Profile For Doc

Keep up the hard work. Good to hear it's almost done for you.

I just completed my first week of solo driving for Schneider. The pay isn't the greatest out there by far, I am making .34 cents a mile, by the end of my first year I'll be at .41 cents. I have had nothing but positive experiences with everyone in the company that I've ever come into contact with. When I got my truck last week it was in shambles, not going to lie. I hated it, the previous driver was a smoker so it had that stale smell. It wasn't taken care of either by the previous owner. Its a 2012 Freightliner, but it's my truck and I have cleaned it up and gotten it into respectable shape. But I've already been told by my DBL that I will have a new 2016 truck by the end of November, my truck is already being appraised so they can sell it off. Once that happens, its a short time before you're given a new truck. I'm very happy with my choice to go with Schneider. With winter coming I want the control over my driving and if I'm not comfortable I can shut down and not worry about being threatened or yelled at. Not many companies offer that, and for a rookie driver coming into their first winter that is a big deal. Almost worth more than cents per mile for a rookie. Control is huge.

Congrats Walter! Tomorrow is my last day here at the Green Bay Academy and I'll get my truck in the afternoon. It has been a great experience from top to bottom with everyone I've dealt with here. It truly is all about safety here and you are the Captain of your own ship. Good Luck this week and next with your TE. If you have any questions feel free to message me.

No advice from me. I too am leaning towards Schneider, but being green and fresh out of cdl school I'm not certain I agree with only 18 days total traing before solo Trust you are aware of the sign on bonus being offered on some jobs. ??

I just finished my 1st week with Schneider in Green Bay. One of the big things for me in choosing Schneider was that they focus on Safety and as Driver you are the Captain of your ship. If your not comfortable on the road, it is your decision. I go out with my Training Engineer on Monday and get back Saturday. I'll be doing 80% or more of the driving and we will be delivering his loads. If the training Instructors in your first week do not feel you are ready for that they will hold you over to the next week and keep working with you. They are not going to put anyone on the road that they don't feel is ready for it. 2 people got held back in my class this week of 7.

Once you get your truck and are on your own you will have your hand held by your DBL for the first month at a minimum. There are so many options for help here, that being worried about the 18 days is really not a big deal. You have someone at the tip of your finger 24/7 if you have help or get yourself in a situation you're really not sure about.

. I like to be able to use the clutch to throttle the engine in reverse so I can hook a trailer without ramming into it. Same with starting from a dead stop. .

Granted, I haven't driven an Automatic yet, but why is it you have to slam into a trailer in an Automatic when backing? Wouldn't you now be using the break peddle like you would the clutch and control your speed backing up? This seems rather obvious to me, but hey, I could be wrong.

I just finished up my first week at Schneider's Green Bay training Academy and I couldn't be happier. Everyone that I've talked with has been very helpful. Answered any questions I could think of and the number one thing that is stressed, and I mean always stressed is Safety. It is the number one thing in their Mission. I go out with my training Engineer for the next week starting Monday. Come back that weekend, finish up week three the next week and off to get my truck where ever that may be and start turning and earning.

I had this same problem when I first started, if you use your fender mirrors and make sure you can see the marking line in each one you'll be center and good to go.

My biggest problem at first was deep clutching. Which was slowing down my RPMs and messing up my timing. Once one of my instructors had me put the seat back as far as possible while still being able to press the throttle and break my shifting became smooth and easy. Try moving your seat back and adjusting the steering wheel so your comfortable.

I'm in my last week of school in Michigan, and for the first week(Monday-Wednesday) in the morning we studied everything we needed for the TIP test, or CDL learners permit. Thursday Morning we did some last minute studying until 9 am when the 6 of us headed down to the Secretary of State to take our tests. The school gave us a $25 check to cover the test once you pass. In the afternoons during the first week we were in the yard driving the trucks around, learning shifting, pretrip and backing maneuvers. We also spent time in the Simulator getting shifting paterns down and down shifting timing right so we werent destroying the trucks.

Nice posts so far, lots of information.

Something I always tell people that have trouble remembering what way to turn the wheel when backing is, if you want the trailer more in your drivers side mirror then turn the wheel away from it. And vice versa. Good luck and keep up the hard work, it will pay off in spades after.