Profile For Nick

In my experience since I’m a newer CDL A holder who just went through the hiring process and has been working for about 3 months now, OTR is really your best bet fresh out of school. Reason being is it’s the best and fastest way to gain your experience and you will find that most of these companies who are local only like you’re seeking want a minimum of one year experience. They want someone who knows how to drive, maneuver, back, hook and unhook from trailers multiple times a day, already knows logs, HOS, etc. Stuff you learn at an OTR company during training. Best way to gain that experience and the hours is to do OTR. A lot of these local companies aren’t setup for training like that.

I was just like you out of school. Didn’t want to do OTR. Didn’t want to be away from home. I ended up finding out I couldn’t get ANY local, non-OTR jobs around me with no experience. (I searched for 2 months) Your best bet is to go OTR right out of school for a minimum of 6 months, although at least one year is best. Get your one year in, accident free, no write ups, etc. You open up a lot of opportunities after that. Look at companies like Schneider, Swift, Western Express, CR England. I know there’s others that have been mentioned on here before, all of which will take you with little or no experience, train you their way. Then you get your one year in. And that one year coupled with a prospective employer knowing you got good training, will look good when you do start applying for local jobs.

I will say, I could be completely wrong, too. Maybe there is a company that is local that will hire right out of school but in my experience, they are far and few. Good luck.

For me, as a newer solo driver, without a doubt, they are:

- Blocking the fuel island/washing your windshield AFTER you’re done fueling. Do this WHILE you’re fueling. If you’re running inside, pull forward. Also, someone taking their 30 minute break after pulling forward. I witnessed someone pull forward after fueling and then sit there to take their 30 minute break which blocked in two trucks behind them in Olympia, WA just last week.

- Easily as frustrating, blocking the scale. Don’t pull onto the scale until you’re ready! The amount of times I’ve had to wait behind someone who’s just sitting on the scale because they can’t figure out how to use the “Weigh my Truck” app, they don’t know their max weights so they trying to figure it out while sitting on the scale, etc. Scaling should take no more than 2 minutes tops. And yet, I’ve had to wait 10 minutes behind someone who can’t figure out how to scale. Don’t pull onto the scale until you know you’re ready and it’s only going to take you a few minutes tops.

- Drivers texting and driving. We are all CDL holders and are held to a higher standard. The amount of CDL drivers I see on a DAILY basis who have their face buried in their phone is appalling to say the least. I can always tell who they are when I’m coming up behind them or they’re coming up behind me in my mirrors. Because they’re all over the road. The ones that really get me are the ones who pass on the left with their phone in their hand and then get in front of you, barely leaving enough room and causing you to have to hit the brakes to create your 7-14 seconds of following distance again and then often times, can’t keep a constant speed so your cruise control is constantly adjusting because they’re more focused on their phone.

- Where drivers chose to park. I mean, in areas not designated for parking, even if it’s for a short period of time. This is especially bad at customers and makes it impossible for me to back into a dock because they’re blocking the room I need to maneuver. Or at truck stops. Blocking trucks in spaces or blocking spaces so you can’t park. And, parking in areas making it very difficult or impossible to maneuver so you can park. The last thing you want rolling in at the end of the day when you just want to shut down and rest is someone being inconsiderate and parking in an area making it impossible for you to move. Use some common sense!

I haven’t been driving long but it doesn’t take long to figure these things out I listed above, especially when I’m putting in almost 2,000 miles, 6 days a week. A lot of this job is common sense and I’m in a way shocked at how many professional drivers, a lot of which who have been doing this much longer than me, lack basic common sense. You learn very quick what annoys you on a daily basis. I’m sure I’m forgetting some things, too.

I have to agree with the other replies here. You made a conscious decision to knowingly break several traffic laws and you got caught. What’s more is you knew that you were trying to get your CDL A license (permit) to start professionally driving. Us CDL holders are held to a very high standard. That’s why we pay all the money and do all the weeks of training.

I hate to say it but you may have ended your career already before it started. Best bet is hope for the best with the courts. See what you can do. Also, as suggested above, maybe look into a CDL B box truck driving job. A local company, maybe privately owned. Just something to gain some experience.

I got pulled in for a level 4 inspection in California by CHP last Friday. Passed with no issues but they were definitely paying extra close attention to brakes. Make sure you pay extra close attention on your pretrip!

I plan to take my time at home during the election and a few days afterwards. I have ways of protecting myself in my truck as well.

Yes, at Schneider, we are forbidden from making any calls, including hands free, while driving. We must be stopped, brakes pulled and truck in neutral. This includes headsets as well. We aren’t allowed to wear them. Strict 100% ban on making phone calls while driving. In the end, probably for the better.

As a new driver for Schneider, I wanted to add my two cents since it was mentioned a few times. I would not be quick to pass on an opportunity with Schneider. They have been nothing but great to me so far. Yes, the training is rather short. 3 weeks total, 2 at the academy and 1 week out with a trainer. To be honest, I couldn’t have handled anymore than 1 week with a trainer OTR. It got to be a bit much by the 6th day. I came into it with CDL experience so I took to everything very quickly and I’m naturally just a fast learner at things I have a passion for. I came into this industry because I wanted to, not because I felt like I needed to and Schneider has provided me a great opportunity and laid the groundwork to get my first year in. I personally would put Schneider well above Swift. There’s plenty online and talk at truck stops about Swift and the kind of reputation they have. I’m not here to bash any company though so I’ll leave it at that.

