Schneider Phone Policy

I wish I could say I get to have intelligent conversations with others driving down the road.

Oh every once in a while you'd stumble across someone and talk day and night with em. Especially at night. You'd head out on a long night's run and hook up with one or two other drivers and have some amazing conversations. At the beginning you'd think, "Man, this is gonna be a long night!" and it seems like in the blink of an eye the sun is coming up and you can barely imagine where the time went.

People also get too put off by the idiots out there or get the impression this is something new. The CB hasn't changed. There has always been CB Rambos screaming stupid stuff trying to get attention or aggravate people. It's always a zoo around the bigger truck stops. So you turn it down a bit and ignore em. No biggie.

I always felt like I wasn't connected to what was going on out there if I didn't have the CB on. And I've been saved from enough traffic backups, DOT checks, icy roadways, and big wrecks to know there are times it's critical to have that thing on. Take ten seconds to surf YouTube and watch all of the huge pileups that happen where one truck after another after another comes barrelling into a wreck in heavy snow or fog. Obviously that wouldn't be happening if they had their CB on.

It's just one of the cool parts of being a trucker. You have to listen to a little Red Sovine once in a while or some Bob Seger and talk on the CB and enjoy the lifestyle a little bit too. I still think that driving a big ol' American big rig is one of the coolest things you could ever do.

I've got to say this takes Schneider off my list of prospective employers. Recruiter is coming in next week too, I think.

Channel 19 Citizen Band is much like channel 16 on VHF marine band better known as the hailing channel. Its primary purpose is to relay important information to other captains (drivers) and to make contact with them. Fortunately the coast guard monitors channel 16 and doesn't put up with the nonsense that goes on with CB better known as Chicken Band. If a vessel is sinking or someone goes over board ( a wreck or traffic jam ) vessels ( cars trucks etc ) know immediately whats going on. Qualcomm goggle traffic etc is not exactly real time. I'm talking seconds or minutes here. Say If I'm a boater in the immediate area ( or driver on land) I may actually be able to be of some assistance before the authorities arrive and make a difference in someones life. Hey good buddy your load is falling off the back of your trailer pull over versus goggle traffic has determined a traffic jam authorities say it was caused by a truck that dropped its load and caused a fatal crash.

Don't discount the value of CB radio communication just because its not the latest technological marvel. It's still a very effective means of communicating. It's also a great may to meet new friends and have an actual conversation with someone which is a dying art. Why don't we want to actually talk to each other anymore in this age. I don't get it.

CB Radio and trucking is hallowed ground not to be tread on. The 2 can't be separated without committing an act of treason. CW McCall would be mortified to be reading this thread. What's a jeep anyway without a 102 inch CB whip mounted to its side going down Black Bear Road, Nothing!

Just my 2 cents!

:-)

I would love to know where everyone hears all the trash talk lol. I run my cb all the time and the only time I hear junk is around major cities ie Chicago nashville Atlanta. Most of the time it's silent and other times there's people just talking like normal. It's invaluable come wintertime to find out what the weather is like down the road.

I would love to know where everyone hears all the trash talk lol. I run my cb all the time and the only time I hear junk is around major cities ie Chicago nashville Atlanta. Most of the time it's silent and other times there's people just talking like normal. It's invaluable come wintertime to find out what the weather is like down the road.

I know right? I've begun to think mine is broken. I have about 1.4 swf, plenty of xmit power, I run my squelch at about 25% and my rf gain about 60% don't know if those settings are wrong, but I rarely hear anything. I'm all the time saying hello to people, and even other knight drivers that come by, but nothing. So, either it's broke, or people are just not listening.

I would love to know where everyone hears all the trash talk lol. I run my cb all the time and the only time I hear junk is around major cities ie Chicago nashville Atlanta. Most of the time it's silent and other times there's people just talking like normal. It's invaluable come wintertime to find out what the weather is like down the road.

I know right? I've begun to think mine is broken. I have about 1.4 swf, plenty of xmit power, I run my squelch at about 25% and my rf gain about 60% don't know if those settings are wrong, but I rarely hear anything. I'm all the time saying hello to people, and even other knight drivers that come by, but nothing. So, either it's broke, or people are just not listening.

Go into a major city and just say Obama lmao you'll find out real quick if it's broke.

I've got to say this takes Schneider off my list of prospective employers.

