Truckers Report Jobs

Find Trucking Jobs

Company Driver Company Driver Dry Van Dry Van Flatbed Flatbed Refrigerated Refrigerated Specialized Specialized Owner Operator Owner Operator
More Trucking Job Searches ⌄ Fewer Trucking Job Searches
⌃

Schneider or CRST

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by newtrucker2011, Dec 10, 2010.

Page 1 of 3
  1. Dec 10, 2010 #1
    newtrucker2011

    newtrucker2011 Light Load Member

    68
    45
    Dec 10, 2010
    Chicago, IL
    0
    I was recently laid off my job, and am currently on unemployment. There is a program being offered which pays for training and schooling in different fields, A WIA grant from the Presidents Office of Employment Training.

    I was given the grant, and am going to STAR trucking school. To be accepted at STAR they give you a stack of applications and you MUST be pre-hired at a company to be able to attend school there.

    My applications are starting to come back, and so far I have been pre hired to work for two companies.

    Schneider and CRST

    Being a new trucker and without much knowledge about companies, I wanted to post here and get you guys experienced opinion on the two companies above and a suggestion on which one to go with.

    I also have applications still pending with Swift, USxpress, and I believe Prime.

    Suggestions ?
     
    newtrucker2011, Dec 10, 2010
    newtrucker2011, Dec 10, 2010
    #1
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Dec 10, 2010 #2
    newtrucker2011

    newtrucker2011 Light Load Member

    68
    45
    Dec 10, 2010
    Chicago, IL
    0
    Oh, and to add to this - I will NOT be attending any company driver program. I will be going to STAR truck driving school which is independant from the companies, and my training paid in full via my WIA grant. So I will not be owing either of these companies for training when starting.
     
    newtrucker2011, Dec 10, 2010
    newtrucker2011, Dec 10, 2010
    #2
  4. Dec 10, 2010 #3
    Tapeworm

    Tapeworm Medium Load Member

    385
    243
    Nov 18, 2010
    Upper Midwest
    0
    Based on what I have read (and from my conversations with recruiters), I would recommend Schneider or Swift over the other companies you mentioned. I too am a newbie, so please understand that I have not yet worked for ANY trucking company...
     
    Tapeworm, Dec 10, 2010
    Tapeworm, Dec 10, 2010
    #3
  5. Dec 11, 2010 #4
    California Redneck

    California Redneck Bobtail Member

    8
    1
    Dec 11, 2010
    Dallas,Tx
    0
    Brother I am not a super trucker, but have been driving for four years. I was with Stevens Transport (see my blog if you want to see the ugly facts about schools) and then I went to work for Schneider. I really enjoyed driving for them. They BBL's treat you pretty good and the fact that they have OC's pretty much everywhere you go seems to be very helpful. I have 22 friends that left Stevens and went with SN and ALL are very happy. The trcuks are a little older, but the I always got a minimum of 2500 per week and had good luck with the equipment. Good luck, hope it helps. PS: I took a year off to do a contractor gig in Afghanistan but will return to SN immediately upon my return.

    James
     
    California Redneck, Dec 11, 2010
    California Redneck, Dec 11, 2010
    #4
  7. Dec 11, 2010 #5
    SheepDog

    SheepDog Road Train Member

    3,481
    2,084
    Nov 30, 2008
    Sand Lake, MI
    0
    Go with SNI brother, I have been with them since May 08 and have very few problems with them, and I do mean a few. CRST is a team deal, unless you are referring to the flatbed devision and I have done my research on US because they are based close to my house but I stay with SNI. Swift is a good company to start with as is US but in my opinion, and others, SNI is better to start and maybe stay with.

    SheepDog
     
    SheepDog, Dec 11, 2010
    SheepDog, Dec 11, 2010
    #5
  8. Dec 12, 2010 #6
    Grandiego

    Grandiego Medium Load Member

    381
    82
    Nov 2, 2007
    0
    Every new driver should read this. Get your CDL first. With SNI you will have to take their training anyway, which is good. You will not have to sign a contract obligating you to pay for their training though if you already have your CDL.
     
    Grandiego, Dec 12, 2010
    Grandiego, Dec 12, 2010
    #6
  9. Dec 12, 2010 #7
    kingsson

    kingsson Heavy Load Member

    757
    244
    Nov 29, 2008
    Omaha, NE
    0
    I vote with Schneider. They have a much better reputation. CRST is ALL teams. You will find as you progress in your career that most of us respect the Pumpkins - although we wave as we pass them! :biggrin_25525:
     
    kingsson, Dec 12, 2010
    kingsson, Dec 12, 2010
    #7
  10. Dec 12, 2010 #8
    newtrucker2011

    newtrucker2011 Light Load Member

    68
    45
    Dec 10, 2010
    Chicago, IL
    0
    Thanks for the feedback from all of you ! I was reading a thread started by another poster about his experience with Schneider starting with their orientation all the way through his first several months on the road.

    Schneider sounds great for a new driver, and they sound like they treat their employees well. I like the fact they pay deadhead miles as long as they are dispatched miles.

    I think I will join team "pumpkin" no matter what else comes back from my applications.

    I just wanted to go and get my CDL independantly from the corporate schools for several reasons. 1) I got this WIA grant, so it is 100% paid for and I do not have to reimburse for it. 2) I am under no obligation to stay with any company or will owe money if I decide to leave.

    My best friend is an O/O and has a dedicated route from Chicago to L.A and back. His father technically owns the truck and got the accounts on his own, but from what I hear running fruit and vegetables from L.A to Chicago is a VERY easy account to pick up for anyone who has their own truck, so my goal is to work for a few years saving my coins to get my own rig and then get my OWN account and be independant from any company.
     
    newtrucker2011, Dec 12, 2010
    newtrucker2011, Dec 12, 2010
    #8
  11. Dec 12, 2010 #9
    kingsson

    kingsson Heavy Load Member

    757
    244
    Nov 29, 2008
    Omaha, NE
    0
    Running anything to Chicago is easy to get because nobody wants to go there! :biggrin_2556: I just loaded yesterday in Fulton Market, and I hate going in there. Too much traffic, not a lot of room, etc. BUT if you are from there and want to do it, more power to you! My brother started with Schneider and loved it, and he did quite a bit of Chicago until he lost his DOT medical clearance. My original plan trucking was to go to SNI and team with him... then he lost his medical, and SNI was not hiring in Nebraska! So... well we all have different paths. Best of luck and keep us posted!
     
    kingsson, Dec 12, 2010
    kingsson, Dec 12, 2010
    #9
  12. Dec 12, 2010 #10
    newtrucker2011

    newtrucker2011 Light Load Member

    68
    45
    Dec 10, 2010
    Chicago, IL
    0
    Thanks KingsSon, I definately will keep you posted on everything ! I would prefer a dedicated route in Chicago, because this is where I live and would love to get as much home time as possible, even if it means driving in tight spots !

    Just out of curiosity, why did your brother lose his DOT medical clearance ?
     
    newtrucker2011, Dec 12, 2010
    newtrucker2011, Dec 12, 2010
    #10
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

    • Page 1 of 3