Schneider Income Potential For New Drivers And Budgeting Tips For Newbies.

Hi guys. Last question for the day. After the orientation and training period and once you get out there on your own... What is the realistic income that a new driver will make working at Schneider. I want to drive OTR Tankers. From Chicago, where I would be based out of, there are salaries that $82K a year, but I know that this would probably apply to experienced more seasoned drivers and not new grads.

I start CDL training 1/5/15. And that is basically a full time gig.... and I am working with my school on being pre-hire at Schneider, so orientation and training will be almost immediate..... the instructor told us to start to figure out finances for the next couple of months until we can stabilize our income driving solo because once we graduate it will be non-stop.

All that being said, how much would I realistically be making as a new driver after the paid training and orientation? I gotta keep up with my mortgage and car note and am trying to figure it all out!

Any info would be awesome. Also any info on budgeting/ money tips for the new driver would be greatly appreciated.

Hi, I have a phone interview tomorrow with sni bulk and one of the questions i will ask is about how many miles new tank drivers get. as a rule of thumb brand new cdl drivers can expect about 100000 miles their first year so if you multiply your cents per mile times 100,000 miles you know about how much you will make in the first year. winter is slow and summer has more miles so we generally make more in the 2nd and third quarters. I will relay what the recruiter tell me tomorrow night.

EvanstonMark, this is a tough question to answer because much of your income will depend not on Schneider, but on your performance. I will say that Schneider tanker jobs pay very well, and if you prove to be a good steady driver there's no reason why you can't make 40,000+ dollars your first year. Realize though that there is a huge learning curve that you will be going through. Schneider's training is awesome, and they will do every thing they can to get you off to a great start. They know how to produce good results. Once they turn you loose you will encounter all the many difficulties that any rookie driver squares up against. It's not so much the difficulties that cause the problems for new drivers as it is the way the face them. You will understand all of what I'm saying more clearly about three or four months into your first solo months.

One of the best things a new driver can do for himself is have a little savings set aside just in case he needs it. I realize this isn't always possible for everyone, but it sure helps ease the stress if you have regular obligations to take care of. One of the problems with getting your feet wet in this industry is the fact that you haven't yet really established yourself as a strong driver yet, so your dispatcher hasn't gotten a feel for what you can do. Therefore your paychecks may be very inconsistent for a few months. Once you've kind of proven yourself with always being on time, not getting yourself too far out of route, and not being the type of driver who generally needs to be babysat by dispatch, then you can start expecting them to trust you with longer runs or runs with more critical time lines. Switching from an hourly or a salary based pay scale to a performance based pay system is difficult for some folks. I love it - when I know that the more I get done the more I'm going to earn, I'm going to produce more than you will ever believe I could. I've always been paid by performance so I fell right into this career like a duck getting in the water.

Hi, I have a phone interview tomorrow with sni bulk and one of the questions i will ask is about how many miles new tank drivers get. as a rule of thumb brand new cdl drivers can expect about 100000 miles their first year so if you multiply your cents per mile times 100,000 miles you know about how much you will make in the first year. winter is slow and summer has more miles so we generally make more in the 2nd and third quarters. I will relay what the recruiter tell me tomorrow night.

I would definitely appreciate that! Thanks! Do you know if they send drivers out to the West Coast or is it basically East of the Mississippi? I meet the area SNI recruiter next month when he sits down with us 1 on 1, but when it comes to budgets and $$$ or the lack of, I rather be ready and have more time to figure things out.

I would definitely appreciate that! Thanks! Do you know if they send drivers out to the West Coast or is it basically East of the Mississippi? I meet the area SNI recruiter next month when he sits down with us 1 on 1, but when it comes to budgets and $$$ or the lack of, I rather be ready and have more time to figure things out.

I spoke with an SNL recruiter today about starting on the Regional Vans. Their "region" is basically the eastern half of the US South of I-80. Not much into NYC or Boston. (Break my hillbilly heart ;-)) Anything west of the states bordering the Mississippi require teams.

It may be different with tanks but I doubt it. Running to the west coast is a 4 or 5 day run at best for a single.

I'm going to Schneider Dec. 30th. Tanker isn't available in my area, but I'll give you what I know and have learned.

My position supposedly averages 2,500-2,800 miles per week. Two rookie Schneider Drivers stopped by our first week of school. They were both less than six months as solo and both said they were averaging 2,000 miles per week. Both had equipment issues requiring replacement trucks, but both felt Schneider had delivered everything promised. Heck one guy had a rental car provided so he could leave his truck at the shop and go pick up a new truck AND Schneider paid him for his driving time (flat rate, not cents per mile) to go get the new truck.