You will learn WAY more in your first week solo than you will in those 3 weeks of training. Nothing beats true on the job experience and with no one hand holding you along, you have to figure it all out on your own. I’m a better driver today than I was 7 days ago and 7 days before that.

I really am having a great time with Schneider. And the work is constant. There’s always been another load for me lined up before I drop my current one. As long as you want to, they’ll keep you moving. I was also assigned a brand new 2025 Freightliner Cascadia, so that helps, too. Fresh out of training into a brand new tractor isn’t usually the case so I’m very grateful. It still smells like a new car in here! But the equipment here is well maintained and there’s tons of resources for you to use. Your DTLs (driver team leader, basically your “boss”) are your main point of contact and I couldn’t say enough positive things about mine.

Bottom line, I’m very happy with Schneider. Yes, I’m not making big bucks but that’s okay right now. I’m gaining my initial experience right now. I’m making decent money for my means of living right now. After I get my first year in here, I can start looking at other opportunities. Or, I don’t have to. Some people go to a company with the intention of it only being 1 year and end up staying for 20 years. It all just depends. Everyone is gonna feel differently based on their personal experience and I may even get some people who read this and think I’m crazy but if Schneider gets back to you with an offer, don’t pass it up. I’m glad I didn’t.

Hello Nick. Good comment and I hope you become a regular here.

The fact is, we could have endless arguments about what carrier is the best, because it’s so subjective. I’m glad you are having good results with Schneider. They have shortened their training time with a training engineer from when I was there, but they do have excellent training. I had such a great experience with the training engineer I was assigned to, that I would have stayed out a month with him. He was a real gift.You should be loyal to whatever employer you are with, so I appreciate the positive outlook you have. Keep it up. But it will be interesting to see what your evaluation is in 6 months or a year. Good luck to you for continued safe driving.

Thanks, BK. I appreciate that. I was a silent viewer for a while and didn’t want to really start posting anything until I started getting some experience, got hired, and got rolling. I plan to be more active now that I have an actual insight and first hand experience. Looking forward to a long career and like I said, very grateful Schneider gave me the opportunity to get started!

I came to Schneider in WA state and was hired to OTR with no experience so I don’t believe that to be accurate. I’m rolling solo now, based out of WA state. There may be something else going on there but they definitely hire new drivers into OTR based out of WA. Best decision I ever made to get my career started.

My company does a pre-employment hair test and I did extensive research online before my first day. I even posted on here and Kearsey offered me some advice as she has with you. Listen to her. Wait one year minimum before taking the hair test. I actually waited over one year, one year and 2 months to be exact so I really had no worries. And in the end, there was no issue and my career is off to a great start.

Not sure if your career is over before it has started since you’ve already failed a hair test. This was why I did my research before my first day. I would have rather pushed out my orientation, which was an option, instead of risking it. I’m glad I waited the one year and 2 months. I wish you all the best in your endeavors.

As a new driver for Schneider, I wanted to add my two cents since it was mentioned a few times. I would not be quick to pass on an opportunity with Schneider. They have been nothing but great to me so far. Yes, the training is rather short. 3 weeks total, 2 at the academy and 1 week out with a trainer. To be honest, I couldn’t have handled anymore than 1 week with a trainer OTR. It got to be a bit much by the 6th day. I came into it with CDL experience so I took to everything very quickly and I’m naturally just a fast learner at things I have a passion for. I came into this industry because I wanted to, not because I felt like I needed to and Schneider has provided me a great opportunity and laid the groundwork to get my first year in. I personally would put Schneider well above Swift. There’s plenty online and talk at truck stops about Swift and the kind of reputation they have. I’m not here to bash any company though so I’ll leave it at that.

You will learn WAY more in your first week solo than you will in those 3 weeks of training. Nothing beats true on the job experience and with no one hand holding you along, you have to figure it all out on your own. I’m a better driver today than I was 7 days ago and 7 days before that.

I really am having a great time with Schneider. And the work is constant. There’s always been another load for me lined up before I drop my current one. As long as you want to, they’ll keep you moving. I was also assigned a brand new 2025 Freightliner Cascadia, so that helps, too. Fresh out of training into a brand new tractor isn’t usually the case so I’m very grateful. It still smells like a new car in here! But the equipment here is well maintained and there’s tons of resources for you to use. Your DTLs (driver team leader, basically your “boss”) are your main point of contact and I couldn’t say enough positive things about mine.

Bottom line, I’m very happy with Schneider. Yes, I’m not making big bucks but that’s okay right now. I’m gaining my initial experience right now. I’m making decent money for my means of living right now. After I get my first year in here, I can start looking at other opportunities. Or, I don’t have to. Some people go to a company with the intention of it only being 1 year and end up staying for 20 years. It all just depends. Everyone is gonna feel differently based on their personal experience and I may even get some people who read this and think I’m crazy but if Schneider gets back to you with an offer, don’t pass it up. I’m glad I didn’t.