Need Help. Averaging 1700-2000 miles

I've been with Swift 3 yrs now and consistently run 2800-3200 a week solo out of the Houston terminal. By now you should be doing much better. I live in Houston and always do a little face time with my DM when I go home. It really helps to have that personal contact especially with my terminal manager. I have a similar record as in no service failures, accidents, good RA and generally don't turn down loads. I'm pretty much allowed to do what I want as far as routing, fueling etc. I rarely need to contact my DM when I'm out other than to keep her in the loop or to occasionally knock down a wall. I get runs from 400-1900 miles average. You're always going to get short ones but those should be balanced with long ones too. There are so many nuances in the Swift system to getting miles like trying to stay in high freight areas, staying out of crappy planner zones such as Denver and Jonestown just to name a couple. Keeping proactive also helps such as actively pursuing window staff for a local load to help out when things are slow. Many times I've asked if they needed any local stuff done so I can get a trailer and then find when I get back to my truck they had stacked a sweet high mile load behind it.

i also run hazmat and tanks so I get those opportunities as well. Like you I don't complain and take the good with bad but I won't be abused by planners either simply to clear their board as sometimes happens in the Memphis and Lancaster area. I've outright refused short loads with too much time before but I keep my DM in the loop as to why. One hand washes the other.

I would HIGHLY suggest changing DMs and or terminals. Your DM sounds like a jerk. You need that partnership to keep up with what's going on with openings for dedicated or short term opportunities as well. For instance I'm coming off OTR and switching to Walmart surge out of Baytown in a few weeks doing out and back drop and hooks to four regional DCs. Good miles and EZ money. My DM has also offered me a solo dedicated linehaul type gig in TX that would get me home everyday and off weekends that I'm considering. Like I said you NEED to have that relationship with those in the loop so to speak.

What "comfort zone" are you running? All 48 states, 907 or east of Rockies, 910?? That impacts length of loads as well. I ran 907 for two years until I got so disgusted with CA and the West coast. For the past year I've only done 910. I'll take anything out there to the west unless it's CA, OR or WA and
then I turn and burn straight back to east of Rockies. I got bent over one too many times in CA.

My DM makes sure I get what I need and in return I give her what she needs which is pretty much no headaches and I have good numbers for her metrics. In return I get miles, support when I need it and my last three trucks were brand new. I've been Platinum ranked since 9 months with Swift and I don't get micromanaged.

You need a new DM to work with.

 

Me again...just saw Mystics post and he's absolutely correct. You need to demonstrate you can run to your full extent so to speak. Especially when you have a fresh 70 for them to burn down. I very very rarely do a reset on the road. You need to show them you can manage your time and use every minute needed to get the load delivered.

My last three loads have been JIT, hyperfocus loads with two being high value. No room for screwing up or miscalculating anything. When I shut down last night I had 18 mins left on my 11 and 22mins on my 70. This afternoon I had 14 mins left on my 70 when I got close to my final to set my 10 for delivery in the morning. I also had my drop time changed to later this morning to start my 14 later to pick up my next load to Minnesota. Otherwise Swift would've wasted half my day between my first drop and my next pickup and I wouldn't have the drive time to make the next delivery. This next load is also hyperfocus JIT.

Planners give me me loads but it's up to ME to make it happen and not get caught in the crossfire. Time management and trip planning are critical especially running on recaps all the time. Make Mac9 and Mac22 your friends to fine tune your schedules.

The miles are out there but you have to be willing to drive every minute sometimes. Good Luck !!

 

Run out your hours, don't always stop at a truck stop, try and make consignee no matter what time your unload is. Don't the shorter runs have a sliding pay scale with swift? And it almost sounds like they have you running some sort of Cosco run. My buddy has done some of those, and they blow. Maybe change your terminal, chat with your terminal manager, something. Seems this DM you have is a joke. You should be running good with all the freight swift should have. Are you a home weekend every guy? Maybe try staying out more?


or maybe try the flatbed side? Just trying to figure it out for ya.

 

Lessors Inc. and Melton Truck Lines have Tri-Pac APU's.
Halvor Lines refrigerated division trucks are equipped with Bose air-ride seats. Good looking trucks.

 

Just their reefer rigs!? That blows for the flatbedders and such!

 

By chance if you decide and make your mind up and going to

LEAVE I WOULD NOT LET MY DM KNOW sounds like he is a complete @__,

,Quietly put in applications,get approved by new company - play every thing normal,ONCE YOU GET BACK TO YOUR HOME TERMINAL in this case should be somewhere in FL since you say u moved.CLEAN TRUCK OUT TAKE PICTURES of everything the way you left it,possibly video of truck and trailer,if u can, lock doors -Open hood place keys inside air filter housing.LOCK HOOD.take spare set and drop off with front office if they HAVE ONE.

BECAUSE THEY ARE NOTORIOUS FOR PUTTING FALSE CRAP ON YOUR DAC REPORT and you don't need that FOOLISHNESS JUST FOR THEM TO B SPITEFUL

,Some terminals are called drop yards with strictly TRAILERS IN THEM.GO HOME RELAX A WEEK AND GET READY TO ROLL WITH NEW COMPANY..when and he or she will call and be all nice to you,because by now they ALLREADY BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT WORK REFERENCE FROM NEW COMPANY and gunna have that NICE 2000 MILE LOAD WAITING ON U..then u tell em GO F YOSELF...Or u can choose and resign QUIETELY BY NOT EVER ANSWERING YOUR PHONE AND NOT REPONDING TO VM..sooner or later they'll get the HINT...

NEVER B AFRAID TO LEAVE A COMPANY IF YOU TRIED DIFFERENT FM,and tried to get issues resolved 1st,but as far he making you sit all that time that was his little way of PUNISHING YOU LOL (TIMEOUT) and they do that crap..BUT REVENGE IS SWEET

 

Many companies pull that trick; put in your notice and all of a sudden; there's coast-to-coast runs available, as many as you want. So, you decide to stay and get one good run, then it's back to the usual.

 

I'm guilty of quitting without giving another fm a chance. Luckily when I realized that the grass was definitely not greener, they welcomed me back with open arms. I talked all my issues out, got a new fm and team leader, and have been happy and making great money ever since. I also switched divisions too.

 

Not positive, but I think so; the refrigerated division is owned by the daughter of Halvor Lines owner. All the divisions have nice equipment:
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[TD]WE OFFER THE DRIVER KENWORTH, PETERBILT, FREIGHTLINER and VOLVO TRACTORS

Refrigerated Trucks - Sue Vinje Trucking
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Ohhhh! I was thinking they were Halvor trucks. They both have nice rigs though.