Bill, don't let little things like this have such an impact on your decisions. I don't care where you go in this industry there are going to be little details that annoy you. I can assure you that there are plenty of Schneider drivers talking on their phones - I've even seen some of them, unless they were talking to themselves when I passed them by. Schneider is a great outfit to work for - what you are doing is akin to "throwing the baby out with the bath water."

Let me tell you a dirty little secret about this industry, Once you've established yourself as a solid dependable driver you will get away with things that the wannabes can never do. I'm not excusing bad behaviors, or blatant disregard for rules, but if you need to make a phone call or receive a phone call occasionally, Schneider is not going to can you if you are one of their go to drivers. Just don't do it excessively. Besides, a phone call can be a really big distraction, even if you think you are a great multi-tasker. There is always time during your ten hour break to make some calls. Here's something interesting for you: I seldom make phone calls while driving, and even though it is not a company policy where I work, my wife refuses to call me if I am driving and she will not take a call from me if I am driving.

You always want to be a top performer in this business, those are the folks who get extra special treatment, and often times a blind eye is turned by their dispatchers if they need some special consideration. I just got back on the road on Tuesday of this week, after taking ten days off - that was not vacation time - I told my dispatcher that I needed to be home for ten consecutive days. Here's what he said: "Dale you know that is against company policy, but we are going to do what ever it takes to keep you on board. Drop your trailer in the yard and bob-tail home. Call me when you are ready to get back on the road." If you are a valuable asset to your trucking employer they will allow you some wiggle room when it comes to the details of policy. Just don't try to take advantage of your position. Prove yourself and enjoy the perks that come with the territory you've established.

I apologize for kind of sidetracking this thread with the CB conversation, but some of you naysayers might enjoy reading this thread from almost a year and a half ago when I had an interesting conversation on the radio with Professor X.

Thanks for the SOLID advice once again O S. I refrain from talking on my phone when driving period. Personal vehicle or Company Truck. I'm not a multi tasker. I have a BT headset if I absolutely need to make a call. Personal calls wait until I'm shut down. I learned many years ago that talking on my cell phone and driving is a huge distraction for me. I hung up the phone and could not recall a damn thing about where I had driven for several miles. I just don't do it.

I've got to say this takes Schneider off my list of prospective employers.

Bill, don't let little things like this have such an impact on your decisions. I don't care where you go in this industry there are going to be little details that annoy you. I can assure you that there are plenty of Schneider drivers talking on their phones - I've even seen some of them, unless they were talking to themselves when I passed them by. Schneider is a great outfit to work for - what you are doing is akin to "throwing the baby out with the bath water."

Let me tell you a dirty little secret about this industry, Once you've established yourself as a solid dependable driver you will get away with things that the wannabes can never do. I'm not excusing bad behaviors, or blatant disregard for rules, but if you need to make a phone call or receive a phone call occasionally, Schneider is not going to can you if you are one of their go to drivers. Just don't do it excessively. Besides, a phone call can be a really big distraction, even if you think you are a great multi-tasker. There is always time during your ten hour break to make some calls. Here's something interesting for you: I seldom make phone calls while driving, and even though it is not a company policy where I work, my wife refuses to call me if I am driving and she will not take a call from me if I am driving.

You always want to be a top performer in this business, those are the folks who get extra special treatment, and often times a blind eye is turned by their dispatchers if they need some special consideration. I just got back on the road on Tuesday of this week, after taking ten days off - that was not vacation time - I told my dispatcher that I needed to be home for ten consecutive days. Here's what he said: "Dale you know that is against company policy, but we are going to do what ever it takes to keep you on board. Drop your trailer in the yard and bob-tail home. Call me when you are ready to get back on the road." If you are a valuable asset to your trucking employer they will allow you some wiggle room when it comes to the details of policy. Just don't try to take advantage of your position. Prove yourself and enjoy the perks that come with the territory you've established.

Thanks for the reply OS. I am not what one could consider an "on the phone guy", if I use an hour of cell minutes a month I would be surprised. However, that level of use is with a wife and extended family I see every evening. I am reconciled to the fact that I will be away quite a while and am assuming our level of phone use will increase. I cannot see myself violating a company policy that may get me canned. In this era of monitor everything, I will not take that chance. A deer commits suicide while I am talking, so I get fired and a bad record follows me. Again, I will not take that chance. I don't consider my private calls a little thing. Traffic permitting, I will want to talk at my discretion and convenience. I am mature enough to decide for myself what is safe or unsafe. I understand that at my level of experience (0) safe/unsafe is relative. But with today's technology phone use can be a completely hands free experience. There are too many other companies out there without this issue. Schneider is off my list.