Schneider National Trucking School Review – Company Paid CDL Training

When founder Al Schneider started Schneider National back in 1935 with only one truck, a dream, and an entrepreneurial spirit that helped to propel him forward, he always kept his eye on the future, believing that one day Schneider Trucking would become a nationwide juggernaut.

Now, with a fleet of over 10,000 trucks hauling almost 19,400 loads nationwide every day, Al Schneider’s dream has finally come true. In fact, Schneider National has grown into a 3.6 billion-dollar company, hauling merchandise and materials for two-thirds of America’s Fortune 500 companies, directly impacting the U.S. economy each and every year.

The reason why Schneider National has become so successful, surviving the Great Depression, WWII, the 1973 Oil Crisis, Jimmy Carter’s deregulation of the trucking industry, and finally, the Great Recession, is because they take good care of their drivers, promise their customers honesty, integrity, and a commitment to getting the job done right, and they respect the world they live and work in by operating in an environmentally-friendly manner.

If you’re interested in paid CDL training with a trucking company that has been ranked as a top-paying carrier by the National Transportation Institute, and makes sure that over 75% of its truck drivers get weekly home time, then Schneider National is the company for you!

So, how exactly does the paid CDL training program at Schneider Trucking work? Schneider National has partnered with Southern State Community College in Ohio to create the Schneider trucking school, allowing Schneider to foot the bill while they send select candidates there to receive truck driver training in order to obtain their Class A CDL.

First, you must fill out an online application on the Schneider Trucking website. Once you pass the pre-approval process, Schneider National will then sponsor you and send you to the Schneider trucking school at Southern State Community College in Wilmington, Ohio to receive your truck driver training. Schneider will cover your tuition costs for the length of the program, and hire you on as a driver once you graduate.

• You’ll receive 40 hours of classroom instruction.
• You’ll receive 20 hours of closed lot training.
• You’ll receive 40 hours of behind-the-wheel time.
• The ratio of instructor to students is 1:4.
• All training equipment is clean, up-to-date, and meets or exceeds industry standards.
• You’ll train on the road with a variety of tractor-trailers.
• You’ll be in school Monday-Friday and have the weekends off.

During the first week of Schneider trucking school, you’ll spend most of your time in the classroom receiving 40 hours of lecture time on basic mechanical systems and individual truck components, essential driving skills, and state and federal regulations, in order to prepare you for your CDL general knowledge exam and HAZMAT Endorsement exam.

During the second week of school, you’ll obtain your commercial learner’s permit (CLP) and begin your actual “behind-the-wheel” training inside the truck, practicing various driving exercises on the closed lot, such as backing, turning, and shifting gears, all designed to mimic everyday truck driving and truck parking.

You’ll also begin driving on low-traffic roadways and city streets with your instructor, learning how to maneuver your vehicle in real-world driving situations with various tractor-trailer combinations. It’s during this second and third week of training that you’ll receive a mix of lot training and open road training.

During the fourth and final week of your paid CDL training, you’ll sharpen your driving skills, practice your routing and paperwork skills, and learn advanced gear-shifting techniques. You’ll also graduate to more complex driving conditions on the open road, such as driving in heavy traffic, both on the freeway and in the city, in order to fine-tune your ability to maneuver a fully-loaded 40-ton rig in different driving situations. You’ll also learn about what to do if your rig breaks down due to mechanical failures.

Finally, you’ll go through a thorough review and one last practice test before taking the actual commercial driver’s license (CDL) exam. Once you pass the exam and obtain your Class A CDL, you’ll finally graduate from the training program and enter the 3-week paid orientation program at Schneider National.

The 3-week orientation program at Schneider National consists of three phases of training and a driver skills test. You’ll get paid $80 per day during the orientation program then, after you pass the skills test and start driving solo, you’ll get paid at the normal starting rate.

Phase 1 – Hard Skills

The first phase of the Schneider Trucking orientation program is split into three parts:

1. Classroom Training. In the classroom you’ll learn proper logging protocol, how to use a permit book, and other basic truck driving information. You’ll also be instructed on the proper safety techniques that will prevent you, and those around you, from getting hurt on the job.
2. Tractor Simulators. During the first week of the Schneider training orientation program, you’ll start training on Schneider trucking school’s state-of-the-art driving simulators. You’ll learn how to safely maneuver your Schneider truck through potentially hazardous driving conditions before you even hit the road. The “virtual-reality” trucking simulators are realistic and help you get acclimated to the same controls and setup you’ll be using out there on the road.
3. In-Truck Training. During the first four days of the orientation program, you’ll be out in the Schneider training yard, practicing backing and slow-maneuvering to get you warmed up for the road training you’ll do. On the road, you’ll practice turns and navigate your way through traffic.

Phase 2 – Training Engineer

During the second phase of the orientation program, you’ll spend all your time training on the road with a highly experienced training engineer. It’s during this phase that you’ll finally start getting some actual hands-on work while the training engineer observes you and guides you through the entire process, answering any questions you may have about the day-to-day process.

Phase 3 – Soft Skills

After you complete the Training Engineer phase of the orientation program, you’ll journey back to the Schneider Training Facility in order to undergo soft skills training. During this phase of the orientation program you’ll receive more behind-the-wheel training and more classroom instruction. In the classroom, you’ll learn basic trip planning and receive instruction on how to properly use Schneider Trucking’s mobile communication platform.

The Skills Test

Once you complete all three phases of the orientation program, it’s time to take the Skills Test to prove that you are qualified to start driving for Schneider Trucking full-time. The Skills Test includes a pre-trip vehicle inspection, a coupling/uncoupling procedure, and a road course that encompasses 15 to 20 miles of rural, city, and freeway driving. Once you pass the Skills Test and feel that you are confident enough to go on your own, you’ll officially become a Schneider driver and start driving in your own truck.

