Schneider Trainers - questions...

Since we will be running team, there shoulnd't be much problem with hos, except the 70/34 thing. We're not rule breakers, because it'll cost us our cdl that we've worked hard for. Thank you guys for the reassurance that a week should be enough, and if it isn't, we should be able to get another week or so. I'd think our trainer would be helpful in figuring out if we need more help or not.
I saw on the Schneider site that they have a rating system for customers so that drivers can suggest things to make their interactions better. One thing I see a lot of ppl complain about on this forum is the wait time to get loaded or unloaded, and how that affects their hos. It was good to see a carrier willing to address those issues. Is that working out for you?

 

We are debating on the topic of going with separate trainers. A week is not a long time. This 6 to 8 weeks other companies require is definitely too long. We may leave it up to the training center in phx, after orientation. They'll see then how much we are the other half of each other, and how well we work together. Not many couples do as well as we do at being together 24/7. Then, those who should know best can decide.
We do know how to drive, and we have nothing on our records, so I have faith that we can move the truck from A to B and not hit things. We goal, and pre-trip well. Our backing skills among our fellow students were good. I'm just concerned I guess about the snow coming, and how that affects driving with a semi, and if I'll get the chance to confront that in my training. I also worry about the high passes like wolf creek and the like.
The recruiter said we'd be driving automatics. I'm wondering how that is affected by snow, and if a week is enough to get the wisdom to do this stuff safely. How do we handle downhills with an automatic? I hear that we can specify a gear and it'll stay there, like in an automatic car, you can put it in low.
And believe me, there will be a lot of sponging going on. I watch vids and read tons as it is. I'll be looking for backing practice every chance I get. It's hugely different backing between cones 12 feet apart, and backing between trucks parked crooked and tight.
I have questions about the trucks... What kind of things are built in, like refrigerators, apus, etc. If not, can we have them installed? Do they allow smoking in the truck? Is it likely to get a trainer who smokes or allows smoking in the truck?
I am so excited to finally be doing this. I've wanted to drive trucks for a looooooong time. I really do NOT want to screw this up right off the bat. Slow and cautious will be my mantra. The best piece of advice I've found on these forums is "You can do it too slow a million times, but too fast just once."

 

We intend to keep our personal stuff to a minimum. There are so many reasons to have to clean out your truck, and it's just easier to keep clean when you don't have a lot of "stuff". My son has a house with a huge storage capacity, and he's agreed to allow us to ship stuff back that we collect over time. We do enjoy our laptops though, so I'm hoping they allow us to have some power installed, lol.

 

Yay! Thanks for all the advice. I am so excited to be joining you guys on the road.