About to become a pumpkin brother + some questions

Why go to Schneider when any of the better paying tank carriers would hire you ?

 

Nope. I was paid the same as any new driver which is why I spent my time at home looking for a new job. Only took me 3 months to get hired on by a local company pulling tanks and my pay literally tripled! Trucking is the only industry I've experienced that dings you for not having recent experience. If X number of years passes, to most companies it's like you never drove at all.

 

With many it's a matter of X number of months . They use every opportunity to pay low trainee pay .

 

Speaking as a TE this is correct. If a student makes it through the OSR's then they are good to go. Recent bulk class had 21 guys in it and only 9 made it to a trainers truck. One of them is with me now and he drives great. Very little instruction from me. If you feel you need, want more time just speak up. You won't be the first person to stay with a trainer longer.

Just let us know, we are here to help and nobody wants an unsafe or ill prepared driver on the road.

 

Tell me about it. I have been out since February, so only 4.5 months after driving for almost 9 years and everyone wants to start out as a trainee. I've had several local jobs offer.....$12 "Because you haven't driven in a long time" I'm about ready to give up. There are alot of Tanker jobs here, but they all require 2 years experience or are ALWAYS hiring with ads every week. I like the all the training Big O offers, but they don't run out of SLC.

 

Right out of your truck driving school If you go with Schneider you will get ONLY about 3 days OTR with a trainer and then your thrown out in a clunker( I suppose because they are betting your gunna crash it)- on your own. Not a good choice for newbies unless you already know how to drive a Rig. Not Safe for you or Americas Highways!!!

 

Ethos - Is there any team driving during orientation like there is with Swift and Werner or is it all solo trainee driving with the trainer in the jump seat training. Also is their drug test urinalysis and hair follicle or just urinalysis? The reason I ask is because I had a kidney stone about 5 months ago and I was given morphine for the pain while in the hospital. It would probably show up on hair follicle test and it is a pain contacting the hospital and Dr. about getting a letter from them.

Thanks

 

I don't know what they do for drug tests these days.

As far as training, no, there is no teaming allowed at Schneider. If your TE tries to do that then you need to make a phone call. That won't happen though. Basically the student drives all the time after the first day. Unless of course we get a hazmat load and the trainee didn't have a haz endorsement. Then I have to drive. Sickness, injury or fatigue could also make me drive. But in general the student drives all miles with me in the passenger seat.

 

You will have to do a hair folicle test. Its a pain to get the documentation but its a necessary test. You'd be amazed at the number of guys who fail yhe hair test.

 

Thanks Ethos and Gentleroger - I'll contact my Dr. and have the paperwork with me when I go to orientation and the physical.