What does it mean to be OTR

Buckeye 60 · Feb 24, 2019

usually I would say do what they get it done let them know you need to get more miles . I do favors for agents all the time and I get it back usually many times over , I am in,a little bit different situation than what you are in . but usually the guys that over complain never get the good loads either . reefer loads do average longer but your useually running between 2 appointments and a lot longer load and unload times than a van so by the time you add that in your not any better off . usually it's slow Jan till mid march see what happens in a couple of weeks

ulenie · Feb 24, 2019

Buckeye 60 said: ↑

it helps if you're on time for appointments you need to show to the load planners that you can get stuff done without problems, its slow this time of year but they still should be getting some miles for you . now I am not suggesting this is what is going on with you but companies don't like to fire drivers for in competence its easier to starve them till they quit, that way no unemployment or law suits. I would suggest you talk to someone a little higher up the ladder than your dm and find out what is the deal , even change dm
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Well that is another thing with Schneider, my direct contact is whats called my DBL and he has no control over the loads. He is just a contact incase i need help with an assignment I have. He has to contact the dispatchers on my behalf. I don't think they are purposely trying to make me quit, though. But either way I am planning my exit. Am just waiting for my 6 months exp.

QuietStorm said: ↑

Oh, another thing I forgot about schnSchne, for the first three months you get a bunch of ########. The planners have a driver rating system, which means after your first few months they give you a tag in the system that tells them how likely you are to get a good load done. So after your first three months if you've gotten everything handled then when the longer runs come up you'll start getting them.
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Ya by then most have quit already. In my orientation class, there were like 10 people. Only about 3 are left

Western flyer said: ↑

Rule#1 for all new OTR drivers,
Learn to say no, I'm not doing it.
And stand by it.
Let chips fall where the May.
The sooner the better.

Or keep your mouth shut and do one
Crappy load after another because they
Know you'll do it.

It's why mega's have their own CDL mills,
And reapeatadly hire and fire rookies.
They know, any experienced driver worth
His salt,is not gonna play their games.

But a new driver doesn't know any better.
And by the time he figures out how much
Time and money he's been screwed out of
And quits, the mega has his replacement
Sitting at the yard waiting on your truck.

It's a never ending cycle.
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Bad advice.

Buckeye 60 said: ↑

usually I would say do what they get it done let them know you need to get more miles . I do favors for agents all the time and I get it back usually many times over , I am in,a little bit different situation than what you are in . but usually the guys that over complain never get the good loads either . reefer loads do average longer but your useually running between 2 appointments and a lot longer load and unload times than a van so by the time you add that in your not any better off . usually it's slow Jan till mid march see what happens in a couple of weeks
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Yes, I sent in the more miles request and they DID get me 650 more miles for the week. So that's better than nothing.

x1Heavy · Feb 24, 2019

Actually working with people you take a moment to say hello and catch up on whatever recent activity they have done helps them get you miles. Saying NO is a very delicate matter. There are ways to say no to something you know is a real cluster.

lovetwodrive · Feb 26, 2019

ulenie said: ↑

Well that is another thing with Schneider, my direct contact is whats called my DBL and he has no control over the loads. He is just a contact incase i need help with an assignment I have. He has to contact the dispatchers on my behalf. I don't think they are purposely trying to make me quit, though. But either way I am planning my exit. Am just waiting for my 6 months exp.

Ya by then most have quit already. In my orientation class, there were like 10 people. Only about 3 are left

Bad advice.

Ulenie

You are getting it. It took me a minute but it all becomes clear after a few months. I, too started @ Schneider and drove tanker. The cold hard truth is Schneider has limited tanker customers and runs in limited lanes. Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana a little South Carolina and western Pennsylvania is about it. Gary and Chicago a little. I averaged 1400-2000 miles a week and I was quite vocal about wanting to run hard every day. I sat in tanker yards for days, waiting for my DBL to answer the phone so I could beg for miles. Everybody who ends up liking tanker life goes to QC or Groendyke after there time with Schneider comes to an end.

Get it out of your system and go to dry or reefer. The problem with tanker is every load is a live load and every delivery is a live unload and you don't get paid extra for either. No detention, No nothing. I stayed with them for 7 months, kept my record and nose clean and CSA score @ 0 and now I drive for a quality, privately owned carrier and make my miles and money with virtually no stress or hassle.
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Buckeye 60 · Feb 27, 2019

most companies have a driver rating system set up even if it's informal to let planners know who they can count on and who is only good to run short stuff. its probably easier to get on the bad list than off of it . its a good idea to form relationships with load planners and usually if you do them favors you will get it back ten fold . a good driver manager helps but its the planners . a bad driver manager can hurt you and switching when needed isn't a problem

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