The start of my first year with Swift.

The answer I got was that the time I put down for delivery was not acceptable to the customer. Ok...I'm sure it was a computer generated response.

On with my saga....

So I finally got a load back to IA. It picks up in the morning. No biggie...right...WRONG. I got instructions to go to a customer to pick up an empty. The only info I got was a name and customer number. I asked for an address and didn't get a response. I finally called my DL and he told me to ignore it and he sent me to a Walmart DC for a trailer. When I got there I was told the trailer wasn't there. I'm guessing someone picked it up already. My DL then sent me to the Fontana Terminal for an empty....duh..they don't have any. Dispatch at Fontana sent me to a location where I found one...it was the only one but now it's MINE! It took me 30 minutes to get out of that yard. The gate guard was an attractive young lady and I think every single driver was hitting on her. I'm now back near the Fontana terminal. No place to park but on the street.

One thing I haven't written much about is the training I received. After having been solo for just over a month I'm here to tell you, it wasn't much. Yes I got to drive a lot. Besides that I didn't learn about the Qualcomm. For the new folks, when you are with your mentor ask a lot of questions about how to understand what is being sent over the qualcomm. Demand that you be allowed to do it. Also, do as much of the paperwork as you can. It's not much but, it will save you having to ask people when you're on your own. I know that when you are first starting out you really don't know what to ask. Ask anyway...just starting asking. Be like a little kid...WHY, WHY, WHY? This discussion group has helped me a great deal. Ask questions on here if nothing else. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this discussion.

Off to bed, I hope it's an uneventful day tomorrow.

 

It's strange, when I got done with my mentor I felt like he was ok and that he'd probably did a fair job. That's because I didn't know what I didn't know. I never chained up while in training, besides at the Academy. Lucky for me I've lived in Idaho all of my life and have put chains on a time or two. Last week in fact on the skid steer. Same type of chains, just smaller.

One of the things I did over the last 20 years was teach. I learned there needs to be a standardized system if you're going to teach a large group and have several different trainers. Each trainer is different but, there needs to be a check list of what has to be covered. I saw some paperwork but it certainly didn't come close to being any kind of guide for the trainer. I think the company is letting the trainers down by not keeping a closer watch on what they are doing and the product they are turning out. Trainers, like anyone else, will do just enough to get by. The standard needs to be raised for them so they will teach to a higher standard. One day I'll have a chance to talk to the head of training.

Just my two cents.

 

My frustration level is now reaching critical mass.

When I got up this morning and started the truck to charge the batteries, I got a msg that said the delivery time for my load had been changed to the 11th. Not the best thing but still something I could deal with. I figured I might be able to T call the load in Denver still leaving the next guy some decent miles. I started getting ready for my day. I got dressed, ate breakfast, and then started my pre trip. Knowing CA traffic is usually bad in the morning I head out to give myself plenty of time and not be late as this is a live load. I'm get within a few miles of the pickup and get two msgs. I find a wide spot to pull over as it seemed odd, the timing of the msgs. Sure enough, they changed the pickup time and set it out to the 7th. Now I'm not happy. I can feel my eyes starting to bulge past my cheeks. Why couldn't they have told me that BEFORE I started my clock? Now I've just wasted my clock to sit and do nothing. On top of all of this, with the wasting of two days I now have to do a reset so I'll have enough time to deliver the load on time. I've sent three msgs and an email to my DL this morning and haven't heard a thing. Afghanistan is looking pretty good right now.

For the new folks, there is limited parking here at Fontana. If you don't get here by 3pm you will be parking on the street. Parking on the street is like parking next to a race track for trucks. I found that out the hard way. I'm fairly certain I heard one crash last night at the intersection of Banana and Valley. I heard the brakes come on and the tires sliding and then a loud bang. I didn't bother to even look. UPS has a terminal on this street and they drive like they've just stolen the truck.

UPDATE: I finally got in touch with my DL. He's taking me off the load and hopes to find me something else. How does anyone make any money at this?

It's a wonderful start to a beautiful day in Foggy California.

 

Yes, they finally found me a load I can actually do. It's only 400 miles but it's better than burning up my clock waiting for something else.

 

I tried this yesterday...it didn't work. I know the pins would move because I used WD40 on them and made sure they would. With the landing gear down they still wouldn't pull out. A light tap with a hammer did the trick. There was another Swift driver there who spotted for me so I could move it back on notch. All better now.

I will also mention that I met another Swift driver from back east. He's been driving for four years. He was telling me about how he can't slide the 5th wheel back on his Volvo. He said there was something wrong with the piston. I told him how I got mine to work and the trick about putting down the landing gear. He didn't want to listen or try it. I guess I'm to new at this to be credible. He was going to Mira Loma to wait in the Pre Qual lane to get it fixed. He's in for a long wait.