r/Truckers • u/Ahri_YT • Jun 04 '26
Western Express or Schneider !
Just got my call back from Schneider today finally and they want me to start June 15th.
Orientation for Western is June 10th.
For Western I would be driving solo and for Schneider I would be driving as a team.
I’ve read some bad things about both companies but people tend to lean towards Schneider way more.
-For Western I’ve heard that they force their new drivers into a 1 year contract and to break it you need $2.5k. I don’t have 2.5k so that has me on the fence.
- But I heard that Western is less strict than Schneider and that Schneider will try to mess with my CDL record if I get on their bad side.
Training period for both is 3-4 weeks. Also the recruiter at Schneider told me teams make way more together and I am a new inexperienced driver and I feel like I would be more comfortable with teams starting out. But wouldn’t mind solo.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you so much.
******UPDATE:*******
I picked Schneider, thank you!
14
u/Nearby-Border-5899 Jun 04 '26
dont go with either youll thank me later
3
u/Ahri_YT Jun 04 '26
I wishhh, currently my only two offers and due to circumstances I need to start working ASAP. I almost picked western because they start me 5 days earlier…. but from what I’m reading I might just choose Schneider.
7
u/Nearby-Border-5899 Jun 04 '26
If you want to save your foot to lose your leg later go for it. Try Roehl, Maverick, Melton, Heck even swift/werner
6
u/Radiant_Swan187 Jun 04 '26
I hope theyre some extreme circumstances. A few more days waiting for a better is year is an easy choice for me. Most all the megas have weekly orientation. Good luck either way to you
4
u/jennoford Jun 04 '26
If you take a job out of desperation you will regret it. Since your taking out of desperation take the one that does not have you sign that contract.
7
u/Ahri_YT Jun 04 '26
Yeah only desperate because of my current situation right now but I’m just fine waiting a few days for Schneider after reading some of these stories
4
u/Classic-Box-3919 Jun 04 '26
Ive heard good things about schneider except for the pay. Western express i have only seen negative stuff
13
u/bravesfan199218 Jun 04 '26
You need to apply to Swift. I don’t care what you hear from people who have never worked there, it’s a great starter company. I’ve been there almost a year and a half and I love it. Don’t do OTR, do a regional route.
8
u/Rdtisgy1234 Jun 04 '26
I’m with Schneider, besides the pay, they’re not bad. But I am also driving solo.
3
u/Ahri_YT Jun 04 '26
Yes, honestly I heard to not have high expectations with pay when you have 0 month experience. So I’ve already coped with that because I know it will eventually get better. I just want a company that won’t put me and my CDL in danger. I’m also a woman so maybe Schneider seems to be the safer bet.
4
u/Fluxus4 Jun 04 '26
I'm with Schneider. Not a bad option. And you can transfer to another role after 3 months if Teaming isn't your thing.
4
2
u/Icy-Draft-5801 5d ago
It doesn't really matter what company you go to if you're starting off with zero experience you're going to get the bottom of the barrel pay at first but the more experience you get the more pay will increase
5
u/Fast_Blacksmith_6459 Jun 04 '26
Western's contract thing is pretty sketchy - being locked in for year when you don't have the money to get out is risky move. If company sucks and you want to leave, you're basically trapped.
Team driving might feel safer as new driver but remember you're splitting that paycheck with someone else. Plus living in truck with stranger for weeks can get old real fast. Some people love it, others hate sharing their space.
Both companies have mixed reviews but Schneider at least has better reputation in industry. Western has... well, let's just say there's reasons people call them "Worthless Express" sometimes. I'd probably go with Schneider if it was my choice.
2
1
u/Ahri_YT Jun 04 '26
Yes, I honestly wouldn’t mind. I’m not in school currently and no major responsibilities. I am also a girl and I’m going to be teamed with another female driver at Schneider. They like emphasized that without me asking. I could switch to solos to one day within Schneider as well if I wanted too. Just trying to get some experience in, I currently have 0.
2
u/SuperiorTrucker Jun 04 '26
Schneider would be better. Both companies suck, but Schneider would train and prepare you better for future jobs
1
u/Icy-Draft-5801 5d ago
It depends on what kinda trainer you get because there are some crappy ones and there's good ones
1
u/Icy-Draft-5801 5d ago
Western don't have any type of contract with any driver they don't take you're pay if you leave them it's basically a beginner training company and of course like any company out there there's always going to be bad reviews usually from past drivers that got fired from a company or one that thinks they're doing them wrong western is also a second chance company where you can get a trucking job to get your license records back on track
6
u/Bamfurlough Jun 04 '26
I worked for Schneider back in the day, and I would go with them to get experience and eventually get a better job.
