So you want to drive for Schneider?

We get it already. You couldn't hack it on the road.

 

In my 20 of driving I've never asked for welfare. Hell my 4 years and counting I'm making more then my previous companies. I buy expensive toys go on cruises. Never was able to do that with other companies. Maybe u should go back to your closet and wax some more surf boards.

 

botched assisgnemts to pick up non existent empty trailers to take to non existent address; no reliable partners for Teams, ######## at most every turn and if you make the mistake of working for Schneider Teams you won't make #### trust me. Company pays horse ####

 

In my experience as a Team Driver we have made decent money. Two weeks ago the check was $880 and last week was $980 (TAH had us two days short or it would have been higher). Usually our checks are around $1200 a week. It all depends on the team and time of year. My co-driver hates driving during the days and I hate driving during the night. It works great for us. We have mentored team that were lucky to make $500 a week but it's because they didn't manage their time correctly, couldn't handle driving at night or just plain got tired. They were always running out of hours and were late for delivery. Their Driver Manager couldn't trust they would get the delivery their on time so they always ended up with Live Loads, short runs and assignments that were 600-800 miles.

They never did figure it out and are both running solo Western 11 now and doing fine. It just depends on the team. Luckily I have a decent working relationship with my Co-Driver (Son) so it works for us. It doesn't work for everyone.

Reality is if you keep your door shut, Butt in the seat and manage your time well you will do fine. There are good weeks and bad weeks but they seem to average out. When we sit too long I annoy my Driver Manager until we get some decent runs to level it out. It seems to work for us.

As far as botched assignments....we have had them....told to pick up empty trailers where there are none...yep that has happened also....Drop and Hooks that become 4 hour live loads....had those to. It happens! You just hope it only happens once in a while and not time after time.

If those things bother you look for Dedicated accounts in your area. Steady miles, predictability and no issue finding your trailer.

 

I don't see how it's surprising that you team up with a random person and they turn out to be a screw up that you rely on. I wouldn't team unless I knew the person up front. And in regards to the "non existent" addresses, I've never run into any issues like that. Yeah of course the box planners might be missing a chromosome or two. However, finding where a place is at is the drivers responsibility. Do you think a desk jockey knows how to find any of these places?

 

I beg to differ, dear sir; the road suits me just fine.
It's working for the low paying, dead end trucking jobs that I can't (and won't) hack.
Not to worry though; there are plenty of simple, gullible, frightened, and easily manipulated drones such as yourself to keep those mobile sweatshops rolling.

 

Trip planning before heading out to the customer instead of blindly following the gps will solve the "non existent address" I always trip plan, find which direction i need to come from and know where exactly the truck entrance is. I had that problem too before. A simple phone call to the customer helps.

The more information / knowledge you know, the easier your job will be. Mt trailers are a pain. Once you get use to the area, you know which customer you can stop by and ask if they have any. If not ur SOL and have to call it in.

Never did teams, never will, I'm not a social person, I'm more of a "do it myself" type. So finding somebody who I can get along with is hard. But good luck finding somebody, everybody have different personality

 

Currently the industry is constrained by insurance regulations and licensing requirements which limit carriers and new drivers. What career path would you suggest new drivers follow? The (old) model of coming into the industry has changed. Are your feelings based on frustrations with the industry, or with this particular carrier and how they operate? Why would an entry level carrier be deadend? Low pay seems probable in any entry level position in any industry, is there room for growth? I think so. Many talk about recruitment and turnover, and there are indeed problems. What's your answer? Joe Blow has to start somewhere, and carriers operate on a thin margin.

 

Most of the larger carriers are the same. Some will try and push you into a lease which basically means you are paying the truck payment for them and they control the runs you receive. Not a good deal to say the least. I came into this expecting to make 3k a month at best. That's because I knew it was entry level and the only way to better pay and a better company was to stick it out with a mega. I have made more than 3k a month and still make it home at least six days a month.

The longer you drive and the more experience you have the more options there are out there and the more money you can make. There is room to grow and it is up to the individual. If my wife was willing to move I would relocate to the Mid-West and get my own truck and run as an Independent Contractor or with a Dedicated Account

Like any job it is what you make of it. Good Days and Bad days and in the end it always seems to balance out. Just my opinion.

 

LOL, OK. I'm not even a company driver anymore because earnings were limited on that end. I wouldn't be a company driver with Schneider anymore, although I was easily pulling in $1150-$1200/week before taxes as a company driver. As an IC, on the other hand, well, I won't go into the numbers there.