Profile For Steve L.

Our ‘05 Sequoia has just over 150k miles. It’s paid for. Yes we spent about $4k over the past two years to do brakes, axles, valve cover gaskets, transmission service, tires, new headlights and radiator.

We’ve been offered $8k for it and won’t get rid of it. It can potentially run for another 150,000-200,000 miles.

We could upgrade to add a backup camera for less than many people pay for one car payment.

My point is, look at what’s out there on the used market. You might be surprised at how much nicer (and more practical), than new, you can afford.

Good luck.

I’m with Big Scott. If your payments were gonna be, say $400/month, saving for 18 months gives you $7,200. Plus a good quality used car will cost less (usually) in insurance. Especially if you pay cash.

They’ll probably check by when you get to Orientation. I was on 10mg/day of Lysinopryl for bp. Within six months of starting, I’d lost 40lbs and bp was good enough for a two year card.

Good luck!

Keith P., welcome and congratulations on the success you’ve had in the oilfield work. Also, THANKS for your service.

After you’ve gotten some driving experience, you might look into Robert Bearden Inc (RBI). I started with Schneider, now with RBI and plan to stay here. We’re a Southeast Regional company and run a lot of freight in Florida.

Good luck with Crete and your new adventure! Welcome aboard!

Congratulations!

Congratulations on this!!! Take the win and don't worry about the one-time hit. You'll come out better in the long run.

It's always terrific to see how well things go when we focus on the issue, not emotion and we give it time to settle before having the conversation. Please keep this experience tucked in your mental files in case you need it in the future.

Have a great rest of the week!

I don’t know about you, but I’m doing this job for the pay FIRST. If I can’t make the $, I’m talking to dispatch. If they’re gonna leave me dedicated to a customer that can’t keep up, I’d explain it and ask my employer what I can do to get back to $900-$1k/week.

Temporary setbacks are one thing and maybe the customer didn’t realize they were getting a highly motivated, enthusiastic driver who can deliver on time. But will you be satisfied if you don’t discuss it with your team?

I hope this helps.

This is one thing that disgusts me. I’ve seen drivers pull in, stop at the truck stop entrance and pee between the truck and trailer EVEN THOUGH there were plenty of parking spots. A few weeks back I saw (as I was driving down the interstate) a driver standing on his catwalk peeing AT THE REST AREA. To damn lazy to walk to the restroom.

Drivers wonder why places won’t let us park overnight and scum like these are why.

😡

Hold up! He was to lazy to talk to the bathroom but not lazy enough to climb on his catwalk to pee? WTF.

Yes! I don’t know if he got the urge while checking his air lines or what. But it was in full view of the interstate and where state troopers usually target big trucks for inspections.

This is one thing that disgusts me. I’ve seen drivers pull in, stop at the truck stop entrance and pee between the truck and trailer EVEN THOUGH there were plenty of parking spots. A few weeks back I saw (as I was driving down the interstate) a driver standing on his catwalk peeing AT THE REST AREA. To damn lazy to walk to the restroom.

Drivers wonder why places won’t let us park overnight and scum like these are why.

😡

Been there many a time. I think it’s funny to go to a big island so far inland. Kind of like Beech Island, SC near Augusta, GA.

Congratulations!!!!

Kim, you might try Schneider. They had dedicated out of Washington Courthouse, OH that delivers to Walmart stores in WV. Also they used to (not sure if they still do) have a Target dedicated out of Stuart’s Draft, VA (near Charlottesville).

On the other hand; if you can afford it and your current pay will support it, maybe get yourself a small camper and start taking weekend trips. The weather is just about here for that.

Good luck.

Your DBL needs to step up and be your advocate with the planners. But you may need to remind your DBL this is a job and losing miles means losing pay.

Unless you’re on a dedicated/salary rate, your DBL should be able to get the planners to back you up with some better miles for the trouble you had.

Hang in there.

no team driving with a trainer

You never went out with a trainer? You got your CDL at private school and immediately went solo?

Well if they’d just put everyone through the HRTP they’d save themselves a LOT of trouble. 😊

But seriously, I didn’t say I didn’t go out with a trainer.

I went OTR with, what Schneider calls, a Training Engineer (TE) for six days. Other than the four hour “demonstration” drive he did, the rest of the week he was in the passenger seat or outside supervising the backing.

We ran only one 8/11/14 clock each day. When my clock was up, that was it. I spent each night in a hotel room, on the company’s dime.

I really appreciate y’all making me feel so special. I don’t consider myself better than anyone else. But maybe...uh oh! Might not be able to get my head out of the sleeper in the morning. 😆

Okay. I’m very fortunate, Blessed, whatever you wanna call it. But it started here. And I’m glad you put this website out here...and free.

I hope your week is challenging AND rewarding!

Respectfully, this is what you said, “because to me it's not even debatable which is the better option.”

That’s why I said what I said.

I believe company-sponsored CDL school is a better option when and where it exists. But for me, private school was better because;

1. My preferred company didn’t offer it.

2. The closest community college offering it would’ve meant more than six months before I’d be earning money.

3. The combination of private school, and the company’s short Orientation, meant I was able to go solo in less than eight weeks, thus earning full pay and no team driving with a trainer.

My path isn’t best for everyone. But it has served me and my employer well.

1. I agree; disingenuous was the wrong word. I apologize. 2. I never said private schools are better. 3. Since it’s not even debatable, I won’t attempt to persuade you. However, I’m grateful that when I came to this site, considering all options was encouraged.

Thanks.

“PLEASE.....DO NOT give any of your hard earned cash to a private Trucking School. DO look into Company Sponsored Training.”

Really? The private school I graduated from had three recently retired Schneider drivers as instructors. Not all companies offered training in my area.

I have just as much respect for drivers regardless of who they trained with.

Thanks to tuition reimbursement, I’d say my experience was as good as any company-sponsored school.

I respect everyone’s opinions on which path to CDL is best. But there are many variables when choosing and it just seems disingenuous to flat-out tell people not to go to a private school.

With this history, what will be different now? We all make mistakes, some more than others. But seriously, what positives do you have to offer ANY prospective employer?

If you've turned yourself around, I suggest you get with your close support group to work on a positive plan for your future. It may require years of menial jobs and volunteer work.

I went private school and reported to Schneider Orientation three weeks after completing school because it was Christmas. I had plenty of pre-hires before graduation, but Schneider was where I wanted to go.

Big companies will usually (as Schneider did) do tuition reimbursement. So, even though I laid out the money up front, I got it back.

Some will say the company has no skin in the game if you go to private school, but (my opinion) they have no reason to bring you to Orientation just to spit you out either.

Why pay if someone else will? Schneider didn’t offer school when I went through and that was THE company I wanted.

I hope this helps.

One more reason being a company driver ain’t so bad. I get per diem which makes a significant portion of my income tax-exempt. Yes, I know, my social security will be lower. And the new higher standard deduction is better for our family.

So, as a company driver, I’ve paid down or paid off >$15,000 just in the past year. AND our refund (same as last year).