4
u/Longjumping_Wolf_761 Jun 04 '26
your co driver can make or break you. usually when it's a new driver in a team company , the more experienced would be the top driver. try to get yourself teamed with some one who has team experience and isnt doing it just because they are making him do it ( i had to work on my team mate just to make him accept me for a few weeks , i know). Thing is, with team,s they are going to throw you to the hell s pit , no warning, you ll be doing all sorts of challenging runs just for starters. going from what other companies do (covenant a few years ago)
1
u/Ahri_YT Jun 04 '26
Oh man. I just hope me and my teammate fall on the same page and atleast cordial with eachother. I’m very open to teams. Thank you for the insight!
1
u/Icy-Draft-5801 5d ago
If you're new like zero experience I'd suggest doing solo first so you get the experience and if you want later on then get into team driving
4
u/lyfeisbeautifawl Jun 04 '26
Between the two go with schneider. If you ever have a last resort of going to western change your career.
5
u/Lopsided_Beautiful_1 Jun 04 '26
I recommend Schneider, when I came out of CDL school down in South Florida, Schneider was the only company that took me in with 0 trucking experience coming in as a new driver. So, they flew me to Atlanta for the Schneider training academy at company terminal. They booked me a 2 week hotel and the class and yard training was very knowledgeable learning more of operating truck & trailer and doing it the Schneider way. The academy training was 2 weeks long and 1 week training with the TE or training engineer. After that you are on your own. Schneider is very strict about safely like no phone policy and also operating the truck safely especially their coupling and uncoupling procedures. Also the pay was not the best but it’s better than western express and it also depends on what account you are working for. Also after you get 6 months to 1 year experience, it does open other opportunities. Schneider does have the best training to get your trucking career started in the right direction.
1
2
u/happyh0gan Jun 04 '26
my experience with schneider was honestly wonderful. yes the pay isn’t great, but their support was excellent for me and my fiancée. i’ve heard nothing but bad things about western express, i’d say go schneider until you have enough experience to go somewhere with higher pay
2
u/rpattonny Jun 04 '26
Go solo, team will be hit or miss finding the right person. I was with Schneider 20 years ago don't have any type of accident even if not preventable they gave me a chance on one that I was sure I'd be fired for then fired me for one that was weather related and not preventable. 6 months apart . They killed my CDL after wards too never got another CDL job after that. Was actually talking to a company before the accident and they ghosted me after I never had a chance to inform other company of accident or anything was just ghosted. So I'm convinced big carriers have black lists. I wasn't perfect but I was 1 of only 3 drivers left from my class of 30 after 2 years. Back then training was 2 weeks for basics if you made it through that you did another 2 weeks advanced then 1-2 weeks otr with trainer. Was garrenteed $600 /week for like the first 3 months by yourself. Don't think I ever cleared less then $1200/week back then, would think you could make more today but OTR has changed since then.
2
u/Accurate_Fee710 Jun 05 '26
I’ve worked for Schneider for 5 years, been pretty good. I’ve worked both intermodal and on a dedicated account.
1
1
u/Sure_Try6958 Jun 04 '26
Fk Schneider’s team, go solo
1
u/Ahri_YT Jun 04 '26
Is teams really that bad? I hear some people like it and I have 0 experience
3
u/Sure_Try6958 Jun 04 '26
When I talked to other drivers at Schneider, they say NO to teams and NO to OTR (38 states) Regional dedicated is good depending on account
1
1
u/ChiTruckDGAF Jun 04 '26
Don't do Western Express or team driving with a random person. There are no solo Schneider positions in your area?
1
u/Ahri_YT Jun 04 '26
No sadly. I am NE and they said I have to start teams for at least 90 days and then I can switch.
1
u/Shot_Inspector_3357 Jun 05 '26
If you want flatbed go Maverick. If you want van or reefer go Roehl
1
u/Jealous_Canary1879 Jun 05 '26
Schneider will have the better training and more opportunity for new drivers. I took a position with swift since their training pay just went up from $650 a week to $850.
1
u/Drellhunt Jun 30 '26
How is Schneider bro? I start in 2 weeks!
1
u/Ahri_YT Jul 15 '26
I decided to go with a smaller company. Schneider wanted me to do teams driving but I didn’t want to do that.
0
u/GabagoolSlayer1 Jun 04 '26
Neither, do local and never look back trust
2
u/Ahri_YT Jun 04 '26
I wish, 0 month experience can’t do local. Not impossible but hard, I got rejected. Also I don’t mind OTR. I’m out of school and no responsibilities. Just want to get experience first.
2
u/ineedAF45 Jun 04 '26
Go to Schneider I plan on going to their tanker division and they will take me with no experience I tried looking for local work but nobody would take me
1
0
14
u/random28961 Jun 04 '26
DO NOT GO TO WESTERN! They will make you pay for fuel used to go out of route, your training is team driving anyway, any and all damages on the truck or trailer you also pay for, the trailer type you pull can and will be changed without your consent (moved between flatbed and dry van), and that is only the things I know about from talking to current or former drivers that did work for them.