Schneider Vs Us Xpress

As a newbie how is walmart any different than “dollar”accounts? Why are there potentially more issues and more chance for accidents? sam

Jared...I agree wholeheartedly with Old School and Bob.

You’ll make just as much running Walmart, learn a ton, and NOT expose yourself to unnecessary risks and stress.

As a newbie how is walmart any different than “dollar”accounts? Why are there potentially more issues and more chance for accidents? sam

Jared...I agree wholeheartedly with Old School and Bob.

You’ll make just as much running Walmart, learn a ton, and NOT expose yourself to unnecessary risks and stress.

The short answer...

Walmart Stores and Sam’s Club have docks, away from the parking lots, and usually accessible without commingling with the shoppers. About half of the stores I deliver to are easy, a quarter are tricky but not too difficult, the remaining 25% are more difficult.

Most Dollar stores do not have a dock, are found in strip malls and are extremely difficult to maneuver around and back to the unloading door.

I was OTR for 3 mos before accepting a Walmart Dedicated assignment. Although challenging, it’s no where near as risky running a Dollar Store Account.

You are new...

Good idea to invest your time in these links:

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

Sergio, welcome to our forum!

Dollar accounts are tricky for a number of reasons. First off they are typically small freestanding stores with only one driveway to enter or exit. Many of them have no room for you to turn a rig around in the parking area. This means you'll be backing in off of a busy two way street. For a new driver that is a recipe for disaster. You'll have to block both lanes while maneuvering in and people get very impatient. I've seen this so many times. People come flying up not paying attention and then try to squeeze between the truck and a power pole, or some other obstacle, on the driver's blind side. At the same time other people are exiting the store and most of them could care less that you are trying to get in. They will stop your already slow progress by making crazy movements around the sides of your truck.

Then once you've managed to get in, the store is either understaffed or real busy so they don't have anybody to help you. Now you are hand unloading boxes that are stacked higher than you. Typically these loads are stacked to the ceiling, and you have multiple stops so you can't get the boxes mixed up. Once you've unloaded one store, it is quite possible your stacks will come tumbling down and you'll have a devil of a time keeping it all organized with each store and all the paperwork. I didn't even mention how you might injure yourself while hand unloading 80,000 pounds (two truck loads)of freight each week.

Physical injuries, and preventable accidents are common on these accounts.

I thought Schneider was a reputable company to work for?

They are a great company, and to be honest, we've seen a few people start on these "dollar store" accounts who did well with them. But... they were the exception.

Most new drivers cannot start on these accounts and do it successfully. There are several companies doing these accounts because they are lucrative. They require a lot from the driver, and many experienced drivers prefer to drive on the interstates and make their money that way. They want no-touch freight with drop and hook deliveries. Therefore there's strong demand for drivers on these accounts. Unfortunately the companies have had to take their chances with new drivers. We don't recommend it, but we understand the necessity - that's business, it always involves risk.

Think Family Dollar or Dollar General stores.. that's where these dollar account drivers have to back into and UNLOAD. Just brutal. In my opinion, I can make a heck of a lot more by cruising down the interstate and not touching any freight. I'm way too lazy to work one of those accounts.

Dollar accounts are a b*tch to do in straight job , definitely would never entertain the idea in a 53 , hell even a pup . Plus lugging all that frieght day in and out . I've talked to a few and most go back OTR after awhile . If they were such great gigs they wouldn't get offered to rooks . I'd listen to these vets if I was in your shoes .

Jared wrote:

Thanks guys I'll be going to schneider.i think it's the better fit for me.

Jared that’s a great choice.

I’ve been running NorthEast Regional Walmart Dedicated through Swift for almost 6 years now. Would not trade it for anything else.

Let me know when you need help with Walmart.

In the meantime you can read this thread to wet your appetite:

A Day in the Life of a Walmart Dedicated Driver

The trucking career is difficult to make a good start in. The training is minimal and the real learning comes while you're a rookie solo driver. That causes a lot of people to blame the company for their issues. It takes extraordinary effort to get through that first year's learning curve, and it's only those extraordinary people who usually survive it.

Honestly, I would put those questions and doubts about how these companies are to work for out of my mind. Each of them are great companies to work for. Focus on your commitment to developing yourself as a driver. I recommend you do an over the road job first. You'll ease yourself in to all the little tricks that will help you develop into a professional driver that way. Each of the three companies you've mentioned have plenty of other opportunities you could move into after you've gotten through that really tough first year.

1. Land your first job, determined to develop yourself into a safe productive over the road driver. Focus on your performance, not the company's.

2. Finish that rookie year as safely as you possibly can.

3. If your interest in certain other types of trucking jobs has developed, then request to be moved into those certain accounts.

Any safe and productive driver will certainly have his requests honored if they are needing drivers in the areas you might have developed an interest in. Swift probably has the most diverse set of opportunities available due to their size, but I'm not trying to sway your decision. Each of them will be great places to work.

This is quite possibly the very best response or post I’ve ever read on this site... every person “considering a career,” “preparing for school,” “in CDL school,” and “rookie solo drivers” should acknowledge that they read and understand these concepts.

The trucking career is difficult to make a good start in. The training is minimal and the real learning comes while you're a rookie solo driver. That causes a lot of people to blame the company for their issues. It takes extraordinary effort to get through that first year's learning curve, and it's only those extraordinary people who usually survive it.

Honestly, I would put those questions and doubts about how these companies are to work for out of my mind. Each of them are great companies to work for. Focus on your commitment to developing yourself as a driver. I recommend you do an over the road job first. You'll ease yourself in to all the little tricks that will help you develop into a professional driver that way. Each of the three companies you've mentioned have plenty of other opportunities you could move into after you've gotten through that really tough first year.

1. Land your first job, determined to develop yourself into a safe productive over the road driver. Focus on your performance, not the company's.

2. Finish that rookie year as safely as you possibly can.

3. If your interest in certain other types of trucking jobs has developed, then request to be moved into those certain accounts.

Any safe and productive driver will certainly have his requests honored if they are needing drivers in the areas you might have developed an interest in. Swift probably has the most diverse set of opportunities available due to their size, but I'm not trying to sway your decision. Each of them will be great places to work.

This is quite possibly the very best response or post I’ve ever read on this site... every person “considering a career,” “preparing for school,” “in CDL school,” and “rookie solo drivers” should acknowledge that they read and understand these concepts.

Old School’s hammer always strikes the nail squarely on the head. Great advice and observation Pete. I agree.

Me too! That was right on the money.

I saw this store yesterday on my way to a Walmart supercenter in Albuquerque. This is a busy Street and I imagine it can be hell trying to get backed into this parking lot. Walmart definitely has easier stores, but we have about 3 that can be quite the headache especially during the day.