Schneider Recruiter Pays Us A Visit, What He Didn't Say.

OK--so there we are--eleven of us in a $5000.00 driving school in our first week. The Schneider recruiter shows up with free pizza....and pitches us on why Schneider is the best. Now, if you haven't figured it out yet, these guys are salesmen pitching the advantages of working for X or Y or Z company. Think of that guy as a car salesman.

He passed out a slip of paper that was called a profile. Short and sweet--name, phone number, school name.....not a lot.

A few days later I got a call from the inhouse recruiter at Schneider. After a bit of phone tag we actually got to talk. I asked him to give me the entire deal. Five minutes into the phone call he mentions $3500.00. Ummm.......what? I just paid for my driving school and now Schneider wants me to pay another $3500.00? Seems they have something called an "apprentice" program that they attach a value of $3500.00 to--but wait--there's more. If you go to work for these guys they make you sign a contract agreeing to work for them for a year to pay back the value of the program. The recruiter said, "oh no--you don't pay for it as long as you work out your contract."

The question of what happens if you don't finish the contract never got asked because I stopped him and told him that I was not going to sign a contract like that having already paid $5000.00 in tuition at a private school and was about to obtain my CDL. I could have signed up for a company sponsored school and signed a similar contract without having to front the $5K. I specifically did not want to be obligated to any company in return for them paying my freight. That ended the call and my interest in Schneider as an employer.

You don't know what you don't know......as in exactly what to ask the recruiter who shows up with pizza. If he had told us about the $3500.00 between bites of pizza I doubt there would have been one single "profile" slip filled out.

You know I never thought about that, I should ask the company I wish to work for when I get going about that. thanks a ton bud.

Gentlemen...

Your $5000 school teaches you just enough to pass your CDL test...nothing more. Regardless of what they may claim or advertise, they are not and can not teach you how to be a "truck driver". There is a ginormous difference between holding a freshly minted CDL and solo operation. Miles apart. If you have any questions about that, please "fire away" because it's a fundamental misconception held by many people entering this business.

In this case, Schneider is providing you with finishing school (aka road-training or mentoring depending on the company). This is when the true "grass-roots" learning begins. You will be paid during this period of time, paid to learn on Schneider's dime. They are taking a huge risk; investing resources, time, and equipment to prepare a novice driver for operating safely, efficiently, and teaching you "how-to be a truck driver". Of course they are not going to just hand you this valuable and essential training without you, the student driver putting some skin in the game. Can you walk into a big-box store and eave with a flat screen TV without paying for it? No different here.

We highly recommend for a myriad of reasons to commit to your first company for at least one year. The learning curve in this business is steep and challenging...it may take a full year to absorb most of it. Over half of this curve has nothing to do with the physical act of driving. I have been with Swift for almost 5 years,...they trained me, I know their systems, process and have great relationships with my direct management; freight planners, DMs, safety and the terminal manager. It takes a year or more to build these relationships and establish a consistently productive track record. I am a top performer for Swift,...averaging an income over $1400.00 per week. How bad is that for a one year commitment?

C'mon back...

So it's just the price of the contract then G-town? I'm just trying to understand, I don't want you to think that I'm going to fall into the "Terminal rat" crowd, because frankly I just want to drive, I don't want to be one of them, But is that what that basically is? like them taking you fresh out of school and training you there way and they want you to sign on for a year? and once the year is done that payment thing is gone?

I see both sides of the coin on this one. CDL School is just that, a school that gives you enough skill to get our CDL, nothing more, nothing less. To me there are 2 elements to training, the 1st being able to pass and get your CDL, then a second phase where you learn how to drive and deliver. There should be a discount if you bring your own CDL as there is a cost to it, but in this case the cost is not to the company, it is to the student, and in some cases the taxpayer. Why pay for it twice? There is however a cost to the training needed after you have a CDL. I would expect any company would want to make sure they get a return on their investment, but it should not be the same amount as someone who does not have a CDL. I equate it to paying full price for a new car when you are buying a used one, while both cars may look the same, one is new and needs to be broken in from scratch, and the other is used and no breakin needed.

Yes, I understand exactly what you are saying. However, you may not have understood me completely.

If anyone wants to pay $5000.00 to a private school to learn enough to get a CDL and then the basics of how to drive a truck that's their option. If someone wants to utilize a "free" company training option--that's fine too. However--if one chooses the latter option one understands that there is an obligation to reimburse the "free" training to the company in either time or money or both.

In Schneider's case the company furnishes pretty much what other companies do--that is to train you on the road with a seasoned trainer for a number of weeks or months......but....you assume a $3500.00 liability for that. There are several companies (like Covenant) who don't do any of that. They accept your credentials from your school and assign a trainer to you for a period of time......and no $3500.00.

Risk? OK--since you brought it up--let's look at that. Sure--a company assumes a risk when they enter the marketplace. They risk their capital, they risk liability for tort and other legalities. They do that hoping to make money. Now let's talk about my risk--and yours. I am risking my future, my familiy's future and literally my life driving a truck on today's highways perhaps carrying a deadly cargo. So--the risk is a two way street. In order to make an informed decision on how much risk either the company or I am willing to take we both need information. When you apply to a company they want your entire life's history including drug tests, physical exams and practically everywhere you lived or worked in your life. That's how they mitigate their risk with you. BUT--a new driver doesn't have the right to ask the same questions of a potential employer UNLESS he knows what to ask.

