Schneider Prehire, Cannot Decide Regional Or Dedicated. Nervous

Hi G- Town, I have 3 yrs experience, Schneider has accepted my old experience, and have prehired me for the Dollar Tree account. i was surprised they accepted my old experience, Since both offers i have are Regional or Dedicated Regional. i want to get opinions on what would be best for my set of circumstances. i do not mind hand unloading as i have done full unloading trucks by hand before. just the backing is what i am not confident in. Thanks for your reply :)

If you're worried about being able to do the required backing while out on the job, I don't know about that, but I think you'll do more of it on the dollar tree dedicated because my understanding is that they make a number of stops a day. But I'm sure you'd get good at it quickly. If you're worried about showing up and having them expect you to be an expert at backing, well, I'm in new driver training at Schneider right now and all they expect to qualify (before getting your own truck) is to do a 45 degree back, and they tell you exactly how to do it.

Kris, based on everything you have told us I would definitely not go straight into that Dollar Tree account. We have had several folks who tried to start off on that account in here simply because it was good money, but in the end not one of them was able to hang in there. Each one of them had to quit for some reason or another. It is a very tough account, which is why they were glad to put you on it - they simply cannot keep drivers on that account for more than an average of about five or six months max. The backing can be terribly difficult, and sometimes you will be having to block the cross traffic on the street just to get your truck in position to get in to some of those stores.

My advice for someone like yourself would be to do something regional (not a dedicated account), or to go over the road. Here's the logic behind this thinking. Over the road exposes you to a lot of different things, and gives you a gradual exposure to the many different things that will help build both your confidence and your skills. If you still think you would be interested in the Dollar Tree account after doing that for a year then you could feel free to give it a try, but it will still be tough, very tough. Not only are the backing scenarios difficult, but you have to realize that you will be hand unloading two full truck loads a week (if you plan on making any money at this) and that means handling approximately 80,000 pounds of freight each week. Most of the guys who end up quitting these accounts do it because of a physical injury - that's right, they stack the freight up so high in your truck that you will often have boxes tumbling down upon you while you are trying to extricate a box from the stacked up mess that the loaders left you with.

You mentioned that in the past there were times you called your dispatcher to tell him that you weren't comfortable backing into a certain area. I do not recommend that you do this. I do not expect you to do something that you can't do, but as a professional driver those folks in the office are expecting you to handle yourself out here, and the folks that they end up having to babysit out here are the ones you hear about complaining that they never could get enough miles to make a living. You have got to build some confidence in yourself from your dispatcher, and if you don't have any confidence yourself, they will never be able to have the confidence in you that they need to be able to keep you moving and making money. If you get yourself into a situation that you can't handle ask another driver around to help you or to give you some pointers. Do everything you can to learn by doing difficult maneuvers that stretch your experiences into broader areas. You will discover that the true professionals out here will sometimes find vacant lots that they can practice doing things in so that they learn and develop their skills.

I understand your apprehensions, but you will have to be able to deal with your own shortcomings and turn them into positives for yourself. This industry is not very forgiving, people lose their jobs and their careers everyday for accidents. One of the quickest ways for you to get yourself thrown right back out a job would be to jump right into that Dollar Tree account. Start out with something much more simpler, take some baby steps and get yourself into a position where you can build some confidence in your abilities, and build some trust between yourself and your dispatcher. I want you to succeed, but taking on one of the most difficult accounts out there for a new driver is not a very prudent way to make a good start.

I drive for Schneider OTR. Regional should require fewer docks because much of what Schneider gives company drivers is drop/hook.

However, you will still do some docking. Recently I was loaned out to a dedicated Target account and it was great. All trailers were preloaded and Target stores are usually easier to back to than Dollar General because they are usually in the back of a larger center and Target sets them up for big rig deliveries.

Utilize every resource Schneider offers you. Especially when you get to orientation. I feel it is a great company to work for and they've kept every promise.

Good luck and try to increase your confidence.

