Profile For Steve L.

Wow! How did you secure that, just the board nailed in?

I've talked to Pepsi transport drivers (take loaded trailer to a drop yard and bring back an empty) and they frequently haul pallets of shingles to pay for fuel coming back empty.

Due to the area our stores are located we do quite a bit of LTL freight to the point of bringing in atleast 2 million a year from it. Typically we only go out of route 20 miles total for delivery and P/U. Im actually sitting outside KC waiting 2 hours for my backhaul that will deliver in Des Moines on Monday. Nearly every week we deliver LTL freight to the competing grocery chain DC. Only requirement is we can't use our store branded trailers to deliver due to how the public would perceive that

Rob, the blocks were on both sides of the tires, using 6-8” nails (pneumatic gun), and they partially deflated the tires. Each tractor was done this way.

At the receiving points, it took some work to unsecure.

I just always think it’s interesting what gets put in compared to our preconceptions.

Be safe! 😎

Joel, sounds like a decision that brings peace. Great job!

I apologize for not realizing your Wife is currently a student. I believe that makes a huge difference.

Your life journey is going to be great! Your young, have a family and lots to look forward to. Keep your eye on the prize (which is Joy, not a job) and enjoy your ride!

You never know what might be inside a trailer. Once, I was at a beer distributor and an Ashley furniture truck came in. They gotta do backhauls too.

This pic is from when I truly hauled a Tractor Trailer. 😎

Not sure which part you need help with. But; 1. Always look at your Motor Carrier’s Atlas to be sure you’re planning on truck safe routes.

2. Once you know the miles, divide the miles by 50. You can usually use a higher mph than 50 IF you’re going all interstate.

3. Consider weather and heavy traffic areas like Chicago, Atlanta.

4. I use the Truckerpath app (free) to trip plan, but mostly just to compare routes. Sometimes an alternate route is better to avoid heavily congested traffic.

You might wanna talk to your Driver Manager to see if there’s a person in the office who works with newbies on trip planning. Or, if the DM understands trip planning, run your plans by them for their input.

I hope this helps.

If you make the right decision there will be peace. Even if there are rough patches. ahead of the peace.

Make the wrong decision? It won’t matter who gets to say “I told you so.”

Ask yourself if you normally make good decisions. If so, trust yourself by examining the advice, your objective and how the two come together.

Good decisions usually are not easy decisions.

I don’t think it’ll hurt your chances. But, will you have to wait until Spring semester? And will it be next May before you’re earning a paycheck? If so AND you’re okay with that, your CDL should be acceptable.

Joel, I went through a private school. Instead of financing through the school, I took a loan through my credit union, which allowed me to get a $1,000 “cash discount” from the school. The tuition reimbursement payments more than covered the credit union loan payment.

This was about five years ago and I went to work with Schneider. Tuition reimbursement is fairly common for companies that don’t offer CDL training.

I believe McElroy is a solid company, from the drivers I’ve talked with.

Good luck!

Having left Schneider more than two years ago, I offer this:

1. I left because I could make the same money while getting home more often. At the time I was getting home twice a month. If I would’ve had to take a pay cut to get home more OR if I’d have had to stay gone more, I would’ve stayed with Schneider. As much as I loved Schneider and would go back if needed, I made the right decision.

2. Sometimes the grass is greener because of a septic issue. No matter where you go, there will be differences from Schneider. If you like a structured, corporate environment, I doubt most trucking companies do that as well as Schneider.

You’ll likely make the right decision. It may take some time and seek advice from those who DON’T stand to profit from your decision.

Good luck!

If you consider dry van, I started with Schneider and they were great. I was attached to the Lebanon, TN center and ran from California to Maine, Laredo, TX to Minnesota. But mostly I ran loads in mid-west (IL, IN, OH, KY, TN) and PA.

Good luck.

Wow! Laredo to Mass? That’s great! Congratulations and enjoy the drive.

Don’t worry. Do your trip plan so you know where you’ll park. Then you’ll be gone before you know it.

If you need to, ask for some assistance from your dbl.

Enjoy!

Check with them.

When I was with Schneider I did that in Columbus, OH, Carlisle, PA and other places. That’s one of the perks of the job.

Good luck!

You might wanna start making a few drives outside your area. Getting comfortable outside your immediate area is going to be necessary.

I come through your area quite a bit and there’s lots of freight moving there. Right now I’m in Greenwood. Tomorrow I’ll pick up in Spartanburg. Fountain Inn is a regular stop for me too. But I was OTR with Schneider for two years before getting this Southeast Regional gig.

Keep doing your research, but expand your comfort zone. You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish and overcome.

I don’t know if you can park a bobtail at Va. Beach, but it’s a great beach. The “boardwalk” is a few miles long with a bike path along side. Great eats too!

I hope you get a chance to enjoy it.

Chick’s beach is more secluded, but not as much to do right on the water. We used to go there when we lived there, but you kinda gotta know where you’re going. However, if you find a great watering hole in an online search AND at Chick’s beach, you could just have Uber take you there and spend the day there.

Good luck!

I honestly don’t think Schneider would waste money to bring you in if they weren’t satisfied with your already supplied work history. Unless someone screwed up.

I went to Schneider but provided tax returns since I’d been self-employed over ten years. They might not care since you already had CDL experience.

Since safety is Schneider’s #1 core value, you can expect THEY will EXPECT YOU to do a thorough pre-trip every time.

When I went through their orientation in early 2015, they gave us a laminated card (8x11) AND you can use it anytime you’re being observed.

When Schneider put me in an automated manual, they supplied chocks.

Schneider doesn’t require you to memorize everything, but they expect you to do what is required.

Follow their instructions, work to build a good relationship with your DBL and you should have great success.

I hope this helps.

As with most things government, they make a rule, then make the rule impotent (e.g. the 30 minute break).

Just get rid of the 14-hour clock.

Congratulations on making a tough decision!

I hope one day, you’ll share with us (if it isn’t too personal) the reason and how this career helped or challenged you in making the decision.

During the valleys you will go through, I hope you’ll remember all the well-wishes here and KNOW what a blessing you are.

Thanks!

WOW! Congratulations! You’ve certainly earned it. Thanks for all you do!

Gander Outdoors sells Adventurer for <$200. That’s the one my neighbor is offering. But his is a ten-speed, not twelve.

Don’t beat yourself up yet. The one you ordered might be better that many others.

Please let us know how it works out. Also make & model.

I’ve been considering one and a neighbor (who camps a lot) offered theirs for $100. The only thing I didn’t like was the gears. Felt like top gear was about like 5 on a 15spd.

Thanks!