Schneider National DG Dedicated Route...say It Isnt Going To Always Be This Bad

My husband recently went to work for Schneider on a dedicated route..we did alot of research and compared companies etc before he took this job..Schneider itself has been awesome. The problems started with the handling of the dedicated route part. He finished training on a Saturday afternoon around 3:00. Schneider had told him he was going home after training was over and rather than another 12 hour bus trip to travel 5 hours I drove to pick him up. However DG (dedicated route) decided he would be "transporting" a day cab to South Boston immediately, then they put him in a sleeper which was literally full of trash, duct taped windows, broken doors etc..He was so crushed..rapidly everything he had been working for started to vanish..No new truck, no hometime, no dispatch support, and the worst no money..By 9:30 that night we had traveled separately from Charlotte to SB ... 200 dollars later we were in a hotel room in SB both in tears. No one had returned his phone calls, he had zero clue where he was going, his phone had gotten broke when the broken cup holder spilled coffee on his phone..the roads were covered in ice..and it has only gotten worse...He was supposed to receive training pay for DG..he rode with trainer worked the DG account for the week of training but only received the regular training pay..later in SB they told him he would only get training pay if he needed further training..really? The .34 cents a mile is actually .30 They are "looking into the training pay" while we just received a ten day notice as our rent is almost a month behind..I stood in my first food line in the snow..this is crazy..He had the phone on speaker I know what the recruiter said and we budgeted likewise and it was a determining factor of going with Schneider..His first few days no one returned his calls, checked on him..later they apologized "it was the snowstorm" He made several calls as he had problems with the truck, gps etc..He has yet to go on a trip that the truck hasnt had a problem..last night he slepted in 20 degree weather with zero heat (its broke again) he has had zero food/drink today as he was supposed to be driving up and coming right back home then making a delivery two days ago..I know he should be more prepared..we havent had time to do squat..he literally got out of training and has been on the road since with less that 30 hours home... I feel awful Im home warm and he is out there busting his tail..he worked so hard and was so proud of himself when he finished training and then BAM..I dont understand the breakdown between SN and this DG account..My husband is very humble, he will take a lot of crap but this is crazy..they messed up his past two paychecks plus the missing training pay..this is about 800-1000 we are talking about and the future is not getting any brighter..these trucks keep having issues..Im just at a complete loss..He asked to be switched to Regional right when all this started and the recruiter said no..Last night was about the last straw for him..I think this is the third time in two weeks he had zero heat..He "should" be home later tonight and I really want to encourage him not complain ir rant and make it worse..I guess thats why Im trying to vent a bit here and ask for help/advice..thanks in advance for listening

You caught me at a perfect time when I have the time to make a long response!

Alright, I have to ask you. Why were you two expecting a brand new truck? He's a rookie, hasn't pulled a single load, hasn't made a single dime for the company. So what makes him deserving of a brand new truck over someone who has been with the company and is deserving of an upgrade?

The fact is that he is a rookie and will get what he gets, at least in their eyes. So to expect a new truck is the beginning of a disaster.

Let me also point out a few blessings that you might have missed.

Even if he gets .30 cpm starting pay that's still above average and nothing to complain about. The average starting pay for a rookie is .28 cpm. So he will be making more than I did when I started my career.

Also, he got a dedicated account right out of school. That's pretty damn good and lucky. The dedicated probably has many perks including more hometime. Count that big blessing.

Both of the above I didn't get when I was starting my first year. Dedicated account? I wish!!! .30 cpm starting pay? OMG please please!

So do you see what I'm saying? Apart from the truck he honestly has nothing to complain about.

Now about the truck problems.

Having a broken bunk heater isn't pleasant so I won't "defend" that. But everything else can be fixed with a simple visit to a terminal for repairs. It's common knowledge that your first truck probably won't sparkle so don't expect perfection.

He needs to do his time and prove he is worth more than the average driver for him to get special treatment.

My first truck has dog feces in it with the windows down. Who knows how long it was sitting there! So honestly, your husband doesn't have it as bad as he is making it out to be (apart from the bunk heater).

So from my neutral perspective, this is what he needs to do.

Stop calling people and telling them your problems! I'm not going to judge, but I think he's making enemies.

You must be a people person. If things don't go your way you can't throw a fit. Politely ask to be routed to a terminal for repairs.

