Schneider, Walmart Or Roehl?

Whosfate asked:

Question, in your experience, when you request home time, can you request that those days be on the weekend each time? I would rather spend my home time with the family when the kids are not in school. Better to come home Friday night/Saturday morning and leave again on Monday.

I can only answer for how Swift runs the DC operation I am assigned to. Each driver has one or two days each week as their designated day(s) off. Walmart DC operations is a 24x7x362 operation; Christmas Day, New Years Day and Thanksgiving day are the only times when there are no deliveries scheduled.

Schneider has this funny little rule about leaving the truck at the terminal if you live within a certain proximity to it. You can always ask.

I completely agree with G-Town - that's a nice gig, but really tough on beginners.

Old School, I will definitely ask about that. According to Google maps, I am 1.5 hours of drive time from the terminal.

As far as being tough on beginners, I can absolutely see that being the case. But I also see that it could be a great way to get very proficient at backing skills and time management. Pros and cons to everything, make the best of it is all you can do.

Whosfate wrote:

Coming from a project manager background, I have always found that asking the right questions from those in the know goes a long way in planning.

Click on my name near the Avitar image of my cameo shot, and you can read my bio...I can relate to your point. Your PM skills will serve you well on the WM account, especially the nuances of time management and the finesse required interacting with the stores. The less time you spend at each one, the more likely you will return to the DC empty, same day and if possible, grab a second run.

Happy to answer any further questions...good luck

Whosfate, having your home time on weekends is very easily, actually preferable. There are a lot of shipper / receivers that are not open on the weekend. For example: GFS in Shephardsville, KY stops receiving at 2200 on Friday and doesn't start receiving again until 1800 on Sunday. I may have those times switched, but anyway... my point is it is easy to do hometime on weekends.

Thank you to everyone for all the helpful posts, much appreciated. I spoke with Schneider yesterday and got the rundown of what this dedicated Walmart positions entails.

• Night schedule (starts at 6:00 pm) that runs 5 days out / 2 days off • Days off would be weekdays • After CDL class, would spend 18 days at orientation in Carlisle, PA • 2-4 extra days to learn the Walmart account • Truck would be left in Bedford for P/T drivers to use while I was off • After 6 months, I would be assigned my own truck that would not be shared • Pay raise at 6 months and 1 year • 7 – 8 loads per day / 2 – 3 stops per load ($15/stop after first stop) • Trucks are Freightliner Cascadia or Century Classics (I thought the CC’s had production discontinued in 2010, that would be an old truck by now) They said everyone starts with a manual transmission (yay!), but can request an automatic after awhile.

I still have much to consider as to whether I want in on trucking in general, and this gig in particular. I have phone interview with Roehl on Monday. Initial contact with Roehl indicated I could do either Van or Flatbed on the National fleet (11-4/3) or their NE Regional (home weekends). The NE Regional fleet pays a little less, but I see from their map I may spend some time in their “Gold Zone”.

Patrick, thank you for your insight on home time. Would much prefer my time off to be on the weekend and be awake during the day! I worked at company that shipped a lot of freight via truck, usually flatbed. We quit taking trucks on Friday at 14:00 and started again on Monday at 06:00.

G-Town, I see you were into computers for 30 years. I started my BA in Information Technology many years ago, but never finished.

I must say that I really like this forum, I have looked at a few others and from the posts on those sites, no one in their right mind would even consider getting started in trucking…LOL

Ahhh…so many decisions, and I didn’t even apply to multiple companies. In considering this career change, we are making this decision together as a family and praying hard about it.

Thanks everyone!

Who's fate wrote:

7– 8 loads per day / 2 – 3 stops per load ($15/stop after first stop)

That cannot be a daily figure, more in-line with a weekly average.

G-Town, you are correct!

That should have been per week. I noticed that after I submitted the post, but didn't see how to edit my post. Is there a way to do this?

G-Town, you are correct!

That should have been per week. I noticed that after I submitted the post, but didn't see how to edit my post. Is there a way to do this?

Try to hit preview and review your text b4 pressing send. There isn't an edit or recall feature. You can always post an immediate correction to overide a mistake.

Glad to hear there is a seperate training period learning the Walmart account. We do something similar, running a new hire with an experienced hand for a few days.

Keep us posted on your progress.

Just thought that I would keep everyone updated on this thread (and yes I changed my screen name).

I had initially applied to both Schneider (for a dedicated Walmart run) and Roehl. My family and I decided that the Schneider position was not for us, so I contacted them and basically said thanks, but no thanks. Roehl is still on the list.

Another decision to make was what type of trailer do I want to pull around; reefers were definitely out for me. I have decided that should I accept this mission, flat bedding is what i want to do. So Roehl is still in the game and I spoke with TMC yesterday. Since deciding to do flat beds, I am leaning more toward TMC at this point and their in-house CDL training program. The recruiter there has to process my application yet and then said it would go before a hiring committee. Should know within a week if they decide to offer me a position. They seem more selective.

I spoke with my recruiter at Roehl yesterday to get some things answered and he told me that flat bed training is now at Marshfield, van is now done in Gary, IN and reefer is done at Appleton. Seems they switched some things around.

We have continued to pray and contemplate if this is the right career move for not only me, but my family as well. I want to thank Brett and everyone here who contributes to the first hand info of the trucking world. It is a great source of quality information!

G-Town, I passed a Swift truck on Wednesday, 3/1 pulling a Walmart trailer. I was headed into Lewistown, PA at 1000 on 322 East. Swift truck was headed toward State College on 322 West. Was that you?

Rubber duck asked:

G-Town, I passed a Swift truck on Wednesday, 3/1 pulling a Walmart trailer. I was headed into Lewistown, PA at 1000 on 322 East. Swift truck was headed toward State College on 322 West. Was that you?

No sir. North Jersey yesterday. Thanks for thinking of me. Good luck with all this.