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Swift Denver

Discussion in 'Swift' started by Tiger77, Apr 9, 2011.

Page 1 of 4
  1. Apr 9, 2011 #1
    Tiger77

    Tiger77 Light Load Member

    56
    27
    Apr 5, 2011
    Golden, Colorado
    0
    I just wanted to introduce myself and learn what you drivers know about Swift's Denver terminal, and runnin out of there.

    So me:
    I got my CDL and drove for about 9 months over the road while "taking a break" in college. In those 9 months I drive almost half and half for SNI and TMC. Had some fun, learned a ton and decided to try to finish college. While finishing college I drove another 9 months for a local construction company mostly driving mixer trucks, belly dumps, and dump trucks, for $10/hr :biggrin_2552:

    So skip forward a couple of years and I am now a corrections officer for a juvenile detention facility here in Denver. And I am quitting. The reasons are many and varied but just suffice it to say working for the state of Colorado ain't all its cracked up to be.

    So a couple of weeks ago I started looking for a company to get back to driving with, and since Swift has a terminal here in Denver and one in OKC (where my kiddos live, with the EX) they won hands down.

    So my questions are, in order: How is the orientation here in Denver?
    How is Driving out of Denver (more western loads than other terminals etc.)? Can I get all that experience that I got over 2 years ago applied toward my starting pay?

    And last question; Who's a55 do I have to kiss to get one of those T2000's as my first truck? :biggrin_255:

    In closing let me say thank you to a few of you here who have been a fount of information, Injun, Nana, Oldnew, scottie, rugtrucker, and even tho I never saw you on the swift threads American Trucker for your epic thread about your adventures over at W/S.

    Later all and I hope to see ya out there soon.
     
    Last edited: Apr 9, 2011
    Tiger77, Apr 9, 2011
    Tiger77, Apr 9, 2011
    #1
    scottied67 and Injun Thank this.
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  3. Apr 9, 2011 #2
    capthook

    capthook Light Load Member

    182
    102
    Jul 16, 2010
    NC
    0
    The couple of times I've been to the Denver terminal were good.
    Friendly driver window folks, good shop guys etc.
    One of the better terminals in those regards imo.
     
    capthook, Apr 9, 2011
    capthook, Apr 9, 2011
    #2
    Tiger77 Thanks this.
  4. Apr 9, 2011 #3
    Tiger77

    Tiger77 Light Load Member

    56
    27
    Apr 5, 2011
    Golden, Colorado
    0
    That's good to know capthook, it will be nice to have some good folks at my home terminal.

    I was offered 05/02/11 as a start date for orientation, think I'll call Monday and confirm it. I have mixed feelings about going out with a trainer, but as some have said in other threads it may help just to get all the ins and outs of the "Swift way" down. Not to mention getting used to driving a big truck again.

    I have some questions about some of the lingo I keep seeing in the threads here. What is a Tcall? Ecall? Lcall? What is PTA? I'm sure I am missing some acronyms so if you can think of any others throw them out there. Thanks.
     
    Tiger77, Apr 9, 2011
    Tiger77, Apr 9, 2011
    #3
  5. Apr 10, 2011 #4
    The Challenger

    The Challenger Kinghunter

    7,127
    3,367
    Dec 22, 2007
    East Central FL
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    T'Call is where you drop the existing load that is early at the terminal in exchange for another one to keep you moving. The load you dropped will get delivered by another driver when it gets close to the delivery time.

    PTA is posted time available; when are you available after dropping the load and for hometime

    If I am wrong, please correct me.

    KH
     
    The Challenger, Apr 10, 2011
    The Challenger, Apr 10, 2011
    #4
    Tiger77, Rotten and Truckernurse Thank this.
  7. Apr 10, 2011 #5
    Tiger77

    Tiger77 Light Load Member

    56
    27
    Apr 5, 2011
    Golden, Colorado
    0
    You mean Swift will let ya drop your load and grab another instead of just sittin' for a day or two for an appointment? Wow what a concept. Wish ole TMC would have been that smart when I drove for them, I spent a couple of weekends without home time because the load couldn't be delivered until Monday.

    Thanks for the reply KH. When are you going to be on the road earning money?
     
