Profile For Todd T.

3. Have you maxed your earning capacity where you're at? It's a simple concept. I pulled a hair bit over 84k my first year at Knight. So is it really a starter company?

4. Doing the math, at 4 months you haven't driven a winter yet. If you're bored, feel free to ask for routes over Monarch Pass, Donner, wolf creek pass, Eisenhower and Vail and of course i80 through Wyoming with a light load. I guarantee you, it will cure your boredom. Another thing that gen X learned better than to say.

Again it may sound harsh, but a few months in isn't enough time to even begin to develop as a professional driver. If your dispatch is only handing you safe boring routes, it's because they can't count on you to take the difficult ones yet. It's part of the process. They know what you do not, yet think you do.

I'd recommend you stay with them for a year. If you can make money there, you can make mo eu anywhere. You're also in for a shock switching to local from otr. Different philosophies, management and areas to negotiate.

Does knight train drivers?

If yes than its a starter company.

You need math to figure out that I havent driven in winter yet? lol.

I have no desire to waste what little time I have left on this earth getting paid trash money and being only able to see my family 4 days a month. Maybe in the grand scheme of things, 4 months is little experience but with what that experience has shown me is not good.

Do I hate schneider, not really. But they are not for me.

4 months is nothing in the big scheme of things. And 39 cpm starting was better than my 31 cpm in 9/19, but, with monthly raises for 1 year, and couple more, I was at 46 cpm by years end. 6 months later, was bumped up to 60 cpm (driving teams) that was not my first choice, but it's what got me started driving.

22 months later after taking 5 months off, I got started with a new company at 60 cpm and was netting $1,500+ per week solo. Which I saved most of, for my upcoming early retirement in 3/22.....Which I did give 2 weeks notice, even though on my last day, I got a call from my new DM, who had no clue it was my last delivery. They were both good companies I drove for, regardless of the bad rep by disgruntled prior drivers out there......Schneider has been around for a LONG time, so they must be doing something right.

Currently, with how the economy is back home in the states, I'm glad I don't have to deal with trying to maintain the same miles I had before it tanked back home. I miss the money, sure, but to me some things are more important than money. And I sure don't miss the US lol

Good luck in your future goals in life, trucking or not.

Congrats, on retirement! I took my first two week vacation at my last job and 3 days into it I wanted to go back to work. Ill probably die working. My goal is to find something I am passionate about. Anyway, thanks!!

You already got great advice in the previous posts, so I will chime in ad a former Schneider driver.

I did 2 tours of duty with Schneider. I was only able to get re-hired the second time because I left on good terms the first time. So, my thinking is that you don’t want to burn a bridge that you may need to cross again, even if that seems unlikely. Talk to your DBL, or whatever they are currently called, and ask if they want two week notice or not. It sounds like you could go either way, so let them decide and your record will show that you went away on a positive note. They will not penalize you either way because, frankly, you are just a number to them and what you are planning to do happens within the company multiple times every day. It’s just routine for them. This is not a criticism of Schneider, but with about 15,000 drivers they don’t get personal with individual drivers.

And yes, if you start out with Schneider and you don’t like it, there are jobs that you would find better suited to you. This was the case with me. I received really great training from them but their overall system was not something I liked, so I chose another company that suits me much better.

Leave Schneider on the best terms possible. In the future, you may need a reference from them for another job and you want them to say positive things about you.

This was really what I was looking for, thanks!

My DTL is actually really good, if I had the ability to give him a raise i would. Unfortuanly there are always...bad birds...in the flock and this particular bad bird answered the phone a lot.

I would hope i wouldnt need a reference for myself to myself. ;)

If It works out that i get back into trucking i would like to do flatbad looks to be way more physically involved. Than after that low boy. Van is extremely boring.

Again thank your for your insight!!

What is a "starter company"? Do you think any trucking company's goal is to produce experienced drivers for other competitors? Any company who is willing to train you is wanting you to stay with them and make your career there.

How did you end up at Schneider National in the first place? OK, so you discovered OTR isn't for you. maybe It is best to move on. But did you talk to anyone at Schneider to see if they have any local positions? Home every day, or home on weekends? I drove for Swift, and they have both of those types of assignments, not just OTR.

Have a You Are Here moment and look closely for options.

As for the two week notice, that is a good idea. No, Schneider dispatchers won't get back at you. They may give you shorter routes that end up finally near your main terminal. Whiny people who don't understand the trucking business will often post sad stories where they are not the problem.

What is a "starter company"? Do you think any trucking company's goal is to produce experienced drivers for other competitors? Any company who is willing to train you is wanting you to stay with them and make your career there.

It seems to be. Swift, Knight, Prime, TMC, Roehl, and others I cant think of start mid 50's cpm. Schneider starts at .39 cpm and climbs to .44 cpm at 6 months. Based on the pay side of things, doesnt seem they are too interested in retention. From what i am heard the attrition rate is pretty high ( and yes this is he said she said, BUT it is believable based on my experience)

How did you end up at Schneider National in the first place? OK, so you discovered OTR isn't for you. maybe It is best to move on. But did you talk to anyone at Schneider to see if they have any local positions? Home every day, or home on weekends? I drove for Swift, and they have both of those types of assignments, not just OTR.

Their recruiter was very "on it" I like people and companies that are "on it" so I went with them. Initially, I went in on this for the experience and didnt care for the money(because I have money from selling my house from moving) but as I realized the time away from my dog and family isnt worth what I was getting paid. Yes I didnt try to find different poositions but I live further than 50 miles from my OC and there are and will never be positions other than OTR for me.