I think he is digging himself a hole that he might not be able to get out of. Schneider is a fantastic company and it's proven that they take care of their drivers. He is doing something wrong. Dispatch will have no problem routing him to a terminal.

Those first few months and weeks are difficult, unpredictable, and not as profitable as you may think. It's more of a matter of if you can survive.

So tell him you have it on good authority that he needs to calm down, take a step back, put a smile back on his face, and toughen it out. Ask to be routed to a terminal for repairs. After the repairs he needs to hit the road and prove he's a safe, reliable driver that doesn't miss his appointments. Everything else will unfold and he should be happy. But don't expect paradise anytime soon, trucking is extremely difficult in the beginning.

Mrs. S,

As a former Schneider driver let me assure you that Schneider was a great choice for your husband to start his career. But Daniel is correct. He is lucky to have a dedicated account to start with, and a new truck WILL be given to him ONCE he proves himself.

As far as the issues with pay and such. He needs to know what he was told and be adamant about politely asking for it. If they asked him to transport a truck a few hundred miles, they will pay him for that. But he has to ask for it politely. As an example, when I started at Schneider there was a $7,500 sign-on bonus for tanker drivers. I KNEW there was a bonus, I took a screenshot of the webpage showing it, and I had emails from my recruiter saying there was a bonus. When I started I politely asked my Driver Business Leader about the bonus. He told me he has to check if there is one. Before he even got back to me I sent him my screenshot and recruiter emails. He then gave me a form to fill out and I received my bonus. There were other drivers who did not ask about the bonus, and therefore did not receive it. No one is going to chase you to give you stuff in this industry. You have to go out and get it.

Trucking is an industry where nothing is handed to you. It sounds like your husband is a good guy, being humble is useful in this profession, but you also have to develop thick skin and go and get things done.

As far as the truck repairs. Daniel is wrong about having your husband routed to a terminal. It's not completely necessary for certain things. Schneider has a national account with Wingfoot Commercial Tire Centers. Your husband can bring his Schneider fuel card to any of those locations and get stuff fixed. There is a list of things they will fix for Schneider drivers without question. The driver does not have to call dispatch, he just has to go to the desk at a Wingfoot and show his card and tell them what is wrong. I've had tires replaces, headlights replaced, market lights replaced, any basic stuff. The bunk heater probably will need to be fixed at a terminal , but maybe it's an easy fix that Wingfoot CAN do... HE HAS TO ASK.

Also your husband has to realize that Dedicated Accounts are usually more demanding than Regional or OTR. That is because Schneider is trying to serve a specific customer and keep the contract with that customer. And... the customer is always right. But that does not mean he cannot politely ask his Driver Business Leader for pay he was promised, or repairs he needs.

As far as the truck repairs. Daniel is wrong about having your husband routed to a terminal. It's not completely necessary for certain things. Schneider has a national account with Wingfoot Commercial Tire Centers. Your husband can bring his Schneider fuel card to any of those locations and get stuff fixed. There is a list of things they will fix for Schneider drivers without question. The driver does not have to call dispatch, he just has to go to the desk at a Wingfoot and show his card and tell them what is wrong. I've had tires replaces, headlights replaced, market lights replaced, any basic stuff. The bunk heater probably will need to be fixed at a terminal , but maybe it's an easy fix that Wingfoot CAN do... HE HAS TO ASK.

Apologize for that. Guess that's a company specific for Schneider.

Well thanks for the replies...I appreciate the kind things that were said as this is difficult for us as anything new for anyone would be...Please let me clarify and/or explain a couple of things especially to Daniel..Im not really sure why you would say "quit calling people and telling them my problems" I havent made a single phone call and the only ones my husband has made have been directly to any source of any problem or issue he may have had so Im really not sure why you said that..My husband and I both simply expected what he was told..I dont care if the average is .50 a mile or .12, he was told .34 (because he is not a rookie and has experience) so we expected what he was told. He never expected a new truck, he did expect one less than 3 years old, (again as he was told) and I can only assume anyones shock when all the other graduates from Schneider training rolled out in New or less than 3 year old trucks...Trust me he nor I think we are entitled or too good for anything..to assume that is ludicrous..My husband does not have to "prove" himself and be jerked around and then be rewarded for eating crap by receiving a new truck..No..he had an agreement and they defaulted period..if you tell me your giving me a duck..I expect something that quacks and looks like a duck..not a one winged bird that barks. As far as being thick skinned, sucking it up, proving himself etc..thats what he is doing because he has zero choice right now..please let me make it very clear that as far as Schneider goes I think they are a great company my problem is with the breakdown between the OC and the DG account..it is a huge difference..As far as the mechanical issues go..that is going to happen but I really dont think it should happen three times a week and he is losing loads because they have mandatory delivery times and the truck wont make it..and as far as me being a people person. throwing a fit etc..really? If I was throwing fits I sure wouldnt have came on a forum and express my concerns..I never bashed anyone..never cursed..nothing..I had issues..wanted to be an encouragement to a very ****ed off man that is hungry and tired and wants to support his family..so thank you so much Daniel for being so thoughtful and inspiring..