3 of my school trainers had worked for Schneider (2 of them retired after 30+ years) and they all spoke very highly of Schneider. The one that had the least time with them said if he hadn't gone blind in one eye, he'd still be with them. They told me the training at Schneider is great and to expect to do all the driving during those weeks.

When the field recruiter showed up at school, everything he said was consistent with what the phone recruiter had quoted me.

As for budgeting, I'm planning on needing two months of expenses. Just because the pay is low during training and there will be something I have to buy that I didn't expect.

I'm jealous you'll have the opportunity to go tanker. I got my hazmat and tanker endorsements but not available here.

Good luck!

Hi, well my interview was short it seems i am to far from Savannah. i was told i would need to be less than 100 miles and i am 300. things change, it might be the time of year. I told them i would check back in a couple of months. good luck in what ever you choose.

I'm going to Schneider Dec. 30th. Tanker isn't available in my area, but I'll give you what I know and have learned.

My position supposedly averages 2,500-2,800 miles per week. Two rookie Schneider Drivers stopped by our first week of school. They were both less than six months as solo and both said they were averaging 2,000 miles per week. Both had equipment issues requiring replacement trucks, but both felt Schneider had delivered everything promised. Heck one guy had a rental car provided so he could leave his truck at the shop and go pick up a new truck AND Schneider paid him for his driving time (flat rate, not cents per mile) to go get the new truck.

3 of my school trainers had worked for Schneider (2 of them retired after 30+ years) and they all spoke very highly of Schneider. The one that had the least time with them said if he hadn't gone blind in one eye, he'd still be with them. They told me the training at Schneider is great and to expect to do all the driving during those weeks.

When the field recruiter showed up at school, everything he said was consistent with what the phone recruiter had quoted me.

As for budgeting, I'm planning on needing two months of expenses. Just because the pay is low during training and there will be something I have to buy that I didn't expect.

I'm jealous you'll have the opportunity to go tanker. I got my hazmat and tanker endorsements but not available here.

Good luck!

Congrats on starting with them! How is it going so far? I just started CDL training yesterday. Thanks for the info. The more I read about it, Schneider National seems to be a good place to work. What division are you going to be driving for? I definitely am still interested in tankers, but possibly Intermodal later on when i am ready for some home time. Keep us posted on how things are going in orientation. It must be half way over by now! I am interested in hearing how your time on the road with a trainer is goin.....

EvanstonMark, this is a tough question to answer because much of your income will depend not on Schneider, but on your performance. I will say that Schneider tanker jobs pay very well, and if you prove to be a good steady driver there's no reason why you can't make 40,000+ dollars your first year. Realize though that there is a huge learning curve that you will be going through. Schneider's training is awesome, and they will do every thing they can to get you off to a great start. They know how to produce good results. Once they turn you loose you will encounter all the many difficulties that any rookie driver squares up against. It's not so much the difficulties that cause the problems for new drivers as it is the way the face them. You will understand all of what I'm saying more clearly about three or four months into your first solo months.

One of the best things a new driver can do for himself is have a little savings set aside just in case he needs it. I realize this isn't always possible for everyone, but it sure helps ease the stress if you have regular obligations to take care of. One of the problems with getting your feet wet in this industry is the fact that you haven't yet really established yourself as a strong driver yet, so your dispatcher hasn't gotten a feel for what you can do. Therefore your paychecks may be very inconsistent for a few months. Once you've kind of proven yourself with always being on time, not getting yourself too far out of route, and not being the type of driver who generally needs to be babysat by dispatch, then you can start expecting them to trust you with longer runs or runs with more critical time lines. Switching from an hourly or a salary based pay scale to a performance based pay system is difficult for some folks. I love it - when I know that the more I get done the more I'm going to earn, I'm going to produce more than you will ever believe I could. I've always been paid by performance so I fell right into this career like a duck getting in the water.

Thanks Old School. I am definitely looking forward to meeting with the Schneider recruiter when he/she swings by my school. The one other company I am definitely interested in is Roehl. I've heard that they tend to be more regional and that miles with them are on the lower side? But people say that their training is top notch too... All these choices... It is such a welcomed change....

Stay safe out there!

Hi, well my interview was short it seems i am to far from Savannah. i was told i would need to be less than 100 miles and i am 300. things change, it might be the time of year. I told them i would check back in a couple of months. good luck in what ever you choose.

Oh that sucks! Don't they have intermodal over there? Have you started with Schneider? Or have you gone with another company?