Looks like Schneider is the one

My team partner and I are in our 3rd week of training at Commercial Drivers School here in Lakewood, Washington. Before we started, Schneider was the prime cantidate we were looking at applying to. I began contact with thier Military screening agent (Tara). Who has done a wonderful job in giving me information, and date/time hits to make. Applied for the Military Apprentiship program online (note: this is considered a solo application for those applying, though you can still receive it as a team) Also applied for a Team driving position. Recruiter (Cami) called back about an hour after I submitted the App and answered all the questions I had.

Now, we are waiting till Test day (Sept 6th or 7th) at the school, then the call to Cami and our "new" begining in the Schneider Family. If there are those interested, I will continue to update this thread as I continue the process, perhaps the information will help others in thier decision making process. Please feel free to give any suggestions or post any questions I should be sure to ask.

Information I gathered:
Starting pay estimate: .32 Cents (more with proof of experiance in the military for experiance)
Orientation: 18 days @ $80 day
Average time away from home: 2 weeks (estimate, more out more money to make )
Days off: 7 out 2 home, 14 out 3 home, 21 out 4 home, etc..

 

Thursday 6 Sept: Found out we would not be testing till the 7th. Thus, two more hours of backing, 2 more of driving, and spent 4 hours going over the Pre-trip. Even at the end, I was still nervous about being able to rattle off everything. To top it off, DOL decided that they wanted to add another 8 area's to be tested on the pre-trip. All of us were a bit agitated over that. But, like the military, expect change. So, after getting home, relaxing for an hour then heading to bed, I lay there, closed my eyes and did the pre-trip in my head from front to back. I think I fell asleep around the Tandem Axles.... Not PM and S, not BBCZzzzzzZZZZzzzzzz.......

Friday 7 Sept: 0600 report to the school, five of us are testing on one truck so the instructors take us out on a nice relaxing drive. Letting us get use to the truck. Still it was a truckfull of nerves. Here in Wash. State, DOL will charge you another $100 each time you fail on one of the test areas, so you can imagine how fast that would add up. Well, we return around 0800 and the first tester shows up, lucky me I am selected to go first.
To make 1 hour and 45 min Short:
Pre-trip/In-cab (the one I stressed over the most) I missed 3/18 allowed
Backing I missed 8/18 allowed (stupid cones jumping out at me, and forgot to put my hazards on)
Driving I missed a disappointing 15 out of 31 (Grinds, and a few mirror checks)
End result: I am now a certified CDL holder!!!! and graduated Magna Com Laude with a 3.8 GPA.

Added to this 4/5 of our team passed! KUDOS go to the Instructors at the Commercial Drivers Services in Lakewood, WA. I would recommend it to anyone that is interested in getting thier Class A, B, Passanger or Dump Truck training. (Feel free to send me a PM if you wish to hear more about the school. They are online also at: www.cdstruckschool.com . (Hope promoting a school is ok here)

Latest on Schneider: Have been pre-approved as a team, was sent paperwork to fill out, once they receive this a recruiter will contact us. Already spoke for a short time with one recruiter. With scheduling, my teammate and I should be heading down to Fontana hopefully, around the 25th of Sept. And yes, I plan on asking LOTS and LOTS of questions.

 

Well, my team partner is taking two more weeks of class. Getting training on the Dump Truck and the Passanger Endorsement. I would have done the same had I not still been employed. Perhaps at the end of next year I will add those. So I sit and wait for the call from the Recruiter. Scanned and sent the Washington State release form and application. With all that is going on, it still looks like we will try to head down to Fontana on the 25th for Orientation. According to those that I have spoken with, it will be 1 week of classroom, lot driving and simulators, then a week or so out with a trainer, then finally finish up back in class for testing.

Company will send you down on a Grey Hound, or re-imburse you the cost of that if you take other transportation. Think we are going to take the AmTrak, its $40 cheaper and gets us to San Bernandino where we can catch a cab to the Hotel. Beats riding the Grey Hound, which we would have to leave a day earlier and be riding on longer.

I will keep this upto date as things happen

strawberryrhubarbpie - Yes, this is what I have heard, and what I am experiancing with those that I have spoken with so far. I am very happy with how I have been treated by the personel I have spoken to.

 

Huzah!

Phone interview set for Monday, things starting to roll. From there do the uninalysis thing and then prepare to head out to Fontana!

 

Excellent!! Will follow your posts sadwar, and PM if I have any questions. Good luck Joel!! I also plan on doing a sort of journal here as I go through.