Leasing to Schneider to start out?

I think there mileage rate is something like that, plus like .55 fsc. I would only do there percentage rate program personally. Those prices are a bit harder to find but I know a guy who is running it and he says he's doing allot better then he did on the milage program and he did fairly well over there. mostly it depends on where you go. he said there is frieght on the boards for $1.70 mile but there is just as much for $2.50. some more but that usually goes somewhere like upper east coast.
plus remember you get a fairly good fuel discount, they make you have a quailcom but there is no use, purchase or install charge.

 

Well...I don't know how I missed it the first time, but just noticed that they require 1 year OTR exp before you can sign on. Gonna have to rethink this now.

 

You make the Schneider deal sound pretty good. I'm facing a similar dilemma. I'm buyin a truck and going back to O/Operating. Since I been off the road for 10 years my million plus miles of experience is worthless. I'm finding it difficult to get a top tier company to take me on. I may have to go Schneider for 6 months or a year whether I like it or not. I can survive on a buck a mile ( hoping for a little more) plus FS. Maybe it isn't all that bad after all...

 

I too am thinking of going to them for a year to get OTR exp. Then buying a truck (not from them...they think their stuff is gold). Poss. go team with my little brother. My little bro will be driving with me also when I go O/O.

 

Schneider has their own finance company and can get you any truck usually for thousands less than a dealer. Their Green Bay lot (off I41) is the one to see. Do not buy a Pumpkin (old Columbia) because they are only selling the junk now and not updating the fleet to the newer trucks.

Both Landstar and the Schneider brokerage are fair deals. And it seems Schneider wants to go more this route with a $2000 bonus for hiring new O/Os.

I would buy a DD60 2005 Columbia from an ex-Fleace. Run light and on the flat. If you are an ex-O/O Schneider wants you.

 

Thanks for the input. The thing is I'm REALLY not wanting to go drive for someone like Schneider. I plan to buy a truck and O/O. I have been self employed with mostly success since 1979 and plan to continue that way.

I drove and was an O/O for 10 years but that was more than 10 years ago. Getting back on the road is more of an emotional decision than financial. I know how tough it is today. But in the last few years too many of my friends have died of various diseases like cancers, heart disease and tumors. There may not always be a tomorrow to do what makes you happy. I spent too much time chasing the buck. I want to chase my joys and dreams, now.

I planned to jump right back in to heavy hauling. I got over a million miles under RGNs, lowboys and step decks. I like getting up and starting out at dawn, driving all day and shutting down at dark with the OD loads. Now I discovered that over the years it has become really difficult to get insurance w/o current verifiable experience. It's sad that a green kid is more valuable than an experienced, seasoned veteran of the wars. The laws of physics or tarping and chaining methods haven't changed. The main changes are regulations and operating costs. I remember in 1983 I was leased to a major carrier pulling a reefer over 48. I don't remember the price of fuel because no one cared. No matter where I went or what I did I always averaged about 12,000 miles a month and 90 cents a mile. Here we are, 25 years later and the rates are basically unchanged...

Anyway, I'd sure appreciate it if anyone has any info on a decent company that will take on an old timer as an O/O who's been away from the industry for a while, no matter what kind of freight it is. I'm ready to run 48 and not worried about getting home. THANKS

 

If I were to buy from/thru Schneider, would I be stuck with forced dispatch?

 

Mark i'm sure some smaller company would take you. That's the much better way to go anyways. These big companies are nothing but problems in most cases.

 

Yeah, I know you're right, sometimes I over think things and get myself all wound up! Thanks

My old buddy is willing to put me on under his authority, but then I gotta buy a double drop or at least a step deck, all my plates and insurance and run on my own cash to get started. I am hoping to avoid going that close to broke before earning my first dime. Maybe I can rent-a-wagon for a while...

 

I'm pretty much in the same boat.

look at Fikes transport. I've heard good things about them if you want flatbed that is