Thinkstoomuch Thank you for the info about the repair company and I completely agree about Schneider being a good choice overall..He is not a rookie to trucking but he is new at OTR and being gone 6 days home one..Its a big change for us..again thank you for the reply

The Biggest Mistake New Drivers Make When Speaking With Recruiters

What The Recruiter Can Not Help You With

The recruiter's job usually ends once you are signed up. Once the classes have begun at CDL school or you're out on the road with your new trucking company, the recruiter collects their check and they're on to the next driver. The promises they made are forgotten, unless you get them in writing. The conversations you had mean nothing any longer. They have no authority, nor any real interest in you anymore, nor should they.

The Biggest Mistake New Drivers Make When Speaking With Recruiters

What The Recruiter Can Not Help You With

The recruiter's job usually ends once you are signed up. Once the classes have begun at CDL school or you're out on the road with your new trucking company, the recruiter collects their check and they're on to the next driver. The promises they made are forgotten, unless you get them in writing. The conversations you had mean nothing any longer. They have no authority, nor any real interest in you anymore, nor should they.

Exactly..so now to just keep rolling :) Thank you

I really want to encourage him not complain ir rant and make it worse..I guess thats why Im trying to vent a bit here and ask for help/advice..thanks in advance for listening

Yeah you can come here and vent or question things or anything you like. That's why we're here and we're happy to help out! And you're totally right - you don't want your husband to blow his top with the company. That's pretty much a death sentence when you're new someplace and even for old timers it can mean you're out the door. Office personnel at trucking companies respond much, much better to professional tones and well thought out concerns. They'll talk all day and work with you if you're respectful and show you genuinely want to be there. But man, they'll shut off the lights and close the door in a big hurry if you get huffy with the wrong people. So I'm glad you came here!

When I first started driving I was 21 years old and I'm an Italian from New York (upstate, not the city). I'm not sure if you've come across a lot of New York Italians but let's just say we don't keep our opinions to ourselves, we don't talk quietly, and we tend to say what we think without worrying about how it comes across. I was always a really nice guy and I always preferred to get along with people. I don't like arguing or any of that. But at the same time I was raised by factory workers, farmers, mechanics, bricklayers, and steel workers. My dad worked in a steel plant for 18 years until it shut down. Then he went to work as a guard at the famous Attica Maximum Security prison - the one with the riot and the movie about it. So as you can tell, I'm not exactly cut out from a delicate cloth.

Well let me tell ya.....that did NOT serve me well at all early in my career. When I had something to say, I said it. I mean, you don't walk around factories or prisons or any of that thinking, "It's not what you say, it's how you say it". Actually, I thought that was one of the dumbest saying ever until I realized that's really true for the vast majority of office personnel, of which I was never one. I didn't know. But I sure learned quickly!!!!!

So indeed, above all else right now, keep your conversations with the company very professional. The moment you hang up the phone you can scream and cuss and throw dishes through the television. But with Schneider, keep it professional. I'm not saying you weren't. I'm just emphasizing how important it is that you don't. I learned the hard way so you can trust me - it ends badly.

But I also agree with the guys above....Schneider is a great company and I think your husband will be really happy there once things settle in. But believe me, we know exactly what you're saying about how much of a catastrophe things have been so far. We all went through it. We've all had lousy trucks we had to recover from drivers who quit and the drivers would poop in the truck, break the windows, rip out the cabinets, and all sorts of mature things. We've had misunderstandings with every division a major company has from logbooks to safety to mechanics to permits. We've been forgotten about and assigned the wrong loads and pulled around behind tow trucks more than we can count. So we can relate very well to everything you and your husband are going through right now and as difficult as it is I hope you guys will continue to fight through it.

