To become independant or not?

the milwaukee journal just reported that Schneider is closing it's school and will be filling it's trucks with veteran drivers only. sorry, I know this is the o/o frum but what's that say to you? lol..

 

does this mean the driver shortage is over???
gee wilikers im so glad that got handled effectivly

 

I guess it does..

 

I think they realized putting inexperienced drivers in a truck and paying them a low wage doesn't save money in the long run. I was told personally by many people in managment at Schneider that they are changing their practices when it comes to this. I hope it is true and only time will tell.

 

that's true but the reason they can now do it is that there is many more desperate drivers looking for jobs because there is so little freight. They havn't been able to keep there trucks full by this method since the 80's. it's much cheaper. they say it costs over $8k to train a student plus the time it takes. it takes $1500 and 4 days to get an experience guy in a truck

 

I can agree on that 2000 miles in a week. I have had my truck for 2.5 years and just went over 100,000 miles not long ago.

And the flat bed market, it was good, and still is to some extent. I was doing mainly expedite, $$$$$. Word is it is starting to pick up in my neck of the woods. Got that job offer, so that is a start. Heard that GM is requesting 300 flats next week.

And my buddy went back over to Jones, his first load back just netted him more than I made in a month with Schneider. Go figure?

I think the flat bed is coming out of storage next week. I gotta make some money.

Mike

 

I really don't trust the flat bed market again, yet. GM may be looking for 300 next week...but we all know the way they are. They probably only want them next week, then you may not see another load from them forever. I just have a bad taste in my mouth for what the "broke 3" want and mean. Ever since I started hauling steel then into machinery I always ended up on the wrong end of the deal when it was a automotive load. Don't get me wrong I did make good money at times, but they always seem to want to move tons of loads this week and none next.

I wish ya luck if you do pull the trailer out of storage. Just be warned that they may of gotten the bridge loan from the goverment, but they haven't (and I believe won't) changed their styles. I hope I'm wrong, but I see the flatbed market not truely picking up till at least late summer.

 

Know what you mean. Still hashing it all out.

Mike

 

I wish Uncle Sam would let them go broke like the rest of us. Then they would be forced to re organize and become more efficient. I think thats what will ultimately happen anyway after they throw more of our money at the problems.

 

We all know that the "broke 3" can't and won't reorganize. They have been doing business the same ways for decades and have to much old managment in place. It would take almost an act of god for them to restructure and survive.

They are hampered by some many things from the past to present (and future) that they don't know where to start. Just look how the CEO's got to DC to ask for the loan in the first place. I don't see any great salesmen like Ioccoa on the horizon that can come to the rescue.