Schneider Wal-Mart Dedicated

[jonp]

Been at this job for a couple of weeks now and thought I'd share a little about it.

It's running Groceries from the Henderson, NC Wal-Mart RDC in NC, Southern VA and one run to Johnson City, TN. Mostly night driving and 5 on/ 2 off with 48hrs off and that I'd be home 3-4 days a week min.

How is it working? Well, in 3 weeks I have been out overnight (or overday) once and that was because I couldnt find 2 of the Wal-Marts and got stuck 50miles from the yard when my hours were up. 48 hours home means just that. When I come in I put my ready or slot time 48hrs out and thats that. The downside of this is if I get home 2000 on Monday then I have a ready time of 2000 on Wed. Positive is if I get home Tues am then I'm off till Thurs am with a good chance of not going out till Thurs evening.

All trucks are slip-seated but this isnt proving to be a problem because all the guys are pretty clean and we are not spending the night in the truck anyways. They could run this with day-cabs and do alright.

They tend to use up your clock pretty much. I'm not back much before 12hrs everyday.

They also will call on your days off if they have the freight and need it covered but it isnt required that you work. They are asking for volunteers and its a chance to get an extra days pay if you want it. I did one last week that took about 5 hrs and made $100. $20/hr pretty good money in my book.

Pay: Was told it would average around $45,000/yr. I'm grossing $900/wk so its going to be a little more with the bonuses added in.

This week is going to be very heavy freight because of the holiday coming up and they are asking for volunteers to work on their days off. This will happen on a regular basis before holidays. They are going to pay extra for this. Work on your day off and you get the regular pay + $100. No pressure, just volunteer and if you don't want to work a full day then you can just do a local run which pays around $100 and takes 3-4 hrs. they are ok with that as all the freight needs to move anyways.

All in all this is working out just like I was told that it would. Pretty refreshing to have a company tell you what the job will be and that is exactly what it is. Sure not like JB Hunt which lied from the start.

The only downside is the night driving. I'm getting used to it but I feel like a vampire.

This is a good job so far and I'm lucky I got in.

[belpre122]

You deserved a break Jon. Glad to hear that it is working out so well.

I would have been gun-shy also if I'd have lived your JB Hunt experience.

[Videodrome]

I have a years experience with PAM. Do you think Scheider would let me run dedicated anywhere? I live in Michigan so maybe they have a dedicated nearby like Greenbay?

[sportster65]

Good to hear things are working out for you at Schneider, they were a pretty good outfit to run for. I really liked my time with the Pumpkin. Some of the guys that i went to the STA with got dedicated runs right out of school, most were on the West Coast. I ran a dedicated gig with my TE and decided then it would not be for me. We usually started at 2:00 am and almost always headed for L.A. for an early a.m. delivery. Lots of hand unloads, lots of tires, until you unload a 53' trailer full of tires, you have no idea how much that trailer can hold it seemed never ending.
I could have got a dedicated run but realized because of the logistics, I would be away from home as much as OTR. And driving in LA everyday is not my idea of fun, it is only rivaled by Jersey City, Chicago, NYC, and just about every other eastern seaboard city.
Schneider will treat you well if you have a good DBL and are willing to work hard.A lot of people complain about them, but I think for a big outfit they are by far the best to work for. Some of the fringe bebefits are gone, I heard no more free boots, is that true? The OC's are usually clean and comfortable, given a choice I would stay at an OC rather than a T/S, with the exception of Dallas, had a driver shot there last year or the year beforre. Schneider is so big I rarely stopped somewhere that i did not run into another orange truck, Almost every SNI driver will give you a big wave when you cross paths on the interstate, many orange trucks on the I40 and I80, there is a comraderie amongst SNI drivers. I also noticed that many Swifties will wave or stop and shoot the bull with you at a T/S. Probably because many of them are newer drivers like I was.
Sorry did not mean to hijack your thread, got caught up reminiscing. You'll like SNI, they will treat you pretty good if you log legal, pick up and deliver on time, don't call about every little problem. They like responsible people who can use some sense and problem solve. 2nd and 3rd shift is a different story, but with the right attitude, they will also be as helpful as they can. I never had the problems that others seemed to have, its amazing how far a little politeness and common courtesy can get you.
Good Luck, sounds like you are off on the right foot.

[Hawkjr]

good for you Jon P.. like i told you in PM's, this a good account and it would probably be a GREAT account if Schneider Treated like it should and Wal-Mart didn't F up so much stuff (like routing) i have my reasons for leaving this company/account but if it's working for you then good luck bud and stay safe!!

