Schneider

As Rad has said, the training at Schneider is good, I have heard nothing but good things come from the students who have attended their school. I am sure what Rad has said is true, many people get treated unfairly at these CDL Mills. I wouldn't go in expecting what they say you will make your first year. You will be given an older truck when you start out; this is basically the initiation period. You will be given short runs and they may keep you around the east coast as Stevens Transport did with me, sending me to Hunts Point, Bronx, NY all the time (which is great for backing up practice). Remember, you are a newbie when you go in. You must first pay your dues before anything extravagant happens. Live off the bare necessities while you are starting out so you have money for your bills and try to finish a year before deciding if you want to stay or not. Also if you are looking at the lease operator dealio, keep in mind they are all ripoffs, don't do it especially if your a newb. Do you want to replace parts on your truck from your inexperienced shifting/ driving skills and pay to fill up your truck? Look at fuel prices and use your head, get some experience then if you want your own truck, maintain your good credit, save up some startup money and go after it. Keep in mind, when running your own business; the government says you are the employer and employee so you get taxed twice. Taxes, fuel, parts, licenses, permits, and whatever else I left out, make sure you have some backup money for them breakdowns.

 

Here at Truckers' Report EVERYbody is welcome to their own opinion.

I did!

I am! :smt006

Were you dedicated?

Good advice, Rad.

How long 18 months seems, ... or is, ... depends on personal goals.

Personally, I never bought into the
Start with a bottom feeder, training company, and plan on mistreatment for a year or so, then bail for a, hopefully, better company. Or, it could turn out to be just another bottom feeder company with different color Big trucks.

I figured why not start with a better company and avoid all that job-hoppin'?
Invest time in one company and climb the pay-scale ladder while scoring bonuses and vacation days.

Like you, I attended a drivin' school on my own dime. While attending, I started researching truckin' companies I thought I'd be interested in.
I picked many trucker's brains over coffee at local Big truck truck stops. Offered some of them a ride in my peek-up truck to fetch thangs around town. Even helped some polish their Big trucks -- just to get the feel of thangs --- and, most of all, learn the lifestyle.
I think I did.

I chose Schneider because everyone, including the school instructors, warned me to expect rejection because Schneider was known for being hard to get hired by. The reject to applicant ratio was 7 rejected of 10 applicants, on average. Three of ten hired.
Seems they were only interested in the best.

At the time, J.B. Hunt was runnin' 7 out of 10 hired, -- (3 rejected) -- and many of those hired were Schneider rejects.

If Schneider wanted the best, by golly ---- I donno 'bout you --- but, IMO, that was me.
So ------------
I applied and got an interview with the toughest interviewer know to exist -- and the personnel manager to boot -- or not to boot, as the case may be.

To make a short story longer ---- I was hired on the spot -- and there was a
"NOT HIRING AT THIS TIME" sign in the window.
Go figure.

I had excellent trainers, and after a few years runnin' a dedicated run to military bases pullin' mostly doubles --- 6,700 miles in 7 days, ------
Then, do it all over again, or take two days off.
Drop & Hook pay was $35 -- or, at least $210 each tour -- $105 split.
Add 7 cents a mile for bonuses ---$469 or $234.50 split each tour.

Each tour paid around $1,500 to each driver.
Schedule was very tight. But the destinations were interesting.
We ate meals with military pilots, delivered helicopter rotor-blades right up to a C-5A Galaxy, and ran the same routes every time, California to Norfolk and back.

From there, I was asked to become a driver trainer, --- which I did for a few years.
During that time I was offered other positions -- which I declined.
Even offered to pay my relocation costs if I'd move to San Leandro, California to do a supervisor--office gig.
No thanx.

From trainer to dedicated "local". Which drove me crazy --- and lookin' for another gig.
Found it --- but they wanted ONLY drivers with at LEAST 5 years experience. I fell short, but because of the respect other companies have for Schneider training, my sticking with Schneider for almost 5 years, and my abilities, attitude and aptitude, they made an exception to their own rule.
Imagine that.

Thanx Schneider!

WoW, HLaird,......
that sounds like a sweet gig.
Especially right outta the starting gate.

 

Did you mean that like I took it?

