Profile For Ed P.

First of all--I don't like the idea of a computer driving 80,000 pounds down the road. That said......I am pretty sure that all the reasons in this article about self driving trucks why they will never replace the driver were all said when cars replaced horses, when computers were first introduced, when the robots were slated to build cars......on and on. The BART system in San Francisco is totally automated.

The technology is evolving. The first generation of auto transmissions for trucks were terrible. Now? In less than 5 years the vast majority of fleet tractors will be automatic. The first computers took up several floors of a large building. Now? They fit into the palm of your hand.

I envision something like this......the driver will essentially be a passenger. Yes, there will be times when a driver will over ride the automation....like maybe alley docking in a tight spot.....maybe. There are self parking cars today. There will be self parking trucks tomorrow.

To deny that this is coming is to deny the history of industrial evolution. There are no hand made cars made today. There are no hand wired computers today. The economics of competition will dictate innovation and evolution as it has in the past. I own a piece of electronics that I bought for about 30 bucks that, even if it was possible to make it 20 years ago, would have cost twenty times that. IT does absolutely everything the literature said it would.

They're coming........and to deny it is silly.

Sorry for an off topic question but I can't figure out how to ask you a question otherwise.

I was contacted by Schneider while I was in my CDL school. When I spoke directly with a Schneider recruiter he mentioned a $3500.00 obligation to reimburse Schneider for their "apprenticeship program". Unless I am mistaken he was telling me about having to sign a contract with Schneider that obligates me to $3500.00 debt to them in order to be hired. I paid upfront for my CDL school, satisfied all the requirements and got my CDLA. It was suggested that I contact you for more info on this. Can you shed any light on this? Thanks.

So I called into my customer yesterday to see if I could pick my load up early so I could get past Denver before rush hour hits. I was told by the guard shack that I can arrive up to 4h early to my scheduled time. So I did just that, I started my day at 0230 and arrived at 0300 for an 0600-0900 appt time in Fort Collins CO. When I went to check in, the (different) guard told me that the load wont be ready until 0800. Well, that just screwed my plans for today. Was hoping to get all the way to the Topeka service area and get a 34 in before my appt on Monday, but it looks like that's not gonna happen.

I looked at it and there is no mention of the $3500.00. One of my classmates is being hired by Schneider. I informed him of my conversation with their recruiter so he called his recruiter to ask. The answer from the Schneider recruiter was, "don't worry about it". Hardly reassuring or complete. I am going to call them again to make sure this isn't a misunderstanding.

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

Schneider tuition reimbursement

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...

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.

In one of your posts you said that you claim 0 deductions on your taxes during the year and then on your 1040 you will claim 3 so you can get a nice refund. Think about that for a second. Let's say you get $3000 back when you file your taxes. You have given the government an interest free loan of $3000 that year. Why would you do that? The illusion of a getting a "nice refund" is jut that--an illusion. It's your money--it's not a birthday present from the government. You have to jump through hoops to get back what is your money to begin with and if you don't do it exactly right you won't get it back. My philosophy is to not owe them a dime and for them to not owe me a dime at the end of the year. Even if I have to pay a little extra additional tax it is the reverse of getting a refund---i.e. the gov loaned me that money during the year with no interest--and then only if they can prove that I actually do owe them more tax rather than you having to prove that you paid too much. I took every deduction I could when I made out the paperwork. I get more net income per pay period. I try to break even with taxes---some years I owe a little bit--some years they owe me a little bit.....but so far either of those scenarios never exceeded a few hundred bucks either way. Getting a "nice refund" is a sucker's game.

As Rick mentioned before I probably won't be able to collect per diem since I started last year in September. I think my gross pay was about $6000. I did have many other temp jobs before I got into trucking but those were regular 9-5 jobs. I guess I can use Turbo Tax for last year and come this year I can use a C.P.A.

Amplifiers and "boosted" CB radios are illegal in the US. If you get caught--and don't just assume you won't--the fine can be $10,000 per use/ The FCC has taken a serious interest in CB shops that sell amplifiers and perform modifications on CB radios to increase power. They've closed down a few--and even inspected trucks at stops. If you have a CB radio in your truck an FCC official can demand to inspect it. Refusing to allow him to do that will result in a whopping fine. Do you really need that kind of hassle? Stick with a stock radio and run it without an amp. Pay attention to your antenna setup--that will get you a lot further than installing an amp or other illegal modifications. Remember--when you tune your antenna for best output you're also tuning it for best received signal capability. Be safe.

