Schneider Dropped The Ball... Twice.

In early November of 2021 I applied for a job with Schneider OTR. I had been in contact with a recruiter, Chee Nou Thao. After a few weeks I didn't hear back so I went to the Schneider website and saw that my application had been withdrawn. The reason was because Schneider had no job openings in USA-American Samoa which is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the independent state of Samoa.

I notified the head of Schneider Recruiting Department and stated that, due to the bizarre entry, and that I applied for OTR in Florida, I would like to know what is going on. I even asked for another recruiter, but they said no.

So finally this recruiter, Chee Nou Thao finally gets back to me and says that I need to reapply for the job I want. No one offered an explanation as to where this USA-American Samoa came from, who entered it or how it even appeared. Perhaps Chee Nou Thao is from the USA-American Samoa... who knows, but I can assure that I didn't see any job openings in the USA-American Samoa area, and if I did, I would not have applied for that area living here in Florida.

The recruiter Chee Nou Thao and I spoke over the phone and through emails discussing my next move so we decided to move forward in getting me into training and back on the road again. I went through their DOT Physical and drug screening and they sent me a prehire form and a schedule with a preplanned trip info sheet. I asked about a rental car and hotel information and he said that I will be all set to go to Budget Rental and pick up my car. I still didn't have any hotel information but thought I would figure all that out as I went along.

That morning I got all packed and headed to the car rental place. I told the guy at the counter that I was there to pick up my car, but he couldn't find me in the system. If asked to provide a employee or driver number when picking up the rental car, there's a number I can give them...nope, can't find that either. If there's any issues and need verbal confirmation of your travel, your travel requirement can be validated by calling 800-558-6706 Monday - Friday 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. CST, Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. CST and Sunday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. CST.

So I call the number and the guy tells me that he also cannot find any reservation information on me, car rental nor hotel... reason is, my recruiter never called anything in. He gives me another number to call in which I am now sent to an automated answering system, you know, press this for that then press that for something else. I finally get to the correct department only to be told that they're open during the week days, but closed on the weekends. I am then transferred to an operator where I sit on hold for a very long time. By this time I am ****ed. Will be looking for another company that doesn't treat its future employees like crap.

In early November of 2021 I applied for a job with Schneider OTR. I had been in contact with a recruiter, Chee Nou Thao. After a few weeks I didn't hear back so I went to the Schneider website and saw that my application had been withdrawn. The reason was because Schneider had no job openings in USA-American Samoa which is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the independent state of Samoa.

I notified the head of Schneider Recruiting Department and stated that, due to the bizarre entry, and that I applied for OTR in Florida, I would like to know what is going on. I even asked for another recruiter, but they said no.

So finally this recruiter, Chee Nou Thao finally gets back to me and says that I need to reapply for the job I want. No one offered an explanation as to where this USA-American Samoa came from, who entered it or how it even appeared. Perhaps Chee Nou Thao is from the USA-American Samoa... who knows, but I can assure that I didn't see any job openings in the USA-American Samoa area, and if I did, I would not have applied for that area living here in Florida.

The recruiter Chee Nou Thao and I spoke over the phone and through emails discussing my next move so we decided to move forward in getting me into training and back on the road again. I went through their DOT Physical and drug screening and they sent me a prehire form and a schedule with a preplanned trip info sheet. I asked about a rental car and hotel information and he said that I will be all set to go to Budget Rental and pick up my car. I still didn't have any hotel information but thought I would figure all that out as I went along.

That morning I got all packed and headed to the car rental place. I told the guy at the counter that I was there to pick up my car, but he couldn't find me in the system. If asked to provide a employee or driver number when picking up the rental car, there's a number I can give them...nope, can't find that either. If there's any issues and need verbal confirmation of your travel, your travel requirement can be validated by calling 800-558-6706 Monday - Friday 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. CST, Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. CST and Sunday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. CST.

