Schneider Truck Driving School
If your goal is to make a lot of money with over-the-road trucking jobs, your end game should be landing a job in a big national trucking company that is known for their high standards. That is exactly why many truck driving schools have on-site recruiters at their facilities scouting for potential talent, accepting applications and giving jobs to their best students.
But, what happens when the company itself provides its prospective employees with the necessary training? If you want to learn the answer to that question, you might want to do your training at the Schneider Truck Driving School. Known for its high equipment and safety standards, this trucking company requires a lot from its employees, but gives a lot in return.
Let’s go over some of the specifics of training in Schneider.
History
The company was founded in 1935, when its founder, Al Schneider, sold the family car to buy his first truck. Since then, he and his oldest son, Don, led the company to become one of the largest truckload carriers in North America. Don became president in 1976, but he gave this position to Christopher Lofgren in 2002, who is still the company’s CEO and president.
The company went public in 2017, ringing the New York Stock Exchange bell on April 6th. With more than 19,500 trucks and such companies as Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, and Target in their portfolio, it’s safe to say that being a Schneider driver is pretty close to a dream job for any aspiring truck driver.
Schneider Orientation Programs
While the company doesn’t have a traditional driving school that can help you study for your CDL exams, Schneider provides orientation programs for all new drivers. The orientation program you take will largely depend on your previous experience and what kind of career you’re interested in.
While driving schools can teach you basic maneuvers and give you the knowledge necessary to go out on the road, Schneider orientation can take your skills to the next level and make you a professional truck driver.
There are two orientation options – for new CDL holders or experienced drivers. Each of these programs focuses on a different aspect of a driver’s skillset and is tailored to provide you with industry-leading knowledge and experience.
Orientation for New CDL Holders
While a truck driving school can provide you with a solid foundation, classes and basic training can only take you so far. Schneider’s orientation program is created to give you advanced practical knowledge that will help you become one of the best drivers on the road. The process consists of three phases/weeks:
- Phase one: Hard skills. This phase is a combination of classroom work, truck simulators, and in-truck training. At the beginning of the first week, you’ll be required to complete a pre-work screen that tests your physical abilities and is used to evaluate if you can perform all the necessary actions for truck driving. You’ll also learn about logging, permit books, and get some valuable safety tips. During this week, you will practice driving with the help of Schneider’s simulators and by learning basic maneuvers through the practice yard
- Phase two: Training engineer. During the second week, you will spend time on the road with a training engineer, doing what you will be doing once you start working for Schneider. These veteran drivers will not only give you driving tips, but also advise you about the more advanced stuff – where to take your breaks, find meals, and other general rules about the life on the road
- Phase three: Soft skills. During your final week, you’ll get back to the training facility and work more on your driving skills, but also on some advanced skills like trip planning and working with Schneider’s mobile platform.
At the end of your training, you will be required to prove your new abilities by taking a test.
Orientation for Experienced Drivers
The orientation for experienced drivers is used to help new drivers that come to Schneider to make the transition from their former carrier. The length of the training depends on the freight you’ll be hauling. For instance, van truckload orientation lasts for four days, while the tanker orientation lasts for 12 days.
Like the training for inexperienced drivers, the orientation starts with a pre-work screening to evaluate your physical condition. After that, you will be required to prove your driving skills through a series of simple tests around the practice facility.
After they verify your driving skills, you’ll move into a classroom and start learning more about the company and its specifics. The orientation for experienced drivers is truly an “orientation,” as opposed to the training inexperienced drivers have to take. The program for experienced drivers is geared towards educating you about things that separate Schneider from other companies, like their mobile platform and different departments.
Financing Options
In addition to educating new recruits at the Schneider Truck Driving School, the company also offers up to $7,000 tuition reimbursement for students just starting their training. If you have completed a refresher course in the past year or obtained a Class A CDL, you’re eligible for Schneider’s tuition reimbursement program.
Furthermore, Schneider can connect you with a school you’re interested in, as they collaborate with some of the most prominent truck driving schools in the country. You can also get pre-hired before even starting your training – just mail them the form, and if they approve it, you can use it to secure grants, loans, and other types of financial aid that will help you pay for your education.
Opportunities for Veterans
Because of its devotion to veterans, reservists, and National Guard members, Schneider has been accepted into the Department of Veterans Affairs’ apprenticeship program. This means that during your first year of working at Schneider, you are eligible for an educational benefit check of up to $1,266 every month. The amount you’ll receive monthly depends on your years of service.
You can check out the latest benefit amounts on the VA website. To qualify for this program, you have to have your GI Bill or post-9/11 GI Bill available.
Facility Locations
When it comes to locations, you can rest assured that Schneider has you covered. They are based in Green Bay, but have 38 facilities across the U.S., including Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Portland, Chicago, and many other major cities. This can be important if you’re looking to study in the Schneider Truck Driving School, and when you’re on the road, as these facilities can be your home away from home.
All locations have showers, a cafeteria, exercise equipment, ATMs, Wi-Fi, and many other amenities that will prove very valuable once you start putting in those hours.
Conclusion
If you already have your commercial driving license and are looking to get a more advanced look into the world of truck driving, Schneider can provide you with premium training conditions and career opportunities. More than that, the folks at Schneider are more than happy to help you find and finance your truck driving school, as well as give you a job before you even complete your training.
You can see a list of schools Schneider works with by selecting a state you’re interested in, or you can contact Schneider directly on 800-44-PRIDE for more information.