Schneider National Carriers - Green Bay, Wi.

Discussion in 'Report A BAD Trucking Company Here' started by smoothoperator, Jun 16, 2005.

  1. smoothoperator

    smoothoperator Bobtail Member

    2
    1
    Mar 20, 2005
    0
    I just fininshed my first 2weeks out in a team truck for schneider. 7800 @.31 a mile. miles you drive not the miles the truck moves. And then only the paid miles on the work assignment. We averaged 920 miles a day and were told we needed to do better. Interesting. Traffic, shipper problems, consignee problems not withstanding WE have to do better.... Don't even mention the fact that your STL is a total retard. They tried to screw us out of our guaranteed time at home. I was told my son would "understand" if I didn't make it to his graduation. I reminded them of the in writing commitiment they made to me. I was then told it was a "guideline" not a firm promise. I was then reminded of my commitiment to them that if I didn't measure up and they terminated me I would have to repay my training. I then pointed out I didn't sign a contract to that effect and that they aren't in a position to dictate squat to me. Anyway some phone lines got heated up and sure enough! They don't have a signed contract from me..... Oooops. Team partner and I got home last night on time as "promised".....

    Bottom line you have to fight tooth and nail or these trucking companies will walk all over you.
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. PortlandDriver

    PortlandDriver RIP, May You Be Heaventown Bound!

    335
    17
    May 30, 2005
    Pacific Northwest
    0
    Don't let it bother you, an average of 920 miles a day is not bad. As far as the pay goes it is not uncommon to split the milage the truck has turned.

    The company I drive for the time the driver requests to be off is a sacred cow and as a rule I would get off on the day or the day befor the date I put in. What the stl is doing is blowing smoke to keep you out longer for the simple reason that the real money they make is in the teams trucks.
     
  4. TurboTrucker

    TurboTrucker Road Train Member

    861
    276
    Feb 23, 2005
    Rossville, Georgia
    0
    I don't doubt a word you posted, Smoothoperator, and it appears that you have a very pushy dispatcher. From what I know about Schneider, this is not their normal policy...to threaten drivers with their commitment.

    I know you to be extremely capable to handle your own affairs, and this was no exception apparently, but if this type of behavior persists from this person, I'd be inclined to go over their head, and to let it be known that this is being done. You and I both know that this is unacceptable behavior.

    This is a perfect example of what I have posted elsewhere on the subject of differing goals and the misunderstanding that drivers often experience from those charged with their supervision. Some dispatchers don't have a clue what it takes to deal with moving freight, and the difficulties that are experienced.

    As I also posted, be sure and document your problems with a dispatcher by using the satellite communication device, because exchanges between parties on the phone have a way of being misrepresented later, but when it's typed on that little keyboard, it's there and they cannot delete it. You'll often find that they won't be inclined to be so bold.
     
  5. dukeforestland

    dukeforestland Bobtail Member

    3
    0
    May 18, 2005
    0
    Well Turbo yyou have been defending schneider a loot.Let me ask you a question "do they pay yo for it" and if dont why dont you come and drive for them :roll: What was said is only the small part of crap that they are doing.Thanks God soon I will have nothing to do with them.
     
  6. TurboTrucker

    TurboTrucker Road Train Member

    861
    276
    Feb 23, 2005
    Rossville, Georgia
    0
    No...I'm afraid they don't pay me a dime. They are aware of my presence, and the fact that I toot their horn, but that's the extent of it. My opinions are completely unbiased in any sense of the word.

    Let's be clear on a couple of things. The reasons WHY I like Schneider are clear as a bell.

    1.) They have gone to GREAT lengths to clean up their act, to offer decent jobs for decent pay. They have improved their safety ratings and working conditions, and created a system to address problems that drivers encounter.

    2.) They offer the finest training program and starting conditions, for people that are seeking an economical way to enter the trucking industry as a driver. They are the ONLY training carrier that does not have complaints against them for predatory lending practices in connection with their contracts and collection for default.

    3.) Generally, people that leave Schneider to move on to other jobs, speak well of them. This is a personal observation, from interviewing many of their former drivers.

    Why do I not work for them? As a matter of fact, this past February, I did apply to work for them, and was approved for hire, but as luck would have it, they filled the open position on the dedicated account I was seeking to hire on to, between the time I applied and was ready to go to work. I was not interested in working for them on a national level, as those days are long behind me, so I took a position with USF Glen Moore, which is working out very well for me.

    If and when I need to make a switch, I'll sure give them another call.
     
  7. TurboTrucker

    TurboTrucker Road Train Member

    861
    276
    Feb 23, 2005
    Rossville, Georgia
    0
    I want to add to the above a couple of things.

    People come in a wide variety of personalities, and they handle situations in a variety of ways as well. The person placed in charge of your supervision apparently is not very diplomatic. What this person did to you is not excuseable, nor would I attempt to do so, but you have to look at things from their side just a bit, to get an understanding of both sides of the issue.

    They are responsible to see that the truck performs a certain amount of revenue or miles per month. They are evaluated on that basis. When a driver or team, in this case, falls short for some reason, you'll not hear about it. They will. Their job is on the line. For this person to resort to threats, was just about the worst way to handle the situation. I've fired people for less.

    I've said repeatedly that the number one reason people leave Schneider is due to a lack of home time. Actually, this is why most people leave MOST carriers. Trucks that do not move, do not generate revenue. That's a fact of life. It's far too easy for people to forget that the driver or team are as human as they are, and that they get very little time with their families. To many of these people, you are no more to them than a number in a screen.

