Just finished school, submitted application, wanna yank tank

Don't know if Trimac Transportation uses manuals or not.
Trimac hires new cdl grads.
Click here for more information > Apply On Company Site
Walk-Ins Welcomed and Encouraged:
Apply in person Monday -Friday 8am to 4pm
Branch Address:
2420 18th Avenue N, Bessemer, AL 35020
Whether you’re a recent CDL school graduate, a former military service member or an experienced driver, Trimac Transportation has the perfect career opportunity for you!
Trimac Transportation is currently looking for Professional Company Truck Drivers for our Dry Bulk operation in Birmingham, AL. If you are looking for a safety-oriented company that provides consistent, year-round work, partner with Trimac Transportation!
Loads of Work:
Pays is based on mileage and weight - 4% on tonnage rates
Dry bulk- Fly Ash, Lime, Cement
2500 Average mile runs Out and Back Work
Typical delivery points- AL,GA,MS,FL,KY,TN,SC, NE
Out 3-10 days depending on run

 

I expect your DBL will try his best to find you a manual but be warned that the supply is and has been dwindling for years. They'll gladly give you one if there's one to get. Newer drivers don't want them and they're old. Schneider stopped buying manuals for OTR around 2014/2015 but there's a lot more of them in day cabs and regional work. At least in the south. I never stopped to talk to people up north. The cold and traffic get in the way of making money so you have to keep hustling and save the relaxing for when you get back south. There could be a few around Bessemer (South Birmingham). You'll be spending a lot of time around there if you live in Alabama.

In general, if you're hired for something regional or local you'll mostly be doing the same thing over and over. Not much choice there but a set routine means you can get more efficient at handling those specific accounts and maximize your pay. If you're OTR, you're still not choosing your hauls but the long rides make it more laid back and enjoyable. Special accounts do pop up and they're gravy if you can get them. Mostly just loading trailers so the OTR guys can run drop and hook.

Schneider Bulk has been a pretty tough division work in. I started there years ago, left because there was no work when they lost a couple big accounts. Then came back when things were good, and they were good to me last year. I had to leave again to stay close to home. I'd go back if I had the energy but I'm probably done trucking all together if I don't like this Walmart gig I'm trying to get.

 

Just finished Schneiders training and it seems long as you can pass the road tests in a manual, you can get one. In my case I got a 2014 Freightliner

 

I finished bulk training on , Coraopolis this past October and am out of the Gary, Indiana terminal. The training in Penn is top notch in my opinion and I really like their emphasis on safety, running legal, and the mentality that I am the "captain of my ship".

I am not sure that you would be successful in requesting only specific types of runs. You would greatly limit yourself to work and its not your DBL that assigns your work assignment, its the planner. Your assignments will be based upon your updating your NAT (Next Available Time) as well as the hours you have available.

They are gradually phasing out the manuals, but they still have them in the fleet. Don't get locked on with a manual... I drove an auto/manual with my Training Engineer in Chicago and I loved it. It takes a element out of the equation when completing turns, slowing down for off-ramps, etc. With that said I was assigned a 2013 Cascadia with a 10 speed manual.

Now the downside... the trailers (outside of intermodal tank) leaves a lot to be desired. Every load that I had that required Heat in Transit (HIT), I had issues with the fittings on the tank side, this past load I had a problem with the four way valve on the trailer and was losing air to the point that they locked up... while at the shipper... with that said... the shipper rejected the trailer, I has to call emergency maintenance, and we had to cage the brakes in order to get it to the repair shop.I lost my pre-assignment over that.

With that said... I like Schneider... my pay is always there each week.... my DBL payed me layover pay over Thanksgiving, I got detention pay for being at a shipper for 5 hours, and I got brake down pay for each of my issues... all without having to ask. They're a good company and one of the few that will train a new driver in the fine art of driving a tank (the surge is cool, IMHO hahaha).

Best of luck to you, my friend.

 

@Kenhill - read post #5


@Fratsit says he's out of the Gay, Indiana terminal, but I think he meant Gary, Indiana terminal.

 

Hahahaha... that would be correct... Gary, Indiana.... hahahaha... fixed the typo....