I am going to post this and if I make mistakes feel free to correct them, this is what I know about Schneider's training program and some more , first hand.

Green Bay , Wisconsin

2 Weeks

The Deal: They pay for your transportation up there, if you can take your car I recommend it, some people were on a bus from Michigan for 16 hours. I live in Wisconsin, took my car.

They pay for hotel, breakfast and lunch is paid by them, your on your own for dinner. If you have a problem with your roomie, tell them they will move you.

You drive for the company for a year, then they wave the training cost.

Skid pad gone, too many accidents.

Day 1: Classroom - half day most of the time, Starts on Saturday.

Day 2: Classroom

Day 3: Class, SIMS Intro to trucks, shifting

Day 4: Trucking training / driving

Day 5: SIMS / Trucks

Day 6: Trucks / SIMS

Day 7: Trucks / SIMS

Day 8: Classroom

Day 9: Classroom

Day 10: Trucks

Day 11: Trucks / SIMS/ Classroom

Day 12: Trucks / Classroom

Day 13: Trucks / Classroom

Day 14: DMV Road Test (WI ONLY ) Classroom, GO HOME!

Day 17 - 31: Over the road with training Eng. ( Usually weekends off )

Day 1: Team or Solo.

You will have homework every night, you will be tested in class and on trucks every day after the 1st day, you MUST have a score of 80%, if not ONE retest, pass or be dropped or more training.

We started with 80 and had 24 at the end ( new drivers ), about 11 more were coming from other companies. So 34 were left.

They offered people having trouble extra help, staying another week or going through it all again free.

People dropped out like flies for reasons such as home sick, too much pressure, etc.

I NEVER saw them give up on anyone!

On the FIRST day they tell you are there to LEARN HOW TO DRIVE A TRUCK.

 

Ironic, isn't it? The whole purpose is to make sure you don't have a real world skid resulting in carnage.

80?! Wow! Did they put you guys in an auditorium for class? :lol:

Joking aside, how would you rate your training? Are you done with your OTR and have your own truck yet? Good luck and keep us posted.

 

If the skidpads are gone, is that learning experience covered in the simulators? BOL

 

The only thing I did like about Millis was the fact they did put me on a skid pad talk about fun steering out of a Jack knife with a 1/4 loaded tanker trailer for 3 of the passes at the end the rest of the time was with dry vans.

 

If I'm not mistaken, Schneider has increased the student contract to 18 months, not the year it previously was. They are even working on getting the contract at their Fontana STA.

When I went through Green Bay in October of 2004, thank goodness they were still doing the real skid pad. I hear sims have now taken over for it, but I can't see how in the world the sim could prepare you for a skid better than being in a real truck that has lost traction. Not only did what I learned on the skid pad come in handy during heavy snow in the mountains, but it was actually fun on the skid pad, once you got past that first time they locked the brakes.

 

Isn't the objective to drive at a safe speed or below what conditions are? It seems they should be teaching how to NOT get in a skid situation to begin with.

 

SNI has submitted all required paperwork to the state of CA. they are now just waiting for the state to give them there accreditation.

 

That's a great theory. However, in the real world you can get in a skid doing all the right things. And it sure helps to know what to do if and when it happens.

To me skid pad work should be required. Plus its' fun.

kc0iv