Almost anyone can learn to drive a truck. It's rather easy. Just keep it between the lines and don't run anyone over. Right?

Maybe, but not at Schneider National. Schneider puts you through 11 days of initial training to teach you how to move 80,000lbs of machine down the road. It ain't pretty, but you can do it without hitting anyone or grinding too many gears.

If you survive the initial training, you graduate from the basic schooling and become a employee of Schneider National, Inc. That's when the fun starts. They cycle you through 5 days of intense study on becoming a "Schneider Driver". This is where you learn how to use the Qualcomm satellite terminal in the truck, how to get from point A to point B safely in the least amount of time, and what to do when you are assigned a load of hazardous stuff.

They call this program JumpStart. And that is what it is. They are jump starting you with the information you need to be a newbie pumpkin driver and not embarrass the company too much.

JumpStart is structured in such a way as to allow you half the day in a classroom environment and half the day out practicing your backing skills and getting road time.

In class, you perfect your trip planning and map reading/routing skills, become certified to transport Hazardous Materials (HazMat) and learned how to communicate with "office types" via the QualComm satellite terminal in each truck.

If you're lucky, you might learn some interesting acronyms for rival trucking companies. (hey, do you know what SWIFT stands for? Never mind)

More importantly, you learn/relearn the policies and procedures of the company. Also, you are informed about how the next few weeks will be structured and what you should expect.

This was a LOT of material to cover in a week...and still get in backing and driving and the fun stuff.

The next phase of training is Over the Road training. The trainee is teamed with a Training Engineer (TE) and spends up to two weeks training in real life situations. You run loads, trip plan your load, make sure it gets there on time, scale your load as necessary, and find out what it's really like.

If you pass this point, you are set up for SQT...or Skills Qualification Testing. SQT tests everything you have learned and is the determining factor in whether or not you get a truck and are released to the "90 Day Board."

SQT is a skills test. It covers everything that is covered by a state CDL test as well as SNI specific policies.

If you pass this test, you are assigned a truck and handed off to the "90 day" board. SNI does not have "dispatchers", they have Service Team Leaders (STLs). Each STL is assigned 2-4 "boards" of drivers to support. A "Board" is nothing more than a fancy way of saying group. Drivers in a certain region, or meeting certain criteria are placed on the same board and handled by one assigned STL. Your STL is your liaison with the rest of the organization. They assist you in any problems or situations that arise while you are assigned to them.

After you have been on the "90 Day" board...which might be longer or shorter than 90 days, you are handed off to a mainline STL. The "90 day" STLs are trained to deal with newer drivers and give much more support than would be needed or expected by more experienced drivers. This provides you with a boost into the real time life of moving freight in a orange truck.

At this point, you are a "big shot" truck driver. Or so you may think...rookie. Now, on to System and the ability to directly impact Schneider's ability to make a profit!