As for the two week notice, that is a good idea. No, Schneider dispatchers won't get back at you. They may give you shorter routes that end up finally near your main terminal. Whiny people who don't understand the trucking business will often post sad stories where they are not the problem.

Honestly, i wouldnt mind the shorter routes, lol. I much prefer having multiple stops per day than driving for 11 hours straight. The particular stories I was refering to involved companies trying to dock pay for damaged trailers etc ( in one of the cases the driver took pictures of everything beforehand and took the company to court and won, good for him ;) )

My personal opinion is, take home time, clean out your truck of everything that won't fit into a suitcase and carry on. Make sure you have enough cash or credit for a one way flight home. THEN put in 2 weeks notice. That way, no matter what happens, you won't be up a creek without a paddle.

Yes ma'am, already did this :) Maybe I will take a scenic train ride if them dump me somewhere, always want to do that. (not being sarcastic at all)

Note: Thank you to all the drivers that have assisted me on the road <3

That raises two questions in my mind...

How many times were you feeling you needed help on the road?

And...

How many drivers did you help on the road?

Truck driving is mostly a solitary occupation. It takes creative individuals to pull it off. All rookies struggle at first. Part of progressing to a level of competence in trucking is learning to deal with the issues. Life on the road demands a certain level of independence.

It doesn't take a village to be a truck driver. It takes a lot of resolve, and provides a lot of self satisfaction. I'm sorry you missed out on some of that. I don't know what you were expecting, but you definitely were feeling disappointed to make such a comment.

Please don't try trucking as a "side hustle." It's not a good plan.

Show you are a respectable and appreciative employee. Give them notice. Let the chips fall where they may. If they tell you to go ahead and turn in your truck, you can't pretend that means they are SOBs.

You have no clue about what's going on in their world. They may have thirty new drivers waiting on an available truck. Do the right thing and you'll never be sorry for it. They are going to do what's best for their business. You need to do what's right as their employee.

'

The help i was referring to was generally within the first month or during a blind side back. Anytime someone ask me for help I give it UNLESS i have previous arrangements with family and that help is not life threatening, or is a druggy asking for money.

Trucking is not remotely hard. I really enjoy the technical side of it ( backing, figuring out turns in some situations) I am leaving because its boring, Van is boring, and I dont see myself being a company "slave" for the rest of my life. ( using "slave" even though it is technically improper, but i couldnt remember the term for **** pay and high hours)

Thank you for your reply

The grass may not be greener on the other side. You see it from other posts on this site, things aren't great. You may want to think long and hard about making this move in this economy. What good is a higher pay rate with no work?

Lastly, you keep referring to Schneider as a starter company but you never told us how much experience you have. Schneider has a bunch of accounts and options that may work for you. Communicate what you want and see if they're able to accommodate you.

Good luck, I hope you find what you're looking for.

The grass may not be greener on the other side. You see it from other posts on this site, things aren't great. You may want to think long and hard about making this move in this economy. What good is a higher pay rate with no work?

I am not switch companies. As I stated I am going to a school.

Lastly, you keep referring to Schneider as a starter company but you never told us how much experience you have. Schneider has a bunch of accounts and options that may work for you. Communicate what you want and see if they're able to accommodate you.

I have 4 months experience. Other accounts at Schneider generally require 3+ months. I was applying to them before and after I had the "required" experience and no, as i might have obscurely stated, they dont have other accounts for me because I live outside a 50 mile radius of the OC. And if someone says that I should move closer to the OC no i shouldnt. I am basically living rent free and am not moving to a city where rent or mortgage would be a 1/3-1/2 of what my current pay at schneider is and what it would be based on pay information given.

I know this post is old but I clicked the Schneider info page and it is missing info

Tractors used: Freightliner and International Pay: Starts at .39 cpm , after 3 months .41 cpm. 6 months .44 cpm.

Hello!

I work for Schneider.

Maybe its just a Schneider thing but the work seems to be up north and not down south. They had me down south for about a month and lets just say there was a lot of sitting. I just got home from 2 weeks out of being up north...non-stop loads and the most miles i have done in single days. 1200-1300 in two days. My back hurts lol.

Ok this may seem a silly question to be asking but I have seen/heard some horror stories regarding it. So I would like your experienced opnions on it.

I work for Schneider.

Should I give a 2-week notice or just hand them the keys?

The stories I have heard generally revolve around the company retaliating against you for quitting with a 2-week notice. Generally, this feels weird to me because you are giving the company the courtesy of a heads up instead of surprising them.

Other info -

I dont owe them time as I paid for my own CDL.

Reason for leaving if you care -

I don't enjoy the OTR portion of trucking, but I do like driving a truck( the technical side of it; backing, driving in general, talking with customers)

I am going to school.

Schneider doesnt let me take my dog.

Pay is low in comparison to other starter companies, doesnt progress much over time, and I cannot apply to higher paying dedicated lanes due to where I live in relation to my OC.

All that being said, Schneider is a great starter company. You can potentially get a higher paying lane if one opens up and you live within 50 miles of the OC that lane is out of. Example, my TE runs for the Albertsons account and with fuel bonus makes .67 cpm.

Wow ok, this is what happens when my mind goes wild.....Sorry lol

Note: Thank you to all the drivers that have assisted me on the road <3

Thanks, Todd

PS: Ill will probably be back to trucking after getting my schooling but it will be a side hustle ;)