Schneider or Covenant

I am a Schneider driver and i can say biased of course that schneider is by far the one i say go with not because i'm trying to recruit because i'll take no credit or blame on what you decide. Schneider has a HUGE freight base, they don't have apu's but do have bunk heater's and the idle policy is if you exceed the idle restrictions for your paticular job you dont get a bonus if you are within your restrictions you get a bonus. Schneider has great O.C's (operating centers ) with showers fuel maintenance and food at most all of them. They are really big on safety. And if you're willing to move there's always oppurtunities to move into other lines of work. Schneider does have some draw backs as do all trucking companies. so good luck in your choice. But 3 weeks wait is better than making a rushed decision.

 

Hi TennMan. After obtaining my CDL, I'm considering driving for Schneider. How much is their health insurance? Also, is there a way I can use a laptop with internet service in the cab for an extended period of time? Other comments you'd like to make about Schneider you'd care to share?

Thanks a million!

 

- Not sure how much it is out of each check, if any at all its very minimal. I know there med benefits are extremely good coverage compared to other trucking companies.

- You can purchase air cards from cell phone providers to get wireless internet that you plug into your laptop (much like cell phone 3g internet etc) . I recommend sprints for speed.


Just stumbled upon this thread. The fact these two companies are being compared sorta makes me cringe but oh well. Schneider by a mile. Covenant is a notoriously slimy company with smoke and mirror tactics to screw the driver, I have heard the countless horror stories and had a buddy look into them and actually go through their orientation.

Schneider (along with maybe Roehl) is the most respected of all the start up companies that you can get in to with no experience (besides very small mom and pop companies that I may not know of). They are pretty strait forward, have been around over 60 years, and have massive market share of freight (meaning less sitting around making no money). Schneider solo OTR starts at 31 cents a mile (not sure where someone got 28 ) and they pay 400 a week the day you step into orientation (unlike most other companies like Swift who pay absolutely nothing for eating up a week of your time sitting in a classroom learning how to hit poles). They have some of the best benefits in the industry (they are their own insurance company and it is very good coverage), and some of the best maintenence out of all the companies as well. Nothing Schneider does is shady that I have ever seen, very upfront and great miles especially compared to other starter companies (3k+ weekly is pretty common, good luck getting that solo with any of the other mega carriers). Not to mention Schneider offers dedicated accounts and part time options to drivers right out of school if the area they live has one of the several accounts nearby (usually within 50 miles is required for dedicated).

 

Go With Schneider !

 

Schneider has No APUs + no-idle policy? What are you supposed to do in the winter just sit in the dark under a blanket?

 

They have bunk heaters, you dont have to have the truck running to use them. They will roast your ### right out of the sleeper birth even if its -20 out if you set them on max, so ya they are effective.

The idle policy is for A/C use, which you need the truck running (idling) to use (or it will just blow out hot air).

They just have % idle times they want you to stay under which is only somewhat annoying in summer, but still very doable. It just effects a quarterly 300$ bonus if you go over, which you have that option to do. If you get stuck sleeping during the day in the summer, I never hesitate to idle, and if I go over my summer quarter 25% oh well, i can get the 300 bonus for the fall / winter / spring, not a huge deal. There are other factors besides just the idle time for the bonus (like over speeds and service failures with loads etc.)

its like 25% in the summer quarter, then like 12% in the fall and spring, and 5% in winter for idle time percentage based on the amount of time the truck is moving vs idling (which you would never need to idle during unless its an hour a night or so too keep the fuel from gelling up from cold temps when it gets below 15 degrees or so).

 

Oh ok, you scared me there since a recruiter was really interested in me and told me to contact him when I graduate from CDL school. So I can have enough power to charge my laptop at least? That is all I really need. My laptop is loaded with tons of music, games, online activities, etc. more than enough to keep me entertained during my off hours.

 

Yeah easily, you don't need truck running for that. You might wanna keep in mind it is possible to kill your batteries if you have a disco tech inside your truck, but it can handle reasonable things like laptops and phone charging etc. You may want to get a plug in inverter that converts your 12v DC to a regular house like AC socket for your laptop. Don't wire in a big one to the truck without shop permission though, they get very pissed about that lol.


If your fresh out of CDL school and only have big company options (the swifts / werners / us. express / crst etc etc), take Schneider if they offer you a spot. Trust me, you'll thank me. Plus they are one of the few that will offer dedicated if you want it and they have accounts near your home. And their OTR gets crazy good miles compared to the other starter companies, not to mention one of the only ones that offer 30+ cents a mile right out of the gate (none of that 27 cents a mile starting ########)

 

I have a car charger for my laptop that plugs into the what used to be called the cigarette socket. Hopefully that will work. The only selling points for me with any company is that I am not screwed over and I can have a little home in my truck with a microwave, fridge, and laptop that is all I need. I don't even need a lot of miles as my websites make a lot of money automatically.

 

Yeah, still Schneider they are strait forward and you dont have to spend a month and a half in a truck with some clown like the other companies make you. One to two weeks training and your off, and they aren't notorious for screwing new drivers like the other mega carriers.