The Evil Dwarf
Seville,#2UPDATE 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,#3UPDATE 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,#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.