The real first year at Schneider - Why so many quit..

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Cynical Driver, Apr 10, 2007.

  1. Cynical Driver

    Cynical Driver <strong>"Eternal Cynic"</strong>

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    Aug 27, 2006
    Wisconsin
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    There was a poll asking if we made it through the first year of driving: Well, I can't answer this... I am at 7 months.

    I can however give an idea why about 95% of all Schneider students drop out in the first year.

    Let's see. Ok.
    My trainer was a jerkoff who only cared about getting the extra $40/day out of me being in the truck with him, so naturally I didn't learn a thing from him. That wasn't all that unexpected though, but the Rush Limbaugh 3 times a day was enough for me to want to kill him at the end of the day! I'm not a republican, nor am I a Democrat. I like to think for myself rather than listen to the rhetoric they both spew out, so as you can imagine, after the 3rd time of listening to the moron complain about Clinton, and rave about Bush, I was ready to puke.

    Well, we didn't see eye to eye, so at the begining of the 5th day he kicked me out of the truck. This was fine by me honestly, I figured I might get a trainer who would teach me stuff now. Well, it turns out that despite being a complete idiot, he didn't have any issues with my driving. So they gave me a truck! 4 days with a trainer, and I got sent on my own. Now keep in mind that I still had no idea what was going on with the Qualcomm.

    My first 3 months went by without too much trouble, except for the fact that they never got me home on time. I got regular miles, and I was making pretty decent money. Anybody who says that they make more than $1000/week starting out in this industry is bold-faced lying to you! MAYBE once in a while, NEVER consitantly.

    Along comes month 4, again not too much trouble, except that home-time issue again. Now they kept sending me to wherever the wheater WAS. I didn't mind so much, grew up in Wisconsin, I have a good grasp on what to do.

    Month 5, ahh, yes... I had just finally gotten my truck in perfect running order. You know, finally convinced the mechanics to fix all the broken crap (except those stupid batwings, more on that later.) I was comfortable with it, but the clutch had a slight glitch I wanted checked out. Sometimes the clutch brake wouldn't engage, so trying to get moving after a complete stop was tricky at times. The next morning I get a message: "Plans have changed, here's the new truck number #####. Go test drive it and move as soon as you can."

    Well, what can I say about this truck? Piece of $#!+!!!! The only good thing about it is that the bat-wings are actually not mangled, so I don't catch nearly as much crap about backing at truck stops now. There's far too much going on with it to list it all here, but some of the major ones are: Transmission, Exhaust, Heating, A/C, and all the little stuff. I didn't notice the transmission issue right away, so I decided that since I had been sitting for the better part of 3 days, to go ahead and haul a load. As soon as I hooked up and pulled for the tug-test I discovered the tranny problem. Took it back to the shop with the trailer. They said 3 days wait to even get it in! So i got permission to move out anyway. It's still not fixed, been to 2 different shops since. They keep telling me it's nothing to worry about. Eventually it'll fall out while I'm going down the road, then they'll believe me.

    Pay was still decent.

    Month 6, all was good (except the home-time.) Now that I am past that magic 6 month period, I no longer get a guaranteed $500/week. So now if I get stuck with trailer issues, or sit at docks too much, I get screwed. My paycheck last week was less than $200!!! If this keeps up I won't be able to afford to work for them. All I keep hearing is some stupid rhetoric about having bad weeks, and low frieght volumes and blah, blah, blah.

    I have decided to take a more aggressive stance with my dispatcher, I am now calling in EVERY time I have a problem. I am also sending in a message with every call. I think the point is being made, they got me 1900 miles last week. I know that's horrible, but it's better than the 2 weeks before with less than 1300 each. The first load this week is 900 miles. We'll see if it holds out or not.

    Bottom line, as soon as they see that they don't have anything promissed to you anymore, they nail ya with all the left over crap from the other drivers who either have been there over a year, or are still newer than 6 months.

    First 6 months: Not too bad.
    Next 6 months: The real test...

    If something doesn't change I will have to find work elsewhere, because I can't make the bills back home on what they're giving me now.

    Newbies: Make sure you are prepared for that second half of the year. If you do not have a savings account, build one... FAST! Make sure you have the means to make it through bad MONTHS! I do not mean to scare you away from the industry. I just want you to know what you will be looking at down the road. If you can make that first year, you can go almost anywhere. You just have to survive until then. I am still pressing on with the knowledge that I can jump to a good company after it's over.
     
