Your favorite thing about working for Schneider...least favorite...?

Well, my idle time is not bonus-worthy, but it doesn't reflect how much I actually idle. So it does get removed.

...though what you said doesn't make any sense. We should all be equipped with bunk heaters of various types. It makes no sense to idle in the winter, barring conditions where you should idle, and not in the summer.

That may be the case for you if you have a park smart unit. I just have the bunk heater with a fan.

...as I've said before though...even if it meant giving up my bonus I would still idle. I think they said it costs 5$/hour to idle. If they didn't want drivers to idle so badly, then they'd do something about it aside from remove bonuses.

 

Up north during colder periods of 10f and below we are expected to idle trucks to keep fuel from gelling and batteries from discharge. Company policy. So that idle time is backed out as it is company directed.

 

I'm going to have to agree with this one, if they really cared they would do something about it instead of neglecting drivers.

 

Okay, I'm glad you said a temperature. That wasn't covered in anything I read or heard.

I knew at some point you had to idle just to prevent gelling, so I did add "barring any instances where you should idle". Hadn't thought of the batteries, but in the cold I try to park on an incline anyways just in case I need to give myself a jump start.

One thing I like about manual transmissions is that unless the battery is severely dead or the alternator is gone, jumper cables aren't needed. Just a running start and an easy touch on the clutch.

New something I could do without... They've made it harder to do your own minor repairs like a headlamp. Now about all they pass out is oil. Anyone DIY their minor stuff in s company truck and get reimbursed for parts?

 

Forgot to mention oil that cold and colder is a problem too.

 

I've been reimbursed for coolant purchased on the road before. I've also been told I'd get reimbursed for headlights if I needed to buy them, but the Indy shop gave me a spare one the last time I was there.

 

Yeah, I just got done at the atl shop and asked for a spare. I was told its a chargeable item so, "no."

I've seen lights at TS and the atl oc is, at least to me, a pita. So I attempt to avoid it when able. But I was denied by sem when I asked if I could just replace a mudflap myself....

Diesel is oil. Should go without saying...but then again...common sense isnt so common anymore.

 

I seem to be one of the luckier company drivers. I am on the dedicated Harley account out of the York PA plant. Have been on the account since it started over a year ago. There are currently two DBL's and one planner. All three of them are good people. I stopped in to see them (first time) a couple weeks back just so they could put a face with a name. I have a dedicated route with two customers. I know where and when I will be each day, and can plan home time around that. I get about 2600 miles a week total. That is enough for me.

The best thing that happened is the change in management that occurred very recently. I felt sorry for the DBL's and planner, as their boss micro-managed everything, and would frequently change loads assigned. As this person is now gone, the crew in Green Bay can now manage the accounts and do what is best for the drivers and the customers.

As to my pet peeve, almost all other companies pay holiday pay. This has become, as far as I can see, almost industry-standard. Unfortunately, we do not get either holiday pay, or a bonus if you have to haul freight on a holiday. I believe Schneider needs to get with the program in that regard. Otherwise, I know my weekly routine, wait for the assignments to hit the Qualcomm (and my mobile app), I show up, drive hard, and have a good amount of time at home. My DBL does not hassle me about anything, and unless there is an issue I need resolved, we do not talk all that often. We do have each other's email, so I can email my boss if I need to.

There were some rough spots in the past (due to the departed manager), but things have really smoothed out. All-in-all, not a bad gig for an old phart.

 

SNI did pay Holidays until 2009 when everything jit the fan. Of course once they got rid of it the bean counters realized if they don't pay that is money straight to the bottom line.