If you don't believe in yourself.......... why would anyone else?

They have been BY FAR the most professional company I have talked to so far..........

In the past, I have expected a lot from my employers.......... and I have no problem with them expecting a lot from me.......... I think Schneider is custom built for new drivers who have this philosophy.............

Just my .02.........

 

Hey Aftershock,

I lived in the Inland Empire most of my life. Now I'm in Kingman, AZ. I want to get with Schneider because of their respected training program. I called Schneider last week they don't hire from AZ. I asked if they would take me in their school if I was in Riverside, they said yes but they r only excepting people who will team drive. It sounds like thats what your doing? How is this team stuff, seems like u wouldn't be able to get much sleep, or get to relax?

I could use a friends house as a home base in Riverside, I'm thinking of moving back anyway. U got any insight? Would it be worth it? My only choose here is Swift, about ten miles to one of their depots. Their rep sucks, training, pay, and treatment of drivers?

Like you, I think it's important to start out with a good company and stay with them if possible. The problem at this point in time is this slow down, and how much effect it will have on drivers and companies. What I am woundering, I guess, is if they take a person on at their school, does this mean they will put u to work. I wouldn't want to be on the hook for the cost of training and not have a driving job with them. As I have read about Swift, a person might not get hired with them and would be stuck with the bill.

I'm asking u because u have the experiance I expect one should have. Could it be that u r just the lucky one? Most have good to say about Schneider. Some have not. One guy from San Deigo says he's always on the east coast and can't ever get home. He's out for 4 wks and more. For me this is not really a problem, me being single. It does suggest a companies lack of concern for drivers needs.

If u could bring us up to date on what is happening there with Schneider, in your area, it would be appreciated? I'd hate to give up my Arizona drivers lic. and get my CA lic., premit, pyshical, test without having as much info as I can get. You seem to know Scheinder. Should I just contact them and explain this complicted stituation I would be going through to get on with them or would they not want to hear it?

You said u had to find another gig, what's up here? Your not with Schneider now? Who u with now? And why did u leave Sni?

Hope u can give me some feedback.

Thank alot.

 

It seems like every negative post someone puts up,someone else has a positive post about most of the trucking co's I have been watching and reading on this forum.
I think a person needs to take his/her time and ask a lot of questions before committing ones self to one co. over another for training. Even a CDL school, you are commited to a tuition payment if you don't have 5 or 6 grand on hand for cost and expenses.

 

Rad,
Please share the wealth. I believe I've heard of the worst, but who r the better companies that a new guy can get with? Were did u decide to go? And how's it there?

Thanks.

 

WhaT?

No kiddin'?
I'm sorry
and I won't hold that against you.

Say it ain't so!
Small world.
I'm a property owner in Kingman.
South side of Hwy 68, one mile from Hwy 93. Bought it long before Laughlin was built.
Last time I was through that area was about a year ago. I was amazed at all the building goin' on.
Hmmmmmmmm
I wonder if my property is still there?

YuP!
The LA terminal seems to concentrate on team operations. Although there are solos running out of that office, I think those gigs go to the chosen few who have proved themselves worthy.
Sure can't blame 'em for that.

I did, but now I drive a computer.
I prefer Big truck truckin' though, and hope to return to the road when the time is right.

I'm glad I started out team drivin' with a more knowledgeable partner than I. I think that helped me learn more and learn it quicker. And, although, I'd do it again under the right circumstances, I MUCH prefer solo --- for the reasons you've listed above.

The team routine can be gotten used to in time, but a Big truck seems smaller when 2 share the interior. A well matched team will complement each other and cover each other's backs.

Often, one of the team is better at certain things, like backing --- while the other excels in trip planning and paper work.
See where I'm goin' with this?

Instead of driver A whinin' about driver B not bein' good at backin' -- they should understand the situation and split the duties.
Personally, I'll do ALL the backing if my team mate did ALL the paperwork, -- as well as I back-up semi trailers. I'd call that a fair deal. And have done that.

Of course, I still double check their work, But after awhile, with no mistakes, I tend to trust 'em to git 'er done.

As I recall, Schneider will accept that. They DO require a brick & mortar address though -- No PO boxes.

