Comments By Cory D.

Is there any chargeable inverter that you can plug into a cigarette light for a long time to run on its own without charging...? Something like a generator.

In addition to Not4hire's great information, and additional thing to keep in mind, is that many devices that use motors (blow dryer, food processor etc...) use roughly2-7 times their normal current at start up. So If its a 12v 2amp motor, at start up itll be more like 12v 10amp.

If unaccounted for during your power distribution planning, you'll at best trip the fuse and at worst you'll burn down your truck. So be sure to either start those heavy draw items first, or have a more than ample electrical system to run your gear.

At best I'm just going to use a inverter for my laptop, heater and possibly cooking.

I'm not trying to get too power hungry and burn a fuse.

Just remember, big inverters draw big power and can deplete your batteries quickly under continuous use. My recommendation is to run the engine (or APU) when doing something like cooking a meal or making coffee. Then you can shut off the engine and eat your meal in peace-and-quiet while surfing the web with your laptop plugged in.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge on the subject. The issue I have with my truck is it doesn't idle when it's cold.

Any suggestions?

Thanks, any difficultly setting it up?

Just plug it in to one of the 12 volt outlets in your truck.

Cool, first time getting one so bear with me.

Do you know if they run on their on supply source? Because it might drain the truck battery much quicker.

All kinds of power inverters...up to 400-450 watts that plug in 12V or much more if wired directly to battery. It's up to your company as to which way they let you do it but just a laptop, tv or small stuff the 400 watts should be fine. If you're talking microwave you'll need a little more I think. I run a 410 watt and its fine for my tv tablet and such.

Thanks, any difficultly setting it up?

Is there anything I can use to have steady electricity in my truck? My last company had one and it's a different ball game with one now.

Plus I was planning to bring my laptop as well. Any help is appreciated.

If you're being offered a dedicated job with weekly hometime, they're only gonna send you so far away before working you back toward home.

I'm only a Driver for Schneider, not a Recruiter. I don't mean to contradict anyone, but dedicated usually has a specific area. Also, that dedicated position is probably listed on schneiderjobs.com, check it out.

Where do you live? That might make a difference also.

If you're still trying to decide and getting home weekly is a must, you gotta get a firm confidence level on the job's ability to meet your needs.

Yeah that's what I thought myself, I think the second woman I talked to was misinformed. I live in MS, it said on the site Schneider is supporting one of their primary mill location in Pennington AL.

You wanna know where you'll go? I'm not sure. If they told you it's Georgia Pacific dedicated, the recruiter should be able to tell you.

I've only hauled a few GP loads and here's what I know; your trailer better be damage-free, clean and in GOOD repair. Some GP locations will reject a trailer >10 years old. I mean they even check the cross members underneath. Also, their drop lots (especially in the south) are horrendous mud puddles. But what's new, right?

Plan on finding the location in the middle of nowhere and sometimes very difficult in the dark.

If you plan for a crazy experience, you will probably do just fine. Like a lot of things in trucking, right?

My recruiter told me I"ll be going from Oklahoma/Texas to Georgia/Carolinas, after doing some research on it and talking to another person who works in recruiting she told me I'll be going to all 36 states or something of the sort in the east coast. I mean I know the routes won't be the same but now 2 ppl are telling me 2 different things.

No problem man, I'll have to check into Express though because I didn't know they had route deliveries too, and the no benefits thing to me is a turnoff.

I thought you needed some years of exp before you can haul freight for Fedex? I got 8 months at most.

It may vary depending on the area. Where I live when I applied I only had eight months of driving experience (didn't have a cdl at the time) and they were going to take me. I never ended up working for them but I really liked them. But it is a non-cdl job.

Interesting, I gotta do some more research, got at least a week to decide something.

The guy told me it's seasonal but if I put in better performance it could turn into full time, they seem like nice ppl even thought I'm leaning more towards Schneider for that experience just like you said and better pay. As look as they are willing to route me back home like they claim then I am more than happy with that.

I was surprised when the guy told me that FedEx Ground isn't actually employed under them, they are just contractors that work for them hence why they don't have no benefits.

Sorry I didn't realize you already knew that about FedEx. If you were to get on full time it's a great job -- pretty steady work and you get your exercise. But no benefits sucks. Have you looked into FedEx Express? It's more or less the same thing (more residential deliveries rather than businesses) but they don't contract out like Ground does, so you'd get benefits and probably better pay. It's also not a bad plan if you want to get into semi-driving eventually since FedEx does have an apprenticeship program to get your cdl and drive 18 wheelers for them (FedEx Freight).

No problem man, I'll have to check into Express though because I didn't know they had route deliveries too, and the no benefits thing to me is a turnoff.

I thought you needed some years of exp before you can haul freight for Fedex? I got 8 months at most.

Sorry for your loss. And your Dad's situation.

Only YOU can answer the deciding questions. Most important is MUST you be there every day for your Dad? If so, decision is made, right? If not, what's the plan to care for Dad?

Schneider has been good for me, but I'm OTR. $50k is probably more realistic for year two.

Thanks, it's a tough one but like I said I'm leaning towards Schneider because with me being gone for a week isn't bad but the 2-3 weeks of being away really got to me after the recent events that occurred.

Btw, what are some of the places Schneider goes to? My recruiter said I'll be hauling paper goods.

Sry fot the double post.