So I call the number and the guy tells me that he also cannot find any reservation information on me, car rental nor hotel... reason is, my recruiter never called anything in. He gives me another number to call in which I am now sent to an automated answering system, you know, press this for that then press that for something else. I finally get to the correct department only to be told that they're open during the week days, but closed on the weekends. I am then transferred to an operator where I sit on hold for a very long time. By this time I am ****ed. Will be looking for another company that doesn't treat its future employees like crap.

I'm actually speechless. I think Chee has some 'beef' with you, and has probably read this post, anyway. It's inherent time, to move ON, THEN!

Have you tried here ?!?!? >>>Apply For Paid CDL Training & Apply For Truck Driving Jobs?!?

Wish you well; hope the SNI guys within Trucking Truth, stop in soon!

Being Valentine's weekend and SUPERBOWL weekend, and the CN protests (or not?) and all....it's been QUIET.

Best wishes!!

~ Anne & Tom ~

ps: I'll also throw in CFI .. as I know (or have heard) they hire from Florida (I'm from there, myself!) and many companies do NOT. Dutch Maid Logistics here in Ohio, also hires from Florida, as that is where their farms are.

What is it that led you to Schneider? They're not a bad company by any means but knowing what's important to you can help us guide you to companies that operate the same. What's the game plan now? Have you applied anywhere else?

Will be looking for another company that doesn't treat its future employees like crap

It sounds like you went through a frustrating sequence of events here.

Please keep in mind that the fault may not necessarily be Schneiders. Stuff happens sometimes. Your recruiter might not be very good at his job. But trust me, Schneider and most other companies out there are constantly bringing in new drivers. The higher-ups at Schneider did not want to frustrate you so much that you would look elsewhere for a job. In fact they would probably be disappointed if they knew the circumstances surrounding your attempt to join the company.

I hope you find it much easier to get on board with the next company you choose.

The point here is that I have been trying to close my business which meant trying to meet deadlines for previous customers. The past few days were hellish working overtime so I don't leave customers hanging. The job with schneider was being planned for a couple of months now. I wanted to go with schneider because they have the shortest training. I've driven OTR in the past, but haven't been on the road for 12 years now.

I was to pickup this rental car from the Orlando International Airport. There's no signage showing where to pick the car up from, only rental returns. I followed the rental return signs after driving in circles looking for the Budget Car Rental place. Finally get there and try explaining my situation which was, a car is to be planned for my pickup by my recruiter... well of course I explained all that.

Trying to get this issue resolved over the phone was like playing "pass the buck", so after getting a run around for over an hour I decided to go back home. Schneider knows about this because I sent an email off to the recruiting department with the same story, word for word. I want them to know how upset I am over this, plans were made to move forward and schneider let me down again.

So what's next? I have put in an application with Roehl. I'm not aware that CFI has a training school. If they do I haven't found it, but would absolutely consider them. I believe that Dutch Maid is tankers which I'm not interested in. I just don't get it... the USA-American Samoa listing and now this. Driver shortage and here I am with over 5 years of OTR experience including safety awards, and here's a company playing stupid games.

I've asked for another recruiter and they said no. I wanted a recruiter that could at least do their job, after all, a company who hires a driver wants nothing less from their employees. This guy messed up my plans, and maybe it's for the better. I can't afford a CDL school, but will be contacting SAGE school where I went before and ask them if I can simply take the driving test there, get my CDL back which will give me more opportunities. That way I'm not stuck with some half witted recruiter at a company paid CDL school.

I don't think I've been this p'd off since my last colonoscopy.

Of course we’re not going to get Schneider’s side of this story, but nevertheless Chuck B had a bad experience.

My experience with Schneider (twice), was just the opposite. Their recruiters were very professional and helpful. Everything they told me was fulfilled by the company. The only thing I can think of is that Schneider uses outside recruiters to some extent or another besides their in-house recruiters. There can always be one bad apple in the barrel.

If I were Chuck, I’d just move on to another company. But I think his experience with Schneider was an anomaly.

