Alyson Aker: From Schneider intern to team leader in 2 years

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

At Schneider, career growth isn’t just encouraged — it’s built into every opportunity.

Few stories show this better than Alyson Aker’s. For her, what began as a chance summer internship quickly transformed into an extraordinary career fueled by her passion for innovation and commitment to growth.

Now a Driver Team Leader (DTL), Alyson’s journey embodies Schneider’s commitment to fostering an environment where associates can advance through continuous learning and development.

Here’s how Alyson went from a Schneider intern to a team leader in just two years.

Landing an internship at Schneider

Alyson’s career in transportation began in the summer of 2018, when she was looking for an internship to complete her college degree. Encouraged by one of her professors, who happened to work for Schneider, she decided to apply to be an Operations Intern at Schneider’s Chicago facility.

During her internship, she proved herself to be reliable and eager to tackle challenges head-on — and her hard work didn’t go unnoticed. By the end of that same summer, she was offered a full-time position as a Transportation Planner.

This transition wasn’t without its challenges, however, as Schneider was in the process of launching a new planning tool right as Alyson joined the team. But, like she would go on to do many times in her career, she embraced the challenge and used it as a learning opportunity.

“While it was challenging to learn not one but two new systems, I am grateful for the opportunity,” she said. “Learning both systems gave me the confidence to both manually assign loads and review what the automated system dispatched.”

Moving into a leadership role

After just two years in that role, Alyson transitioned into the role of DTL, where she used her experience to coach drivers on:

• Attendance.
• Start time compliance.
• Productivity.
• On-time service.

While leading drivers initially seemed daunting, Alyson’s background and expertise set her up for success.

“I found it somewhat intimidating leading drivers that had been with Schneider for many years.” she said, “But my background as a Transportation Planner gave me a leg up when speaking to them. Drivers knew me from the planning side of the business, and I had developed a good rapport with many of them.”

Embracing a new opportunity

Most recently, Alyson was asked to take on some additional responsibilities through overseeing yard operations. She has embraced this opportunity with open arms and a proactive mindset.

"I have really taken this role and ran with it how I’ve seen fit in order to address issues and fix gaps in the system I have encountered over the years,” she said.

During her time at Schneider, Alyson has embraced opportunities like these and has continuously worked towards creating a more productive, efficient environment for her team.

“With each position I have taken, I have continued to always strive to take what I have learned and make small changes in an attempt to be more proactive rather than reactive,” she said.

Reflecting on her growth at Schneider

Alyson's journey at Schneider has been defined by both professional and personal growth.

“In my time with Schneider I have gained more confidence in both myself and my ability to lead others,” Alyson said. “I went from being quiet and observant to having input on new policies and procedures.”

This transformation hasn’t just benefited Alyson in her own leadership role. It has also allowed her to inspire growth in those around her. By sharing what she’s learned over the years, she’s helped her peers strengthen their skills and lead their own teams more effectively.

“I’ve used the vast knowledge I’ve gained over the years to educate my peers, so they can also lead their team to be more productive and satisfied with the work they are doing,” Alyson said.

Leveraging Schneider’s career growth resources

Alyson’s story shows how Schneider creates an environment where associates can advance through continuous learning and development opportunities.

“Schneider always looks to promote from within, and there are plenty of jobs openings to pique your interest,” Alyson said. “The knowledge and experience you gain while working here is top notch. I've stayed in intermodal, but there are so many more avenues of the business to explore if I wanted to move.”

One of the ways Alyson was able to excel so quickly in her career was by taking advantage of Schneider’s career growth resources.

“Schneider offers many development classes online as well as in-person, which have been beneficial. I have participated in role playing scenarios which have prepared me for those tough conversations,” Alyson said.