Profile For Pete B.

P O, I’m aware of only two carriers who offer tanker training to new drivers, Schneider and Prime. As previously stated, Schneider hauls liquid chemicals to include hazmat, while Prime hauls food-grade liquids. However, if you are a new driver, I do not recommend you begin your career pulling tankers. Driving a big truck is a challenge all on its own; pulling tankers increases the challenges of driving a big truck tenfold. I implore you to pull dry vans, reefers, or flatbeds for a year before considering tankers.

I’ll add that if you’re in Schneider’s tanker division, you’ll get paid the same whether you’re hauling Elmer’s School Glue or some really fun acid. Please, first learn the nuances of driving a big truck before considering tankers. Schneider has a wonderful dry van division with excellent training, and would make the transition from dry vans to tankers very easy for you.

Schneider does have a tank division however their history has kinda been up and down.

PJ, I’m curious... please elaborate.

I can see where that would be a problem in that sea of space.

Seriously, I mean,

Clare, after I’d made the decision to become a truck driver, I had to wait about three months before I could start CDL school and begin this journey. I spent those three months prepping for my CDL permit (thanks High Road Training Program and CDL Practice Tests) and listening to nearly every ‘friend’ of mine advise me that what I was planning was a terrible idea. These were all people 15+ years my senior, retirees, and experts on relationships and marriage.

Granted, my situation is a little extreme: I had moved to Cuenca, Ecuador, with my wife and step-daughter four years earlier. The plan was for me to drive a truck, live out of the truck, save everything I made for investments that would provide for a comfortable life post-driving, returning home for good in 5-7 years. I’m right on schedule, having made two of the three planned investments. My marriage, even though I only see my wife about two weeks/year now, is as solid as it has ever been. This time apart seems to have strengthened our marriage. I’m not going to seek out all those people who very strongly advised me to find another way, but I know that when I return home to Cuenca for good, plenty of eyebrows will be raised.

My family here were supportive from the beginning, but I attribute that mostly to their being happy I was returning to the U.S. I think I have surprised them a bit with my resolve and success. It’s not that they didn’t believe in me, but I don’t think they thought I could have pulled off this plan by being a truck driver.

If you want this, do it. Make sure you understand this lifestyle, and your reasons for getting into it are sound. If you can check those boxes, everything you’re hearing about your decision is just noise. And that can be tuned out. Stay strong; if you need help you have a HUGE family here on Trucking Truth more than happy to lend their support.

This frame of mind will get you nowhere fast in this lifestyle and most others. I just heard someone complaining on the CB about another driver’s parking, where the offending driver was taking up two spots.

C’mon man!

Long time since I’ve seen one of these; in Wells, NV. Alas, it does not work.

Congratulations, well deserved, my friend.

Before you leave the vicinity of the Phoenix O.C., make sure you get over to Kay’s for breakfast; it’s a short walk (less than a mile from the o.c.) and well worth it! Best of luck with the training, and yes, you should have time to practice your jujitsu at night.

OS I’m sorry, it’s not going to work out for me to stop after all. I had hoped to park at that TA tonight, and would have had half the day tomorrow to meet you, but I’ve been stuck on I-40W approaching Little Rock for over four hours. Numerous, massive big truck wrecks on both sides of Little Rock, apparently. When I do start my day tomorrow I’m going to have to beat feet just to make my 6pm appointment in Houston. Next time!

o/s I’m out this way quite a bit would love to buy you lunch some day!!!

If you are ever running 59, there's a T/A on the loop in Nacogdoches. Post on here what time you'll be stopping there and your truck number. I'll meet you and we can do that. I'd be proud to meet ya!

Hey OS, is that offer Jammer-specific or is it open to others as well? I may be driving through there tomorrow (Thursday) depending on the road conditions.

Schneider: Since can’t have nuts eat instead Doritos every ride

I don’t see any predicament there, I see a wide-open lane right down the middle!

Glad you escaped without incident, Rob. This is the stuff that occupies a small part of my brain and scares the crap out of me.

Congratulations! Glad to see your hard work getting noticed!

I’m sorry for your losses, Dave. That’s a ton to process, under any circumstances, much less trucking. Without those tragedies distracting you, you probably would have taken time to properly address that load, and the accident would never have happened. After you’ve dealt with your loss of family, I encourage you to return to trucking. I know that’s not how you want to go out. You’ll find a company willing to take a chance on you; it won’t be anything like you getting to choose your own loads as an IC w/SNI, but you’ll be back in the seat again. Again I’m sorry for your loss, and good luck moving forward.

I began driving for Schneider fresh out of CDL school. I received a $7500 sign-on bonus, paid out in installments throughout the year, the largest payout coming at the end of that first year. Yes, it was very real. However, I will add that I figured I could have made as much money that first year pulling dry vans, reefers, or flatbeds with anyone else, without the sign-on bonus, as the miles were less than hoped for.

In case you’re not reading between the lines, ima gonna spell it out: companies that keep their drivers happy, satisfied, and retained, usually do so by keeping their wheels turning as well as offering merit-based bonuses. Consistent, satisfying paychecks are thus the reward, not exorbitant sign-on bonuses.

I began driving for Schneider fresh out of CDL school. I received a $7500 sign-on bonus, paid out in installments throughout the year, the largest payout coming at the end of that first year. Yes, it was very real. However, I will add that I figured I could have made as much money that first year pulling dry vans, reefers, or flatbeds with anyone else, without the sign-on bonus, as the miles were less than hoped for.

“Vegas“ for the win.

Need a ‘mic drop’ emoji for that one! Second comment in, winner winner chicken dinner. That’s like a field participant tossing a world record on the first attempt!

Rob, the guy took the time to get off his bike and give you the ‘suck it’ crotch chop a lá Degeneration X? I’m sorry, I know you’re upset, but DANG that’s funny!

Re: your question, I’ve been using the Rexing V1 dashcam for almost four years w/no problems. I have the wide-angle version that also works well at night. The only issue would be I don’t know about putting it up and removing it for each shift. It mounts to the windshield w/double-sided tape. That might be an issue with any dashcam.

I can’t speak to the miles you’ll run as a Schneider dry van driver, but I can say that Schneider’s a great company to start and/or finish with. The drivers are treated very well; there’s an abundance of o.c.’s all over the country, so there’s frequent access to free laundry, parking, and showers. The equipment is well-maintained; training is thorough and there’s no shortage of people willing to help when needed. Re: home time, you can stay out as long as you’d like. When I started out, I drove for seven months before asking for three days off. Tuition reimbursement is available; drive for at least a year, and you will be reimbursed for your CDL school tuition. Of course, I believe the things I’m writing are also true of other large carriers such as Prime, CFI, Swift, etc. We are large companies with massive amounts of resources. You won’t be able to have a pet with Schneider, however. Best of luck with your next step forward.