Diary of a current Swift flatbed driver

LORD THE NIGHTMARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm still draggin a van around. i got 3200 miles last weeks, this week has been a cluster. Got a b service done they have been keepin me around Virginia, currently in North Carolina. I'm trying to get over to Greer to take a safety class, and get a flatbed back again. I don't care if i have to sit on 1300 miles for a week, Iam not doing vans anymore. You get junk runs that are 400-600 miles but eat up to solid days. I left a trailer at a shipper because i sat 8 hrs to get loaded, they loaded it wrong. The shipper thought i was gonna hang out on the side of the road till the morning when they could get around to load it right.
I ended up bobtailing 160 some mile to get a empty in maryland, then t-called in WV, got a b-service, now enroute to my final in NC to do a do a live unload in the AM.
Got a pre-plan to head back to Virginia turned it down because i need the safety class done......I'd rather have empty pockets than pull a van

 

On the bright side my truck has been running really grat. I have started to really warm up to this freightliner. She has been pulling great since the phoenix shop worked on it. The fuel mileage has been going up, i think thats becasue shes finishing up breaking in.
I think i don't like pulling vans becasue i am out of my realm of limited experience. I spent all my time pulling a flatbed not a van so this is a whole new world to me, and it makes me appreciate the flatbed division more.
I'll stick with flatbeds, nothing wrong with vans but just not my cup of tea.
I do not look down on van drivers this 2 weeks of dragging one of these darn things around gives me some insight with the bullcrap u guys have to put up with

 

Honestly I have been thinking about mentoring more and more lately. I just dropped my classes for next semester because i have been burning at both ends. However I moved a Swift drivers mirror with my trailer, didn't break, scratch or damage it in anyway, but she called the company, because she thought i broke it.
They pivot and she didnt know it. Still not an excuse on my part i screwed up I actually got out and looked then hit it.Go figure that one
Anyhow i have to take a safety class for it and now i think it makes me inellgible to be a mentor....
I figure i need more experience to be a mentor, if i am making rookie mistakes i don't want to cheat a student on the opportunity to get the proper training he or she deserves.

I figure when i feel I am ready i'll train at least one student before i move on. I am not to sure how much longer i can stay out on the road because my grandmother isn't doing to well. Shes having a hard time walking and taking care of her house. She lives alone because my Grandfather passed a couple years ago, so I try to help her the best i can when i have hometime.
Besides the frustration of the company, and i feel guilty not being able to take care of my family more I really don't know how much longer I can do this. I'll tell you though trucking does get in your blood quick. I would love to have my own truck but it might not be in the immediate future it seems....

 

Just the usual with any company, getting home on time,getting consistant miles ect. My DM is good, i guess the holiday threw the planners for a loop. I'm just looking foreward to pulling a flatbed again. i was in Maritinsburg WV they had a bunch of empty flatbed trailers but no freight in the area to pull though.
The college thing put an added factor to my frustration too, i didn't think it was going to be as hard as it is to balance a courseload and drive. lately i have been feeling like I'm burning from both ends. Anyways enough complaining on my end hopefully have some pictures to post again soon

 

Back on flatbeds, doing a load of chasis to Forest City Iowa, deliver on the 9th about 1090mi.........I'm back!!!!!!