Anyone With Current Knowledge Of Schneider?

Hello:

I am currently investigating companies with the information here on TT. I have a couple of questions on Schneider's policies that aren't covered here or at their website.

#1. What exactly is the pet policy? If I can't have a little dog it is going to be a deal breaker for me. I've read Bret's book and I am convinced I can deal with the OTR lifestyle at least for the year it would take to earn my tuition reimbursement as long as I can have a Chihuahua pal.

#2. I had almost settled on Prime since they gave free upfront training and they paid so well during training and I am flat broke (no, I mean it I have $25 dollars in a cookie jar and that's it), but I quickly found out unless you have an exceptional trainer their training program leaves a lot to be desired. I talked to several current and former drivers who said during the TNT phase they never backed up to a single dock. Schneider works with a private school in my area where the training exceeds the state's standards for CDL class A training and if I get an agreement to pre-hire the school will give me financing. They train for a lot of different companies and offer lifetime job placement, so I really like the idea of the independent school rout. My question is what company training does Schneider do, how long does it last, and do they pay anything for it?

#3 On Schneider's website on the OTR job listings it says, "Set your own hours," for home time. Does this mean you're not forced dispatched, or what?

#4. Lastly, and very importantly, 5% of Schneider's freight has to be loaded/unloaded from what I am extrapolating from the numbers. Does this simply mean using a pallet jack or are you lifting heavy pieces and carrying them from the truck to the dock? I am not sure I could physically handle that (bad back).

I am sort of hoping Schneider would be a good fit for me. There are terminals all over this area and they seem to have a very good reputation. I would be interested in hauling dry van and possibly reefer only even though Schneider is advertising tankers with no experience too from my area.

Schneider's training is brief. It is good training, but they kinda have the mentality of either you get it or don't. I would liken Schneider's training to military training. Brief, in depth, overwhelming. Then again the company was founded by a group of national guard buddies. I was looking seriously at Schneider, but ended up going with a different company.

I know there are a few drivers on this forum that work for Schneider. Hopefully they will come along and be able to answer your questions more in depth.

Drive Safe and God Speed

They don't allow pets, sorry.

Training is 3 weeks, you spend the second week out with a trainer. I know a lot of people think that 7 days training on the road is way too short, but that was actually one of the selling points for me, and I've done OK. They pay $80 per day for training, from the second day of orientation until the last day when you test out. It turns out to be more like 2 weeks and 4 days. On the plus side, immediately after that you get in your truck and start getting paid for loads.

I don't know the answer to the other questions. I've never had to handle any freight, and I'm in a 'home every week' position. I guess it is 'forced dispatch' since I pretty much have to do the assignments I get. There is no way to accept or reject. But I've found they are reasonable, if you really have some problem you can call in and talk to them about it. But it isn't like you can select your loads.

I Bill,...although this isn't your first post, not sure if anyone linked you to the TT starter kit. Rather self explanatory, it's designed to provide a good base of knowledge and get you started on learning what is required to pass the CDL learners permit.

• Truck Driver's Career Guide
• Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
• High Road Training Program

Schneider is a great choice,...but I suggest looking through this link:

Paid CDL Training Programs

I read all your posts and considering your financial status, company sponsored would seem to be the best choice. Also, be careful what you hear or read on the Internet. Prime has some of the best training in the industry. There are good and bad trainers with any company, including Schneider.

If your heart is set on Schneider place a call to one of their recruiters, discuss you options and determine what they want to see for your job history and their reimbursement arrangements for approved schools.

Good luck.

Bill, I don't have direct knowledge of Prime or Schneider. But this is a general rule for training: to a student, all driver training seems too short and inadequate.

The driver school part gets you barely up to speed to pass the CDL skills test, that's all. I felt this way after Swift's schooling. Once you get hired, the on-road training finally gets you polished up enough so the company can trust you to be on your own.

The main difference between a private school and a company one is that a private school will train anyone who can cover the tuition. Some people have hireability problems (arrest history, for example) the school glosses over but will cause problems with your chosen company. The trucking industry is such that the "lifetime job placement" is like getting "free water" in a hotel room - trucking jobs are always available.

If you opt for the company sponsored school, you are all but hired by a company before you even get your bus ticket to go to the school. In either way, you are still on the hook for your tuition, but a company school arrangement is probably an easier commitment.

It you're in the flat broke category, take a look a Roehl. I've read here (TT) you start getting a paycheck when you start school.

