swift driving school was great!!!!

Discussion in 'Swift' started by my_jpw, Dec 30, 2008.

  1. bigmikectn

    bigmikectn Medium Load Member

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    Nov 24, 2009
    Cleveland, TN
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    Very good point Denalidad. Having driven for Swift in '09 and having quit in frustration 7 months later, I now realize I let those "mobile hobo" types as I call them who spend days at a time at terminals bad mouthing Swift as a good part of the reason I got so frustrated. Granted back then freight was very slow...everywhere, but all that negativity piggy backed with missing your family can really cause a newbie to quit before they should. There were other factors, but upon reflection that was a HUGE part of it.

    I remember at the Dallas terminal at the t-call window a driver was cussing this poor girl because he was offered a local load. Really tore her up one side and down the other. "I won't take a load less than 500 miles." After he walked away I asked her about the load he turned down. Taking an empty to a bottled water plant two miles away. I said, "I'll take it." She got my Driver and truck numbers and I got the prelan. When I got there to drop the trailer I took in the paper work and they told me they had 12 loads leaving out tomorrow. I went back to the terminal and told the same girl I would love to have one of those loads. Got a preplan in less than an hour from Dallas to PA. That taught me a great lesson in being nice but also being persistent. A kind and gentle squeeky wheel. LOL

    When I come back to Swift in January I will avoid driver lounges at terminals at all costs. Have you ever noticed you see the same drivers at different terminals...always griping about lack of miles and always turning down loads? No coincidence.
     
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  3. DenaliDad

    DenaliDad Retired Wheel Dog

    And my guess is that young woman at the terminal will remember both of you drivers...but for very different reasons. He will sit, waiting for his 500 miles, while you drive, making money. Well played, big mike !
     
    Last edited: Oct 15, 2011
    oncnavy96 Thanks this.
  4. tiger 4

    tiger 4 Light Load Member

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    Aug 18, 2011
    poplar Bluff MO
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    About how long after school do you have to eait for a mentor ? Also after mentor how long for your own truck to go solo ? Thank you for all the info it is very helpful .
     
  5. bigmikectn

    bigmikectn Medium Load Member

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    Cleveland, TN
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    Thanks DD. So many times I heard the abusive language people used on me because I was a Swifty and I would just shake my head. No knowledge of who I am or my background.

    Then to see Swiftys talk the same way to other Swift employees was just untolerable to me.

    BTW...I am honored that you chose to use a quote of mine under your signature. Finally....I AM SOMEBODY!!!! :biggrin_2556:
     
  6. DenaliDad

    DenaliDad Retired Wheel Dog

    You're welcome. I only use the best!
     
  7. inkeper

    inkeper Road Train Member

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    Jan 30, 2011
    Texas
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    I understand completely where you are coming from with your logic on the plus one. However, when they offer a preplan that has an open window for delivery, I realize where I am going, I check into parking availability for breaks, and double check my hours to see if I have what I need to get the load there, and have it on time. I do that before accepting the plan. When the window is 8 hrs 30 minutes from 0200 to 1030 and I know I can drive x miles, get a decent break, and finish the trip and make delivery well before the 1030 mark I feel pretty good about how that trip will end with plenty of time to catch a new load after delivery. Then they tell me I will be considered late after 0200, which means that after I drop and possibly get an empty, I will have about 20 minutes left to find safe haven in a large city with all the truck stops at least 20 miles from my delivery point, that is just lunacy. The computer that compares our hours available with miles to go, doesn't have a clue about where we can go for our breaks and how far they are from the customer. I take great offense to your, or maybe it was someone else, assuming that I am lazy because I don't want to do it their way in these instances.
     
    scottied67 Thanks this.
  8. DenaliDad

    DenaliDad Retired Wheel Dog

    Um, where did this come from? Nobody was insulting anyone and no one called you lazy, inkeper. In fact, I looked back in the thread and didn't even see your name as the target. We were talking about being willing to work for a living. Nobody said a driver should accept a load if doing so will put you out of service or get you in trouble in any other way. That would be stupid and foolish, as well as illegal, wouldn't it? There were no specifics. And there were no names. And our conversation had nothing to do with the "plus one." Maybe you quoted the wrong post or something. Take a chill pill, bro. Keep the BP down! :)
     
  9. inkeper

    inkeper Road Train Member

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    I know it wasn't in this thread. I don't remember which thread it was in, but my point is lost on you anyway. The trip was changed from the preplan which had a window, to the assignment which did not have a window. Sorry pal, I don't have a BP problem, never have had one.
     
  10. Domandred

    Domandred Light Load Member

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    Jul 27, 2011
    Boise, ID
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    Probably depends on the school and the terminal. At Lewiston I had a mentor before I got home on the last day from Orientation. We passed each other him going North and me going South so he picked me up at home the next day.

    I've heard that flat bedders are waiting for a few weeks for mentors.

    Just finished training Saturday, now taking a few days off. Supposed to be back in Lewiston on Wednesday and there is already a truck waiting for me...if nobody else grabs it before I get up there.

    Few weeks ago though there were a bunch of guys at either Salt Lake or Denver up from Phoenix looking for trucks and all had been waiting for a while already.
     
    doored88 Thanks this.
  11. tiger 4

    tiger 4 Light Load Member

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    Aug 18, 2011
    poplar Bluff MO
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    Thank you domandred, I am not sure what terminal I would be out of ? I live in southeast Missouri. would you know ? Any info wuold help thank you again.
     
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