Okay, I'm tired of racking my brain on this one so I ask the wise masses.

I'm looking at Celadon and Schneider for 2 reasons. Mainly hometime and local/dedicated to where we are moving to in Indiana. I am planning on going OTR for a couple of months while we make our move and then trying to slide into a local or dedicated account or even a regional for better hometime (IE. every weekend at the most if not more, would love every day)

I worked for Celadon before but because of the hometime addition issue (3+2=0) and having to take some personal time because of the wife not being able to lift anything for 6-8 weeks(couldnt take a leave of absence cause I wasn't there a year)I left. I liked it there. I ran great miles and all the pay was ontime and correct. Also the checks didnt bounce so that was another plus. They have what I need and the terminal will only be about 10 miles from the new apartment.

I like Schneider from what I've heard from drivers. I dont like the recruiter there she was a real crabby lady and didnt seem to want to answer any questions. From the way it sounds they have what I need as well. I dont know if they have a yard in Indy. They seem like a good fit beings its better pay and they also have tanks which is what I'm kinda wanting to get back into if the company has it. I just don't know if they can get me what I need.

These arent the only companies I have looked at but for what I am wanting with hometime and being off the road for 6 months they are about the only 2 that seem interested without me going to a refresher course. JB of course is interested but Ive been there done that and they talk a good game but never follow through. So I have all but eliminated them. I just dont know what to do.

just between these 2 who do I go with?

thanks in advance for the replies

 

Schneider could be one of the elite OTR compaines in my mind if they won't so damn cheap on equipment and so on.. But i've heard from System guys that they get treated pretty good and the pay is great!! if this dump (the wal mart account i run on from schneider) ever gets to the point where i'm going to snap my DBL's neck (and it's close) i might just say bump it and run system for Schneider, and based one what a gentlemen posted eariler about tanks for Schneider i might even look into that too..

If Equipment appearance isn't big on you then i say go for Schneider.. Celdadon might got the better looking trucks but Schneiders pay is better..

 

Thanks for the input there Hawkjr, I dont really care about the equipment and what it looks like, just as long as it dosen't always break down and DOT doesn't smile when they see me coming. Hometime and pay are all that matters. I can handle a little less pay if it gets me home more. :thumbsup:

 

They do. I think it's exit 89 off I 70. Schneider's not bad, I worked for them a while back. You can make decent money otr or find a dedicated run and be home more but chances are you'll make less money. You'll make more pulling a tanker but I doubt they're hiring for their bulk division now. I left to go work for a flatbed company. I'm home every weekend, make a little more and work a LOT more....

 

Thanks Disgruntled I appreciate the info. Yeah right now they arent hiring in the bulk division around here. they had a job posted a few weeks ago for a bulk run living within 50 miles of the town I live in now and home every night. I was a day late and a dollar short on that one and havent seen anything since. That run may have been worth it to stay in this area. I know the area in indy your talking about just havent seen the yard... I guess Ill have to pay more attention when going through there.

Flats would be wonderful to get back into but the only company that I would consider going with wont hire me where I live now because Im 30 miles outside of there hiring area. And they wont bank on my saying im moving in a month. Ive looked at a few other companies but no one can offer what these two can. Im leaning more towards Celadon because Ive worked there and know what to expect. They okayed me today to come back so they must like me. If they offer an orientation date of next week I am going to take it. I am so ready to go back to work I can taste it.

If the recruiter at schneider would have been a little nicer I would have looked harder at them, but they just dont seem to offer exactly what I am wanting. Thanks all. :thumbsup:

 

Just got through orientation in Charlotte for Schneider. They said that the bulk division is not hiring right now and they are only hiring experienced drivers, no students (big surprise there).

Too bad you had a bad taste left in your mouth by the recruiter. Mine was pretty good and I can't complain. I asked him some questions he couldnt answer and he sent me up to the Wal Mart in Henderson, NC to talk to the account mgr to find out in person what the deal was before I hired on. The account mgr was straight forward and answered everything for me so that was that.

Only thing he got wrong was my starting pay: He told me I'd start at .37 and its actually .36 1/2. Iknow, I know. Thats not much and is a pay cut from my last job but since I'll be home quite a bit more and all loads are multi-stop I'll make it up so I'm not going to get excited over that and I dont think he did it on purpose. His son was leaving for Iraq and he had a lot on his mind.

Schneider did pull me out of orientation and told me that Bill had made a mistake and wanted to make sure I knew before I completed everything so hats off to them to not spring it on me next week when I get my first check.

 

Celadon's pay is chicken feed. I guess if you add the $1000 vacation pay it bumps it up a bit. I will add, that every celadon driver I have spoken to loves their job. Schneider is a bunch of dicks.

 

my next door neighbor was just hired for bulk division so they still must be doing some hiring(im an o/o leased to schneider, anyone know the referral bonus?) ive been leased to both SNI and celadon, i was leased on to celadon in 02-03 so things may have changed,

celadon---i got GREAT miles with no problem there, but the miles started to go down when they finally finished the waxahachie terminal(dallas). i use to do alot of laredo-detroit or laredo-st louis or laredo-NC/SC. Did very little california. had qualcomm but never had any issues, ran how i wanted.


schneider---they watch ur qualcomm,im on percentage now so miles really dont matter but loads go just about anywhere you want to go. Rates could be better but im assuming your gonna be a company driver so miles would be good. Ive heard drivers complain and some say miles are great.


hope this helps.......

 

I worked for Schneider in the 90's...no complaints at all, only left them to go to work for a smaller local company, which after 10 years went out of business a couple months ago...but, that's another story. Now....I'm a happy Marten Transport driver.

 

Just depends on where you live in NC, I guess. I live at the other end of the state...I-40, exit 24 (where the Pilot is) and I applied this week for tanker and was told there were no openings unless I wanted to run team in dry van...

Pete C - laid off Superior driver