Schneider Dedicated (Wal Mart, Wintersville, OH)

I got through the Schneider orientation a few weeks ago and a friend I made there was out of the Wintersville, OH dedicated account. He's a new driver and makes the same pay as new OTR drivers: .30 per mile. Look on the website for your pay rate. Also my trainer was on the Walmart dedicated in Olney, IL.

My friend and my trainer had 6 days on 2 days off, minimum 48 hours.

As far as slip seating, they reserve the right to slipseat, which is Schneider's policy. You keep the same truck, but they might use it when you're at home if they're in a bind, but they'll give it back.

Things I liked about Walmart dedicated is they have the terminal there inside the distribution center. They can do your preventive maintenance while you're on home time, you have showers, break room, fuel, free coffee and popcorn. You get to know everyone and make work friends who can help you find stores when you are lost. They can give you heads up on crummy stores too. It's all no touch freight, no loading or unloading. They have your trailer ready to go at the DC before you get there. They'll be times when you spend your 10 hours at the DC, so if you want to go home you can. If you have multiple stores to go to, they pay you 15$ for the extra stops. If they have you go to a vendor to bring a load back to the DC (back haul), they pay you $30.

The biggest thing I didn't like is having to stand around while the store employees unload. Sometimes there are several of them, sometimes only a few. You're supposed to make sure they only take their stuff and sweep the truck. You can go to the bathroom or buy something really quick if you want. I never tested that rule too much. I never waited more than an hour though. My trainer told me that Wal-mart is charged if they take more than an hour. The other thing I didn't like is that the receiving employees can't unlock the back door and let drivers in. You have to wait for a manager to come and unlock the door. The number is on the paperwork is on there though. That might just be whining but it's scary when you're making a night time delivery. That policy will change after enough drivers are attacked.

Overall I think it's way better than OTR. You know when you're home time is and for how long, you get to know where you're going and how to get there and what good places there are to eat along the way, you also make friends and it's not as lonely. And your travel agent works at the DC too, so you get to know him/her.

I work for Target dedicated. My recruiter told me I'd have to unload 1-10% of the time, but my paperwork says NO unloading. She also said I need Hazmat, which I don't because I deliver food, but it's ok because they reimburse you. My point is recruiters don't know much. If you really want to know call the terminal and ask the travel agents there.