Trimac vs Schneider Bulk

I'm thinking about Trimac based out of Philadelphia, I have a interview next Friday with the terminal manager. I'm going for their regional runs out of this terminal. Does anyone have experience with their regional work ?

 

Is it possible to run nights pulling OTR tanker or are loading and delivery times mostly during the day? Anybody keep vampire hours in the North East and than switch if need be heading out?

 

I have dealt with a few customers that deliver or load late night like 11pm

 

I just did the quick-app for Trimac in Regards to joining the Elite fleet. I only have 16 months of OTR experience right now, but i graduated from a legitimate 160hr Truck Driving School with several locations. It seems like it's harder to find the long haul type of stuff i prefer in the tanker world. I've spent my whole career on open decks running everywhere between FL and AK. I'm used to spending 4-8 weeks out at a time working much harder for less pay so it will be curious to see what they come back with.

you have a very informational thread here. Thanks for taking the time to share.

 

ethos,

I'm looking at changing into trucking work, going full time live-in-the-truck style I think. Have been reading a number of the longer threads on this site to get a feel of the game. Being as I'll need to choose a school or company training as well as probably decide what sort of truck to work, these threads are quite interesting.

My take-away thus far is that hurry up to sit and wait to load/unload/find a trailer is more the norm, and that Schneiders' back office (at least from one of the threads) for dry van OTR is one big confused bunch of incompetent office monkeys. Not being a trucker I don't know if that's the norm or more indicative of larger companies in general. From what I've been reading this is remarkably counter productive for both company and driver.

The other take-away is that tanker may be the way to go. Sounds like the pay is good, no flipping tarps and chains, lesser searching for the elusive mystery empty trailer, and good miles.

Based on this thread, I read the Trimac website and the Elite Team page. Sounds NOTHING like a trucking company, especially the expectations, at least compared to the other websites I've gone through. I was quite impressed to say the least!!!

As far as change of career planning, I'll ring them up and ask them about their preferred schools or company training programs in order to be able to make a successful application with Trimac after I've gotten the requisite experience under my belt. Any input and comments are very welcome.

Thx
Glenn B

 

I can confirm that you won't be getting onto the elite team as a student. I have 15 months of experience and he was rather adamant that the Elite Team drivers must have 2 years driving experience no matter what mainly to qualify to haul bulk gases. He didn't seem to care that all my driving experience was with flats,steps and rgns though so I'm kinda thinking I'll just keep running open decks until my 2 yr mark if It's all the same to Trimac. I talked with the recruiter who was great to talk to and very honest. He would rather call me back later or put me on hold while he found an answer than lie to me. A rare quality.

I liked the majority of what i heard except for a couple things
-hiring Freeze in CA right now meaning i must run out of the Rock Springs or Greeley terminal if i want to stay in the western US.
-Trucks must be returned to terminal for hometime. My current company lets me take hometime anywhere in North America so that was kind of a bummer.
-trucks governed to 55mph?
-No cell phone policy while driving (bluetooth is banned to)
-Company goal is to switch to all automatics transmissions?

I really liked
-1.5 days off per week
-80k average pay for the elite fleet
-The recruiter was just how Ethos said he would be. Very honest and enjoyable to talk to.

Ethos, can you confirm/deny of the cons listed above?

Although he wouldn't take me for any position hauling gases or on the Elite fleet he did say i would be more than qualified to start in a local/regional position at one of their many terminals hauling dry bulk. Dry bulk pays about the same as what I'm making right now though and i would have to go live in the Mid west or down south plus pay for a place to live which would make me lose money in the end since i live out of the truck right now.

Once i hit the 2 yr mark though that Elite fleet sounds like a dream come true.

 

Ethos, Rambling

thx for the replies and advice. didn't think or expect to be joining any elite team as an inexperienced newbie but it's nice to know there are very professional divisions out there to shoot for. Always strived to do and be the best at whatever I did and it usually worked out that way. Was looking over the hiring positions for Trimac and they advertise a local driver position open in my little home town of Brooksville Fla - too early in the game for me though as I haven't been through CDL school yet.

thx guys