I don't think I've been this p'd off since my last colonoscopy.

That's hilarious! (Sorry!)

Dutch Maid Logistics hauls reefers, Chuck.

CFI is slowly transforming into TFI since their recent acquisitions, so you might have to look into 'both' .. even though they are one in the same.

We would never recommend a tank outfit to a newbie getting started.

Again, wish you well!

~ Anne ~

ps: Apply For Paid CDL Training

After 12 years away from this industry, you should know that most companies are going to treat you as a brand new driver. You will likely have to attend CDL school again, a 160-hour accredited school. While you may have retained the skills and knowledge of driving a big truck, the insurance companies are going to be the reason behind this. It’s doubtful SAGE will allow you to come in, take a driving test, and sign off on another CDL for you. Again, insurance reasons. I feel like you should already know that. This and some other incongrities in your detail of events leave some holes.

Where were you going to drive the rental car to? I thought the only in-house CDL training Schneider provided was in Green Bay, WI. I wasn’t aware either that Schneider provided transportation to Green Bay, and I can pretty much guarantee you that Schneider is not going to provide rental cars plus hotel rooms for every prospective employee. I know that almost 5 years ago when I went through the bulk training in Houston, TX, I had to get myself there from Billings, MT, where I obtained my CDL (also from SAGE), on my own dime. But once I became an employee of Schneider, they rented me cars and put me in hotel rooms whenever necessary.

You seem very intent on dragging Schneider‘s name through mud here… going into such detail about times/hours and phone numbers and recruiters names…do you have a previous experience with them, maybe from 12 years ago? If you could provide a little more info about what you were going to do, where you were going with that rental car, that would be helpful. Moving forward, I wouldn’t hesitate to take the advice already given by others and apply elsewhere. There are plenty of other companies hiring with features and benefits similar to Schneider‘s. I am sorry that you had such a bad experience with them.

After 12 years away from this industry, you should know that most companies are going to treat you as a brand new driver. You will likely have to attend CDL school again, a 160-hour accredited school. While you may have retained the skills and knowledge of driving a big truck, the insurance companies are going to be the reason behind this. It’s doubtful SAGE will allow you to come in, take a driving test, and sign off on another CDL for you. Again, insurance reasons. I feel like you should already know that. This and some other incongrities in your detail of events leave some holes.

Where were you going to drive the rental car to? I thought the only in-house CDL training Schneider provided was in Green Bay, WI. I wasn’t aware either that Schneider provided transportation to Green Bay, and I can pretty much guarantee you that Schneider is not going to provide rental cars plus hotel rooms for every prospective employee. I know that almost 5 years ago when I went through the bulk training in Houston, TX, I had to get myself there from Billings, MT, where I obtained my CDL (also from SAGE), on my own dime. But once I became an employee of Schneider, they rented me cars and put me in hotel rooms whenever necessary.

You seem very intent on dragging Schneider‘s name through mud here… going into such detail about times/hours and phone numbers and recruiters names…do you have a previous experience with them, maybe from 12 years ago? If you could provide a little more info about what you were going to do, where you were going with that rental car, that would be helpful. Moving forward, I wouldn’t hesitate to take the advice already given by others and apply elsewhere. There are plenty of other companies hiring with features and benefits similar to Schneider‘s. I am sorry that you had such a bad experience with them.

You seem to not be very up to date with what Schneider is doing as far as recruiting. Schneider will train to get your CDL, that information is widely known. Schneider's training facility is in Charlotte, NC, rental car from Florida to NC. All training, hotel, rental car and meals paid for by Schneider... would you like me to research anything else for you?

No Chuck, that is plenty. Thank you for the info, I appreciate it. I was sidestepping it, but I’ll be blunt now. I’ve met so many numbnuts at the OCs driving for Schneider, that it’s hard for me to digest that someone who has their head screwed on as well as yours has found such difficulty getting into the company. It makes me think there’s something amiss on your end. That is all. Best of luck to you.