Schneider

@Opus
@gentleroger
@Judge

 

With the current state of the industry and so many companies tightening the reins on the quality of driver that they hire I would take this opportunity to get my first job in trucking and make the absolute best of it. Learn as much as you can. Ask your trainer questions. If there is anything that you do not understand ask someone. This industry can be very humbling to new drivers. The first time that you are attempting to back into a dock or a parking spot at a truck stop and you feel like everyone is staring at you and you keep messing up you will want to slump down in the seat and hide. It's really easy to get yourself down and feeling bad when you feel like you can't do anything right. Turn those situations into learning situations.

Always remember to G.O.A.L

GET OUT AND LOOK

If at anytime you are unsure about backing up, get out and look. Do not let your mirrors or your mind convince you that you are in the right position and your not going to hit anything. Get out and verify. Analyze the situation. These types of habits will allow you to build a solid reputation as a good, safe driver and it will allow you to build upon your future.

Good luck with your choice and welcome to trucking.

Also, left door closed and rubber side down makes money.

 

Schneider veteran here.....

....some "beginner" footnotes for you:

• Depending on your recruiter, you may (or may not) be asked/assigned to an account that is dedicated to any of the so-called "dollar" stores: Dollar General, Family Dollar, Dollar Tree, etc. AVOID THOSE JOBS!!!! Tell the recruiter (if that's in fact the case): "No, thank you -- what else is available?" Those jobs are TERRIBLE CHOICES FOR ROOKIE DRIVERS!!!
• If you do in fact decide to drive for Schneider -- one BIG ADVANTAGE that you will have there that you won't in most other places is that after spending 6 months in one account or freight type, you can (with a satisfactory track record) transfer over to another account or another type of freight (assuming they are running different freight types in/near your location). This gives you an INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY to gain experience with different types of freight -- and all WITHOUT CHANGING YOUR EMPLOYER!!! Before leaving Schneider all-together: seriously consider simply changing accounts and/or freight types. Given how sorry the current job market is for new(er) drivers, this is a FAR SUPERIOR MOVE right now -- as opposed to chasing greener pastures, elsewhere.
• As a driver with less than a year of experience -- if you leave a Schneider tractor for more than about 3 days -- BE SURE TO TAKE ALL OF YOUR BELONGINGS WITH YOU. Don't ask me how I learned this....
• As you begin your trucking journey with Schneider (aka, the "Big Orange") -- in the beginning you will spend a fair amount of time with/around what they call their "training engineers". These people will later prove to be some of the most professional and knowledgeable you will meet within the entire industry. LEARN ALL YOU CAN (WHILE YOU CAN) FROM THEM.....
• Be sure to ask (during your training) about "stop work authority." Learn it. Know it. Use it.

Hope some of the above helps.....

-- L

 

I've never delivered to most of Schneider's current clientele (Cabella's, Harley-Davidson, etc) -- but I would think that Cabela's SHOULD BE a far superior situation to ANY OF THOSE "DOLLAR" STORE NIGHTMARES.

If Cabela's is only 25% drop & hook -- that means it's 75% live load/unload. That means you'll spend a fair amount of time sitting at a dock somewhere, waiting. You should be paid something for all that wait time. Find out what this "detention" pay will be, and when it starts (it usually starts an hour or two after you park at the dock).

If somehow you aren't getting ANY DETENTION PAY for all that waiting -- then ask your recruiter for another job/account. Home Depot is a good one; Lowe's is another (if they still have contracts there).

I stayed at Schneider for about 2 years, before leaving.

If you can stay there that long (using the above-listed suggestions to maximize your time spent there) or even longer -- subsequent employers will really appreciate your tenure length with your first CDL employer.

Been there, seen that......

-- L

 

FYI: most other seasoned drivers here on the Forum will very likely agree with me when I tell you that a year's time is not really enough to think about buying/leasing your own truck, and going into business for yourself.

Right now -- truck expenses are sky high, and the rates the world are paying are ridiculously low -- so your odds of success (even if you already know all the other ropes) are incredibly poor.

Suggestion: remain a company driver, sample different types of freight while still at Schneider (Schneider now does about everything except car-hauling & specialized liquid hazmat), decide which one(s) you like best....and THEN maybe start thinking about getting your own truck.

-- L