Why Elite Truck School Partners With Schneider
Ben Mleziva has a simple philosophy. “I just tell people what I wish I would have been told when I got into this career.” As a recruiter for Schneider National Inc, one of the largest trucking companies in the country, Ben visits Elite Truck School regularly to meet with students before they graduate. He’s not there to oversell. He’s there to give new drivers honest information and realistic expectations. That approach is exactly why the relationship between Elite and Schneider works.
Who Is Schneider?
Schneider National, Inc. is one of the largest and most recognized transportation and logistics companies in the United States. Founded in 1935 and headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Schneider operates a broad range of services, including:
- Long-haul
- Regional
- Dedicated
- Intermodal
- Bulk freight
The company employs tens of thousands of drivers and serves a wide range of industries across North America.
For a new CDL graduate, Schneider represents the kind of employer that is hard to overlook. The company offers stable employment, a wide variety of driving positions, and a transparent hiring process. On Schneider’s jobs page, drivers can enter their zip code and immediately see open positions in their area, along with details on the type of work, trailer type, and a realistic average weekly income. Ben points to that transparency as something he leads with every time he visits a class.
I don’t mention up to’s, he said. I mention starting pay and realistic expectations of a brand-new driver.
Why Elite Works With Schneider
Elite Truck School has been training professional drivers since 2003, and Schneider has been a part of that story for nearly 20 years. That kind of long-term relationship does not happen by chance. It is built on consistent results, trust, and a shared interest in putting well-trained drivers into good jobs.
Elite Truck School’s job placement program is built around connecting graduates with quality employers, not just any employer. Schneider fits that standard. The company offers a range of positions that work well for first-time drivers, with clear information about what each job actually involves day to day. That level of honesty aligns with how Elite approaches training.
Students at Elite aren’t just learning to pass a test. They’re preparing for a career. Having a recruiter like Ben in the classroom, one who speaks plainly about pay and job expectations, reinforces what Elite instructors are already doing. It gives students a realistic picture of what their first driving job can look like and who they can turn to when they’re ready to start applying.
Schneider also visits all five Elite campuses across Oregon and Washington every two weeks, giving students plenty of chances to create connections with a top carrier in the industry.
Why Schneider Works With Elite
Schneider doesn’t visit every CDL school. The fact that their recruiters make regular trips to Elite campuses says something about the quality of training students receive there.
Ben’s seen firsthand what Elite graduates bring to the table. When students come out of a program having actually learned to drive, not just memorized enough to pass, they are better prepared for the demands of the job. That is what Schneider is looking for, and it is what Elite consistently produces.
The impact of that isn’t lost on Ben. He described getting phone calls after helping someone land a job. “Thank you so much. This has really changed my life. You have no idea what this means to me.” That kind of outcome doesn’t happen by accident. It starts with training that prepares drivers for real work, and a hiring process that sets honest expectations from day one.
What This Means for Students
For someone considering CDL training in Oregon or Washington, the Schneider partnership is a great example of what job placement at Elite looks like in practice. It isn’t a list of company names on a webpage. It’s a recruiter sitting in a classroom, answering real questions, and following up when students are ready to take the next step.
Schneider offers positions across a wide range of driving styles and schedules, which means graduates are not locked into one type of job. Whether someone is looking for regional routes close to home or long-haul opportunities, Schneider has options worth exploring.
Students interested in learning more about Elite’s carrier relationships can check out the rest of our partners or reach out directly through the contact page. For those ready to take the first step, Class A CDL training is available at five campuses across the Pacific Northwest.
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