Considering schnieder, read first!

you...no...se...no way, seriously? This falls under the bad category listing? haha, jeeze, next I bet that if you tell me to look up at the top of the webpage its going to say something like:
"
Truckers' Trucking Forum | Message Board | Discussion > Good & Bad Trucking Companies > Report A BAD Trucking Company Here
Reload this Page Considering schnieder, read first! "

Of course I know this is in the bad company section. And if you look closely enough, you will see that both the good and bad sections are filled with the same companies. Try to figger that one out. What, you think this is just for whiners only in the bad section? Someone has to counter the occasional "I didn't get my frosting on my cookies" rants on here.

Again, this would be the first time I've ever heard of this. I mean...try to find me "dozens" of examples of people on here saying the same thing you are, that their schools are bad. And while you are at it, show me the lack of replies from fellow forum members on here where they fail to rebuke that allegation.

...uh, what DECADE was this in? Im seriously asking because you are showing me more and more lack of actual knowledge about the companies training program as you type more and more.

If you went to their own school, its school for 2 weeks, then up to (UP TO) 2 weeks with a trainer.

IF you got hired on after attending another school, you would be put into a regular 2 week course, but on the first couple of days, theyd pull you out, asking if you knew how to do X, Y, and Z. If you didn't, they would train you through the regular 2 week course at no charge. IF you did know those things, and passed a road course, youd skip the school altogether and put out on the raod with a trainer for UP TO 2 weeks.

Also, their trainers both at the school and on the road are, for lack of a better word, encouraged more or less to NOT pass you if you aren't performing. They get a bonus tied directly to their students performance. If the students have a accident or whatever, it goes back to the trainer. I went OTR with another student and a trainer on a dedicated run, the fellow student was out there for an additional week because he wasn't ready.

Yeah, please point this out on this webpage where you have heard of this. If this as common as you claim it to be, you should have no problem pulling up multiple sources on this webpage alone.

I wont deny that they are a larger carrier and their training program can be considered a driver mill. However that is the same with most large carriers that have such programs. They call it a mill because of the constant turn around. Why turn around, because people think they can get better pay somewhere else. I dunno. That can be true and MIGHT Not be true as well. What I do know is that drivers often leave for the same reasons at every company, experienced or inexperienced. For many its pay, others it benefits, others the miles...whatever. At the same time, many others will say they make pretty good pay, get great bennies...its all in the eye of the beholder.

In my situation...Im doing fairly good. Im making less than I would, technically if I was working OTR. However, Im also not driving that many miles. I make a good paycheck at what I do, driving just a tad over 2k miles a week. IF I switched to Crete for example, Id only get 2 cents more a mile, Id be on the road every day, hardly home and would have to drive more miles just to equal what Im doing now.

 

NOW THAT IS SCARRY! Only 4 weeks before you get turned with an 80,000 lb truck, and you wonder why folks have a problem with Schneider? Even Swift doesnt do that! In fact NO other carrier has that low of hours with a trainer before they turn you out on your own. That makes me even more nervous when I get around a Scneider truck! I personally think you ought to be with a trainer for at least 6 weeks and maybe even 8, 2 weeks is not enough-not even close(actually 8 is not enough, since driving a truck is lifetime of learning-but I think that 8 is fair with a trainer based on the fact that the company wants the driver to drive and not be with a trainer forever). Driving is one thing, anybody can drive--it is driving safely and efficiently and becoming a professional is what it is all about. I see newbie drivers complaining here all the time about how they feel that they were not adequately trained in one aspect or another and then I see you talking 4 weeks, and you think that this is enough? Most drivers, both newbie and veteran would competely disagree with you.

 

Like who?

Please point to as many examples as you can find on this site. I wrote quite a bit this morning and you only replied back to this particular portion...interesting.

Again I have yet to see Schneider singled out as much as you have singled them out on here. I think most people would agree that the more training, the better. However since they meet all their legal requirements for training students...most of your argument is based on opinion and what you percieve to be an issue.

