Question:
Hi all, I'm new to the forum...*eyes left* did your eyes look at my name forum status? -->
I just had my phone interview with a guy named Fred from Charlotte, NC. I'm going with Schneider.
I was going to go with Roehl(RAIL), but too many variables etc.
Fred was a very upbeat guy with much enthusiasm. He's driven truck for years and he made it easy to talk with him.
Well, I live in Dayton, Tn.(North of Chattanooga about 40 miles on 27), I-75 is about 20-30 miles from me in Cleveland, Tn. He told me it would be easy to get me home because of where I live. Matter of fact I live 1 mile from Fuji Hunt and there are a few Schneider tanks sitting in there right now -->.
He tried to get me to go bulk, but then realized it was for team only.(they have only 4 openings) So he asked me if I knew anyone(friends) who happened to want to drive truck as well, to team with me. I told him no, since the ones I do know that are into trucking already drive for other company's. Well, next up was Van(no flatbed in my area).
Looks like it's van. He told me I'd be driving either a Conventional or Cabover. So a question for anyone else who might know, he told me about a Proctor & Gamble account. I really do not want to live inside a Cabover for a year. I want a Conventional, is there anyone who might know what the determining factor is on what you get? If it came down to the same two company's giving me the same options and benefits, I'd go with the Company that offered a Conv.
Take what I can get though.
Wish I knew someone to drive team with me, I'd take that Bulk Account.
I learned quite a bit with his answers to my questions. He told me the .25cpm is horrible in his opinion(even though he works for Schneider), but that the company is a good first year company and it's a good place to get your feet wet.
Feel free to fill me in on either the Proctor & Gamble type account, and/or how to obtain a Conventional over a Cabover. If I have to say please a million times to them I will. However if it's a lottery type drawing, I'll lose, never was good at those pay to play games -->.
Any and all info is welcome. Very excited here.

Answer:
First off; I have to mention that I don't drive for SNI or even really know how they operate.
It is kind of a norm in this business, that the "new guy"; and I only assume that because you said: 25cpm and He told me I'd be driving either a Conventional or Cabover and the company is a good first year company and it's a good place to get your feet wet.
that you will be in a cab-over for atleast 90 day probation period.
Plus; if he was talking about he told me about a Proctor & Gamble account , that could be a dedicated account, and a lot of companies (JB Hunt for one) choose to use their older cab-overs for that too.
So you "might" want to just talk yourself into accepting the idea Take what I can get though.
as you said there.
There is a website for SNI drivers (and who ever else cares to join them) at www.pumpkindriver.com or you can try and get ahold of a guy here called Giddy_Up_Go, he's been with them for ages.
Hope I helped some. Good luck.
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Cover Your Cans People!!!
[This message was edited by White Dog on November 03, 2003 at 14:14.]
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It's apparent this place is never going to change....then again; why should it? It gets the clientel it deserves.
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Answer:
Congrats on your Job
I drove for them for a little over a year. I found them to be a good company to work for. They are so big your never with out freight, not to mention that have so many operating centers your never really far from one.
It is a good place to get your feet wet, especially for younger people.
I doubt you will get a conventional as a solo driver. It may be quite some time before you get one of those. They reserve the conventional for teams.
I drove team for 5 months in a cad over lol never again lol then went solo for 8 months or so, couldn’t handle the cab over solo either. One thing about them (cab overs) you will be singing their praise when they send you deep into the big cities like NY they are great to tight turns and that’s about it.
Cheers and good luck

Answer:
Ask the recruiter if the cabover is a "flat floor". If it is, you'll have a spacious ride. BOL

Answer:
Appreciate the reply's so far. I may try to find someone to drive team with me. Bulk is what I'd like to do I'll team until a solo comes available, dedicated P&G account with a cabover doesn't seem too good now. The more I think about it, the more I wonder why he said "you'll either drive a conventional or a cabover", when after reading over at pumpkin driver.com that P&G's use mostly cabovers.
I'm 6'6" #260 and a cabover isn't going to be good for me. I've never stepped foot in one, but I've been inside plenty of conventionals. I don't like the feeling of living in a coffin while resting, and I have to be comfortable while driving. Otherwise I'd be a risk on the road(lack of sleep and aching from the ride).

Answer:
6,6 WOW I'm 6,2 245lbs and I found them to be spacious but far from comfortable.
Remember your sitting right over the front axel this = a hard ride, and at your size it will be somewhat of a challenge crawling over the dog house to get in the back.
I would highly recommend never teaming in a cab over. It’s a hard bouncy rid and your lying right over a diesel engine. I found it very difficult to sleep, although my partner at the time slept with out any problems.
I’m not sure what the policy is down in the states regarding conventional trucks but I think you have to be with them for quite some time before you land one of those.
I hope you get your conventional right off the bat, cab overs are no way to travel the highways in.
Cheers

Answer:
Originally posted by W900L:
...and at your size it will be somewhat of a challenge crawling over the dog house to get in the back.
I don't think Schneider has any doghouses left, or if they do, they are very few and far between.

Answer:
Not sure BDGFN
I see a lot of the older (5 or 6 year old) Cab overs still on the road and they had the dog house but they may have gotten rid of them by now, I haven't driven for them in over 5 years.
The truck I had before I left was one of the newer ones that came with the Detroit 60 series engines and it had a dog house.
There is one way to find out, he should phone and ask them if they are still in service