Need Help. Averaging 1700-2000 miles

You've been given good advice on both sides of the ball here. Either stay with swift and get a new terminal/fm or find a new job. Imo, unless you are shooting for a dedicated account that gets you home frequently with swift, I'd be applying at the places China mentioned. I spoke to swift briefly when I decided to go back to otr, but it was only because they had an ad up for a regional spot. Surprise, it was filled, but if I would drive otr with them for an undetermined amount of time, I'd get on a waiting list... yea right.

If you like otr, find a company that is geared more towards driver comfort, ie APU's and inverters, fridges, pet policy, etc. You'll probably get more per mile as well as better miles. Yesterday I dropped off a 2900 mile load, picked up a 500 mile load today that takes me to a 2700 mile run... btw, China suggested this company to me, just sayin..

As far as your driving habits are concerned, I am curious about one thing. With the miles you are (not) getting and all the downtime you have, why on earth are you driving so you stop so late that you are having problems finding a parking spot? Sounds like you are either sleeping late or/and picking up and sitting on the load till you barely have time to deliver.

 

I feel your pain to a point. My dm is sick and is gone all the time. When he is their everything is great good loads no problems. But when he isnt their I get the shaft then he has to fix it when he gets back. If your dm isnt having your back YOU HAVE TO SWITCH terminals or quite. Its really that simple. If you got your year its time to start thinking about making a switch. Swift is an ok starter company but just like any job doesnt always suite everyone.

 

This is a shame to read. I've been stuck in a holding pattern like that before, running the same area over and over again until I nearly threw a fit and my DM asked the planners to move me west. You might want to ask your DM if he can request the planners to move you west. From what you wrote already, I'm not crazy about your DM. That blowing your PTA out would not go over well with me.

Is your Swift RA score good? It sounds like it is from what you are saying. You might want to request a change of terminals. Maybe one out west? Not that your home terminal has anything to do directly with where you run, it's all about the freight, but maybe a change in terminal will provide you with a different DM in a different location.

I know some may disagree with me but I run way more miles out in the western states than I do out east. I've heard from other drivers who only like to drive out east or Midwest, etc. They make more money out there. Not me. The average length of my trips out west are double, if not more, in mileage than the loads I get out east. It's just the way is has been for me.

I don't think you are doing anything wrong other than possibly calling the DMs and seeing if there is a window on a pickup or delivery. May reduce the number of loads you have to refuse via Mac 9. That's the advice I was given on here by some tenured Swifties and it is good advice. That may help a little. It sounds like you are not a whiner and will run whatever loads and for whatever hours. Finding parking 1.5 hours before your time up is not unreasonable from what I can tell. I don't think the issue with your miles is so much on you. I'm leaning towards your DM.

Might be time to ask around at some other terminals. Get in touch with the fleet manager and let them know that you are interested in switching terminals. They will check your Swift record and if it looks like you will be an asset to that terminal they will probably scoop you up if they have the room for ya.

Keep your head up and make a move that is going to benefit you.

 

I've heard this too. Check out the terminals out west.

 

wish you luck on new job. sux the way swift treated you.

 

Polarbear, in order to improve your miles here's some tips (some of which have already been covered):

1. Run west - as noted earlier, the miles are longer on western runs.

2. Request home time in a west coast zip code. You indicated you run for months at a time. That's great! You can request home time in any zip code you want. When you get there, then immediately set your PTA for whatever time you want, even if it's just for a 10 hour break. The point is you are now in the west. You are now being planned by planners that plan that region.

3. Planners give you the loads, not your DM. Your DM can be an important factor in being able to talk to the planners to help you out. A bad DM can hurt you and it sounds like your relationship with your DM isn't going well. A change of face might help you.

4. Untether yourself - be self contained and able to take a 10 anywhere. As others have noted, if you have no fear of running out your hours, then you can maximize your miles per day. Have food in the truck and be able to park for a 10 in shopping centers, rest areas, wide pullouts beside the road, at the customer, etc. The shorter the miles you have to run on the day of the delivery, the more the miles you will have available after delivery. When I first started running solo last year I had a habit of stopping short of the delivery, but now I am frequently going directly to the customer and parking in their parking lot whenever possible. For example, if I park at 8:00 pm in a small customer's parking lot for a 6:00 am appointment I can log Pretrip and Delivery at the same time as I get into the dock for a live unload. Now I've just started a fresh 14 hour clock and can run all day, so the planners have something to work with. If you have a 600 mile load, then don't run 400 miles the 1st day and 200 miles the second day. You have fewer hours left for planners to give you a load the 2nd day. Run 600 miles the 1st day and you are able to run 600 miles the 2nd day.

5. Use Google Maps to find alternative parking. Even in the Northeast you can find parking in shopping centers, as long as you don't idle in a neighborhood.

Two other factors that I'm curious about:

1. What is your on time percentage?

2. What percentage of loads do you decline?

 

Got DANM ROOKIES THEY NEVER,ever,EVeeer LISTEN they never ever LISTEN TO US VETERANS THAT BEEN IN THE GAME....DIDNT A GUY NAME RAGIN CAJUN TELL U THIS LREADY GO BACK AND READ WHAT I SAID ON PAGE 2????

 

I warned u..I COLD HEARTEDLY WARNNNED U....DIDNT I ...I TOLD HOW THESE BIG OUTFITS OPERATE BUT NO....THEY DONT WANNA LISTEN TO US WHEN WE TELL YALL STUFF FOR YALL OWN GOOD... When will they learn...when WILL THEY LEARN ---Got DANM ROOKIES THEY NEVER,ever,EVeeer LISTEN they never ever LISTEN TO US VETERANS THAT BEEN IN THE GAME....DIDNT A GUY NAME RAGIN CAJUN TELL U THIS alLREADY GO BACK AND READ WHAT I SAID ON PAGE 2????

 

When will they LISTEN and stop THINKING THEY KNOW IT ALL....CANT SAY A OP DIDNT TELL U SO...IM DONE