The sad thing is that you come on here ripping on the company of which...the only thing you know about it is either: A) negative, based on what you have heard from people who no longer work for them (fired? quit? disgruntled? never a reliable source in any industry); or B) its something that doesnt fit well in your beliefs of what should exist in the trucking world. I mean...you would sound so...so totally more credible if you actually had actual facts to back up your issues. But you don't.

You come on here and complain about their professionalism which is the first time I have heard of this to the extent you are complaining about it. So much so that you make it sound like they are the anti-christ of the trucking world.
*I have yet to experience this in any way, shape or form.
*if I need to get hold of my boss, its done. If i call and hes busy, he usually calls me back, knowing i needed to talk to him.
*if I need something for the truck, consider it done. If i need supplies, they are sent up.
*if I have a concern about the truck, I call and the first question I hear from maintenance is "where do you want to bring the truck"


Then you go off on their training.
*They are the only company that I know of that has simulators for additional training..gets the drivers in the trucks on the second or third day there.
*Their trainers have bonuses (therefore in a sense encouraged to fail students they think will not do well) based on the students OTR performance.
*Of a class that starts off large, only a few will make it to the end. Many dont pass tests, fail background checks...etc.
*They have tests, lots of reading, a very thorough pre trip, post trip, coupling, driving test at the end of training.
*On top of that, you have the same test when you finish your OTR time out. *Plus a 90 day evaluation. *Additional training twice a year.
*If you do something wrong, additional training on top of that (I know of this first hand due to a logging issue).
*Not only did I just have training, but our dedicated account is going to be put through a road course set up by experienced drivers, at our regional office for additional driving techniques.
*not as a diversion, but honestly I have yet to see a schneider wreck. I know they happen...they DO happen. But if all the accidents last year I saw along a very well known bad winter interstate, there was not one Schneider truck that I saw in the ditch. However I did see plenty of swifts, covenants, cretes, 11 Fed-Ex...etc.
*They have a fairly hearty in-house ergonomics physical on the first or second day, where if your heart gets going too fast, you get canned, no ifs, ands or buts.

About newbie drivers complaining about training they wished they had. This happens at every company out there. There is stuff that I wish I knew now. I'm a teacher by trade and there was stuff I wish I learned in college before I graduated! In every field, every occupation, there is stuff that simply is not taught. They teach you how to back, they show you how to do a modified 90 degree sight side. They teach you the principals of what you need out on the road. As you get the hang of backing more and more, you will be more comfortable and get better at backing and everything else.

But noooo, a friend of a friend of a friend of someone who once thought about working at Carls Jr had a relative who worked at Schneider and they complained because the company didn't teach them how to do a 67.6 degree sight side back.

 

Im giving up on this since you just dont get it, and you are convinced that everything is hunky-dory over there. If you ever decide to switch carriers and make some real money, you will find out that everything I'm saying is true. And then some!

 

Lol Im glad you are giving up. Maybe you wanted to argue with one of their 'unprofessional drivers'. But nope...sorry, you picked the wrong guy here buddy. I've asked you quite a few times over the last few times to actually back up your statements, outside of "I know dozens" or "I see tons of bad schneider drivers" or " I think" filled comments.

I mean...don't feel bad. I actually know what Im talking about from what I've seen and experienced by working with the company. Just because you can't actually back up anything with facts...we still will accept ya.

I mean...for example...just yesterday I mentioned pay and then you say Im not making real money. Uh. You purposely must not be paying attention. Id like you to tell me what company (since apparently Im not making enough...you must know of others to compare which is why you are telling me to work elswhere) pays better for what Im doing. I drive a tad over 400 miles a day. Im home daily, two days off a week. What national company does that and pays better? I have my own truck and don't slip seat. From the time I leave the house until I come back, is ten hours.

Lol...and...here is the kicker. You want me to go over the road? So...what...I can make a few thousand extra dollars a year? Lets see, home daily to see my wife....or driving much more, gone for weeks at a time, never seeing family...and making a pinch more $$. And your the one questioning MY intelligence?

