The Hell With Schneider National Family Dollar Account!

Ok. So, I went to my dollar stores. Looks like you just pull up along side the store and unload. I'm sure it can be harder in most cases.

My question is, it sounds like Schneider gave you extra training for that account. I know they want you to succeed. Was it not enough training?

Sgtwilldog, it's less about training and much more about experience. I am not making up stories or even exaggerating the difficulty accessing many of the stores. If you have your heart set on Dollar why not get 6 months of experience before requesting an assignment like that. It's your decision but trust me you will have plenty of challenges during the first year without compounding the difficulty by delivering to a Dollar account.

Good luck.

I am leaning towards some otr first, it makes sense obviously. but I just can't imagine that they throw you to the wolves without making sure you are ready first. Dollar is quickest way to the $$. So I'm looking hard at it. Isn't the $$ why anyone is doing any of this?

Ok. So, I went to my dollar stores. Looks like you just pull up along side the store and unload. I'm sure it can be harder in most cases.

My question is, it sounds like Schneider gave you extra training for that account. I know they want you to succeed. Was it not enough training?

Some stores will be easier than others to back up to. Most awkward backing job I ever had was a FD store down in Laredo Tx. I had to back the truck up on a slope so high and crooked that not only did it require the tandems to be slid all the way back to keep from scraping the ground with the bumper, but ended up with the forward set of trailer tires completely off the ground.

Just imagine what it was like unloading after that.

I even got a compliment from this scary tough sixty year old mexican looking super trucker guy on my backing job at another particularly frightening looking FD store. That is how intense it will be each day. There have been a few stores that I know I would never have been able to figure out back when I first started.

Yes, many people get into it for the money, but I'm going to drop 2 pieces of wisdom on you that I sincerely hope you will take to heart:

1. You simply cannot expect to be making the big bucks from day 1, in any career. You have to work your way up to it gradually, and put in your time at the bottom of the ladder. That's just the way it works.

2. If you get in over your head at the beginning because you got greedy and ignored the risks, that's the quickest and surest way to end your trucking career.

I am leaning towards some otr first, it makes sense obviously. but I just can't imagine that they throw you to the wolves without making sure you are ready first. Dollar is quickest way to the $$. So I'm looking hard at it. Isn't the $$ why anyone is doing any of this?

I was running out of Windsor,ct. The trailer is literally packed front to back, bottom to top. The unloading I liked, got a good workout. However most the stores are in shopping centers and just not designed for a semi to get in and out easily. I definitely wouldn't do it without some prior experience. They can train you but in the real situations your dealing with alot of obstacles you can't really simulate. They sent me with a pup trailer into Brooklyn, I wanted to cry literally. People do it everyday, just wasn't for me lol

I was on a dollar tree account for a little while and it definitely isn't easy money. Sucks you had a tough time training but good job on sticking it out. I didn't mind the unloading so much as the tight setup most stores have.

how was your experience?

Sgtwilldog you have received the advice and wisdom (PC) from several experienced and seasoned drivers. The OP gave several examples of the difficulty in running on a Dollar account as a rookie driver. We want you to succeed...

I had a dollar load once I had to finish for a driver that could not make the delivery, I had to blind side into an ally that was about 2 feet wider then my trailer, across 3 lanes of traffic in LA, at 0800. I had to do several pull ups and get out ands looks i had at one point 6 lanes blocked in rush hour traffic. I don't care how good you are or how experienced you are, It's hard. They don't pay enough for me the risk my job over doing that kind of ****. My thought on that account are don't ****ing bother.

And the CONSENSUS is..........drum roll please.............. don't walk away from this opportunity..........RUN FOR YOU LIFE!!!

I don't know why any sane individual would sign up for this account

I don't know why any sane individual would sign up for this account

Agreed. The Dollar in my home town is nuts. I for the life of me can't figure out how the heck this guy gets in and out of there. Narrow alley off a narrow street with a building 15 feet away when you are done. It makes my brain hurt just looking at it. I would never even consider doing this kind of stuff without AT LEAST a year of experience. Probably never....