New pumpkin driver

Jason...DO NOT let the negativity you receive from other truckers stick in your head! Remember, you have the power to drive away from them and know that in the scheme of your life they mean nothing and are nothing! You will always find fellow truckers (as a new driver) do not seem to remember the silly mistakes they made when they started out...it is a continous learning experience. You will do fine...you are doing fine...it is just hard to remember that when you are out there on your own...and you could use a helping hand or a kind word...call home...and get that kind word...
As for the preventable accident...have you tried talking to safety about that?
I delivered dedicated to WalMart/for WalMart Stores when I first started...and I will tell you that the workers for that company at the distribution center and the stores made me hate that company. If it wasn't a WalMart tractor bringing that trailer in they treated all of us drivers like second class "you can wait" citizens. It does get to you...but remember...without truckers bringing the stuff to the stores for them to sell they would not have jobs either.
Hang in there and keep your head up...trucking is hard...but it is a noble profession!

 

Jason, I've got a question for you and the other members if they care to answer. In one of your earlier posts you mentioned other drivers negativity about Schneider, what's the deal with that? I'm a wannabe and checking out Schneider and it seems like a good company. Can ya'll tell me why they don't like the pumpkins!?

 

Just set up a start date, going to be doing the 14/7 with SNI, has anybody had any experience with this program?

 

My opinion is that with 11k± drivers, even a small percentage of poor drivers with worse attitudes can make us all look bad. The other two things I hear consistently is that since SNI is not union a lot of older and union driversare salty about that. In addition, there is an anti mega carrier sentiment because a lot of drivers feel that carriers like SNI drive smaller guys out of profit or business by not only their rates (and ultimately their pay scale) but by pushing for and supporting programs and rules that not every company can afford to implement or enforce. Lastly in and in dustry with such high turnover and a company this large, there are a lot of former pumpkins that carry grudges or have some axe to grind.

Since I am a happy pumpkin however, maybe it is best to seek out the anti pumpkin faction and find out from them directly.

Raid3r

 

Ever consider that there might be other reasons, like miles, forced per diem which I was not told about until received first paycheck, told by OC Ops Mgr can avg 2600/wk, and for 3 month, avg 2000/wk, and only home 3 days every month at my choice. This could be some reasons.

 

Yes, you would fall into the group of disgruntled former employees and the anti pumpkin faction, which I clearly told the OP to seek out. I was not implying that all disgruntled former employees were at fault, just pointing out with a few thousand "former employees" created each year, surely they would have a better opinion. However, outside of SNI, I have worked for exactly two companies in my life, and both closed their doors by no fault of my own. It doesnt mean I would have bad things to say about them. In addition, I was only offering / relaying what I have heard other drivers at large say to me specifically about why they are so angry with SNI. As for your specific problems, I wont braek them down individually only offset them by saying that everything that SNI told me, they have made come true, even if the truth did not happen on it's own.
I ll stop hijacking Jason's thread , but if you want to create a new thread titled "Why I hate Schneider" I would gladly continue the discussion there.


Raid3r

 

Pumpkin is definetly about the best of the biggies, as far as OTR companies go.

How you fare there is up to you,

if you speak to the right person- you'll get your miles..........

 

I am looking pretty hard at Schneider myself. What is the downside to per diem? In the information that they have sent me, it is presented as optional and good fro the driver.

Am I missing something?

 

If you are a recent grad, per diem is not optional the first three months. Near your third month anniversary, you need to fill out a form, your DBL will have it, and have them fax it to Green Bay if you want to come off of it.

On the up side of per diem, you normally have more in your weekly pay check. It is providing your income tax deductions on an immediate basis and paid every week. On the downside, YOU pay the company .02/mile to be on it; you can't take those deductions when you do your taxes; when obtaining new credit for a house or whatever, your gross annual salary is reported lower. Also, the company pays less unemployment insurance, workman's comp, social security, and payroll taxes on you.

This is not to knock Schneider, nor do I have orange pom-poms. Many companies do this, at least with Schneider, you have the option to opt out after three months. Some companies do not give you that option.