Overall, the company paid CDL training program offered by Schneider National is one of the best in the business. You get to train at a highly reputable professional truck driving school without paying a single dime of tuition. You then receive four additional weeks of paid training during the Schneider training orientation program that will help sharpen your skills and prepare you to go out there on the road and haul freight all by yourself.

Items needed for orientation:

Forms and Documentation

• CDL
• DOT Med Card
• Documents for I-9 Form
• TWIC Card
• Documents to set up direct deposit

Clothing

• Shirts with sleeves
• Jeans, cargo pants, or work pants
• Boots or shoes with non-skid soles and leather uppers
• All weather gear such as a heavy coat, rain jacket, winter hat, and gloves

Bedding

• Sleeping bag
• Pillow
• Bed sheets
• Blankets
• Sleepwear
• Shower shoes

Expenses

• Money for meals and incidentals
• Lunch is provided during the 1^st and 3^rd Trucks have refrigerators/coolers in the cab.
• Money for meals while you are over the road with your Training Engineer.
• Money to purchase food items during the first week of orientation.

Classroom Materials

• Pen and pencil
• Calculator
• Highlighter
• Laptop (if you have one)
• Flashlight
• Gloves

Miscellaneous

• Cell phone
• Prescription meds
• CPAP machine with compliance data report and diagnosis (if you suffer from sleep apnea).

Since orientation lasts for 3 weeks, it is imperative that you pack accordingly. Keep in mind that you are limited to one piece of luggage. Also, during your second week of the program, you’ll be staying at truck stops and/or Schneider trucking company facilities. The laundry facilities at all Schneider National facilities are free for you to use.

Best of all, Schneider goes all out in offering benefits for truck drivers. If you choose to get your paid CDL training with them, upon completion of your training, they will provide you with a high-paying full-time job, a Roth 401 (k) savings plan with 6% company match, as well as major medical, dental, and vision insurance. You’ll also receive spending options, paid time off, and access to various company amenities.

Benefits:

• Schneider National will cover your $4800 tuition cost while you train.
• If you pay for your own training out-of-pocket, Schneider Trucking will reimburse you up to $6000.
• You’ll get 160 hours of comprehensive truck driver training at Southern State Community College.
• You’re guaranteed at least 1 year of employment as a driver with Schneider National.
• Schneider has been ranked a top-paying carrier by the National Transportation Institute.
• You’ll get paid $80 per day during the 3-week orientation program.
• You’ll receive an $8000 sign-on bonus if you drive in a Schneider Van Team.
• You can expect to average up to 2500 miles per week as a Dedicated Schneider truck driver.
• You can expect to earn anywhere from $45,000 to $51,000 your first year as a Schneider truck driver.
• You can expect to earn over $71,000 per year after 3 years as a full-time Schneider trucker.
• Schneider Tanker drivers earn up to $79,500 per year with OTR, regional, local, or team routes.
• 75% of Schneider’s drivers get weekly home time. 25% get 1 week home for every 2 weeks out.
• 90% of Schneider’s regional drivers get weekly home time.
• Schneider’s Intermodal drivers performing drayage assignments can get home daily.
• Only Intermodal drivers have to wear a uniform.
• You’ll get layover pay, detention pay, and you’ll be eligible for performance pay for safe driving.
• You’ll receive full benefits after 90 days: medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Schneider National’s Roth 401(k) savings plan matches up to 6% of your pay, dollar for dollar.
• You get paid vacation time: 1 year/1 week, 2 years/2 weeks, 7 Years/3 weeks, 15 years/4 weeks.
• After 6 months of safe driving, you can take 1 passenger with you with the required insurance.
• You’ll get 24-hour access to company amenities: free parking, showers, Wi-Fi, laundry & café.
• You’ll receive year-round discounts on cell phones, vehicles, restaurants, movie tickets & more.

Requirements:

• You must be at least 21 years of age to apply.
• You must possess a valid U.S. driver’s license for at least 1 year upon applying.
• You must be a U.S. citizen or legally allowed to work in the United States (Green Card).
• You must have a clean driving record.
• You cannot have any DUI/DWI in the last 5 years.
• You must have a good employment record with verifiable references going back 3 years.
• Any felonies in your criminal background check will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
• You must pass a DOT medical examination and a DOT drug test.
• You must be willing to attend school at Southern State Community College in Wilmington, OH.
• You must live within 125 miles of the Washington Court House in Ohio to be a FT truck driver.
• To be hired, you must successfully complete the paid CDL training program and get your CDL.
• You must be a full-time driver for Schneider National for at least 1 year.
• If you quit within 1 year of employment, you must pay back the remaining tuition balance.
• You must have your CDL, DOT Med Card, Documents for the I-9 Form, TWIC card, and documents to set up direct deposit when you arrive at the Schneider Trucking Orientation program.
• You must be physically and mentally able to be away from home for at least 7 days at a time.

Schneider National Trucking School Location:

Southern State Community College
1850 Davids Drive
Wilmington, OH 45177

Get Paid While You Train and Make $45,000 or More Your First Year with Paid CDL Training!

Are you ready to take the next step and begin your career as a well-paid professional truck driver? We’ve partnered with some of the best trucking companies in the nation and have helped thousands of people just like you get into a high quality paid CDL training program. You can get your CDL in as little as 3 weeks and start making good money as a professional truck driver. Plus, you can make up to $500 per week while you train!

Here’s what you can expect from the paid CDL training programs in our network:

Just click the green button below and fill out the quick 1-minute application on the next page to get started. Hurry! Classes are filling up fast!

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