Need Help. Averaging 1700-2000 miles

Discussion in 'Swift' started by Polarbear25, Aug 25, 2014.

  1. Polarbear25

    Polarbear25 Light Load Member

    51
    38
    Jun 7, 2013
    Lost
    0
    OK as stated I can't seam to get more miles than that in a week. I have never even gotten out of the Bronze rank. I have been driving with swift from the start for about 11 months. I thought that was just how it goes just can't always get good runs. However the more I look into these forums for swift and other companies people are averaging 2500-3000. I had one great week where I got 3200. The rest is crap apparently. I'm just not sure what's going on. I have no problem driving til I have 1.5 hours or less. Its never a lazynes or tired issue hell a lot of times I could drive way past 11. I only stop around 1.5 left because I don't want to get a log violation. So far my record on that front is clean and would prefer to keep it that way and parking is a wonder to find some times.
    So the biggest thing I can see is that I just keep getting these loads that have horrible times on them. Either I have to wait half to all day to go pick it up or its 300-400 miles and doesn't deliver for 2 days. I try calling my terminal to see if i could possibly deliver early but they always reply with thats the earliest we could get. So I have to sit on it. Or my personal favorite is empty miles 1(other side of Chicago picks up in morning) loaded miles 34 but doesnt deliver til evening of same day. Once I made the mistake of trying to tell my DM back when I started there just wasn't enough miles on these for all the hours it burns but he suggested I didn't need hours so he set my pta for 2 days out. Sort of smoothed thngs over with him since then but still, obviously nothing has changed. Another thing I keep thinking it is is my home terminal is Pa and it seams like they keep pulling me back close to home. I rarely EVER get further way from pa than Chicago or Virginia and it just seams like loads there take longer to go the miles and all the loads are short and live. So then what if i get transfered to one of the terminals out west? Might that help?
    It can't be too much home time because i stay out for months at a time I only go home when I astayutely need to(dentist and jury duty)
    Another thing is my DM is gone All the time. He's either sick or off setting up new accounts. Could that be it? He's just not there enough to monitor his drivers and make sure they are getting miles they need?
    That last one I know seams like a stretch but I'm really just at a loss. I'm really not lazy or anything. I WANT to work. I'm just not sure anymore if I'm doing it right or not.
    I can't imagine its punishment or something for screwing up a load....I have 100% on time delivery. Never got a service failure or anything.
    I'm not picky about when I run bay or night.
    I have only ever called to complain once.
    I am ALWAYS respectful in person, phone, or QC.
    For a while I even tried one diamond drivers advice of never turn down a load even if its not doable and then just send in Mac 22 right away. But that really didn't help.

    Please. I am open to any advice at this point.
     
    Chinatown and Lepton1 Thank this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. tounce09

    tounce09 Bobtail Member

    34
    7
    Aug 13, 2012
    New haven,ct
    0
    Where do you live?
     
  4. Polarbear25

    Polarbear25 Light Load Member

    51
    38
    Jun 7, 2013
    Lost
    0
    When I started it was Pa and my home terminal is still Jones town. But I moved to Florida 4 months ago.
     
    Chinatown Thanks this.
  5. tounce09

    tounce09 Bobtail Member

    34
    7
    Aug 13, 2012
    New haven,ct
    0
    Your best bet is to go with a company that is willing to give you the miles you desire and you have enough experience to go to a different company swift is a starter company your best bet is finding another home I get way more miles than 1700-2000 miles on a bad week with my company.
     
    TexTrucker and Chinatown Thank this.
  6. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    68,040
    142,340
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    Since you live in Florida, change jobs. There's some good ones in Florida or that hire in Florida.

    Heyl Truck Lines
    Lessors Inc.
    Sunstate Carriers
    Halvor Lines
    Melton Truck Lines
     
  7. Polarbear25

    Polarbear25 Light Load Member

    51
    38
    Jun 7, 2013
    Lost
    0
    That's what I was thinking but I heard and read about swift guys getting much more than 2000 a week their first year so I'm trying to make sure its not something I am doing wrong before I just go job hopping looking for a golden egg.
     
  8. Powder Joints

    Powder Joints Subjective Prognosticator

    7,162
    6,731
    Sep 25, 2007
    Rosamond, SoCal
    0
    Change your DM, or change companies.
     
    Chinatown and freightlinerman Thank this.
  9. tounce09

    tounce09 Bobtail Member

    34
    7
    Aug 13, 2012
    New haven,ct
    0
    Every company gor its favorite bunch of people to give loads to so you can either try and stick it out or get the heck out of there I drive for smith transport out of roaring spring pa we have all solo drivers and got lots of loads I recently had a lap I picked up from new Britain ct going to Florida 42 empty miles and 1383 loaded miles so theres miles to be given out but just have to find the right place to call home
     
  10. MysticHZ

    MysticHZ Road Train Member

    5,811
    5,551
    May 28, 2010
    0
    The two highlighted items are working hand in hand. You're not pushing your hours, so your not getting load that push you.

    Run your hours out and get to the customer as quick as you can. Take the initiative. Show up at the customer early and try to get unloaded early ... Unless there is a caveat in the preplan stating to absolutely not deliver early.

    Doesn't matter who you're working for, if you're loafing the loads in you're not going to make the miles. You don't believe you're lazy, but pulling up short on your hours everyday makes it look that way.
     
    Lepton1 Thanks this.
  11. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    68,040
    142,340
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    You're not doing anything wrong; you've done good so far by getting your CDL and experience. Now it's time to move on. Swift is a huge company so there's no way everyone is going to average great miles all the time.

    Submit online applications to the companies listed above and you'll probably get job offers from all of them. Get busy and make some decent money!
     
    TexTrucker Thanks this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.