Schneider National to open new intermodal training facility

GREEN BAY, Wis. ­– Schneider National will be opening a new training facility for intermodal truck drivers next year. Schneider says its Intermodal Training Academy, slated to open in January, is strategically located within one of the busiest railroad regions in the US at 3600 Kostner Avenue in Chicago.

The specialized training program will provide Schneider’s new intermodal drivers with focused, hands-on training. Each experienced new hire in Schneider’s intermodal division will complete a paid four-day curriculum, which includes classroom learning, a rail yard tour and in-truck training with an instructor that includes both highway and rail yard driving environments. To help ease the job transition, Schneider intermodal driver associates who participate in the new training program will receive $400 in training and orientation pay.

“Schneider’s training and on-boarding program is recognized throughout the industry for its focus on safe driving habits and driver preparedness,” said Don Aiken, vice-president of intermodal for Schneider National. “With the growth in our Intermodal division, we saw the opportunity to develop a new training curriculum focused exclusively on the safe driving habits and needs that are specifically associated with intermodal driving and rail ramp operations. Our focus on preparing highly trained, safe drivers will remain; however, we will do so in a specialized manner tailoring to the type of work that a driver makes his or her career in.”

Schneider officials says training drivers in their real work environment has obvious advantages, including the opportunity to offer more targeted technical training and educating them on an array of business- and industry-related topics.

“It’s critical that we make the training relevant to the local and regional work that Schneider intermodal drivers perform,” Aiken added. “Previous training focused a great deal of time and energy on trip planning, a skill required for long-distance truck drivers but not as necessary for intermodal drivers moving freight to and from customer locations and rail yards that are in close proximity to each other.”

Schneider says it will continue to provide over-the-road training for its other divisions in addition to the new specialized intermodal training.