Company Driver Jobs?

If you want to go over-the-road, and home-time is important to you, I would look at Schneider. They have lots of regional/dedicated jobs that will get you home pretty much every weekend.

But, wait a minute Indy!

There are a lot of bad reviews about Schneider, and in particular I've seen a lot of them that say they won't get you home very often. How do you reconcile those differences in what I'm seeing?

And for the record, I'm not being a smart *ss... I'm still working on illustrating a point here.

Everybody who writes any review (whether truck companies, baby seats, or restaurants) writes from a motivation. The problem is, anger and frustration and the desire for revenge is what motivates most reviewers. The ones who are happy with the experience are happy with their experience and don't feel the need to shout it from the rooftop.

Yes, when I read reviews for anything, I read several reviews. The "bad" reviews that have a legitimate complaint really do sound different from the "I'm out to get this lousy company" ones.

If you want to go over-the-road, and home-time is important to you, I would look at Schneider. They have lots of regional/dedicated jobs that will get you home pretty much every weekend.

But, wait a minute Indy!

There are a lot of bad reviews about Schneider, and in particular I've seen a lot of them that say they won't get you home very often. How do you reconcile those differences in what I'm seeing?

And for the record, I'm not being a smart *ss... I'm still working on illustrating a point here.

OS, I have no disagreement with what you just said to Allen. I believe that with any of the major carriers, anyone with a good work ethic and attitude can be successful.

To answer your question... I spent a lot of time researching companies when I was at the stage that Allen is now. Relative to some of the other major trucking companies, I found Schneider to have a more positive online aura (if you will). But, not being satisfied with just what I read online, I sought out "in person" comments. In the case of Schneider, I know someone that used to work for them, and had a very good experience. Regarding home time, he was home every weekend, if he wanted to be.

So, to really answer your question,... how to reconcile those negative reviews... I'd have to say, simply, common sense. Schneider is a very large company. They employ thousands of drivers. Odds are, a significant number won't cut it, for one reason or another. And, odds are, that out of those that don't cut it, there will be some that feel the need, for whatever reason, to go online and publicly blame the company for their failure. So, negative reviews were expected. What I find is that in comparison to other similar large carriers, Schneider has relatively fewer complaints. In addition, they also have relatively more positive comments from drivers posting online. Hence the more positive "aura" that I sense.

For the record, I don't think I've ever said any particular company is a "bad" company. I would probably label companies that bring in young, rookie drivers to orientation and give them the hard-sell to sign a lease agreement .... I would call them "bad" companies. At least one of the major carriers, (i won't name them) has been known to do this. Rookie goes to orientation thinking he is going to be a company driver. Gets there and company proceeds to pressure him to become a lease operator. Tells him they don't have any company trucks available at this time and he will have to wait weeks to get one if he wants to be a company driver... but he can be driving tomorrow if he leases a truck. That would be a bad company.

Fair enough, and thanks for the thoughtful answer.

I just never could find an "aura" that led me one way or the other when I was researching, so I just finally came to the conclusion that in the case of trucking company reviews you really could "throw the baby out with the bath water" and it wouldn't make any difference.

Everybody who writes any review (whether truck companies, baby seats, or restaurants) writes from a motivation. The problem is, anger and frustration and the desire for revenge is what motivates most reviewers. The ones who are happy with the experience are happy with their experience and don't feel the need to shout it from the rooftop.

Yes, when I read reviews for anything, I read several reviews. The "bad" reviews that have a legitimate complaint really do sound different from the "I'm out to get this lousy company" ones.

Yes. Exactly... It is possible to separate legitimate complaints from b.s.. Believable complaints about anything usually contain specific details that can be verified independently, for example

Barbeque Sauce has nothing to do with trucking!

Ok so im just atarting out and have looked at different companies but they all seem to have low reviews. I want to become a company driver and just want to know if anyone knows of a good company to drive for? Please let me know just curious, thanks in advanced.

good company is a relative term. You will find companies that will or wont hire you for any number of reasons. In my opinion a good company is one that has good equipment and lots of work for a driver. A good company takes federal transportation laws seriously, and keep up on the truck maintenance. By that description there are probably 10,000 "good" trucking companies or more. What is more important to you is, what trucking companies are hiring in my area, what ones require me to team drive for a length of time, and what companies have terminals or routes that get me home often.

The reason so many negative reviews? People who are happy dont feel the need to go post things as much as those who are disgruntled and ****ed off. Some of the bigger companies might be more strict or require better performance from a driver because they have so many good drivers a bad apple sticks out like a sore thumb. So just remember for every negative review written there are probably 100 positive reviews that don't get written.

Make a list of what you want from a trucking career and then see what fits and give it 110% and you'll do fine. If you don't like the company you chose stick it out for at least a year then try and switch.

Phil

Ok so im just atarting out and have looked at different companies but they all seem to have low reviews. I want to become a company driver and just want to know if anyone knows of a good company to drive for? Please let me know just curious, thanks in advanced.

good company is a relative term. You will find companies that will or wont hire you for any number of reasons. In my opinion a good company is one that has good equipment and lots of work for a driver. A good company takes federal transportation laws seriously, and keep up on the truck maintenance. By that description there are probably 10,000 "good" trucking companies or more. What is more important to you is, what trucking companies are hiring in my area, what ones require me to team drive for a length of time, and what companies have terminals or routes that get me home often.

The reason so many negative reviews? People who are happy dont feel the need to go post things as much as those who are disgruntled and ****ed off. Some of the bigger companies might be more strict or require better performance from a driver because they have so many good drivers a bad apple sticks out like a sore thumb. So just remember for every negative review written there are probably 100 positive reviews that don't get written.

Make a list of what you want from a trucking career and then see what fits and give it 110% and you'll do fine. If you don't like the company you chose stick it out for at least a year then try and switch.

Phil

And just to add on to this, when you are happy in the trucking industry, you are working hard like old school said. So between sleeping, eating, exercising, driving, loading and unloading, etc when do you think you would have time to go online and write a review bashing a company?

Alright everyone i thank you all for putting very helpful knowledge out there. I now know what to look for when looking for a company that will hire me. All you guys rock, its been a worry since i got out of the military whether or not i might actually find something steady and i have with the trucking industry just have to find the right company that fits me and my families needs. Thanks again guys helpful and entertaining