Im waiting.

And on top of that, with your vast knowledge of how bad the company is and when I refute everything you say...you have no comments. How does that work in your favor? I wrote a ton of stuff up there and you ignored everything I wrote! lol Whats the point.

 

Lay off the bickering. It is not necessary!

 

I've been with Schneider for 9 months in an '04 that I started with 636,000 miles. I just got a newer truck today, an '05 with 346,000 miles. I've had a lot of maintenance issues. It IS true that you might have to wait over an hour before the emergency breakdown people answer, but it is rare. Sometimes I've called and they answered right away. You can send a Qualcomm message. What's stupid is different people answer Qualcomm messages than the phones so if you do both you'll get two different responses. But I feel if I can and they don't answer then I'll send the Qualcomm message.

These are the two biggest things that pissed me off about Schneider. In May I did a load save and showed up 5 hours late. They told me I would have to wait until morning, so I did. I ended up waiting for 20 hours and received no detention pay. I should have gotten 75$ according to the handbook. The load was supposed to deliver at 7am I wasn't even put on it until 10am, so of course I was late. But because I was late, regardless, I didn't get paid. I don't trust this company. I won't even sign up for direct deposit that's how much I don't trust them.

The second biggest thing was 2 months ago started when I was being really overworked. I can't work 70 hours a week, sorry. I told them that and told them if they wanted to have enough drivers to cover their loads then they need to treat their drivers better and pay them their money. I told them I would do one load that day but wasn't going to do the other load. They harassed me and I told them I felt dizzy. Big mistake. After driving another 4 hours and finishing the day, I was told I couldn't drive again until I went to the doctor. I said I was in no way dizzy any longer caused no risk by driving, however, if I had driven tired that would have caused a risk. They wouldn't budge. So, here I was, stranded away from home and forced to somehow find a doctor, transportation, payment, so on. I said it was going to be a workmen's comp issue if they forced me to go to the doctor. The next day I got a call from the loss provention prick and he harassed me about filing a workmen's comp claim. I explained the situation, that I was no risk, that I didn't need a doctor, and maybe the loss prevention guy should be more concerned with dispatchers pushing drivers to drive tired. He had none of it and just tried to negate everything I said and bully me out of making a claim. Bad move. I can sweet talked into doing things, but not bullied. He said he was going to investigate my claim, but so far I haven't heard anything about it. The bill was like $150. I don't have that money to waste on stupid nonsense, but if Schneider wants to, they can pay for it.

Now I'm worried about my bonus because my new truck has a broken webasto. I'll have to idle the truck because fixing webastos isn't a priority and will take two days even if they let me. They might use the fact that I'm idling to justify not giving me my bonus. I'm going to warn my dispatcher, but if I don't get the bonus I'm never going to stop idling.

Another thing. If you need "express repairs" that only take an hour, maybe two, they'll get you in right away. If your repairs take longers, you might have to wait 2-3 days. If you have to wait for them to order a part, you can't take the truck out of the terminal and come back, even if you're on a dedicated account and park there every ####### night.

As far as Schneider school, it's a gamble. If you're capable and healthy enough to be a truck driver and don't mind them for 18 months, it's a good deal. If you might change your mind, not make it, have a health issue, or just end up hating Schneider, well then it's a huge mistake.

If Schneider in any way gave two ##### about you, they would hire enough people to answer the phone to set up emergency maintanence, they would have common parts in supply, they would have more mechanics, and they would be sincere with the pay. These things effect loads being on time! And they don't want to do it.

 

JMO, hlaird, but it sounds as if you want to be coddled and want a 40 hour a week job. If that's the case, OTR is not for you. Even most local drivers work 50 - 60 hours a week. I think you might want to rethink your career choice just a bit.

