Schneider Orientation Next Week

While at TDI in Milton, Florida, they gave us a stack of applications. From that stack I applied with over a dozen trucking companies; some that I have never heard of to the more common carriers. There was one carrier that I had to complete the application online: Schneider. I completed the Schneider application on Day 2 of the School, and on Day 3 I got a call from them. The recruiter gave a good amount of information, and I was hooked. Basically, there would be a sign on bonus, Tuition Reimbursement even though the GI Bill paid for my school, and the VA approved apprenticeship program. What’s nice about that is receiving up to $1,100 (probably BAH) a month, tax free and a few other goodies. That day I emailed her my DD-214 and some other paperwork and completed an online background request. Then I was told to call her back when I graduated to set up the orientation. Initially she told me that the position I applied for meant “slip seating.” I can say from experience that when I was a deputy sheriff, I had my own patrol car and seldom had to share it with another deputy. The times when I was on vacation or off 7 days for rotation week, a deputy on the other rotation would have his car breakdown and I would let him use mine. Of course, when I got my car, the brakes were messed up, interior smelling like stale farts and cigarettes and it was dirtier than sewer rat. Also, every time some knucklehead borrowed my car, I would get called into the Lt’s office for speeding, running red lights, etc. So slip seating wasn’t something I wanted to do. Fortunately, the recruiter at Schneider graciously took me off of that job and put on a regional run. In the meantime, I did talk to a few other companies. One even scheduled me for orientation when at no time did I ever speak to them to even arrange for it. I also applied for some local driving jobs too. It is tough to find a local job without having OTR experience. It does help, however, to have some military driving, especially with the line haul trucks. While still in School, I also applied with Sysco as a Shuttle Driver. It was a job announcement I found on Indeed.com. All I had to do was to get a doubles/triples endorsement. The day I finished TDI and got my Class A CDL , I took the Tanker and Double/Triples Endorsement. Why not? In Florida it’s only 7.00 each for the two endorsements, and the exams were too easy. Plus, it made the HR lady at Sysco very happy!

After all of research I’ve done, Sysco seemed to be a good paying job for a company that seems to take care of their employees. Most reviews seemed very positive, and average pay is 21.00-27.00 an hour. The highest pay I ever got was just under 20.00 an hour after working 12.5 years at the same place. To make it a sweeter deal, it is local, and me having a 16 week old daughter, plus my love for jogging and going to the gym, so staying local was a plus. Yesterday I went to their DC in Geneva, Alabama and interviewed. It was probably the best interview I’ve ever had, and probably one that I could not have been better prepared for. After about 35-45 minutes, they gave me some paperwork to complete while I was there “in case” I was hired. Then they said that they were impressed, liked what they saw and I would hear back in a day or so. Unfortunately I got edged out by another driver but that was ok. I still had Schneider and perhaps I need to the OTR training and experience anyways. But even better, Sysco called me and said that they were so impressed with my interview and background that they placed me at the top of the list. Therefore the next opening would be mine if I wanted it. So Starting Tuesday, I’ll begin orientation with Schneider. Guess I need to pay my dues over the road anyways, so I’m still looking forward to Schneider. I have 99% of everything ready to go. Maybe in a week or so I’ll be getting ready to take the wheel and hit the highway. Sorry for the rambling. Thanks,

Congrats! I am w/SNI OTR & I graduated TDI Milton in December. So far SNI has done everything promised.

Good luck & stay in touch.

Good to hear Steve. Small world! I live in Milton and used to work at the Sheriff's Office across the road from TDI. Had a great time at TDI, and looking forward to working for Schneider!

Any advice aside from the instructions is welcome. Thanks!!