that -- or a dedicated account with one of the big-box retailers....might be worth a good look.

-- L
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Yeah. The cafeterias were nice. So we’re always having parking options in Indy and Chicago.

Cherokee65 · Feb 14, 2026

Finally, back at the OC! Rain all day today here. Packing, consolidating and getting ready for tomorrow to take a load to our storage unit 2 1/2 hours away. Then back to here to finish unloading the truck, washing clothes and getting ready for Monday and have “the talk” with people here. Then on Monday late morning heading out to go to the corn fields of Nebraska. There’s a big hint to where we’re going! LOL-

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