A mentor at last

not necessarily true, I am a L/O mentor and struggled a bit solo, but I don't treat my students as a second seat, yes I like to make more money but my primary goal is to put safe competent drivers on the road. remember swift will starve you into being a mentor, I had my best weeks solo after I applied to be a mentor and had my worst month solo right before that, so please don't make broad statements like that, however it is unfortunately true the majority of the time.

 

Thanks for posting this info I leave to the academy on 31st. It's a good heads up what to look for. Being new to the industry a lot of us rookies don't know about those things, this was insightful and good pre learning. Sorry your friend had to go through that for some of to learn sure we all will experience a lot of firsts though. Some people wonder why truck driversget a bad rep. I can only hope to get a mentor like some the vets on here.

 

Alot of this also depends on the terminal. I was flat out told that after I became a L/O almost 20 months that if I wanted to make it, I needed to Mentor or team. I transfered terminals within 1 month, and I have never starved. Now after 20 monts, I am beccomming a mentor, and that is not because I am starving. I avg 2800-2900 miles per week, which is what I want to avg. Yes, I have some slow weeks, like last week, 2400, but this week 3200, so it averages out, 2800 per week for 2 weeks. There are more than I can sometimes count that I ran into at a terminal, L/O that are mentors, that are crying that they are going broke. If this is so, then it is something that they are doing. I noticed in your profile, 1 year driving. How long of that is L/O

 

Sorry ... but as you yourself stated you struggled to do it as a solo and are under the belief Swift "starved" you into being a mentor. Now I commend you that you want to do a good job as a mentor.

But here's the first question, if you could make it as a solo, would you have mentored? If the answer is no, as much as you say otherwise, bottom line you are mentoring for the money, not because you have a desire to do so. Not saying you can't still be a good mentor.

Second question. How do you define struggle?

Yeah squeak ... I had a slow week last week too. Only 2100 miles ... this week 4100. Already stacked for 2200 by Saturday for next week.

 

six months as a L/O last two as a mentor, first three months never under 2400 miles a week then it dried up to 900-1200 a week and started getting told i should mentor, as soon as i applied never less than 3000 a week until i picked up my first student. still get some short weeks when teaming and get a couple solo runs because i have the student drive those like a solo driver...they need the seat time more than i do. and no more money wasn't the only reason i decided to mentor, i was already spending a fair bit time when i was terminals and truck-stops helping out new drivers who had mentors that didn't even teach then how to use the QC or the kiosks one guy didn't even know how to get fuel at a terminal, i had a great mentor and its not fair to these guys who get crappy mentors. and as to the terminal comment i do think a lot of the short weeks are due to being out of my terminal but it also depends on where you run, if i can get to the east coast i get my tail run off, if i cant get away from the west coast the miles get tight.

and for the new drivers out there its been said before and ill say it again, if your mentor mistreats you or your not happy with them tell somebody don't sit there and take it.

 

Once your next student gets off the truck, just don't use that macro to accept the next student right away (if you don't want to) to see how things (miles) go.

I think the Swift system is set up such that hard running begets more preplans and sitting/turning down loads begets fewer preplans. If I were to sign for another Swift lease truck, I'd pretty much have to accept every single load offer that came across the qualcomm as in my opinion the Swift lease operator cannot afford to be too picky with load selection. I am very picky now and have been for a long time, if I get 2000+ miles in a week it is a miracle.

 

Bingo! Go where the freight is. After awhile you learn what shippers, in what areas, always have freight and keep yourself moving from one lush area to the other.

 

I think you might be right about that Scottie.....hard running begets more preplans....It totally is a system oriented company in that way....I didnt understand it at first.....now i just fly under the radar(people radar anyways)....work my own plan while helping swift do its mighty behemoth company thing(pardon Mystic,still a huge co to me,lol) by god I would just love to know what the system looks for when spitting out pplans...(wouldn't we all,hehehe)seriously...its why i really dont feel now that it matters who my dm is,what terminal I call home...im just totally plugged into the system....here is a tip for those folks struggling....be very very quiet.....this is a secret ok? Do your macros(accurately!) keep your pta current and accurate!..take a few heavy loads just to either appear friendly and helpful(while also moving yourself to a better area!) Also fly under the radar of daddys telltale box(quallcom)...by driving slower,no hard braking or sudden lane changes,and maybe a few others as a L/op...keep your truck well maintained...all the while to the system(and those that maintain the system) or read the reports...whatever.....you look totally smooth,cool,efficient...coz guess what? Thats what the system wants!....seriously fly under the radar...work within the system....and smile when you see your settlements....

 

AND BINGO WAS HIS NAME-O!...Yes I have a happy little trapezoid that i try to get in to when i leave from ht....where the freight is plentiful...the fuel is cheap...the weather aint to bad (at least not mountain west raging blizzard bad) and the terrain is very conducive to great mpgs.....and NO...i'm not telling you....look at a map....geez...its right there! lol

 

that is why that when I leave the house, I do my best to hurry and get south. That is where I know that I can get the miles, run the long hauls, and get the best mpg and fuel prices. As far as the East Coast, you can have all of that that you want. I will gladly give you every one on my loads that head that way. For me, it is not profitable. running those short loads up and down the hills and mntns, chews up the 70 real fast. Plus after awhile of the congestion and the attitude of the people out there, I see that my patientence runs out faster. Glad that I am going to be home Sunday because nerves are finally shot. My DM even knows that the next time that he sees me, sometime late Spring, if all of the snow is gone