Schneider chat room - Closed see new thread linked in the last post

I've talked to many team drivers and most say they like it. On average, teams get brand new trucks the cruise at 65 and hammer down at 67. They run teams very hard, so you will get little exercise if any. The money is good though. If money is more important to you than your health, you'll love teaming.

Rolling the Smashed Pumpkin

 

Got a few questions about Schneider Tankers, specifically. So a van is 53 foot long. How long is a Schneider tanker? Are there different lengths of tankers? Is there one most common length? Also, how tall are Schn tankers verses vans? If they are less tall than vans, are they less tall enough to not have problems with any bridges, allowing tankers to be run on more highways than vans? And how heavy do they get loaded generally? How many gallons does the "average" Schn tanker hold? As well, some on here have said running bulk is better, in their opinion, than slamming doors. From those of you who think this, why is this? Besides what sounds like is some more pay, what are the specific reasons why pulling a tank is better than pulling a van otr, for those of you who prefer tanks?

One thing I can think of is that a tank generally wont blow over in very windy weather, verses a higher risk of this for a van. Im assuming this is correct. What about the practical day to day work of hauling a tank verses a van? What about loading and unloading a tank verses waiting to have a van loaded and unloaded. The "average" load for a tank is much more hands on than the average load for a van driver, right? I'm just trying to get a feel for every day differences between the two. Since the pay rate per mile is more for a tanker (I believe), the reason for that increased pay is ____________ (what)?

Thanks for your responses,

Twicebit

 

One more question for you folks: If I haul tankers, I would like to do it out of Texas, verses Ohio or Penn (East coast). Do any of you know if there are usually plentiful otr tanker positions with Schneider out of Dallas (I'm assuming its Dallas, or Houston)? Are there any disadvantages to running out of Texas verses the east coast? One advantage I can think of would be that in a home area of Texas, the winters are friendlier than Ohio/East coast, though being otr, I'm sure I'd run into plenty of bad weather through the nation.

Thanks

 

Tankers are 48 foot and about 12'6 high. We generally run really, really heavy. There are probably very few differences between what roads a van truck and a bulk truck run. Tanks hold 6500 to 7000 gallons in general but rarely do you get a product light enough to hold that many gallons. So usually 4 to 5 thousand.

To me tank is better because the pay is better, and I can idle my truck all I want. That being said tanks present some challenges. Unloading is no joke, it can hurt you, badly. You have to deal with keeping the product a certain temperature and cleaning your hoses and your pump. You really have to be careful, you will be by yourself most of the time and have to be able to figure things out yourself. You get paid 25 bucks for every load and unload. Average 2 loads a week that is an extra 100 bucks plus detention.

 

Thanks ethos, you shared very useful information! I'm guessing that you can idle all you want because the running tractor is used to keep the load at the proper temperature? And a by product of this is that you can keep the cab at a most comfortable temperature, while van drivers struggle because they can't idle when the temp is between 20 and 70 degrees?

I assume Tanker Orientation and time with a Trainer is longer than in Van because of the need to learn the challenges of unloading, cleaning, and myriad safety issues as well,... as you referred to? And probably to learn the challenges of hauling because of sloshing liquid and a much heavier load?

 

Liquid surge is not as big of a deal as you would think. The extra training is for how to unload mainly. If you want to run out of texas that is no problem, you can get hired tommorow. You dont clean the trailers, the tank wash does.

 

Very good, thanks so much, ethos!

 

Well, everyone. My Schneider days are done. I start a local job on Monday. Tankers. $25/hour and I get paid for my logged hours. No punching a clock. No sitting for free. Home every night. Weekends off and most importantly I don't have to wear shoes in the shower anymore. I don't have anything bad to say about Schneider. They gave me a job after a 10 year hiatus when other companies wouldn't. Great starter company but definitely not a career company for me.

 

Yea, paycheck was deposited separately on a different day

 

I'm on the Vericon account. Pays .45 per mile plus load securement pay. One trip out and one backhaul to shop. Trailers loaded while I'm on hometime and back out late morning on Sunday.