I've got an old cobra 29 or some such from the early to mid eighties that I'll have to go dig out of storage. I can't remember for sure but it's also got a 100 or 150 watt booster on it as well. I know they're probably illegal as all heck these days. They were back then as well but no buddy really cared. My buddies and I all had them mounted in our vans or 4X4's and would use them mostly out in the desert to keep track of each other when we'd go camping and or dirt bike riding and such. Heck on a good night we could probably transmit or 20 - 30 miles or so, maybe more. I'm pretty sure it's still there unless my kid ran off with it. LOL!

Problem with the booster (or linear amplifier), is that it steps on everyone around you. Most folks find it rude and annoying, and the folks nearby that you want to talk to, will find you near unintelligible. Unless you're running a base station out in the boonies, no real reason to run that many watts.

You can have the finals replaced on your Cobra 29, and get up to 20-25 watts which is just fine for the road, and doesn't slam folks nearby (well, not too bad). I've got a final & echo mod on mine - sounds nice and clear.

Rick

A county government does not have jurisdiction over the use of FCC licensed radio equipment. While they may restrict texting or cell phone use they cannot prohibit use of ham radio or cb. As someone noted, it's most likely some hotshot county commissioner trying to look like a star. CB/ham can save lives by alerting other drivers to a hazardous situation ahead. More moronic rules to deal with.

I couldn't believe this when I spotted this poster in the Phoenix, AZ Knight Terminal. Apparently in Coconino county in Arizona they have come up with an ordinance that considers the use of a CB radio as a violation of the hand held communication device rules that drivers have to observe with their cell phones.

A couple of things about using a ham rig in a truck.

First--to transmit on ANY ham frequency you must be licensed by the FCC in the US. You don't need a license to buy a radio--but if you try to use (without a license) it to talk to hams they will figure you out right away. Trust me it isn't CB. The first time you say something like "come back" you're busted.

Now as to the radio. CB is channelized......channel 1 through 40. Ham radio is not. CB gear is limited to 4 watts (or 12 watts if you use SSB). Ham radio is limited to 1500 watts!! I don't know anyone who runs that kind of power from a vehicle but you could. Ham rigs are infinitely more complicated to use. CB radios are basically plug and play--power--antenna--talk. Ham (with the possible exception of 2 meter radios) rigs are not. Most HF (from 1.8 to 30 MHz) gear runs about 100 watts output--that's 25 times the output of your CB radio. Good, huh? Maybe. When you're using that kind of power in your truck you can run into all kinds of problems. If you don't install and use it correctly (and even sometimes if you do) you can disrupt your Qualcomm, your truck's other computers and electronics--even your cell phone. There's even a distinct possibility that you could fry them permanently. Yup--push the transmit button on your mike and--poof--your truck stops. Heard the doomsday stories about an EMP (Electro Magnetic Pulse) that would return us to the stone age? When you push the transmit button you're generating electro magnetic energy. At 4 watts it usually isn't a problem. At 100 watts........it could be. Your antenna will probably very close to your cab--and plastic/glass doesn't protect against radio frequency energy.

There's a reason you have to pass tests to get a license.......you have to know what you're doing to use a ham rig properly. Think CDL license and then think hazmat and other endorsements. Now think experience........your first solo and beyond. HOw much did you learn in CDL school and how much has the road taught you?

Antenna considerations are important--very important. CB antennas are typically short--using gimmicks to make them work. Ham antennas are typically longer--sometimes a lot longer. CB antennas are designed to work over a very small frequency range. Ham antennas are expected to work over a much wider frequency range. Why is this important? Because an antenna that works on the 20 meter ham band (14 MHz) won't work on 7 Mhz (40 meter band) without some fancy jiggery pokery. Many times it means physically changing a component of your antenna--taking off the 14 MHz piece and putting on the 7 Mhz piece and then retuning your radio to the new antenna element.

There's a lot more I could say--and if there is any interest I will......but......if you're considering putting an HF rig in your truck there's a lot you should know beforehand. 73.