Not current insight. I haven't driven for Schneider for probably 15 years.

I ran out of Fontana, at first, and the main office was in Santa Fe Springs, --- then they moved to Montebello. Now they're back in Fontana at a rather nice facility.

Only you can answer that question, amigo.
But to my way of thinkin', y'all gotta do what'cha gotta do to go to the top.

Keep your eyes, ears and mind open. Ya never know what could pop up. Other folks here might have a few suggestions you haven't considered yet.

It's having a big effect, in more ways than one.
Now, with all the displaced workers seeking employment, companies will hire a desk driver with 20 years experience pushin' a pencil and shufflin' paper --- with a solid work history, over another applicant better suited to driving Big trucks, but with a less than stellar work history. Job competition has increased BIG time.

That's generally the case. When you attend THEIR training, you're considered an investment, --- and they're in business to make money -- bottom line.
You can also attend a qualified private truckin' school, and WHILE attending, start applying with companies. They'll often pre-hire you, based on graduating.
That'll give you more time to research and not have to settle for the first, or only, company to show interest in you. Show interest in THEM, first -- and you'll be ahead of the game, and probably 80% of the other students there.

Then stay away from C.R. England!!!

I'm not familiar with SWIFT's policies --- but there ARE those here who currently drive for SWIFT.

But look at it this way ---- companies are more in the business of makin' money than they are movin' freight. If YOU can make the company money, they're not goin' to be anxious to get rid of you.
Sell YOURSELF!
Convince them they NEED you, and back your claims with performance.

Thanx for noticing.

Could be luck.
And it might be I'm blessed, too.
I knew what I wanted and made plans to achieve my goal. Call it a trip plan, if you will. I didn't make plans to be hired with any company that wouldn't advance my abilities.
Actually, in the past 25 years, I've only applied with two companies, and was hired by both.
A job-hoppin' expert, I'm not.

YuP!
And ALWAYS consider either with an open mind. Consider the source. SOME drivers would complain about ANY job.
Companies have their way to weed that type out, and that's where and why some complain so much. They don't seem to be able to read the writin' on the wall, and realize it's THEM causing their own circumstances.
A GOOD attitude ---- don't leave home without it and display it often.

Let me illustrate it this way ----- Imagine you're a dispatcher at a truckin' company that has "first in -- first out" dispatching.
You have two loads on your desk, and two drivers in the area to take them.
Load A is a dream load.
Laod B is a dawg load.

Driver X is a whiner --- always complain' about the bad loads, but NEVER mentions the good loads. Probably because they expect to get gravy loads ALL the time.

Driver Z is usually very pleasant, rarely complains -- beyond mentioning the conditions of a bad shipper or receiver, mostly for the dispatcher's information.
Takes the good with the bad and gits 'er done.
Might even send their dispatchers post cards from time to time, and make it a point to stop in to say HI, when they're in town.

Now, you're the ONLY one who knows which loads are available, and could give either load to the driver of your choice ---- which driver will YOU pick for which load?

That's what I was thinkin' too.

I think things have probably changed at Schneider since I drove for them. Probably for the better. But others here who are currently driving orange Big trucks (Pumpkins) would be in a better position to answer your questions in detail, than I.

Absolutely correct!
Get ALL the information you can gather. And get what you can in writing.

I put in about 4 1/2 years with Schneider back in the 1980's -- then moved on to what better suited my Big truck truck drivin' tastes.
Now-a-daze, I only pay enough attention to Schneider to know if they've made drastic changes. I haven't seen any.

Sure!
Why not?
I doubt it'll hurt to find out.
Let us know what'cha find out?

"Had" to only in the sense that, after keepin' my eyes and ears open while drivin' for Schneider, I found a gig that better fit my desires.
BTW, my desires didn't include MORE home time more often.
Nope!
I prefer to stay out for 6 to 9 weeks at a time, then take a week, or more, off in a lump. I don't like two weeks out and two days off.
I found a 'nitch' company that worked closely with the motorcycle industry -- and included doing their trade shows, snowmobile tours, followed the Olympic Torch Run, photo shoots and special events with the Hawaiian Tropics Girls, frequent trips to Hollyweird to the set of BAYWATCH, racing events, ...... etc.
In betwixt trade shows and special events, I DIDN'T see grocery warehouses.
Nope!
I saw gold mines, military bases, resorts, and hauled multi-million dollar loads, including weapons guidance systems, one-of-a-kind, custom calendar motorcycles, and other such places most company drivers will never see.
And, as an added bonus, I was actually paid to think.
Imagine that.

