Schneider - New CDL Driver Questions

I'm still within my first 6 months with SNI in dry van, and it is true - you start at 0.29 CPM. However, I *think* I'm already around 33 or 34 CPM due to some weird silent change. Haven't looked at a stub yet, but a dispatcher was talking about the newest of new recruits getting the bumps sooner. My "good" weeks I'm bringing home around $500, and my bad weeks more like $200.

Aside from money, I do like that SNI has been my first experience. They are very patient with new drivers so long as you show them you are not a liability. Get into a bunch of petty preventable (rubbed a trailer, dinged a pole, etc etc) and I think that patience runs thin. But, I have zero preventables on my file with them so far (knock on wood), and I get some latitude. My ETA times are all bat s#@% crazy due to personal issues, but even that hasn't (yet) bitten my backside.

As a new driver, the one sole thing they care about - and the one sole thing you should worry about being new - is not hitting things. To date, I've only ever had consignees complain about a late arrival twice, and neither time ended up being a big deal. Both times have literally been:

"You're late..."
"Ok... What door do you want me in?"
"Uh... Take any open one, we'll get to you when we can"

20 minutes later here they come and the trailer starts rocking and rolling from the fork lifts, and I just smile. Both times, getting into the door, getting unloaded, and getting out have taken less time than some of the on-time or early appointments I've fulfilled.