Hi G- Town, I have 3 yrs experience, Schneider has accepted my old experience, and have prehired me for the Dollar Tree account. i was surprised they accepted my old experience, Since both offers i have are Regional or Dedicated Regional. i want to get opinions on what would be best for my set of circumstances. i do not mind hand unloading as i have done full unloading trucks by hand before. just the backing is what i am not confident in. Thanks for your reply :)

Thanks Kurt G

Kris, based on everything you have told us I would definitely not go straight into that Dollar Tree account. We have had several folks who tried to start off on that account in here simply because it was good money, but in the end not one of them was able to hang in there. Each one of them had to quit for some reason or another. It is a very tough account, which is why they were glad to put you on it - they simply cannot keep drivers on that account for more than an average of about five or six months max. The backing can be terribly difficult, and sometimes you will be having to block the cross traffic on the street just to get your truck in position to get in to some of those stores.

My advice for someone like yourself would be to do something regional (not a dedicated account), or to go over the road. Here's the logic behind this thinking. Over the road exposes you to a lot of different things, and gives you a gradual exposure to the many different things that will help build both your confidence and your skills. If you still think you would be interested in the Dollar Tree account after doing that for a year then you could feel free to give it a try, but it will still be tough, very tough. Not only are the backing scenarios difficult, but you have to realize that you will be hand unloading two full truck loads a week (if you plan on making any money at this) and that means handling approximately 80,000 pounds of freight each week. Most of the guys who end up quitting these accounts do it because of a physical injury - that's right, they stack the freight up so high in your truck that you will often have boxes tumbling down upon you while you are trying to extricate a box from the stacked up mess that the loaders left you with.

You mentioned that in the past there were times you called your dispatcher to tell him that you weren't comfortable backing into a certain area. I do not recommend that you do this. I do not expect you to do something that you can't do, but as a professional driver those folks in the office are expecting you to handle yourself out here, and the folks that they end up having to babysit out here are the ones you hear about complaining that they never could get enough miles to make a living. You have got to build some confidence in yourself from your dispatcher, and if you don't have any confidence yourself, they will never be able to have the confidence in you that they need to be able to keep you moving and making money. If you get yourself into a situation that you can't handle ask another driver around to help you or to give you some pointers. Do everything you can to learn by doing difficult maneuvers that stretch your experiences into broader areas. You will discover that the true professionals out here will sometimes find vacant lots that they can practice doing things in so that they learn and develop their skills.

I understand your apprehensions, but you will have to be able to deal with your own shortcomings and turn them into positives for yourself. This industry is not very forgiving, people lose their jobs and their careers everyday for accidents. One of the quickest ways for you to get yourself thrown right back out a job would be to jump right into that Dollar Tree account. Start out with something much more simpler, take some baby steps and get yourself into a position where you can build some confidence in your abilities, and build some trust between yourself and your dispatcher. I want you to succeed, but taking on one of the most difficult accounts out there for a new driver is not a very prudent way to make a good start.

Thanks Old School, I appreciate everyones input, I am not going to accept the Dollar Tree account, i will go for the Regional not Dedicated, per your suggestion, and wait until i have more backing experience before i accept a dedicated account :). i was for sure enticed by the potential of more money but saftey is extremely important, and i do not want to risk a backing mishap. Thanks again.

I drive for Schneider OTR. Regional should require fewer docks because much of what Schneider gives company drivers is drop/hook.

However, you will still do some docking. Recently I was loaned out to a dedicated Target account and it was great. All trailers were preloaded and Target stores are usually easier to back to than Dollar General because they are usually in the back of a larger center and Target sets them up for big rig deliveries.

Utilize every resource Schneider offers you. Especially when you get to orientation. I feel it is a great company to work for and they've kept every promise.

Good luck and try to increase your confidence.

Thanks Steve L, with everyones input i have decided on doing the regional instead of Dollar Tree, until i have more tight backing experience, Since you work at Schneider, i am wondering what condition of truck i am likely to get first starting out on a Regional account? Thanks again.