My over riding point was that when the recruiter was handing out Dominos Pizza he wasn't telling us the straight story. He didn't outright lie--but he didn't tell the whole truth either. If anyone thinks it's a good deal to assume a $3500 liability on day one after having spent $5000.00 to even get in the door then go for it. I don't---and I won't.

Gentlemen...

Your $5000 school teaches you just enough to pass your CDL test...nothing more. Regardless of what they may claim or advertise, they are not and can not teach you how to be a "truck driver". There is a ginormous difference between holding a freshly minted CDL and solo operation. Miles apart. If you have any questions about that, please "fire away" because it's a fundamental misconception held by many people entering this business.

In this case, Schneider is providing you with finishing school (aka road-training or mentoring depending on the company). This is when the true "grass-roots" learning begins. You will be paid during this period of time, paid to learn on Schneider's dime. They are taking a huge risk; investing resources, time, and equipment to prepare a novice driver for operating safely, efficiently, and teaching you "how-to be a truck driver". Of course they are not going to just hand you this valuable and essential training without you, the student driver putting some skin in the game. Can you walk into a big-box store and eave with a flat screen TV without paying for it? No different here.

We highly recommend for a myriad of reasons to commit to your first company for at least one year. The learning curve in this business is steep and challenging...it may take a full year to absorb most of it. Over half of this curve has nothing to do with the physical act of driving. I have been with Swift for almost 5 years,...they trained me, I know their systems, process and have great relationships with my direct management; freight planners, DMs, safety and the terminal manager. It takes a year or more to build these relationships and establish a consistently productive track record. I am a top performer for Swift,...averaging an income over $1400.00 per week. How bad is that for a one year commitment?

C'mon back...

So it's just the price of the contract then G-town? I'm just trying to understand, I don't want you to think that I'm going to fall into the "Terminal rat" crowd, because frankly I just want to drive, I don't want to be one of them, But is that what that basically is? like them taking you fresh out of school and training you there way and they want you to sign on for a year? and once the year is done that payment thing is gone?

Ed...it sounds like after the obligation is met, you owe them zero. They are finish training you. Please reread my reply of you are not clear on that.

My suggestion is thoroughly review Schneider's website. Fill out an application as a conditional pre-hire and talk to the recruiter who calls you and ask the direct question. Don't put all your eggs in one basket:

• Article: Understanding Pre-Hire Letters: The What, Why, And How Of This Important Step
• Trucker's Wiki: "Pre-Hire Letters"
• Forum Topics Tagged "CDL Pre-Hire Letters"

Trucking Company ReviewsA lot of drivers have passed through here and never mentioned a $3500 debt to Schneider. That's news to me.

Let us know what you find out.

Ed...I think you should read this...I knew it sounded fishy..,

Schneider tuition reimbursement

That was me G-town, not ed. :)

So it's just the price of the contract then G-town? I'm just trying to understand, I don't want you to think that I'm going to fall into the "Terminal rat" crowd, because frankly I just want to drive, I don't want to be one of them, But is that what that basically is? like them taking you fresh out of school and training you there way and they want you to sign on for a year? and once the year is done that payment thing is gone?

Ed...it sounds like after the obligation is met, you owe them zero. They are finish training you. Please reread my reply of you are not clear on that.

My suggestion is thoroughly review Schneider's website. Fill out an application as a conditional pre-hire and talk to the recruiter who calls you and ask the direct question. Don't put all your eggs in one basket:

• Article: Understanding Pre-Hire Letters: The What, Why, And How Of This Important Step
• Trucker's Wiki: "Pre-Hire Letters"
• Forum Topics Tagged "CDL Pre-Hire Letters"

Trucking Company ReviewsA lot of drivers have passed through here and never mentioned a $3500 debt to Schneider. That's news to me.

Let us know what you find out.

My apology John. Hope it helped either way.

That was me G-town, not ed. :)

So it's just the price of the contract then G-town? I'm just trying to understand, I don't want you to think that I'm going to fall into the "Terminal rat" crowd, because frankly I just want to drive, I don't want to be one of them, But is that what that basically is? like them taking you fresh out of school and training you there way and they want you to sign on for a year? and once the year is done that payment thing is gone?

Ed...it sounds like after the obligation is met, you owe them zero. They are finish training you. Please reread my reply of you are not clear on that.

My suggestion is thoroughly review Schneider's website. Fill out an application as a conditional pre-hire and talk to the recruiter who calls you and ask the direct question. Don't put all your eggs in one basket:

• Article: Understanding Pre-Hire Letters: The What, Why, And How Of This Important Step
• Trucker's Wiki: "Pre-Hire Letters"
• Forum Topics Tagged "CDL Pre-Hire Letters"

Trucking Company ReviewsA lot of drivers have passed through here and never mentioned a $3500 debt to Schneider. That's news to me.

Let us know what you find out.