Schneider National New Solo Driver And Overall Experience.

What's going on everybody,

Just finished up with Schneider National oreintaion this past week. And will be hauling Dollar Tree staring tomorrow. I tried to post as many days as I was able to about the orientation but some days were just exhausting. The days were long but there's a lot to do in three weeks. I did my training out of Gary OC and overall a great experience. So far I haven't seen any negatives yet or have had any bad experiences with the company. The support staff and front staff at Gary were great. Lucked out with a almost brand new cascadia. A driver quit and that was all they had available fine with me haha. Although some would take a freightliner century with a million miles before doing the Dollar Tree account so I guess thats the trade off haha. So off I go to Michigan tomorrow. If anybody ever has questions about Schneider National feel free to ask or pm me.

Glad to hear, I was thinking of joining the Big Orange in early 2016.....I was just wondering if Schneider was your only choice? If not what made you choose them over other company's? Did you have to sign a contract with them? And finally what if any recommendations you give to other rookies?

We need a good detailed post of what your day to day store deliveries are like. We get a lot of interest in the Dollar Tree, Dollar General, and Family Dollar accounts.

Hey warrior, So trucking was something that came really unexpectedly for me. My old man worked for Schneider when I was younger and he really enjoyed working for them. So I kept checking out there jobs online and ended up going to a job fair and talked to a great recruiter. I applied for them on a Sunday and by That Tuesday I was hired pending my DOT physical. Now for Schneider you have to get your CDL on your own or you can have them pay for it however you have to work for them for a year. So I ended up contracting with them, I'm a vet but did not want to use by GI bill. As far as what made me choose them it was a combination of a few things. But they really had what I was looking for. They have a terminal 25 minutes from my house and the dollar tree warehouse where I am based out of is 30 minutes from my house. These were the reasons why I went with them that and how quickly and smooth the whole process went. As far as any recommendations if you were to go to Schneider that are self insured so they are able to work with new drivers more than other companies might. And for just being a rookie advice would be just learn all you can when you can and bust your ass doing it.

Got it anchorman I can give one later today on how the week went when I was out with my training engineer a few weeks ago. And I will try and update at least once a week.

Thank you Brian for the response and for service GOD bless and be safe.

Appreciate it hope my post helped. Let me know if you need any more info or help. I saw that you said early 2016 for Schneider I do they plan on being fully automatic by the end of 2016. And let me say they are nice.

I actually have a prehire from them as I have been trying to get into there regional intermodal. Unfortunately i make 1000 dollars more than is allotted for mi works grants so time to start saving for school.

Hey Shaun yea either that or contrat with them if you see yourself working for them for a year. One thing I can say by I intermodal is they have their work cut out for them. One driver I talked to said bow this is in the Chicagoland area but they are busting at the seams. Turnover is also a lot higher than other divisions due to the atmosphere of the rail yards and the city driving.

I have been with SNI for almost 6 months on the dollar tree dedicated account. It is a brutal job. Basic week consist of picking up loaded trailer out of Joliet dc half the time with no load bar and freight sent all over from the spotters moving it. Drive to store (best part) sleeping there and waiting till they are ready to take you. Usually at least half hour later than your appointment. They have to take out the trash and get back room ready. Average load is 3 stops with 2-3 per week. Pay is 95 for first stop 30 for every other. Plus miles. The stores are understaffed. Most are extremely slow because of that reason. Some are great though. However, I have not had one load that has gone smooth in the 6 months I've been there. The appointment times are horrible if you are fast and want to keep moving. So you have to play dispatcher and call the stores and hope that they can take you early. Most will but when one can't or won't it screws you're day and any hopes of driving back part way. Half the time freight is stacked floor to ceiling to the doors preventing you from safely getting in there to unload. Heavy items on top of light ones above your head. Broken chemicals and other goods that get all over you and your clothes. Hot trailers (have only done this during summer months). If you don't stay at the stores you will waste a lot of your hours. So no access to a bathroom. Did I mention slow unloading. Difficult backing situations. Luckily I had experience backing trailers. But for a newbie like guys I went through training with brutal. I don't have much good to say about the account. However, schneider is a great company to start with. I went through the program in Green Bay. Excellent. But on dollar tree go with us express. They get a trailer pay of 225-250 from talking to different guys. I have to do 6 stops to make that. Plus if you end up doing a local run they give you a min miles guarantee. If you want to switch you better not hope it's during their busy season(now). They tell me it's not going to happen. I have been waiting 6 months for it to get better. It hasn't. It is better than the family dollar account. Bigger stuff. Stuff that won't roll down rollers. Totes!! Broken down boxes that you have to take back to dc. If you get a back haul you have to move that stuff from your trailer to another without pay (Unless you demand it) usually packed full with more totes and trash. Barely wrapped pallets. Even worse packed trailers. Poorly maintained trailers. Avoid at all cost family dollar. But dollar tree is just a step up that's it. If you want to do it go with us express. They are the main carrier of the account. SNI pushed out swift. Do that 2-3 times per week and maybe bring home 750 per week as a newbie. Is more like 550 per week after insurance. I don't recommend the account but I do recommend schneider for a newbie. They taught me a lot. And the proof is in the truck. The USX trucks on the yard are destroyed. Something is always missing except the experienced guys. Hope this helps if you need more info let me know. I have gotten a lot of good info from this site and finally decided to give the best up to date info for the account on here cause if it was earlier I would never had done this account.