Posts

What is a Schneider driver?

From our friends at Schneider Trucking: Are you considering Schneider for your career after driving school? It can be hard to sift through all the different perspectives, but nobody can explain what it’s like to be a Schneider driver better than an actual Schneider driver. Read below as Schneider Team driver Sharon Nader gives her perspective.

We might drive trucks for a living, but drivers have several jobs that come with the territory and need many skills to accomplish the job. Here are just a few:

Safety Officer: A driver’s first job is safety. We represent the ability to deliver freight safely and in a timely manner while following the DOT’s rules. You are always a safety representative of Schneider and our industry, even at home. Many people are worried that the new rules will hurt their ability to deliver freight. I disagree. In my opinion, the new rules force everyone to deal with what is possible — be advocates for safety on our highways. Drivers are the most important component of success. It can’t happen without safe drivers! Driver compliance, safe equipment and technology will keep Schneider on the top of the list of preferred carriers.

Customer Service Officer: Customer service is everyone’s goal. Schneider wants the shipper and the consignee to be happy with their performance. It’s just good sense and job security to want the customer to book freight repeatedly with Schneider. There is a great need to communicate equipment, routing and shipping issues or problems.

Keep in mind that we are humans, and being polite – even when hot and tired – is also a part of the job. You want your load to be safe, legal and damage-free. It can make or break business for our employer, our customers and even ourselves. Every time a problem is identified and you take the time to correct it or communicate it to the customer and Schneider, you are a customer service representative! Whether you are a good representative or a bad one is a choice you make on a daily basis.

Billing Agent: A driver who completes business by submitting paperwork helps Schneider get paid in a timely manner and ensures that the flow of business – and your pay – is uninterrupted. Accuracy is vital to the completion of a transaction. Knowledge of the business system will only improve your scorecard and get you more miles. It pays to know the system. Drivers are billing agents every time they complete a load and get that Transflo receipt!

Recruitment Officer: Here is an area that I need to improve. Did you ever have someone ask you a question about Schneider while you are cleaning your windshield or in the middle of fueling? It’s one of those “I could have had a V8!” moments! I can’t tell you how many times I have been approached and was never ready to answer the questions that were put to me. Sometimes I want to go find the person after they leave and complete the conversation.

Here are a few things I would tell them: First, I can’t imagine working for another company. Hauling freight is hard work and it can be dangerous. I want to work for Schneider because of its commitment to safety and for helping me be safer.

Secondly, I would say that Schneider’s technology has greatly improved and is continuing to get better to make my job more productive and safer. I think Schneider has the best of the best technology available.

Finally, I would say that Schneider’s equipment, especially trailers, has never been better. We have updated most of our equipment and more is on the way. From what I have seen, Schneider is concerned about driver satisfaction and they don’t just look at pay, they are trying to stay on top of all areas of business.

Find out for yourself why drivers have chosen Schneider for 80 years, explore all your opportunities and apply at schneiderjobs.com.

Top 5 Things Drivers Should Look for in a Carrier

1. Integrity

A reputable trucking company has a set of core values it lives by and a track record to prove it. Anyone can claim to value safety, but what do the statistics say? Every company boasts respect for drivers, but what do the men and women behind the wheel really say? All carriers strive for excellence, but do they have decades of proven success to stand on? There are some fly-by-night operations in this industry, but you won’t regret working for a company with a reputation of integrity.

 2. Fair Compensation

Every driver deserves to be rewarded appropriately for the hard work they do, but it isn’t all about money either. Some companies will fill your wallet but treat you terribly. Others promise hefty pay per mile but don’t have the freight to make it worth it. Still others follow through with a great paycheck but don’t offer benefits. When you pick a carrier, look into the entire compensation package, along with opportunities for bonuses and career advancement.

 3. Career Options

The trucking industry has a notoriously high turnover rate, but finding the “green grass” right away will be just as helpful for you as it will for the company you choose. The best carriers will treat you right and pay you fairly, but they’ll also provide opportunities for advancement and movement within the company that meet your work-life balance needs. Some carriers put you through their school and funnel you in the direction that helps their bottom line or fits their limited freight base. Wouldn’t you rather be able to pick your driving school, and then find a company where you can continue to pick the best driving option for your life situation?

 4. Home Time

Let’s be honest: truck driving is more than a job – it’s a lifestyle. Being away from home is simply a reality as a truck driver, but a carrier worth choosing understands how to maximize that home time. Whether it’s special programs to get over-the-road drivers home for longer periods, or regional routes more conducive to drivers supporting families, or even part-time options, the best truck driving companies will encourage a healthy work-life balance.

 5. Equipment

The trucks you drive and the technology you use aren’t just accessories on the job. They impact your quality of life and even your livelihood. If you work for a company that promises great mileage-based pay, frequent home time and steady freight, but your tractor keeps breaking down before you can rack up miles, get home or haul your next load, what’s the point? What if the poor condition of equipment negatively impacts your CSA score? Look for a company that continually invests in new equipment and has a track record of technological innovation that makes a driver safer, more comfortable and more productive.

If you’re looking for a company with all of the above, and 80 years of proof, check out Schneider.

How Lucrative is a Career in Trucking?

So, how much money do truckers make? In other Progressive Truck School blog posts, we’ve covered the current truck driver shortage – there’s currently a demand for drivers with CDLs. Current projections indicate a projected growth of 1.1 million jobs in the trucking sector through the end of 2014.

In the current state of trucking, a career in tucking can be extremely lucrative. After earning a CDL certification, like the CDL certification offered at Progressive Truck Driving School., drivers’ average anywhere from $30,000-$80,000/year!  Also, in the trucking industry its common for employers to offer guaranteed annual raises to drivers along with generous benefits packages (medical, dental, vision, retirement, paid vacations, etc.).

Experience, location, and cost-of-living can affect salary and compensation packages. Also, in trucking, the level of certification (including HAZMAT licensing) can affect driver compensation. Some experienced drivers (often in teams) report income of over $100,000; truckers can reach a very high compensation level.  Also important to consider is that with the economy on the rise and drivers in short supply, job security as a truck driver is unusually high right now compared to other low-demand jobs.

Another factor currently affecting trucker compensation is the retirement of tenured drivers.  Simply put, older drivers are reaching retirement age and are leaving the trucking industry.  These retired truckers open opportunities for employment for a younger generation of truckers.

The first step in starting a lucrative career in trucking is to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License. Contact Progressive Truck School to discuss your options: (773) 736-5522