Schneider National Carriers Future employees, be warned Green Bay Wisconsin
I started at Schneider National in March of 2007. Completed the training in the middle of April and after i went out with a trainer for 2 weeks, I went Over the road for 6 months. Before I was hired, I was told I would get 2500 miles/wk. Well, my first load was about 2600 round trip, in a week, but after that everything was short little in state runs. On average, each load was about 300 miles. Sometimes, I would get a delivery 30 minutes away, and Schneider wouldn't even let me deliver that day. i had to waste MY time sitting around, because my boss (Ken Kirchner) said Schneider would get 'A Service Failure.' Ok, whatever.
Around the time of my 6 months, they were looking for a Dedicated Miller Brewing Driver out of Milwaukee. Living close by, I inquired. This was the perfect account for me. All the other drivers who had been on the account had said they got home everyday, and they made some good money. So now my new boss was Ed Neel. Around the time that I got on this account, he took over for all the Miller accounts across the country. Every Miller driver I talked to HATED this guy; I would soon find out why in my own special way.
While I was on this account for 6 months, until the time I quit, I went above and beyond to make some good money. Nearly every Saturday I would volunteer to work (This dedicated account was M-F). NOT ONCE DID I GET A THANK YOU FROM ED NEEL FOR WORKING SATURDAYS. Keep in mind that at this time, I'm still under my 1-year contract. I HAVE to be employed with Schneider for 1 yr, or I'd have to pay nearly $5000 for the 'Training.'
Almost once a week, I would get harrassed by ED NEEL for not being able to deliver a load on time (due to late loading), going home everyday (even though I had done the work they'd given me for the day) or him just basically telling me I was a terrible driver. Up until this time, not ONCE had a hit ANYTHING with my truck, not even a bush. I was backing into an inside slopped dock, had to pull out because it was like backing into a pitch black tunnel. When I pulled out, my passenger side trailer door hit an I-beam and ripped it off. No big deal, I thought, no one got hurt (Schneider's Rule #1) and with no damage to the building, I thought everything would be fine.
Ed calls me, just starts telling me about how bad of a driver I am. I tell him, I'm sorry I ripped the door off, but at least no one got hurt. He tell me "That's a preventable accident. Now tell me, what else do you think you do well at?" I had to bite my tongue, like many times before, because I wanted to tell what I thought of him. It's almost like he would repeatedly bait me and try and get me to say something, so he could fire me, so I'd have to pay the $5000.
As the time on my contract grew less and less, Ed Neel continually talked down to me and basically treated me like a piece of s**t.
So, to wrap it up, if you're gonna go to Schneider, please think twice. They say they pride themselves on safety, but once you're on a delivery deadline, they could care less if you're running illegally. You know, they wouldn't want to get a Service Failure.
P.S.: They also offer a quarterly bonus. They will do WHATEVER they can to make you ineligible for it. Be warned.
F**kSNL
FDL, Wisconsin
U.S.A.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
The Evil Dwarf
Seville,Ohio,
U.S.A.
Low level managers are anti-driver!
#4UPDATE Employee
Sun, May 31, 2009
I have worked for this company for awhile and i can tell you that alot of the low level managers (driver service reps and driver board leaders) are anti-driver. It's not coincidence Schneider is rabid anti union, it makes it easier for the a-hole low level managers to harrass, rip off and fire drivers for no good reason. This poor treatment was one reason Schneider had 80% turnover rate yearly, this in conjuntion with the low pay and dung Walmart type benefits. Currently due to the poor job market more drivers are staying with Schneider but once the economy turns around look for a mass exodus of drivers out of Schneider with their obnoxious DSR's and DBL's being a main culprit. And "going up the ladder" is suicide at Schneider. All the low level managers have to do is make a phone call to the trip planner about someone they don't like and you'll be running s**t runs with low miles for the rest of your career at SNI.
Avoid working for this company unless you like getting abused.
The Evil Dwarf
Seville,Ohio,
U.S.A.
Low level managers are anti-driver!
#4UPDATE Employee
Sun, May 31, 2009
I have worked for this company for awhile and i can tell you that alot of the low level managers (driver service reps and driver board leaders) are anti-driver. It's not coincidence Schneider is rabid anti union, it makes it easier for the a-hole low level managers to harrass, rip off and fire drivers for no good reason. This poor treatment was one reason Schneider had 80% turnover rate yearly, this in conjuntion with the low pay and s**t Walmart type benefits. Currently due to the poor job market more drivers are staying with Schneider but once the economy turns around look for a mass exodus of drivers out of Schneider with their obnoxious DSR's and DBL's being a main culprit. And "going up the ladder" is suicide at Schneider. All the low level managers have to do is make a phone call to the trip planner about someone they don't like and you'll be running s**t runs with low miles for the rest of your career at SNI.
Avoid working for this company unless you like getting abused.
Ken
Clinton,South Carolina,
U.S.A.
OK...here we go again...
#4UPDATE Employee
Wed, April 08, 2009
...with another poor, unfortunate, unappreciated driver.
First of all, it sounds like your training must have gone well, as you were running OTR and then put on a dedicated run. So I'm assuming you were qualified. And as far as your miles per week: I've never been told "you will get x miles per week" (unless it's a dedicated account). I've been told "ABOUT" x miles, "between x and x miles", but never "you will get x miles per week" running system freight. Some weeks are better than others. Also, there are accounts that will NOT take your load early, even if you're dropping it. And yes, it can cause a service failure for the driver and a fine for the trucking company.
Secondly, if you need a pat on the back, trucking is not for you. True, some driver managers express appreciation. It's like that in ANY business. Some managers are better at that than others. Be content you did the best job you could and be your own cheerleader.
Could Mr. Neel been a PITA? It's possible...I've never met him. But in over 10 years of driving (at various companies, including SNI), I've never had anyone tell me that I was a terrible driver, and I've had several dispatchers/driver managers I did not get along with. I just find it difficult to believe that he would tell you flat-out "you're a terrible driver". Could you be embellishing this a little?
OK...you tore a door off. It happens. Some of those "inside dock" places are darn near impossible to see--I was at one last week, so I understand. I've been luckier than smart on more than one occasion. But it's still your responsibility.
Did you use your macros correctly if you had to deliver late? If you did, and your driver manager still gave you grief, did you take your complaints and concerns up the ladder, or just keep it to yourself? There IS a process for being heard, but you don't mention if you followed it or not.
And as far as bonuses are concerned....I got mine last quarter. So they don't do "whatever they can to make you ineligible". No, I'm not a shill for SNI. But I have driven with them for 18 months, and while they're not perfect, they've done a good job for me. But it did take me several months to really get comfortable with the system and understand how the macros affected my running. How did I find out? I asked questions of both veteran drivers with the company and of my driver managers.
In closing, let me just say that the first OTR job for any driver is typically difficult in one way or another. It can be overwhelming to the point that a new driver fails to follow protocol in voicing their concerns. And I'm not saying you didn't have an insufferable jerk for a driver manager (as I said, I've had a few)...it's certainly possible. But if you were still financially committed to Schneider, and you couldn't get along with Mr. Neel, why didn't you go back to OTR until your debt was paid?
Did you really do all YOU could have done? Just asking.
Be safe.