Schneider training March 15th, Carlisle PA

Hi,

How many miles per week are you getting ziggystyles?

(Now we are stuck in bold typing, sorry.)

I ask because I think you are finished training and now solo. I have caught wind that the recruiter may have over estimated my possible miles per week (2400 average).

Can you also tell me where you have driven in the last 2 weeks (if you have time)?

Also if anybody else is driving solo for Schneider and is there for less than about a year, let me know your answers too. I just want to know about the same conditions I will be in just beginning with them.

 

Well to be honest, Im not going to be much help here, lol. Outside of driving in CA during my training down there and driving on 70 in CO during OTR training...the only driving I do is the same stretch of highway....so it doesnt change. Lately Ive been taking an alternate route which saves me 30 minutes on the days I don't have to fuel.

Also, the milaege that I get would be sad, lol, so I won't mention it. however, I also Dont get paid by the mile. I run dedicated and have the same stops, which is why I get paid salary. Im not sure of the miles that the regular OTR drivers are getting.

 

Has anybody heard about a $500 a week minimum gross wage for OTR drivers? I thought I read that here somewhere. Of coarse if that is true it is probably that way if you didn't refuse a load. I would never refuse unless I was too sick to drive safely.

 

That USED to exist...500 bucks minimum each week guaranteed; moreless a recruiting thing. However, they took that away last fall and I think some drivers got dinked over by that because they thought it was there, and they even got it in writing as a guarantee, but it was taken away with no explanation...so some drivers who thought theyd be making at least 500 ended up making less.

 

Some more questions:

1) Is there a minimum weekly pay for company drivers, even if it isn't $500? Or if you drive 10 miles in a week, do you just get the whole $3 gross pay? I know that isn't a likely weekly miles amount, but just a sample.

2) With DOT rules, am I to assume you may be driving 11 hours a day and stopping for 10 hours. Doesn't that mean that over a week's time you would be up and driving during different times of the day? So even if time limits on the load aren't in effect you may be starting out at 3am, maybe the next day at 12noon? Personally I would rather run from 12noon until 11pm, then get to sleep around 3am. It's kind of an old habit from working in C-stores. Plus I think my mind and body is confused about what time zone I am in.

3) In the CDL book (Texas) I have been studying asks a question, sort of a check yourself question, that asked if you would be allowed to take a checklist to your pre-trip inspection test. Well I can't seem to find that answer in the book. It says if you can't answer then reread the section. The answer doesn't seem to be there. What is the answer? Do you get a check list on the test at the DMV?

 

I was reading an old CDL book for Ohio's test, and I recall it saying that you could take notes or a checklist, so it's a possibility. I suppose it may be different in Texas though, and the rules could have changed in Ohio since the book I was reading was printed, but that's my two cents.

 

I suspect a checklist is recommended for pre-trip inspection. I know it's legal. Afterall, it can be exceedingly helpful in a thorough inspection, particularly for a new driver who doesn't automatically know all the things someone who's practiced might know.

 

No there isn't. If you work as a OTR driver who gets paid by the mile, then you get paid by each mile driven...or more specifically, the miles they figure from A to B.

Yep pretty much thats what its like, unless you get a dedicated account or something, but that can vary as well. With OTR, You can set your schedule, however its important to plan the route...that way you know how long about it will take you to get there. Then you can plan it better to better fit your schedule. That doesn't mean you can totally set your hours, but you have a little bit more control. Ie...if you pick up a load at noon that will take you 15 hours to deliver and the appointment/delivery time is open...you can either drive 11 hours today and then 4 tomorrow, or 7/8 , 8/7, 9/6...etc.

Actually Im not sure. Schneider does a pretty good job in training their students for the pre trip. Well, let me clarify. You don't spend much time with a trainer going over the pretrip...because their version is so lengthy it takes quite a while to do...they don't do it with their students, but you have a checklist and plenty of time to go over it, especially in the order they suggest. Basically, if you can do the Schneider pre trip, you'll nail the DOT pre trip.
Another thing too is that they won't have you do the entire pretrip...they just might have you do the engine area, the trailer, in cab...etc or a combo.
I didn't need a checklist for help. Didn't seem that hard.

 

By the way it looks like Schneider dropped inexperience pay for southeast region. I swear it was 30 cents per mile just a week ago, now their pay says 28 cents per mile. That's a little better than Stevens but if they keep this up I may change to Stevens transport. Same city training and pay and miles seem to be better. I hate to make a terrorist threat (against my career) like that but every day I find out something different about Schneider than I thought was the case. Right now I have an active application for them both with start dates at the same time.
I really don't know what to believe about Schneider feeding me at Dallas. People here report you buy your own dinner. The Schneider website says they supply 2 meals a day and so does the recruiter, but it may be counting the hotel breakfast. The recruiter says there are 3 meals counting the hotel breakfast. I sometimes wonder if the recruiters aren't lying but maybe they just don't know the truth. I looked at google earth at their training place and the hotel I am supposed to stay at. There are lots of places to eat around the hotel.

Anyway I still much prefer Schneider, since I don't want to be training anymore than I have to. I just don't think I will like being with a stranger in a small space for months at a time. I usually can't be myself around others. Even my friends don't know me too well since I act so quiet around them.

 

Well Id call your recruiter and simply flat out ask to talk to the DBL that you will work with. My recruiter had totally different info than the DBL had. As far as i know...they provide 2 meals...breakfast at the hotel...whatever the hotel rpovides, and lunch. Their bulk division might eb different, but I m not sure.