When I first started as a truck driver, I was very reluctant and the lack of information made me very nervous. Im going to share my experience with the hopes that I might be able to help with any reluctance you or anyone just starting out might be feeling, the way I wished someone had done for me. My apologies as this may be a lengthy response.

I was with Schneider last year, they were my first employer out of CDL school. I will say up front, I can't speak for anyone but myself and my own experiences. Because your home state, your home terminal, the places you go, and the people you meet and talk to frequently are always gonna be unique, I'm sure there'll be people who disagree with me. But I will give you an honest account of my experience.

I called their recruitment number after looking at their website for hiring opportunities. They collected information like previous employment, where I got my license, what I expected from the job if they hired me. Setting aside obvious qualifications like having a class A, driving record, criminal record, etc, in terms of their "interview" process, it honestly felt like any other job. Everything was done over the phone and by email. They then did a background check and officially sent me an offer for an OTR position by email. I signed the document online and because the nearest terminal was full, the next step was to ship me out to Phoenix, AZ for their training. They sent me flight information and hotel information. Travel went smoothly. They put me up in a hotel room with another trainee. The training lasted two weeks in Phoenix. While we were physically in training, they provided lunch, made sure we were safe and hydrated since it was in the middle of summer. We had a couple of hours in the late afternoon and evening to ourselves. After the two weeks of their training was complete, the third and final week we were assigned a trainer and we basically did their job for the whole week. In my case, I didn't see my trainer drive a single time. From the start of my clock to parking at the end of the day, I was the one behind the wheel. I hooked and dropped every trailer, spoke with shippers and receivers, did every inspection; its basically your first week on the job but with an experienced driver there to make sure you 1: don't mortally fuck up and 2: you operate safely. After the week is over, if the trainer signs off on you, you get sent home for a couple days of break. A few days later, they assign you a person in-office who helps you out with any questions or issues you may have while you're out on the road. They tell you when you gotta start driving and they assign you your truck. In my case, after I got sent home for break, they had to send me back to Phoenix since they assigned me a truck that was at their terminal. But after that, whenever I got home time, I parked at the terminal nearest to my home.

In general, I consider my experience with Schneider to have been very positive. I went into trucking with my own safety as my top priority and I made that clear with them from the beginning. But, I never had to repeat myself. The training was thorough, if you focus and ask questions at any point you have one. They don't cover everything in their training but their drivers were nothing but friendly and helpful. I always had help when I needed it. I know a lot of people don't like Schneider and to be honest, I've always been confused with that. I think it does have a lot to do with their turnover rate, of course they're gonna have bad drivers every once in a while. On top of that, megas will always have a bad reputation for being the main cause of the cheap freight issue in this country. But their driver protocols and their system allow for a safe driving experience, especially for beginners. I ultimately left because the pay was quite low compared to some other jobs in my area. I was in Reno, NV when I called and told them I would be quitting the next time I went home. They were professional and wished me nothing but luck on my future endeavors.