My Time With Swift

Sandy, Swift's training period is 6 weeks long and pays $450 for the first 4 weeks, then $500 for the final two weeks. At least that is how it was when I was in training last February. I think they may have change the actual length of training, but the pay is still the same. It actually breaks down to a certain amount per day.

Ever feel like a ping pong ball? Just bouncing back and forth? Well, here I sit at Lancaster again, exactly one week from the last time I arrived here. This time is good though, and I'm not stressed about getting a load going in a certain direction. My DM confirmed that my hometime warning is still flashing, which is good because that is where wanna go now, so I am certain that whatever preplan wakes me up at midnight, as I know it will, will take me in that general direction. And as long as the timing is ok on it, I will probably take whatever is offered this time.

I do wanna make one observation about the Grand Phoenix Terminal. It has to be the most retarded layout in the history of trucking company terminals. It has the standard directory that most of the terminals have that basically shows the layout of the complex, but no details. The Jake Brake Cafe was fairly nice, and the over priced food wasn't too bad either. The half-truck that adorns the one wall was a neat touch. The drivers lounge was pretty good size, with about 3 times as many of the big cushy black recliners that are here at Lancaster. There was just something missing.

At every terminal I have been to so far, and even the couple drop yards, the driver services window-the window where you t-call a load, pick up a t-call, get an empty trailer, or any other service that you need-is in the drivers lounge. At Phoenix, there is a medium sized building right on the side of the fuel islands that houses this window. The problem is that the drivers have to stand outside...in the heat. Sure there is a roof overhead to offer some shade, but did I mention this is in Phoenix? It's friggin HOT there and they make their drivers stand OUTSIDE, sometimes as much as 30 minutes or more, in the heat, waiting to get to the window for whatever purpose they have there. There's a heat stroke just waiting to happen!

 

BigT, yep, I was in here last night, sitting along the wall right next to the vending machines on my computer, pretty much just like I am now. Beats sitting in the truck idling. I have a preplan I should be picking up soon. Its a load getting t-called here, then I t-call it at New Boston, MI. It's final destination is in Ontario. Good for another 1100 miles and gets me closer to home. Figure I should be there on Monday.

Good deal on the Prostar. Hopefully it turns out to be a good truck for you. I would love to check it out. I've never been in a Prostar, I would like to see how they compare. Kinda curious about how much that set you back too, if you don't mind.

Good luck and Be Safe out there.

 

Well, if that ain't some happy horse....! I've been sitting here all day waiting for this t-called load to arrive so I can run. I was told it would be here around 4 or 5. I just checked at the window and the first driver HASN'T EVEN PICKED IT UP FROM THE SHIPPER YET!!!! What do you mean it hasn't been picked up yet!?!? Geez!

So the nice lady at the window here said she would talk to the planners and see about getting me off this load and getting me another. Before I had gotten back to my truck, sure enough, I was removed from that load (bummer, I liked the miles). I called the infamous "weekend crew" and he said I had already been planned on a load going to Franklin, IN. I just haven't received that preplan yet. So I'm gonna go sit out in the hot truck for a while and see what comes of this. Who knows, I might be here for another day.