I started at Schneider National in March. 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.
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