Schneider training March 15th, Carlisle PA

Thanks for your last 2 posts. I hope you pass the test next time.

 

Want my Bros. phone #. He said today he went to the shop yesterday and they turned his truck back to 60 MPH. He said if he'd known that he would've staqyed out of the shop as he didnt need to go in. Take my word for it, You're getting a pay cut.

 

Raise your hands. How many SNI
drivers have ever collected their bonuses?

 

KD5GIV, BN-Sante Fe and CSX dont run 2500 HP, They run 3500 HP x 3 units and more at times pulling coal or heavy freight out west. Spine shaking and they have some 4000 HP units but are'nt heavy enough for the power they put out so most are cut back. GOSH! I'd love to run a derated 4000 HP motor. Or how about the worlds largest engine. 110,000 HP # 160 RPM and weighs around 1.4 million lbs, burns 1 ton/hr at full power.

 

Yeah I know what you mean about wanting to run the 110,000HP. Isn't that the engine that looks like they took the cab out of one of them and connected the 2 engines together? I think it is called the DD-60HP (something like that). I think Union Pacific is the only company that bought it, and then only a few of them. When I said 2500HP it was just what I was thinking at the time. I couldn't remember. I didn't want to say what first came to mind, 5000 HP. Then engine I was thinking of was the Dash 9, but I don't think it's 5000 HP. I don't think I will talk about it right here anymore though since it's so far off subject. But I would want to drive trains pulling countless tons of freight, but railroads actually seem to what gods to work for them. My record is fine but they still won't talk to me.

 

Sad if you think that taking a 3-5mph reduction in speed is going to be a pay cut. With the ups and downs of freight that varies from day to day as well as the loads you take, there really isn't anyway to prove you will be getting a pay cut anyways. Nice try though.

Uh, how do you NOT get your bonus? I've been with them for 6 months and I've recieved both of my bonuses.

 

Losing 3-5mph over the course of a yrs worth of driving will indeed cost the average driver some income. No question about it. An O/O may have a different story, but when you're a company driver, you will lose miles. That is, of course, unless you were slackin' before that lost speed. In that case, you may not lose a thing. You'll just need to drive more hours.

My real problem with lowering speeds is that I feel it's dangerous enough when you can keep up with traffic. When you aren't able to, you become a target for other vehicles as well as clogging the road when you are passing another slow truck, or being passed by one. Not to mention you become a "road rage" promoter.

 

I really don't see how. Sure, 3-5 mph over a year will add up to a potential of lost miles. But that can easily be made up by working faster, taking less breaks / stops, and simply getting the job done with more driving. Lots of people try to crunch numbers as if one drives 11 hours straight every day, but nobody does, its very rare. A company driver relies on the loads they are given and as such, that is a big factor right there. Technically, I could make quite a bit more at 60 then a guy who drives 75...IF I always had drop and hook loads or loads with less wait times and the other driver had hours to wait. It all depends on a bunch of factors as far as how much you get paid. SPeed when it comes down to it, is a small factor.

Also, most companies are slowing down now, Schneider is just one of the first. The argument of becoming a road block is flawed. If you are going 75 and 60...its not like I am just parked there sitting...Im moving at a fairly good clip even at 60. You arent going to be looking out your window and then the next second, Im right there 2 feet from you. Especially with the huge x ton orange friggen trailers, theres no reason you should hit it, lol. Plus, lots of cars and pickup trucks drive rather slow as well...hardly hear of accidents with them being 'roadblocks'

 

That "small factor" is one of the few a driver has any control over. This is part of why the average driver will lose money when his truck is purposely slowed. Most of us try to run at least 65mph on the freeways. I like to run 70. If my truck is dropped 5mph from 70, I could lose about an hour worth of my normal distance per day(55miles). If I drive 300 days per yr, that's perhaps 250hrs I'd lose, straight off my drive time... The ONLY time I make money.

Bottom line, driver suffers unless he's doing what you explained at the top... Slacking! I go out to do the job at the same steady pace, WIDEASS OPEN! Other than speed, I already try to do things quickly. I know I can't count on less wait time, as I don't control that. I don't control how long it takes me to fuel either, but I can figure on 15min unless the lines are long or someone's blocking a pump. No guarantee.

Are you sure you've driven a big truck? If I'm running 15mph faster than you it's no problem. Ever been on the highways and seen other vehicles too? Therein lies the problem. We're not talking about just trucks. We have to remember the countless 4wheelers and motor homes and buses as well.

Say you're moving at 60 and I'm coming up at 75... Now you see granny, going 50... What you do you? Well, you attempt to overtake granny, because she's slowing your progress. But in that time, 19yr old billy has passed me at 90 and prevented you from a safe lane change... You hit the brakes and there I am, at least 15mph faster than you... Could we have a problem? You bet.

On the other hand, if we're both running 70, I won't mind. Each of us will have an extended amount of time to make decisions because we each have the ability to pass in a safe manner, maintaining highway speeds. The real bonus is for truck #2, which didn't have to jam the brakes to make up for truck #1's initial lack of speed.

Since we have so many limited trucks out here, many drivers elude to the middle or even left lane so their progress isn't hindered. It winds up being another problem due to blocked traffic.

Hardly hear of accidents from slow cars? Are you serious? Those are the ones being hit most. We see it pretty much daily all across America.