The New Guys Story

A lot has happened in the last three weeks! I drove to Carlisle, PA on January 5th and started Schneider's 14 day PTDI certified training with 29 people in our class. 14 days later only 12 graduated. The training was EXCELLENT! Our class instructor had over 2 million accident free miles. We had computer simulator training where they would blow out a steer tire while you were on the interstate, maintain control on an icy road by pushing in the clutch and steering to a reference point. My road instructor Buz was very cool. I pulled a half filled 48 foot tanker every day for four hours and learned to manage the surge.

After graduating in Carlisle, myself and three others spent two days in Pittsburgh for loading and unloadling using "air off" and "pump off" procedures.

The days were long with homework most evenings but I was enjoying it and impressed with the company.....until....

Carteret, New Jersey - Schneider bulk carrier's "operating center".
What a dump! I was introduced to my new dispatcher, the rudest most obnoxious jerk I've come across ever. He had me shuttling other trainees starting at 0300, 0430, 0530 to the plant from the crak whore infested motel where we stayed, then start my run with a trainer at 1000. We were sent out on a rush load with a trailer that had bad brakes. After coming back that afternoon, I was told to wait until the last trainee came back (around 2000) then to be back in at 0330. The next morning I came back at 1000 and told them that I didn't want to continue because of the way they ran things. I stayed calm and professional even though the jerk wasn't.

I called the next company on my list of previous pre hires and I will be at orientation Monday 01/30. Colonial Freight Lines is a very small (350 trucks) company out of Cookville, TN. Nice folks. I'll be going out for several weeks with my trainer immediately after orientation. I'll post my experiences then.

The saga continues...

Category: General