As a Primate I can say that if you have trainer issues, prime will place you with another trainer. I was one of those trainees who didn't feel.comfortable with backing. They gave me two different instructors over two days who worked with me before I went solo. I also told my FM this before he sent me out. He gave me lots of Walmart runs until i felt comfortable. Many drivers dislike WM DC because they take longer to unload you, but they have a ton of room to maneuver so you are less likely to hit something. Plus I get detention pay. It worked out good for me.

Like Errol said, it still won't feel like enough. Most people are not comfortable with backing for six months...training lasts three or so.

Keep in mind the student is just as responsible for his training as the trainer. There are so many variables in this job that a trainer cannot prepare you for everything. Be proactive and ask questions. Watch YouTube videos take notes while OTR.

Most of the people I have seen quit were not independent enough, could not make good decisions, or did no research on the lifestyle and had unrealistic expectations.

As for Schneider, my friend works for them and gets home weekends. She is quite happy there however they want them to run days...which is something I would hate. I want to run when my body feels like it. So if I have hours at midnight and I'm rested...I'm gone lol

Good luck. Remember prime has a $1000 pet fee they take $300 the first check the pet is on board then $50 per week til paid.

Schneider Company Drivers; no Pets, no exceptions.

In two years with Schneider I never loaded/unloaded. However, there were a few times where I inventoried as loading or unloading took place. Although you take the assigned loads, I told them when I wanted to get home and they did it. If there was a reason I couldn't take a load I told them and they worked with me. E.g. It was Saturday in Scranton, PA and I was due to be home the following Thursday afternoon and had 30hrs on my 70 clock. Home is Pensacola, FL. They assigned me a load to Massachusetts. No go. Then tried to give me a load to Maine. Again, no go. They ended up getting me a load to Ohio and worked me south and got me home on time.

As for training, I came through Schneider's Orientation already having my CDL. The orientation was adequate for me, but it wasn't CDL school.

If Schneider has what you're looking for, I can't speak highly enough of them and everything the recruiter promised of the position I applied for was true.

Wherever you go, good luck and I hope this helps.

OK, thanks everyone.

G-Town: I read Brett's book the first time I "came through the door" here in one setting. Really eye opening. I have been making my way through the career guide as time permits, and I will start the permit training when I get some time. It's really good to hear that Prime has some of the best training in the industry. Yeah, I really believe the couple of people I talked to that they had lazy trainers who didn't want to teach backing skills. In one case the guy called the office and they literally arranged to pick him up and he got a new, great trainer but they had to extend his training time as he had been out for ten days already and had missed out on a bunch of drops. I guess the moral is that you need to speak up right away if something is wrong. Prime then is back in the consideration.

Kurt-G: Oh so sorry to hear they don't allow pets. I've never been completely alone in my life and I am 41. My suspicion is I might go crazy if I had absolutely no companion.

Errol: Thanks for the advice and tip on Roehl. I can't say as I have heard of them, so maybe they don't bring a lot of freight to my area.

Patrick: Thanks for the info on Schneider's training.

Rainy D: You know I didn't realize you were with Prime. I've read a lot of your posts and can tell you know your stuff. Sort of makes me feel better about a Possible career with Prime. Thanks for warning me about the ding to my first check with a pet on board. It will be a few weeks out of training before I get my dog, so I will save for when I get her.

Steve: Thanks for the testimony in favor for Schneider.

Love my job. ;). Love helping others too.

My own experience tells me prime will rectify any issues if you speak up. They can't know what is going on if you don't tell them. However, from reading everyone else's posts..its clear the major carriers all follow the same guidelines. They want to keep safe reliable drivers. Period. They won't do that by treating you like crap. So going with the big names won't be a wrong decision.

Keep in mind...having a pet on board is a huge responsibility that needs adjustment to OTR life. Cats are.much easier and mine loves HIS truck. You'll need to plan ahead for potty breaks.... Some customers won't allow pets to be walked on the property and you could literally get stuck at a customer for 24hrs...not usual but it happens. Yes you get detention but that doesn't help with a dog who needs to go. Lol

If I had a dog that tiny, I'd train it to go in a litter box like a cat lol or in a crate with puppy pads. Also consider you wouldn't want the lightweight truck cause you would need room for pet supplies. These are some things people don't think of before hand.

Rainy:

I had already came to the same conclusion that if I went with Prime I wouldn't want a light weight truck. Great minds think alike I guess LOL. I wouldn't rule out a cat entirely either, as I have had far more cats in my life than dogs. My concern with the cat would be, and I'll try to be as non-graphic as possible here, is the solid waste stench. Every cat I ever had when its bowls moved it would about knock you down and that was in a pan in a pretty big bathroom. I couldn't imagine how bad that would be in a tractor where your stuck in an area about the size of a walk in closet.