    I don't know exactly what was exchanged between the two of you, and it doesn't really matter. By the tone of your post, it appears you copped an attitude to get what you wanted, and that's okay. I've had to do it too. The older I get, the less likely I am to endure crap. I do try however, to be pleasant with people, until the situation dictates otherwise. I try to be diplomatic.

    I can tell you that I've been in situations where I couldn't get home on time for a pre-planned event. Freight is not always constant, and the best planner in the world cannot make everyone happy every time.

    Attitude is everything.
     
  8. dukeforestland

    dukeforestland Bobtail Member

    3
    0
    May 18, 2005
    0
    well the only good thing that I can say abbouth my time in schneider is that I allways had very good relationship with y STL and newer had any problems with time at home.Awerything alse was crap.Miles,pay, exet.I realy feel sory for drivers that have signed the contract and have to stay there for year and woork for lausy 0.27 a mile.This is averadge for a one year period.Turbo why dont you go to a truck stop and ask schneider drivers what they thnk.It might help you to get a big piture.I wonder why some drivers that have been with them 5+ years are getting les miles than young ones.Maybe the are not capable of doing their yob as good as the new graduates? on
    8) 8) 8) 8)
     
  9. skullitor

    skullitor Medium Load Member

    548
    88
    Aug 5, 2005
    New England
    0
    :shock: Just for the record, MOST Teams avarage 1,000 miles a day or more! 920 IS BELOW AVG! For the record, I'M A PUMPKIN! 8)
     
  10. dukeforestland

    dukeforestland Bobtail Member

    3
    0
    May 18, 2005
    0
    Thank God I got rid off them.And gues what Turbo ,I am not the only one that left Schneider.Couple of my friends that worked there are or are going to live them.I realy wonder why 8) .Yus to mension that one of them worked for them for 10 years.Schnider is only good for geting your CDL and thas it .Awerything alse sucks.Well I gues I wont have to ##### abouth them no moore.0.38 per mile with 2800 miles avaradge per week is much better than 0.28 and 1500 miles per week.
    One moore thing.1000 pe day for teams.You my friend have a problem with your math.7000 miles for week :shock: Not in this life time ,not with schneider
     
  11. TurboTrucker

    TurboTrucker Road Train Member

    861
    276
    Feb 23, 2005
    Rossville, Georgia
    0
    Well...of course you are not the "only" one to leave them. Why do people leave Schneider? For a number of reasons, with a lack of hometime being the number one reason. Trucking by nature, presents a working lifestyle that is not for everyone. Trucking is not a highly satisfying job for alot of people. Schneider will lose drivers just like all the others do, no matter what steps they take to prevent turnover.

    You seem bent on contradicting my endorsement, and that's okay. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I think I've made it as clear as I can, in this very thread, why I stand behind Schneider, and I've made it as clear as possible in other threads that people need to do their own checking, to see if ANY job is right for them, and that they can live with the terms that they will be subjected to.

    Which proves what? For ten years, this person was content to stay on the job, and with ONE employer, who happened to be Schneider. If anything, this makes my position stronger. Thank you.

    What do you think the average length of time throughout the OTR segment of the trucking industry, that the average OTR driver stays on a job? Would it surprise you to know that it's less than two years? I've viewed work histories that took six pages, with ten entries per page, to list all the driving positions held in a ten year period. A friend of mine had an applicant that presented 12 pages to him. There comes a point and time, when you have to look at a record like that, and understand that the employers are not totally responsible for the turnover rates that they suffer.

    Well let's define this a bit. How long have did you work for them, and what do you have to compare them to? How many jobs have you had?

    I know your statement up there to NOT be true. I have personal knowledge of at least (I looked this up), 45 people that I have been in close contact with over the past five years, who have worked for them or are STILL working for them. Out of these 45 people, not one of them holds the negative view that you hold.

    As I stated elsewhere in the forum, I am currently monitoring 3 people that have started with them from the ground up, and I collect every word they write to me, so that their firsthand experiences of the training program will help others. BB King is one of them, and he is posting his experience himself, as he goes along. Each and every one of these people are extremely impressed with the company, and I have heard almost nothing in the way of complaint.

    I am also monitoring five other people, out of seven, that started with companies that I do NOT find suitable for newbies. Two have already hung it up within the first two weeks. One didn't last three days, and NO...they did not have any problems that stood in the way of continuing. They just found the conditions to be totally objectionable.

    I've heard this charge repeated by drivers who quit dozens of companies, and if it were true in every case, and this was the average mileage figure being offered to every driver, then all of these companies would be tanking.

    Hey...this is the middle of the summer, and the best time of the year in my line of work, and I just finished a 1500+ mile week myself, and I'm not quitting my job. I drew some lousy loads, but I'll make it up at some point in the future. It's the nature of the job, but then, I have a quarter of a decade of trucking to compare it to.

    Did this "friend" of yours that worked there for ten years, live on 1500 miles per week for all of that time? Of course not. Nor did you. Your average was much higher, and you and I both know it.

    Teams are valued by all carriers, and Schneider would be no exception. In fact, teams often have priority over all others. 7000 miles per week is very doable, and most likely a reality for any productive team. Will they do it each and every week? No....

    The bottom line here is...you dislike the company, but you really don't desire to explain why this is so. I endorse them for reasons of my own, and I clearly offer an explanation as to why I do.

    I hope your new job is everything you want it to be. I like to see happy people in this industry. Goodness knows we have enough that are not.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.