Schneider or Knight (Ref.): Who would you choose to go with, and why?

Sorry if I missed the answer previously but both Schneider and Knight have a no pets policy. Schneider has a policy for EVERYTHING and plenty of required classes to drive the point home. In addition you are not allowed to idle but they do provide bunk heaters. In the summer I guess you rent a room.

Knights allows you to idle but they tie the top speed of the tractor in with idle percentage. I understand your starting out but if your willing to live in sub human conditions as an apprenticeship it will pay off. I don't agree with the treatment that these "training companies" dish out on new drivers but at current there aren't many options. There are many good small companies in California that will enable you to increase your income while being home frequently. Theres no need to stay out longer than five days at the extreme most unless you choose to stay out longer.

Beware though, with Schneider and Knight most of the drivers you speak with will be interested in only one thing and that is the recruiting bonus they will try to get off you.

 

JDW--talk to anybody at the truck stop that looks like someone who is doing well. No need to beg for their time, they'll be glad to help a new guy. Believe me, you'll get an earful from some of them

Who knows what you'll run into. You might end up gong with somebody you never even heard of and be better off for it. Don't pass up a shot to go with a smaller outfit.

Good luck out there and let us know how it goes!

 

I will throw a monkey wrench into this discussion. I would work for NEITHER Schneider or Knight.

Reason: they are two of the five trucking companies who started a lobbying front group called the Alliance for Driver Safety and Security. The others are Maverick, US Express, and JB Hunt. This information is readily available on the web. Actually, I am somewhat surprised that Werner didn't jump on this bandwagon since they have used EOBR for quite a while. Who knows, they may have signed on by now.

Its purpose: To lobby congress to pass law in a current bill in the Senate, sponsored by Sen Lamarr of TN and Sen Pryor of AR, that would mandate EOBR's in virtually every commercial truck in the nation.

Now if a company chooses to go EOBR, who cares. My carrier is in the process of switching over to EOBR usage, and it will have little effect on my revenue generation and profitability because of my particular scope of operation. But to get a law passed that will mandate them, regardless of whether the carrier is compliant or not, will be a financial hardship on smaller carriers in this economy. And it has nothing to do with "safety". This move is all about so called "leveling" of the playing field. The financial cost is not just in the unit in the truck... you also have to have the data stored on a server computer system for retreival of the last 6 months records per FMCSA regulation as well as the ability to fax any log day at any time for any driver within minutes if the log day in question is not on the EOBR unit in the truck or the particular officer does not have the ability to retrieve it on the road side. Many small trucking operations, grain haulers, ANY commercial operation in which a vehicle is 10,001 lb or greater operating outside of local area (required to use a log book per FMCSA), will have a lot of difficulty absorbing the cost to implement this setup. It will negatively affect carriers that are not even in direct competition with these big carriers, and it proves that they have on their own self interest in mind, irregardless of who it hurts.

Clearly it is a move to knock out as much of the competition as they can thru legislation instead of growing a business by providing a superior service at a good rate... the traditional American way of increasing your business.

But by all means.... lets support these companies that would use government to destroy other companies.

 

That's too much info for a person just starting out!

 

I would look long and hard at May trucking and Watkins Shepard for reasons members have stated. I have never worked for SNI nor Squire but know WS actually has better benefits. They do let you have inverters and refrigerators and most of their trucks have apu's. In addition, they have a 10 day training program at the terminal. You do not go out with a trainer. At May you do and your training length is determined by how fast you catch on. You have good options for living in Ontario and I would take advantage of them.

KH

 

JDW, you're welcome. I will say a couple things I saw in my detractors posts were incorrect, but ya, some things were correct. It's no bed of roses where ever you go.
The trucking industry is no different than the rest of "corporate America", in other words, The shareholders and/or the bottom line is all that matters. I've always thought it humourous how people that hate that, will still shop at mallwart, Sorry, I just can't bring myself to say/type that name in a more acceptable way.

You make your own decisions, and I would never "tell" another what to do out here in civilian life. If you don't care to go over to the terminal, that's fine, but it's still an option for you. I really don't think you're under surveillance, but I could be wrong.

Now, since I'm partially at fault for the hijacking, I apologize. But I'd like to make another pointe, if you don't mind. I've been truthful and upfront with all I've said from my pointe of view. I've never gotten a driver referral in my life, and don't want it. I'm certainly not a "plant", I just had a good experience, and wanted to tell you about in case you might gain anything. I guess anymore if a person has a good experience or is happy at where he is, some will do what they can to turn it around.

Good luck with who ever you go with, and try to maintain a good attitude, that should be something all can agree with, I'd hope.

 

Johnday, don't take it so personally when people discuss Schneider. You can't idle the trucks in extreme situations without consequences. That's not whining that's how it is. That's an important point that people need to know. As for the shareholders or Schneider family goals to make money, I'm not disputing that but I'm not going to sacrifice for them. Why would someone sacrifice when another is willing to reward them for doing the same exact job?

 

Thanks man. There is a way to idle the trucks. You're "allowed" a certain amount, I think it's 10% in winter, and maybe 20% in summer. And if conditions are such that you have to idle beyond that, a simple message to your DBL usually takes care of it. The only thing you may lose if you go over that idle amount, is your small bonus. I'd never heard of anyone being fired for overidle, but I suppose it's possible.. And you're 100% right, drivers do need to know this.
I guess the thing that fired me up the most was being accused of being a plant, collecting referral pay. There is a way to discuss things, pros and cons, without resorting to things like that. And both sides should be aired. My mistake was only showing the good side.
Anyway, thanks, DNA, have a good'un

 

I worked at Schneider from 2004 to 2006. They were always straight in their dealings with me. There are things that are not fair about the way the rules are set up but they never failed to abide by their own rules (for example, you get breakdown pay after 24 hours, the shop would ignore the truck for 20 hours, then put 3 guys on it and get it done in 2-3 hours). I didn't make big money and the benefits were bad but the checks always cleared. I never was forced to run illegal. They aren't angels in orange but they are a decent place to get started.