Prime or Schneider Regional

@redoctober83.......

 

My main issue with Schneider was the lack of an apu, mainly because I like to run a cooler and crockpot. Overall they treated me well though, and kept me busy.

Prime trucks have apu's correct?

 

And this is why I don't care if I'm "paid" for on duty time. It makes things more complicated and more than likely will reduce driver pay.

 

With Schneider you have to do their three week training orientation. Any other you go straight into driving with trainer after 2-3 day orientation.

 

Yes I'll comment since you called me out, I'm just busy at the moment. It looks like I'll need to go use that laptop to respond.

 

Prime over Schnieder. Prime pay better for training and starting out

 

Ok I said I would be back to respond. Just took me longer to get to my computer then I had expected. Now to the OP

The simple answer, Prime hands down! Why? Prime has one of the longest training programs in the industry. Yes you have your cdl, that's great, but that doesn't mean you know how to drive, just pass the test. During the TNT program, you will learn how to drive, negotiate hard situations with the help of your trainer there to guide you. I can't tell you how many times I have gone to a grocery warehouse and the spot they give me requires a 30 foot trailer and a yard dog to get into it when you have a 53 foot trailer and full size truck! Having that trainer there to spot and show you ways to successfully park in those spots without taking out the trucks and building will help you be successful in this industry.

Schneider on the other hand is only 3 weeks of training and then you are let loose. During that 3 weeks you only get about a week on the road with the trainer, the rest of the time it's classroom work simulators. That kind of training is a recipe of failure.

If the differences between the training programs isn't enough to convince you, lets talk about the pay. You will make $700/week gross guaranteed at Prime for every week you are available for dispatch. What that means is if you or your trainer take hometime during your training period you won't make any money. If you trainer takes home time and you are sitting at campus I believe they will still pay that guarantee but you'll have be participating in the classes and training pad if I remember correctly. Once you are done and graduated to an A seat status, you'll earn on the reefer side 46cpm in the lightweight truck. That's one of the highest paying starting cpm in this industry.

Schneider's top pay for there drivers is with over 10 years of experience is 45cpm. At least when I was over at Schneider last year that's what the company drivers were tell me. I believe you start off at something in the 30's cpm after training.

Then of course there is the equipment. At Prime you are going to get a well maintained tractor that is 3 years or newer with an apu and power inverter. Schneider doesn't have apu's or inverters on there trucks. Schneider won't let you idle the truck unless it's 75 degrees or above outside (by the way, 75 degrees outside means it's already pushing 85-90 inside the cab) or it's 35 degrees and below (at least you won't need a refrigerator to keep your stuff cold ) So for creature comforts you are better off at Prime as well.

Now we can talk about terminals.....Yeah, Prime actually takes cares of it's drivers with terminals that have real food at affordable prices, health and fitness centers that look state of the art and not from the 70's, spa and salon, medical services on site, showers that are cleaned after every use and a house keeping team that cleans bathrooms more than twice a day. Prime has a shuttle service that will take you to walmart and other places around the terminal. Schneider, the terminals were run down, ugly, and dirty. The food was sketchy at best and over priced. Many of times when you went to shower you had to clean the shower yourself before you could use it (yes they had the cleaning supplies at the front desk they hand you). The only plus side Schneider had was the company car you could check out for an hour to run into town. An hour wasn't enough time for much, but at least you could run and get food to bring back or hit walmart.

Those are just some of the biggest differences that I saw between the two companies. There is a reason why I came back to work with Prime after 10 months at Schneider. Granted I was an owner operator at Schneider and not a company driver there. I am still an owner operator working with Prime, but they don't treat the owner operators any different than the company drivers. Schneider, you were treated like you were carrying the plague as an owner operator.

Hope that helps you in making your decision. Good luck and come back and tell us what you find out or decide to do.

 

How

How is the home time at Prime. I'm new to the cdl world and I'm talking to a recruiter. I just can't decide if I wanna go tanker or reefer.