Oh, and you mentioned the truck breaking down several times in a short span. Well I can't say it on good authority, but I'm pretty sure the trucking Gods have a mandate....no truck is allowed to break down just one time. It has to be in bunches. You'll go two months without seeing a shop and suddenly you're in there three times in a week. Seriously, it always seems to happen that way. My ma says, "Everything comes in threes" so every time my truck would break down I'd think, "Well, this is one. Two more breakdowns this week and I'll be all set for two months!"

Hang in there Mrs S! Things will get much better, and I hope it happens quickly. Spring will be here before too long, your husband will be all settled into his new routine, the birds will be chirping, the grass will be growing, and all of this will be nothing more than a distant memory and a great story to tell.

I really want to encourage him not complain ir rant and make it worse..I guess thats why Im trying to vent a bit here and ask for help/advice..thanks in advance for listening

Yeah you can come here and vent or question things or anything you like. That's why we're here and we're happy to help out! And you're totally right - you don't want your husband to blow his top with the company. That's pretty much a death sentence when you're new someplace and even for old timers it can mean you're out the door. Office personnel at trucking companies respond much, much better to professional tones and well thought out concerns. They'll talk all day and work with you if you're respectful and show you genuinely want to be there. But man, they'll shut off the lights and close the door in a big hurry if you get huffy with the wrong people. So I'm glad you came here!

When I first started driving I was 21 years old and I'm an Italian from New York (upstate, not the city). I'm not sure if you've come across a lot of New York Italians but let's just say we don't keep our opinions to ourselves, we don't talk quietly, and we tend to say what we think without worrying about how it comes across. I was always a really nice guy and I always preferred to get along with people. I don't like arguing or any of that. But at the same time I was raised by factory workers, farmers, mechanics, bricklayers, and steel workers. My dad worked in a steel plant for 18 years until it shut down. Then he went to work as a guard at the famous Attica Maximum Security prison - the one with the riot and the movie about it. So as you can tell, I'm not exactly cut out from a delicate cloth.

Well let me tell ya.....that did NOT serve me well at all early in my career. When I had something to say, I said it. I mean, you don't walk around factories or prisons or any of that thinking, "It's not what you say, it's how you say it". Actually, I thought that was one of the dumbest saying ever until I realized that's really true for the vast majority of office personnel, of which I was never one. I didn't know. But I sure learned quickly!!!!!

So indeed, above all else right now, keep your conversations with the company very professional. The moment you hang up the phone you can scream and cuss and throw dishes through the television. But with Schneider, keep it professional. I'm not saying you weren't. I'm just emphasizing how important it is that you don't. I learned the hard way so you can trust me - it ends badly.

But I also agree with the guys above....Schneider is a great company and I think your husband will be really happy there once things settle in. But believe me, we know exactly what you're saying about how much of a catastrophe things have been so far. We all went through it. We've all had lousy trucks we had to recover from drivers who quit and the drivers would poop in the truck, break the windows, rip out the cabinets, and all sorts of mature things. We've had misunderstandings with every division a major company has from logbooks to safety to mechanics to permits. We've been forgotten about and assigned the wrong loads and pulled around behind tow trucks more than we can count. So we can relate very well to everything you and your husband are going through right now and as difficult as it is I hope you guys will continue to fight through it.

Oh, and you mentioned the truck breaking down several times in a short span. Well I can't say it on good authority, but I'm pretty sure the trucking Gods have a mandate....no truck is allowed to break down just one time. It has to be in bunches. You'll go two months without seeing a shop and suddenly you're in there three times in a week. Seriously, it always seems to happen that way. My ma says, "Everything comes in threes" so every time my truck would break down I'd think, "Well, this is one. Two more breakdowns this week and I'll be all set for two months!"

Hang in there Mrs S! Things will get much better, and I hope it happens quickly. Spring will be here before too long, your husband will be all settled into his new routine, the birds will be chirping, the grass will be growing, and all of this will be nothing more than a distant memory and a great story to tell.

Oh my gosh !! Thank you that is exactly what I needed.