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  3. Buffalo Chip

    Buffalo Chip Light Load Member

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    Apr 9, 2007
    Buffalo, NY
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    Thanks for the info OTR Gamer - I had spoken with Schneider a short time ago about their training program. While it looked decent and the people who I have spoken with who work for them said the training was good it seems the equipment is krap. I dont expect as a newbe to get an 07 truck, but it sounds like that pile of $*#@ you were given borders on unsafe ... not cool.

    This is the exact reason that I have decided to pay my own way and be able to have a choice other than waiting out a year!

    My main reason for looking at the company training was to be able to go OTR with an expierenced hand who could show me the ropes in the real world ... it all looks so easy in the book yet is very different in life ... looks like that part of your training was as unsafe as the truck you are driving.

    I'd be all over dispatch about getting that truck fixed, a clutch problem could be deadly in any vehicle, let alone leeking exhaust :biggrin_25524:

    Good luck out there, please let us know hot it gos this first year ....
    Ken
     
    Veryblessed Thanks this.
  4. groovemachine

    groovemachine Light Load Member

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    Mar 8, 2007
    Shawnee, Kansas
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    Good thread...good luck and hang in there for the next 5 months!
     
  5. Cynical Driver

    Cynical Driver <strong>"Eternal Cynic"</strong>

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    Aug 27, 2006
    Wisconsin
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    Buffalo_Chip:
    It's not that the truck I am driving is unsafe, just a piece of junk. The clutch issue is what got my other truck taken away from me. They decided to sell it while it ran so well. If it was so bad I absolutely couldn't handle it, all I would have to do is call and use the magic words... "I Don't Feel Safe." The exhaust was fixed the moment I complained about it, so they're not THAT bad, it's just that the small stuff gets ignored, and they don't believe me on the transmission.

    As for the training, it IS top-notch. I got a bad trainer is all. The main difference is that I was ready (road-skillswise) to go without waiting around for another trainer to open up. Some people don't need all that time, others DO!! I haven't had any accidents, never hit anything, and my batwings are untouched. So as for me being unsafe for not having enough time... No, I'm not unsafe. Some students do need all the time they can get, and I have seen some trainers that need to go back to school. It's all in the individual.

    If you want someone to show you the ropes... Find someone you know who does it. If you don't know a driver, just be careful who you sign with. Also keep in mind, job-hoppers have a very hard time finding work after their first year. You may get away with one switch, but two or three and the HR people start to wonder if maybe YOU were the problem. There is no way to avoid the "year wait" is what I am saying.

    Groovemachine:
    Thanks, I wanted to give people a real view of what it's like. Too many people out there spouting goodness, and nobody giving the bad.

    I plan to stick it out, I just have to last is all, summer is coming (someday!) so that will make things a bit more bearable.
     
    Veryblessed Thanks this.
  6. attrintal

    attrintal Light Load Member

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    Feb 6, 2007
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    what if you go there after getting your CDL on yoru own?
     
  7. Cynical Driver

    Cynical Driver <strong>"Eternal Cynic"</strong>

    237
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    Aug 27, 2006
    Wisconsin
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    This I can't answer. I do know that if you do not have enough experience elsewhere they'll send you for a "refresher" session at the school. The refresher is probably not under a contract commitment, but watch for them to mention that.
     
  8. NevadaJim

    NevadaJim Light Load Member

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    Apr 14, 2007
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    That's what sucks about Schneiders contract. They pay you crap for a year or you get hit with paying the full nut, plus 18% interest, if you bail early. At least Swift kicks some into the kitty each month so you don't get stuck with the full tab if you bail. I feel for you dude. If you have to save money from your first 6 months to cover yourself for the second 6 months...that's a crappy deal for anyone to have to deal with. Everyone dogs out Swift but Schneider is worse in this respect.
     
  9. MedicineMan

    MedicineMan Road Train Member

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    Jan 13, 2007
    Woodville, TX
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    well that will teach you to complain about something as trivial as a clutch brake.. Welcome to trucking.

    90% of the trucks I'v ever driven had no clutch brake. If you ever saw what one looked like you would know why. All it takes is for some dummy to push the clutch to the floor while the truck is moving at all and it's basicly gone. Just two little ears that hold it to the shaft and that's all.
     
  10. jtrnr1951

    jtrnr1951 Road Train Member

    Doesn't seem like much has changed.............

    The failure rate is about the same now as then.........
     
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