Swift vs....others

emerald079 · Sep 4, 2014

its not a huge deal if they do have them or not, i dont idle unless necessary but nice to have one in case they're the types who like to gripe about idling. 100 degree heat in the middle of texas in july and they still were griping about my idle being too high, i replied with, well, get me out of texas then. they replied- there's no freight currently. four days i was there with "no freight currently"

moraramis · Sep 4, 2014

emerald079 said: ↑

Ok, so, I'm not exactly "new" per se, but still a rookie I guess? The 11th of this month will be my 1 year anniversary of driving. Such a long story behind how I got into this career, but won't go into those details for now lol.

So, here's the thing, I started with Swift, went through their academy, and started out as a team driver for the first six months (THAT was a nightmare, I will never ever team again!) Been solo since March and love it. I had a really decent DM until July, he just up and moved to another department and left about 25 drivers hanging being bounced around between other DM's and the FM. I should say, the Dm was decent but flighty. Always made promises he never kept, told me how wonderful and beautiful I am, that if I ever needed anything at all he'd be there for me, well long story short, denied me dedicated route after dedicated route, wouldn't let me have anything regional, basically said I'd always make more staying OTR. So, I stayed OTR, he was relatively good about not sending me to places that scared me (NYC, Detroit, etc) and he understood how it's hard for me to drive at night. Promised consistent miles every week, then would give me 3000 one week and only 1000 the next week.

Ok, fast forward to when he switched departments and the poo hit the fan. Suddenly I was come down on by the fleet manager, constant badgering about idling, constant badgering about how there's nothing in the system about my "comfort zones", and lastly guilt tripping me about not driving at night. I explained to him that it's not that I don't want to drive at night, it's just hard for me to see and back at night. I was basically called a "half driver" by my new DM, and I said explain to me how when I utilize peak hours by getting up and going at 4 or 5 in the morning and not stopping until 4 or 5 in the afternoon it's being a half driver and not making as much pay? He said "it just is" I said well, if I lose money off a check because I'm being SAFE then so be it.

They claim they're no forced dispatch but there's been several times I've told them I don't have the hours or feel safe going somewhere and they try badgering/guilting me into taking the load or as "punishment" will leave me sitting at a truck stop for a day or four. And tell me there's no freight coming out, it's a slow time of year, or slow area, etc. Then want to gripe at me for my idle being high. I'm sorry, I'm a female solo driver, I do not just sit inside a truck stop and talk to random people like they say to do. Turn the truck off, take the keys out, go inside and sit. It's like do YOU go home from the office everyday and turn your A/C off at night? Then the truck I have has two leaks inside. Has never been fixed and been refused another truck, said wait until Fall before things freeze, we'll fix it then or give you something else. I'm sick constantly with a bad cough and pretty sure it's due to mold growing under the floor. Lastly, I'm out 6 to 8 weeks at a time, I go home for 4 days at a time (Cant take more than that or they'll take my truck on the 5th day and give it to someone else whether I have the extra days built up or not)

I'm not bashing on them, as I am grateful for the fact they gave me the start into this industry and as I said, not everything was bad, but I'm to a point now the stress has taken it's toll and I've started shopping around for another company. I know every company has it's pros and cons, but I just feel like with the recent changes in management it's time to find somewhere else and not give them that second year like I had originally planned. Yes, it's been nice having the pay increase, but if they're not giving the consistent promised miles what good does the pay increase do?

So here's what I am curious about, what company out there is really good about consistent miles with decent pay, allows pets, good insurance, and will actually get you home on time when you ask for the home time? Not oh, we'll get you home eventually. Staying out 6 to 8 weeks at a time I can't do anymore, 4 weeks is more ideal to me. Something with no force dispatch, and understanding about not going certain places? I put in a application online to one of those sites on Facebook and had a lot of emails and phone calls, so there's a few that have piqued my interest, but thought I'd ask here as well about some opinions. Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

What endorsements do you have? I'd drive hazmat chemical tankers if i was you. The hoses aren't that heavy, and the most physical part of the job is climbing up a ladder onto the top of the tank.

http://careers.trimac.com/object/CareersProfessionalDriverMemphisTN.html#.VAktdvldWSo

emerald079 · Sep 4, 2014

No endorsements, thought about it for maybe down the road though

Chinatown · Sep 5, 2014

Millis Transfer is good. They hire with 12 months experience if you didn't go through their CDL school. Only run Eastern half of USA though.

moraramis · Sep 5, 2014

What is your current pay rate? I don't want to dig up anything that'll make you take a pay cut.

emerald079 · Sep 5, 2014

Chinatown said: ↑

Millis Transfer is good. They hire with 12 months experience if you didn't go through their CDL school. Only run Eastern half of USA though.
Click to expand...

Eastern half isn't terrible, means I might get home more often than every 2 months lol

emerald079 · Sep 5, 2014

moraramis said: ↑

What is your current pay rate? I don't want to dig up anything that'll make you take a pay cut.
Click to expand...

between 35.5 and 41 depending on the miles of the load. Swift just did a pay raise.

stlvance · Sep 5, 2014

Well navajo hasnt got forced dispatch. We have a phoenix terminal. Allow pets. I have a nice new 680 with apu. We do run nights seeing as how most of our stuff is reefer work..now the bad side. 3 day hometime policy our pay is less and about half of our dms dont know what a truck actually looks like inside. Oh yeh our speeds are set between 67 and 70 mph.

stlvance · Sep 5, 2014

Just realised your in the tenn area ignore the phx reference lol jackson terminal would be your home terminal like me

safariexpress · Sep 5, 2014

Seriously go to North dakota for a six months and make 2500 a week net profit by hauling sand or water for the oil filed companies no experience at all and then come back home and by a used truck around 25000 to 30000 and leased to landstart self dispatch and stay within 300 miles radius from home and still make about 1600 to 2200 a week net profit.Also, sometimes you have to sacrifice interms of investing time. I think Chinatown would agree wit me on this one lol since He is always helpfull when it comes helping drivers.

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