Also, good for Schneider to make you get checked out by a doctor!! Anyone who tells me that they feel dizzy after having their feathers ruffled just a bit by a dispatcher needs doctor intervention. How does rush hour traffic make you feel? I sure wouldn't feel safe on the roads if I had read this and Schneider didn't have you checked out.

Now, that being said, they did do you wrong IMO on the detention pay. If you were assigned the load late, they should have changed the appointment for you or paid you detention.

Have a wonderful day and Drive safely!!

 

Well I dont know how their detention system works as Im not a OTR driver with them. Are they supposed to pay detention you even when you are late for the delivery time? If there was an issue with the delivery time and picking the load up, Id make sure and call the DBL before I even left with the load to make sure they knew I was going to be late and get paid detention if I had to wait there. You didn't mention if you talked to anyone about this at all. Maybe you did, just askin.

I guess this seems to be a problem with your DBL or board or something. In winter training, a big portion of it this fall was spent on logging AND the new FMSCA guidelines. Those new guidelines (since I dont have em in front of me...Im doing my best)...they basically hold the company responsible for not having things in place to take action against drivers who go over their logs. Now instead of the driver being responsible and getting a slap...the company can as well, now.

This pretty much means that the companies are held responsible for their drivers going over. If this was a continuous issue with your DBL, then go over his head. Simple as that. My DBL is stressing this to a fault about our logging and taking our breaks and such. On top of that, Schneider just mailed something out with their pay stubs 2-3 weeks ago confirming this, as well as outlining the discipline procedures they will go through with you.

Im not saying it isnt' happening still at the company, but Schneider is really cracking down. Your DBL isn't going to get in trouble if you do...so make sure someone knows he is pushing drivers to work over their hours. That or "lose" your phone so they have to communicate via qualcomm.

Normally I don't think this would be an issue. I think all you would need to do is contact your DBL via QC and let them know that you idled and the webasterd isn't working. If you planned it right, you might be able to take a restart at an OC to get the thing fixed. Where I am, in the winter there is no plug in, so I have to idle the truck for quite a bit....I simply send in a message telling them how many hours I idled. Of course now Im not getting my bonus because Im still going at 67 and they assume Im going 60, so Im always overspeed, haha! Well...Right now...I dont mind giving up a couple hundred each quarter so I can get home an hour earlier.

Well I nkwo their maintenance times have been an issue...I don't really hear about speedy service. But heres the thing...if you need something taken care of...get it taken care of out on the road. Like...lets say a coolant leak...don't try to limp home...tell em how water is dumping out like crazy, its unsafe...etc. I mean...hmm, not sure how to say this...but if you are going to "break down"..."break down" somewhere where you are not close to an OC. Im not saying to put a box of nails under the tire that they wont fix because metal is showing...but...if you did run over a box of nails...youd get it fixed pretty darned fast.

For me...its not an issue...Im not anywhere near an OC and I've been told clearly (and chewed out), that my truck is a priority. Im held to a high standard to make sure the truck runs and stays running. If I need a back up power unit, I need to call in and get one up ASAP otherwise its a service failure on my part. Last month I had a coolant leak and I was sent to a local 24/7 shop to get it fixed. Out of there in about 11 hours.
So...yeah this sounds like there is a big difference between what parts of the company you work for, and who you work under.

 

I love how in the US if you don't want to work 70 hours a week because you have a life and value family, friends, health, and quality of life that means you want to be "coddled." There are some thing more important than money to me. I also like how you exaggerate me saying I can't work 70 hours a week into meaning I only work 40 hours a week.

You're just as stupid as that loss prevention guy for overreacting to me claiming to feel dizzy the next day and completely ignoring the fact that I was suffering from chronic fatigue AND that I was continued to be pressured into driving. If I was suffering from a brain problem that caused me to feel dizzy enough to be a danger driving I would have known it and gone to the emergency room immediately.

Now, let's see how many people had brain problems and got into accidents the day AFTER they got dizzy but then felt fine after they got some rest and compare that to the number of people who got into accidents from falling asleep.