Picking my own freight baby! My journey to & of being on Schneider choice, the Adventure & Numbers!

I do, but I migrate south during the Winter months.

 

If yours goes up Schneiders will go even lower.

 

YES!!! At lowering the rates but never goes back up. As long as people pull the loads, why raise them back up???

 

Oh come on now. It can't be that bad...can it?

 

Not anymore. I'm pulling double the rates that Schneider was offering me. And working less.

 

Being dealt hands out of a loaded deck... indeed! With all cards on the table, a contractor could generate a great deal more revenue. Albeit, another viable option for an independent is to take his/her truck and contract elsewhere. Length of contract with SNI is immaterial. SNI will not be mis the IC as IC turnover is equal to that of the company driver. Unfortunately many just walk away from their truck if leased through Schneider finance when there are other options. For every 1 IC that leaves - there are several more in line waiting to sign on. It is sad or dare I say pathetic what the megas are doing to the industry!

 

I decided I am either going back to being a company driver, or more than likely, getting out of the industry. If I was looking to stay an O/O, I'd look for another company, but it's not worth it when it's not my long term plan anymore.

 

Is it that IC's screw SNI or could it be that they are taking the Box mess and one-sided policies to the challenge. Sure many IC's will just pickup a trailer where/when they can which is not right for other ICs. I was not one to fall in that category and did not like it either. I do understand just the same. Box is just another group who think that, ultimately, they run the independent's business... not the IC.

 

Ponder the equation well MX. I strongly recommend that you seek another more fit company if you elect to go back to company side. One that will respect what/who are that will allow you to have life. Many companies will under the guise of safety and fabricated impressions loose sight of the fact that a driver can exist without them but they on the other hand could not exist without drivers. However, if you currently an O/O shifting to another program can be more lucrative than going back to the dark side even if not for the long run. Food for thought.

 

I have thought about it, and I am going to get more info from a company Circle Logistics, but in only 1 1/2 years on the road, I'm seeing to many things happening in this industry that has me jaded and gives me a negative outlook on it as a whole in the future...things you don't really see until you're in the game lol. Government over regulation, mega carriers that have more influence over the FMCSA than I could have ever imagined when it comes to ridiculous safety regs that are eventually going to drive out small carriers and owner ops. Not to sound like a bigot, but the fact that immigrants are pouring into this industry that cannot speak English, drive and work for peanuts, further pushing rates down to the point that only Megan's with 1000s of trucks are still able to turn a profit.

I could be wrong, but that is what I'm seeing. I wouldn't be surprised to see a mandated driver cam in every truck within the next decade, which is something I refuse to deal with...the first company I started out with paid pretty well, especially for a new driver, but 1 1/2 months after I started, they installed driver cams. I could only deal with having safety call me so many times for hitting a pothole/bumping a dock and setting the #### thing off until I could take no more.

I do appreciate your input though driver...going to try and make the best out of it while I'm here!