OTR Drivers Stop Wasting Your Time And Effort!

Ok, now I am just getting into trucking. Schneider looks good. Can anyone else comment on the allegation of decreasing miles upon getting raises? What about getting 'stuck' in the NE? This news is making me re-think my career move. Thanks

Schneider is IMO one of the best companies to start with, especially their tanker division. If unemployment hadn't wiped out a good part of my savings I would pay for schooling myself and apply for Schneider. Note that my opinions are merely based on research I have done and am just barely getting started myself.

Over-the-Road experience is usually needed to be able to be hired for local positions.

Check out Raider Express: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JMBvw8viQw

Can anyone else comment on the allegation of decreasing miles upon getting raises?

I agree with Daniel - that is totally false. After years in the industry and being at top pay for the companies I worked for I couldn't beg for a break. I always ran hard and had tons of miles anywhere I went.

What about getting 'stuck' in the NE?

Again I agree with Daniel. Once in a while you'll get into the Northeast and you'll get stuck running a couple of loads up there. It might last 3-5 days and then it'll be time for them to get you a load somewhere else.

Both of these issues are normally issues that arise between a driver and dispatcher. It could be that one of them or maybe both are to blame. Maybe the driver has a terrible attitude, is lazy, or isn't reliable enough to earn the big miles and special favors the others are getting. Maybe the dispatcher is making a new driver prove themselves. Maybe the dispatcher isn't paying attention and didn't notice the recent poor miles or several runs in a row in the Northeast. Maybe the dispatcher simply doesn't like the driver and doesn't care.

But that kind of stuff is nothing to worry about from any company. Once you've proven yourself to be safe, reliable, hard working, and professional you can get great miles & fair treatment at about any company in the nation. But you have to know how to go about it. You have to learn how your company is structured. You have to get to know your dispatcher and at least two levels of bosses above him. You have to know how to talk to people so you don't make enemies instead of progress every time you ask for something. But most importantly you have to develop a solid working relationship with a decent dispatcher. That's the key. Your dispather is resonsible for making sure you're taken care of. He/she is the one who will speak up to the load planners and let them know if a driver is getting shorted on miles or getting stuck in the Northeast. They are your point of contact and they will take care of things inside the offices for you most of the time.

If you're hard working, safe, reliable, and professional you can do great at pretty much any company in America. Several companies I worked for over the years had a pretty bad reputation and a lot of miserable drivers. But I always had tons of miles and they took great care of me because I always worked hard and got the job done out there. I made sure that if there was a critical load of any sort that I would be the guy they'd want on it.

In my first nine months I've gone from 28 to 40 CPM and my monthly miles have gone from 8500 to 11000 per month. Started in one of the oldest trucks in the fleet and in April, got the keys to a brand new truck.

Prove your worth to the company you are with and they will reward you. If not, get your year experience (which in itself is extremely valuable) and move on.

What kind of trailer do you pull. what endorsements do you have. if a company is looking for driver what kind of experience do the look for and how much.

I pull pneumatic trailers for sand we also have water and oil division as well. most companies out here pay you by the hour and the minimum they pay is $20 an hour. you get over time up to 70 hours a week. they pretty much want you to have all the endorsements especially hazmat and tanker.

Ok, now I am just getting into trucking. Schneider looks good. Can anyone else comment on the allegation of decreasing miles upon getting raises? What about getting 'stuck' in the NE? This news is making me re-think my career move. Thanks

Schneider is the best of the wors! it's only good for 6 months to year just to get your training. you will be pretty much a local driver up in the crazy traffic in NE! been there done that. if you are looking for something long term I suggests you try a smaller company. I was based out of Indianapolis I spent most of my time in NE. infact I have a friend he was based out of Dallas and he still spent most of his time in NE! they give NE to the rookies because the experienced drivers refuse to go up there. and that's where the lack of miles come!

Ok, now I am just getting into trucking. Schneider looks good. Can anyone else comment on the allegation of decreasing miles upon getting raises? What about getting 'stuck' in the NE? This news is making me re-think my career move. Thanks

I feel obligated to answer.

Decreasing miles upon a raise is complete bull. They wouldn't pay you X amount if you weren't a profit. They're a business, and like all businesses, they're there to make money. I assure you this is completely false.

Jeff, some weeks in trucking are great, some weeks are just good enough and some weeks are bad. What sucks about the NE is that the distances from city to city is small so the loads aren't as long. Not going to lie, you will get NE loads here and there, but you'll usually just do a couple and leave. Maximum time you'll be "stuck" is for a week. It's not like you go there and you're there for months.

Jeff, I would strongly suggest you don't read a single sentence written by that knucklehead. His numbers are embarrassingly wrong so that tells me he has no experience and doesn't know what he's talking about. 90% of what he's said is horsecrap, yes I've read all of it.

I've been there and done it all. and I'm currently working here in ND I know what's going on here at the Bakken. if you don't believe it, do some research and ask other people around you little STINKY ****! I don't even ****ing now you so next time you respond to a comment be nice about it you STUPID SOB!

In my first nine months I've gone from 28 to 40 CPM and my monthly miles have gone from 8500 to 11000 per month. Started in one of the oldest trucks in the fleet and in April, got the keys to a brand new truck.

Prove your worth to the company you are with and they will reward you. If not, get your year experience (which in itself is extremely valuable) and move on.

Who do you work for?

Over-the-Road experience is usually needed to be able to be hired for local positions.

Check out Raider Express: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JMBvw8viQw

Smaller companies are always better to make money than large fleets, however most companies get you by that per diem as soon as I opt out of it my paycheck dropped down! I'm single if I didn't opt out of it I would be owing tax by the end of the year. it's great for those who married and have children to claim.

The money is there and so are the hours. My CDL school instructor did it. He had one of the physical jobs with 12-14 hour days, 10 days on/3 off. After 11/2 years he was tired of the routine and quit.

Here are some things I heard from some folks from a town near Minot ND.

The money is good. The work can be hard and boring. Even though the money is good, the cost of living is very high. A 2/1 apartment goes for around $1100 or more. There are very few places left to put your RV/5th wheel, etc..... if you find one, the space is going to cost you plenty.

Here is a sad social fact they told me. The oil companies came in and bought hotels, motels, apartment complexes etc.... unfortunately rates that were reasonable for senior citizens were raised to the amounts mentioned above, BY THE OIL COMPANIES, and these folks on fixed income were forced out with no where to go locally because of the OIL BOOM. A real economic boom for some but a social disaster for many.