Schneider

Yes -- the pay for many first-year drivers does indeed suck.

But....think long-term....not short-term.

After a year or two -- when you've bagged some real experience -- your annual compensation can be pretty darn good (assuming you've maintained a good safety record).

TO GET TO REALLY GOOD COMPENSATION: BE SURE TO KEEP YOUR DRIVING RECORD CLEAN -- WHETHER IN A BIG RIG -- OR IN YOUR PERSONAL VEHICLE.

-- L

 

Schneider has a big turnover of drivers due to low pay. Yeah, the training is good though. One driver on this forum couldn't even make $40 thousand a year.
Maybe you'll get a better offer before orientation, but if you don't, just deal with it to gain a few months experience.

 

Be careful of offers. Like I said; Lots of BS out there.
Schneider sounds legit. Learn in your first year.
My first job. The Terminal Manager guaranteed me $75k/yr. That wasn't the recruiter. That was the terminal manager. All he did was waste my time. 68 hour 34's. I wouldn't have made $50k the first year. Upper management agreed to transfer me to another terminal. Upper tried hard and was good to me.
Just learn and get into a future. In 6 years. You can look forward to sacrifices like this...
Warning to newbies....the sacrifices only get worse... :)
Yes I needed 5 years experience for this job. I live in the Black Hills. Not easy getting hometime like this.

 

The above is pretty much why I made the suggestions I did back in post #4 of this same thread.

It's tough to comprehend just how bad it is out there right now -- for new(er) drivers.

Yes, your pay starting out will likely suck -- but your pay is based (in part) on your experience (which....as of now, you don't have).

If you don't have any CDL endorsements (tanker, hazmat, doubles/triples) -- then that also contributes to lower pay -- and that's true NO MATTER WHAT starter company you may join.

If you don't have any endorsements -- Schneider can help you get them. Schneider now has loads that will utilize them all.

Thus: get a job (example: the "Big Orange") -- then keep it -- FOR AT LEAST A YEAR (and as discussed earlier, longer is much better -- future CDL employers really like that tenure).

Job hunting right now with less than a year under your belt will majorly suck.

-- L

 

I have no doubt you'll hit at least $58k working the Cabela's account, and for the most part it's easy work. There's not a huge spread between average and top earners on an account like that, especially with the new pay structure. Some of the store docks get "interesting", you just have to have a plan before you start moving. The big downside of an account like that is if you live a good bit from the DC, getting home sucks. But if you're nearby you'll have some nights at the house.

As for the guy who "couldn't even make $40k" - that's on the guy, not Schneider. There are a lot of guys who only want to work 8 hours a day and then ##### about the low pay. Or the guys who don't trip plan and end up shooting themselves in the foot.

 

I heard the pencil necks in the Schneider office worry about the shaving habits about their sla..., I mean drivers? Is that true?

 

On tanker accounts where the respirator is needed. And it's not so much Schneider as the customer.