[Creek Jackson]

Schneider will treat you well if you have a good DBL and are willing to work hard.

What's a DBL?

[Hawkjr]

Driver Business Leader... Bascially Just Your Main Dispatcher...

[jonp]

Thanks for the positive wishes, guys. The boot program is alive and well. I got a new pair of Rockys with steel toes on my last day of orientation to ride my Softtail with.

After the less than positive experiance with JB I'm kinda waiting for the shoe to drop. We will see.

[Creek Jackson]

Driver Business Leader... Bascially Just Your Main Dispatcher...

Thanks, Hawk!

Did you have a reconcilliation with yourself? Still driving?

[freebirdrfd]

who in there right mind would shut down not even an hour from the yard?

[mike3fan]

who in there right mind would shut down not even an hour from the yard?

for some there is no choice.

[Jumbo]

I have shut down 30 minutes from our terminal because:

1) It was late
2) I was tired
3) I wasnt in a hurry to get home.

[Hawkjr]

Thanks, Hawk!

Did you have a reconcilliation with yourself? Still driving?

yes i did.. i went to the Loves that same day off of I-78 In PA (Exit 23 i believe).. and i said to myself.. "hawk man up!! Senior is already turning over in his grave due to the fact that i drive for Schneider, but man up and don't let the old man down and keep turning the wheels for something better, hey you won't be driving for Schneider forever!!" after that Mr. Jackson, i finished my Double Quarter pounder i just order at Mickey D's.. Put on some Crunk Rap Music, and went on about my day..

[jonp]

who in there right mind would shut down not even an hour from the yard?

A month ago one of our drivers fell asleep at the wheel and took out a bridge and died less than 30min from our yard. Guess he figured he could power through it and make it back. If your tired its not worth your life to try and make it back. Thats what the sleeper on your rig is for.

[jonp]

yes i did.. i went to the Loves that same day off of I-78 In PA (Exit 23 i believe).. and i said to myself.. "hawk man up!! Senior is already turning over in his grave due to the fact that i drive for Schneider, but man up and don't let the old man down and keep turning the wheels for something better, hey you won't be driving for Schneider forever!!" after that Mr. Jackson, i finished my Double Quarter pounder i just order at Mickey D's.. Put on some Crunk Rap Music, and went on about my day..

Good Deal, Hawk. Gotta take the good with the bad. There's a lot of job hopping out there because guys always figure that the grass is greener somewhere else. Usually thats not the case. Unless you run into a really, really bad situation the best course is to take a deep breath and suck it up.

[marcel27208]

who in there right mind would shut down not even an hour from the yard?

with SNI when your time is up....your time is up!! They dont wanna hear "well i was only 30 min or an hour from the yard"!!!

[Phreddo]

who in there right mind would shut down not even an hour from the yard?

If you wanna CYA, you gotta play it straight on both sides of the table. If they let you fudge to get home, they'll have no problem expecting you to fudge for them. And when Poppa Bear comes a-knockin', you aren't going to find your dispatcher in the truck with you.

[jonp]

Well, it finally happened. Yesterday was the first day that I could not make it home and had to spend the night in the truck at the flying j in Wytheville, Va. I got a flat tire in Greensboro on my way to Bristol, Va and it took long enough to fix that i could not make it back.

4 weeks and 1 day out on the road. Still not a bad average I think.

[Hawkjr]

Well, it finally happened. Yesterday was the first day that I could not make it home and had to spend the night in the truck at the flying j in Wytheville, Va. I got a flat tire in Greensboro on my way to Bristol, Va and it took long enough to fix that i could not make it back.

4 weeks and 1 day out on the road. Still not a bad average I think.

Were you going to a Sam's Club or Wal Mart in Bristol??

[jonp]

Sams Club. 274 miles paid each way.

My pay so far: $925, $820, $998. Home 5 nites a week with 48hrs off.

Looks like I can make a living at this.

Hawk, your right about Schneider and the account. The people in Green Bay want to treat this like a System account. When I put in my hours they ignore them and do what they want such has scheduling me for drops in my 13th hour so I can't get home. When I get to the yard I tell them about it and they take the load off of me or change it around so it hasnt been a problem so far. One of the drivers that has been doing this account for 8yrs told me about this when I was starting but to do what I am doing and it would work out ok and so far so good.