Offer From Schneider (CDL Graduate)

Hi all!

First time poster here - relaying on my husband's experience and our discussions! He never actually signs up to forums, but I'm the opposite and love to read and relay on the info I find out from folks. So here goes-

He has just graduated from a trucking school with a CDL (yay), and has been offered some conditional offers with carriers - Schneider has been the most proactive with sending across paperwork and the like, so currently they are the most probable choice for him.

We would love to hear whether you experienced folks have anything to say on the fresh-pass/new CDL graduate program at Schneider, or any other large carriers for that matter. I have read some negative things about them but I do worry there is a bias, i.e. - if you have bad experience you are more inclined to go online and complain, and sometimes as a new grad, you do just have to "suck it up" and prove your worth (like in any career). So, it would be great to hear from those who have positives to add too, as well as any general advice for new CDL graduates.

Thank you so much!

-MrsTruckerTX

Welcome!

I'm sure you've found it difficult to make sense out of what you read online about how to start a trucking career. One person thinks Schneider is great, and three people think they are scumbags. Nothing ever adds up or makes sense. I've often said trucking is the most misunderstood career there is.

Here's the basic truth... it's hard to get started in trucking. So many fail and then blame the company they started with. There are only so many trucking companies willing to hire inexperienced drivers. Each of them has their haters. Just ignore all the trash talk and get started with whichever one is willing to take you on. Commit yourself to one year with them, and then re-think about what's next.

I stayed about a year and a half at the company I started with, but I got a really great offer that I felt I couldn't refuse. I'm still with that second company more than ten years later.

The bottom line is that we make or break ourselves in trucking. The name on the truck has nothing to do with the driver's success or failure. Schneider has plenty of successful drivers - we've got some of them here in our forum. Schneider also has a lot of quitters who blame the company for their failures.

Your husband needs to realize he holds the keys to this. He may prove he's incapable. He may have great success. He cannot expect Schneider or any other company to hold his hand and help him extensively. They all need independent movers and shakers in their trucks.

The question becomes... What can I do to be successful at this?

Hi all!

First time poster here - relaying on my husband's experience and our discussions! He never actually signs up to forums, but I'm the opposite and love to read and relay on the info I find out from folks. So here goes-

He has just graduated from a trucking school with a CDL (yay), and has been offered some conditional offers with carriers - Schneider has been the most proactive with sending across paperwork and the like, so currently they are the most probable choice for him.

We would love to hear whether you experienced folks have anything to say on the fresh-pass/new CDL graduate program at Schneider, or any other large carriers for that matter. I have read some negative things about them but I do worry there is a bias, i.e. - if you have bad experience you are more inclined to go online and complain, and sometimes as a new grad, you do just have to "suck it up" and prove your worth (like in any career). So, it would be great to hear from those who have positives to add too, as well as any general advice for new CDL graduates.

Thank you so much!

-MrsTruckerTX

Hey there! So I was basically in your husband’s situation. I was a fresh CDL school graduate (upgrade from Class B to Class A - I drove buses for 3 years prior) who was trying to find a job on my own and eventually wound up at Schneider. We had a recruiter come to our school and talk to my class on our 2nd day and it sort of stuck with me ever since with this feeling that if I couldn’t get a job anywhere else, maybe Schneider would be an option.

I eventually submitted my application for them and received a job offer the same day. I will confidently say this was the best decision I ever made. I’ve been with them well over a year now and just surpassed 80,000 safe, accident free miles. They take really good care of me and right now, working here works for me. Everyone’s situation is different. I will say this. There is TONS of bias, not just at Schneider but from a lot of these larger companies, mostly as a result of people who got terminated for something they did so now they hate their former employer. That boils down to a lack of accountability on their part to realize they made the mistake and that doesn’t represent company culture as a whole. I would say 80% of the negativity I see online is strictly biased based and doesn’t really represent the company as a whole. Don’t ever let someone’s personal opinion influence your decisions. See for yourself.

I will also say I couldn’t agree with Old School more and what he said. Take in everything he said because he’s spot on. Bottom line, Schneider is a great place to get your start in this industry. It’s often a challenging one that I don’t think many people realize. A lot of people washout in the first few months. Schneider may not be the place you spend your whole career although we have a lot of 30+ year drivers here. Only you (or your husband in this case) can decide what’s best for him. Just understand that even a company like Schneider isn’t going to hand hold you everyday. We still need competent, confident, safe, reliable drivers who know the job, know how to drive, and can move the freight. If you aren’t cutting it, Schneider has plenty of other people they can put in that truck.

I would say for him to give Schneider a try. Again, it’s a great option right out of CDL school when options are so limited as it is. And no one is saying he has to stay forever. But if he wants to knock out that first year, or at minimum first 6 months, it’s a great place to do that. Once you hit your 1 year and you do it safely, you really open up so many more opportunities. There may be others on here who work at Schneider or used to who completely disagree with me but that’s just the bias. It’s also okay, too. Opinions are going to vary.I work here now and I can only speak from my own personal experience. Yes, it’s no secret you aren’t going to become rich here. But it’s also a place to get your start and work your way up when so many other companies won’t give you that opportunity. I am treated extremely well here and I’m very well taken care of. The time at home policy is one of the best and in these uncertain economic times, it’s a company who can still post a $6 billion annual revenue with an average truck feet age of 2023 or newer (I’m in a brand new 2026 having previously been in a 2025) and 11% of the total market share with tons of established customers and dedicated accounts. When more of these companies continue to shut their doors due to the current market, Schneider offers a bit of job security. A lot of people often talk down on mega carriers and maybe there is some element of truth to some of it but right now, it might be one of the better places to be. If he’s got an opportunity to come here, he should jump on it. Hope this all helps!