Stephanie Banic: Living the good life as a Schneider driver

Schneider Dedicated Driver Stephanie Banic enjoyed the childhood days she spent on her parents’ farm in rural Indiana, but the view out her bedroom window was not her field of dreams.

Twenty-nine years and over two million miles later, Stephanie is still loving the dream job with Schneider that allows her to explore new horizons every day.

“I grew up on a dairy farm and spent my life in the same spot before I became a driver,” she said. “This job has afforded me opportunities I would not have otherwise had, like traveling. I’ve been to all 48 contiguous states and five provinces of Canada.”

How she got into truck driving

Stephanie graduated from college with a degree in physical education, but it quickly became clear to her that it was not her ultimate career path. Shortly after having this realization, a TV commercial for a truck-driving school in her area steered her toward a driving career.

With a lineage of drivers in her family, Stephanie felt driving could be a good fit for her. After all, her father drove a grain truck for some time, and her grandfather and uncle pulled livestock trailers.

Stephanie traded careers and graduated from truck driving school in July 1990. When it came time to choose what company to drive for, she chose orange. Stephanie was an Over-the-Road driver for 19 years before transitioning into a unique Dedicated driving role in 2009.

Taking advantage of unexpected opportunities

As a member of the National Dedicated Fleet, Stephanie gets placed on Dedicated accounts around the country that are temporarily in need of additional drivers.

The fleet is commonly tapped to assist with new business start-ups and seasonal spikes, as well as provide vacation coverage for other drivers. Each placement offers the desirable steady schedule; Stephanie can travel and then take time off to attend music events, follow her favorite Indiana sports teams and watch her favorite racecar drivers compete.

With more than two million safe driving miles under her seat belt, Stephanie has some sage advice for those considering a driving career.

“Schneider is a good company to drive for, with great leadership, training and benefits,” she said. “Yes, truck driving takes work and dedication from you and your family, but when you make it work, it’s a good life.”