What's Up? Long Time....
Topic 1135 | Page 2
Hey Jakecatt, I see you're driving for Schneider. I'm giving them serious thought since I received a pre-hire from them. Just wish they had a company sponsored training program. Paying out of pocket for school will be difficult for me but I really wanna drive a flatbed in the western region and they offer that. How long have you been with them? Have they been good about getting you home when you've requested? What division are you in (reefer, dry, flatbed)? Any advice for someone like me? Thanks in advance and good luck in your position!
Andy, I have been with Schneider for a little over two years. If you want to know what it was like when I was a new driver with them, you can go and read my blogs on this site, I have a few and detailed all of my experiences there, just search for them.
SNI did away with their company sponsored training program during the recession, so that is the one downfall with them, you have to get your CDL first. I thought long and hard about that, but ultimately decided to pay for it out of pocket myself. SNI does have tuition reimbursement, so make sure you ask about it!!!!
I will say SNI is VERY good about getting you home. When I was OTR(the first year) I was always home within 48 hours of my requested home time. Now that I am regional my home time is every weekend. For the last year there were only 2 weekends I did not make it back by Friday night. Neither was the fault of SNI, one because a shipper had a production breakdown and the other was because I had a break down LOL.
I drive dry van(we don't have a lot of refeers, only on dedicated accounts).
The only advise I can give you is the same advice anyone on this board that is experienced will give you. Keep a good attitude, work you butt off and it can be a great place to work. I really believe SNI is one of the better companies for new drivers to start at, unfortunately, because they no longer have their own school, it is not an option for some new drivers.
If you have any other questions just feel free to ask!!!
PS: Heard a rumor that SNI is opening a brand new operating center in AZ and hiring a ton of new drivers for that area as they have really increased their freight there.
Excellent! Thanks for the info? I'm gonna look for blogs.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Shipper:
The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Dry Van:
A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.Pre-hire:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
Company Sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.
Well, now I"m jealous... I"m using Google Chrome...and I STILL have to log in everytime....this ain't fair, Brett....this just ain't fair atall 
New Reply:
New! Check out our help videos for a better understanding of our forum features
Preview:
Why Join Trucking Truth?
- The High Road Training Program
- The High Road Article Series
- The Friendliest Trucker's Forum Ever!
- Email Updates When New Articles Are Posted
Apply For Paid CDL Training Through TruckingTruth
Did you know you can fill out one quick form here on TruckingTruth and apply to several companies at once for paid CDL training? Seriously! The application only takes one minute. You will speak with recruiters today. There is no obligation whatsoever. Learn more and apply here:
TT On Facebook
Andy, I have been with Schneider for a little over two years. If you want to know what it was like when I was a new driver with them, you can go and read my blogs on this site, I have a few and detailed all of my experiences there, just search for them.
SNI did away with their company sponsored training program during the recession, so that is the one downfall with them, you have to get your CDL first. I thought long and hard about that, but ultimately decided to pay for it out of pocket myself. SNI does have tuition reimbursement, so make sure you ask about it!!!!
I will say SNI is VERY good about getting you home. When I was OTR(the first year) I was always home within 48 hours of my requested home time. Now that I am regional my home time is every weekend. For the last year there were only 2 weekends I did not make it back by Friday night. Neither was the fault of SNI, one because a shipper had a production breakdown and the other was because I had a break down LOL.
I drive dry van(we don't have a lot of refeers, only on dedicated accounts).
The only advise I can give you is the same advice anyone on this board that is experienced will give you. Keep a good attitude, work you butt off and it can be a great place to work. I really believe SNI is one of the better companies for new drivers to start at, unfortunately, because they no longer have their own school, it is not an option for some new drivers.
If you have any other questions just feel free to ask!!!
PS: Heard a rumor that SNI is opening a brand new operating center in AZ and hiring a ton of new drivers for that area as they have really increased their freight there.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
Shipper:
The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Dry Van:
A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.Pre-hire:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
Company Sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.