schneider questions

I rode with a girlfriend that drove an orange truck. she was dedicated to one of their big accounts and had a reload sent to her when she was getting close to her destination. We did spend time looking for trailers and getting things fixed. My problem with them is spring ride trailers, under powered trucks and low pay.

 

truckin916, ziggystyles, bduke,

Interesting banter back and forth. Very enjoyable reading.

With that being said, I see points on both sides. I truly believe that the OTR driver is not compensated properly for their time. I understand that they are paid by the mile. However, like bduke, I would like to see those drivers compensated for their "on duty" time. I normally run tankers but when there is no tanker work, I am put on vans to deliver freight. I have ran into many drivers who are waiting to unload or re-load at a customer. They (most) tell me that they are only paid after sitting a certain time. 2 hours was about the average time given to the company. I find this or any amout of time unacceptable.

I can see where truckin916 made the comment of companies paying drivers for 24 hours. I agree with bduke in that I want to be paid from the time I clock in un til I clock out. That should include pre/post trip, fueling, repairs, breakdown etc. There is so much talk of a driver shortage. I think that there is a shortage of drivers who quit because they are not paid for their time.

I am not here to promote one type of trucking to another. I mearly wish to see drivers compensated properly for their time. If that happened, maybe we would see a reduction in driver turnover. You need to ask yourself why these same companies are constantly hiring drivers. I don't think it is because they can't keep up with the demand of freight, I think is has a lot to do with how the drivers are paid. Driving a truck takes a special breed of person.

bduke, I think you came on a little bit strong. You might want to check yourself.

bduke, ziggystyles,

I would be happy to compare earned money/benefits if you want to.

Drive safe

 

Well it depends on how you look at it. Since Im salaried, i get paid weekly and my pay if I counted just driving is 19 an hour. But then again, I also get paid to unload the trailer...part of my job so my per hour drops down to about 13 bucks. My yearly salary for this first year will be about 37ish, and then it will go up to 39 after my one year anniversary.

Here is the scoop on what I do. I fully have acknowledge my pay is low because of what I do, so keep that in mind, but I also consider what I do a perk, compared to OTR driving:
*home daily, if I start at 6, Im home at 3:30. I drive less than five hundred miles a day. If I tweaked it to reflect how much per mile...it would be .33 a mile.
*let me clarify, home daily guaranteed unless God himself presses the smite button with the weather. If I have to stay out, Ill just take a per diem deduction off my taxes for the two days I was out.
*two days off a week, plus holidays.
*I don't get paid personal time off, until after my one year. Until then, I can stil take days off I believe...but then again, I ahve this weird ethic that says I shouldn't get paid if Im not working. I also don't take days off. At least I don't see myself doing so as they would have to get someone up here to fill in on my route from Denver..Id have to train them if they didn't know it....and since my one year anniversary is in October...I can't really take a vacation because the wife is teaching, so I don't see myself using that week until mid 09.

As far as benefits, Im not signed up for any. I have vision but they provide it free of charge. Otherwise, my wifes insurance through her school district is what I go through, much better plan. As a former teacher, they have the best med plans so its a no brainer. As far as retirement, Im currently up to my eyeballs in debt so I need to work on that first before anything else. That and the fact that I would never use a company retirement system for a retirement plan..much better options out there.

 

I worked for schneider for six months, the only bad thing about them was low pay, and hunting for them empty trailers. I dont know how you can lose track of that many trailers. I had one night in Milwaukee once at 2 am, in downtown they sent me to six different places where there was supposed to be a trailer at every place, but no where to be found. Finally after the 6th call I got a nice support lady and told what was going on and she just bobtailed me to my loaded trailer. You will almost never have to wait for a load with these guys though, as long as you send in the macro about when you are available over the qualcomm. I would always get a load when I was about an hour from the place I was to drop the load. Very profesional company, just quit them cause over the road wasnt for me.

 

I dunno, I think this could just be my sarcasm kicking in here but the freight schneider hauls doesn't have its pinky up in the air...so paying more for an air ride trailer is pointless. Considering that and the fact that unless you are going 110 down a gravel road with potholes, you shouldn't even notice that trailer bouncing around. My trailer is loaded with a weight of ten dead mosquitos and with that, one should feel the thing bouncing around when a bird flaps its wings...I don't.

As for the trailers...I think most companies have htat problem with maintenance. However, I think many drivers just drop the trailer without reporting an issue, because "not my problem anymore" kicks in. Another could be the way they send a message to SEM. I told them last week about an issue with my truck and they replied back when I wasn't even in the truck, was at home. Today I sent a more detailed message specifically giving them my cell number, telling them clearly I was not in the truck...and using insane detail. I got a phone call back in five minutes.

I agree that driver pay is an issue and the reason that the turnover is high is because drivers often can find a better deal elsewhere. However, it also has been pointed out that Schneider, despite their large turn over..also has a high number of drivers who have been with them for a long long time. Turnover is a generic term. Turnover of who? Usually the longer you stay with a company, the less likely you are to leave, because you would have already. I think the turnover is high amongst new drivers. I hear on here alone about people waiting to get their 6 or 12 months in so they can work somewhere else. I think schneider has high turnover..but i think that is mostly directed towards their newest drivers.

however, at the same time, when Im getting paid to drive, Im not going to complain about not getting paid when Im not doing what Im supposed to be doing in the first place. Granted, the pay is an issue, but I don't expect to get paid 110k a year (no offense lat..) for turning a round object in my truck. If we got paid by the mile, I guarantee you that there would be a huge problem with that. People would take 1 hour to do a pretrip...an hour for a 15 minute fuel stop, an hour for post trip...theyd drive 8 hours a day and get paid for working 15 when they didn't.

 

I have been a manager for schneider and I have driven in the % of revenue fleet as an owner operator. They pre-plan 1 day ahead of time in general. unless u are going into an area with a big customer and then they will
wait to be sure they are servicing that customer. Mostly drop and hook freight. they are by the book and other than that they are like every other trucking company they do treat their drivers well. You could get a bad DM or someone you just don't click with, just ask they will switch you.

Good Luck

 

Retiring from the military in the next four months. Considering applying to schneider.

Normally there is allot griping on this site.

Can you give me guidance on what to do right to pass the road test? How difficult is it?

What is my first 18 months looking like. Desire the hazmat and tanker endorsements. Will the school let me load up on these before I finish?

 

There Charlotte training facility is less than 30 miles form my house. I hope to get hired with them. 18 months with SNI, SNI's training school, and a good driving record should make for a nice resume when seeking a higher paid job.

 

Well your final consists of a couple of things, if you are going through their regular two week training program. Lets see if I remember correctly:
Pre trip - basic inspection of truck and trailer from top to bottom...all the details...have to say what you are looking for and such.
Pump Down brake test...has to be in a precise order;
*governor cut in
*Gov cut out
*key off, hold brake down for a minute to test air loss
*engine off key on, low air warning
*key off, pump down til pop out activation
*roll truck and test brakes.
might not have the right order, lol.

After pumpdown, they will do the road test. It will consist of backing (get out and look at each one, even if you will nail it without a pull up...company policy)...I think three backs most likely. Then they will get you out on the road, taking various turns and such. When you get back, they will have you do the post trip as well.

Also, they have you couple in the beginning and uncouple when the test is done.

 

From my husbands experience with Schneider no waiting between loads. Pay has been consistent week to week. This has been the best company my husband has worked with. The reason I will apply to the company once I obtain my CDL. I was actually shocked to look at the check after all taxes, and medical were deducted. Very decent!