    Tiger77, Apr 10, 2011
    Tiger77, Apr 10, 2011
    #5
  8. Apr 10, 2011 #6
    skiffde

    skiffde Bobtail Member

    14
    8
    Jun 16, 2009
    Charlotte, NC
    0
    I start at the Greer SC terminal on 04/18. I'm getting back to trucking after 5 yrs in an office. Swift was about the only company that would take me without me having to go back through a school. In all my yrs out on the road I never had an accident or ticket of any kind. However when I started the process of coming back almost every recruiter I talked to said "You'll need to go through our school then go out with a trainer for 6 weeks". I will be going back out with a trainer for a couple of weeks just to get my feet wet and learn the policies of Swift which I thought was more than fair. I am really looking forward to the oppourtunity. I also have been following the advice given online by Injun, Oldnew, Rugtrucker and Scottie. They have been most helpful.
     
    skiffde, Apr 10, 2011
    skiffde, Apr 10, 2011
    #6
    scottied67 and Injun Thank this.
  9. Apr 10, 2011 #7
    Tiger77

    Tiger77 Light Load Member

    56
    27
    Apr 5, 2011
    Golden, Colorado
    0
    Hey there skiff, good luck at Greer.
    I had about the same luck just being out of the driver's seat for 2.5 years, no one wanted to touch me with out at least a refresher. (never did talk to SNI they might have taken me, but after about 20 unanswered phone calls to the recruiter I gave up, if I'm not that important to them now I won't be important later either I figured)
    After doing my research Swift became the obvious choice and I am excited about starting orientation next month.

    Good luck to ya, maybe I'll see ya out there some day.
     
    Tiger77, Apr 10, 2011
    Tiger77, Apr 10, 2011
    #7
  10. Apr 10, 2011 #8
    Palazon

    Palazon Road Train Member

    1,430
    912
    Feb 5, 2009
    Tacoma, WA
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    T-Call: Terminal drop. Drop the load at a terminal for someelse to relay.
    E-call: Empty
    L-Call: Loaded
    PTA: Projected Time Available (for next assignment). IE: what time I'm gonna get outta the bunk, be fed and showered, be ready to roll.

    Yeah, we really ought to have a cheat sheet for all our acronyms. We're almost as bad as the military.
     
    Palazon, Apr 10, 2011
    Palazon, Apr 10, 2011
    #8
    Rotten, scottied67 and Truckernurse Thank this.
  11. Apr 10, 2011 #9
    otherhalftw

    otherhalftw R.I.P.

    13,081
    45,332
    Nov 18, 2008
    CA...gold discovery foothills
    0
    T-call...Transfer call, this does not need to be at a terminal, it can be at a drop yard or any location that dispatch (planners) deem it secure and safe. Driver cannot do this from the truck, must be done by an office person...i.e. DM, Planner, ECT.

    E-call...Empty call, usually preceded by "arrive at" macro done by driver in the truck.

    L-call...Loaded call, again preceded by "arrive at" macro and accomplished by the driver.

    ETA/PTA...Estimated Time of Arrival (by driver), and Projected Time Available (by driver). ETA is self explanatory but PTA can be set by the driver figuring a 34 hour restart or even multiple days off from home time. Also, Planners can "push out" your PTA without the driver even knowing it happened...used to be a "punishment factor" if a driver refused loads and was messing with planners trying to get their job done.

    The Denver Terminal is small and usually very crowded...almost impossible to get a trailer parked in that yard. Many times the local yard goat would spend the whole day "re-situating" dropped trailers to make room for more...and the YG would be your only way to get your assigned trailer out of the parking area. The shop was always excellent to work with...(as a L/O)...and office people used to be a bit stiff to outside trucks (not from the Denver Terminal) but they would work with you if you were a "helper" and not a "whiner"!

    As to the freight directions out of Denver...mostly west and south but you can get the occasional east load...that used to be "captive" to the shuttle group going to Edwardsville (Kansas City)...a lot of SLC and Albuquerque and El Paso was how it was "back in the day"!

    With 2 verifiable years, you probably won't be the full time student...could just be with a Mentor to the point of understanding and knowledge of using the Q-comm system and paperwork.

    Good Luck driver!
     
    otherhalftw, Apr 10, 2011
    otherhalftw, Apr 10, 2011
    #9
    Palazon and scottied67 Thank this.
  12. Apr 10, 2011 #10
    Hamshoe

    Hamshoe Medium Load Member

    471
    348
    Jan 12, 2008
    Illinois
    0
    ETA and PTA have to be within 10 hrs of each other on truck Qualcom or call it in if it is greater than that.
     
    Hamshoe, Apr 10, 2011
    Hamshoe, Apr 10, 2011
    #10
    scottied67 Thanks this.
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