Not physically --- but always in spirit.

Now-a-daze, I drive a big Dell Computer.

Well, I didn't agree with their dispatch methods on a local gig I took with them -- out of Anaheim. Kraft/General Foods Dedicated Account.
I don't like local drivin' anyway, and, actually, I had outgrown Schneider and it was time for me to move along, rather than try to change Schneider to fit my desires. Their fine training and the experience I gained while with them made that move possible. I have NO hard feeling about that. In fact, I thank Schneider for making me aware that it was time to move on.

You're welcome a lot!
Did I?

Here's another tid-bit of info to file and review often.
KEEP YOUR DRIVING RECORD CLEAN!!

I have over a million mile-markers in my back pocket --- accident and citation free. Even in my personal vehicles. The last moving violation I received was in Bishop in the mid 1970's --- for speeding in a 4-wheeler. I wasn't a Big truck truck driver yet.

A clean record WILL speak volumes about'cha. Don't tarnish it.

Very good observation, IGM.
What do you attribute that to?

Watching and reading and researching here can put'cha well ahead of the game.
IMO, y'all are doin' the right thing.
Read and ask questions --- and make notes of the answers.

There is NO perfect company for EVERYbody. Don't waste your time trying to find it.
Rather, compile all the information you obtain, and decide which company has the better deal for YOU.
Don't just look at mileage pay either.
If company A pays more, but doesn't give you the miles --- it's quite possible other companies that pay less will pay more in the long run.

Look for advancement possibilities within the various companies. How high is their ceiling?
Do they have different divisions?
Dedicated accounts?
The more time y'all invest in research and KNOWING what'cha want AND what'cha WILL accept, the better the Big truck truckin' industry will work for YOU, too.

 

Shock!

Keep me in mind, dood! I do well at easy backing )straight line, offset( but so far kinda... well... reek at anything else I've tried. Need practice. Lots of practice.

On the other hand, I'm darn good at paperwork.

Sounds like a match made in heaven. AND I'm easy to get along with!

 

I keep tellin' you that Lurch!
Didja think I was joshin' ya?
I'm thinkin'
The Dream Team -- Deluxe Edition
Aged To Perfection.

And thanx for bringin' the subject of teams back up.

Those just startin' out in the Big truckin' industry, and plan to run team, even for just a little while, should understand that, not only is Big truck truckin' a LIFESTYLE, but so is SUCCESSFUL teamin'.
Exactly the same
only different.

What I'm about to tell y'all, might make y'all think I'm jokin' ---- but I'm not, ...... this time. Rest assured, that won't last.

~~~~~~~POP QUIZ ~~~~~~~

But relax, it's multiple guess -----------

What has successful and productive Big truck truckin' teammates been compared to?

1. The Hatfields & McCoys.

2. Extreme Makeover .... Disaster Edition.

3. The Democrats & Republicans.

4. A marriage.

If you knew the answer --- you already know where I'm goin' with this, I hope.

A HIGH QUALITY TEAM, works much like a marriage. You BOTH have to display give and take.
A bad team relationship can, and DOES, make for miserable working conditions.
Trust me, I know.

On the flip-side --- a functional team that exhibits the desire to make thangs work, -- to the benefit of BOTH team members, is a down-right pleasurable experience.

I've teamed with people I don't always agree with on various subjects. But, gol-dang if that didn't make for interesting and stimulating conversations. As long as two teamin' can accept that they won't ALWAYS agree on everything, nor should they, the road to success is a LOT smoother.

BUT, and it's a Big One,............
There IS one thing you BOTH must agree on!
The SAFE operation of your Big truck --- and the trailer(s) it's pullin'. If y'all are pushin' it, y'all are headed in the wrong direction(s).

That's my story and
I'm stuck with it.