Help me make a decision.

Hi ctoles, 1st, congratulations, now get to work! (just kidding, I should talk) I don't know about Schneider. They've been around a long time, but have heard good and bad about them, and being a tanker, you may not get home as often as you'd like, compared to a flatbed outfit, that could probably get you home more, just because there is such a huge call for flatbed.
I know, being from Wis., Roehl is a good company, and heard they will work with you, plus, like you say, you can take the truck home, a huge plus. Flatbed is a little more labor intensive, but has many advantages over, say a van or reefer. Then, maybe you can look for a tanker job in the area, that commute will get awful stale after a while. Good luck.

 

If you want to do tanks for the reminder of your career I would say go pull tanks. But, I wouldn't rule out tmc just because you may land an opportunity one day that is local and pays well but requires flatbed experience. However that is just an if. Logically, you should go do tanks with either company because they have the same commute. The decision should be made based on how you like the company more and money if there is a huge difference. In regards to pay at Schnieder, I heard of some divers complaining and others not caring. But I heard from lease ops that there is money to be had and they get decent miles. Remember this, a candidate with no tank experience and six years driving vs tank experience and four years, the guy with experience may be favored if the company needs a driver nowbecause they are short one.

 

Depending on your area schneider has plenty of account that can fit your certain situation. Van reefer tank flat. You say your getting out of school next week so congrats. Get your yr or so in and keep a copy of school cert. If you are wanting to yank a tank and be home every night look into fuel hauling. Most are home every night. They have to keep up on equipment. Pay is good at most companies. And it is either hr pay or load pay you dont have to count miles

 

i talked to a Pumpkin tanker few nights ago, he said he'd be solo a month and had newbie Fleet mgr, he said miles were not good yet, but seemed optimistic that it will change. Good place to start to get your year (or whatever you dream job wants)

 

Just remember, getting paid by the hour is always the hot setup. % and mileage are pretty much the same. With mileage, if the truck isn't moving for whatever reason, weather, loading/unloading,( sometimes you'll get paid for that) traffic, you don't make any money, and % pays a straight amount for the load, whether it takes an hour or a day. Most freight outfits pay by the hour, so if you can steer that way, it's much better, again, good luck.

 

I know all companies and situations are unique.

As a tanker yanker I've always made more money being paid percentage.

The problem with hourly is that companies mostly try to limit your hours by hiring too many guys.

Just my 2 cents

 

Hi Luke, that's one of the many perks of tanker, is the customer usually needs what they ordered, and you arrive, hook up the hose and let 'er go.( then whip out the metal polish) Several jobs I had, like dump truck, I did ok with %, where you are just dumping in a hole or a pile, you can turn as many loads as you want ( years ago, we never cared about HOS). Turn and burn, we called it. Not sure you can do that nowadays.
While it's true, when you are being paid by the hour, there's a lot more BS, and are watched a lot closer, but in trucking, for me, hourly pay was the way to go.