Not working winter

We have a driver that will always have a spot with us. Summertime he hauls cattle and when it slows down he comes and runs for us during the winter. And he's got the job because he runs hard and runs as long as the roads are open.

But companies like that are rare. Nobody is going to have a truck sitting there waiting for you. That truck has to make money. It's a business. So maybe if you leave and comeback and they have a spot for you and you left on good terms then you can get your job back.

But honestly winter driving is great. People who are scared of it are the ones who cost us time and money by crashing and driving 15mph with 6mph winds

 

Shipments have to be transported 24/7/365. You have to work, sir. If the state hasn't closed the highway, then Good., if 511 reports black ice but highway cams show traffic, and if Google traffic shows green or yellow, then Good. If windspeed is high, but you're 55,000lb+ , you're Good, if you have good windshield wipers and De-icer, and an extra set of wipers, ur good.
Last, and most important, wear boots not tennis shoes, and ACTUALLY use a map to route to find detours in case of traffic/accidents, don't drive at night, or too early, nobody is plowing the roads

it can take me about an hour before I leave to find out all this info. some guys by the coffee machine may have information that was from the day before so you want to get actual updates from different sources

oh and don't just check weather and road conditions from where your at you have to check or call for weather and road conditions from at least 200 400 miles ahead so that you know its worth getting up and going

 

After the holidays it gets slow, and not everyone needs the constant paycheck. So why not take an extended vacation? I always thought truck sharing was a good idea 2-3 months driving 2-3 months off. enough to spend time with family yet some time to make extra cash for the expensive vacations. As for what Swift allows no clue.

 

Swift does have a leave of absence policy. I think benefits are suspended and its limited to a 6 month period or some set amount of time.
Just say you're depressed due to climate change and you'll come back when it's better for your mental health.

 

That's great! Every day you live is one less day you have left to live.
I bought a condo overseas about 12 years ago or so and it's a nice feeling to have a getaway. Couldn't take too much time off,but at least a month, then call the company and say the flight was cancelled or something and get another week or two.
Quite a few truckers do this and a few post on here sometimes about it. I met a Schneider driver that has a place paid for in Costa Rica and a few more with condos in Philippines and Thailand.

 

does swift pay well enough to take that kind of time off or will you work else where ?

 

Despite what most think the pay at swift really wasn't bad for me...once I made it through training. A couple $300 weeks about put me in the grave haha

Edit: it isn't bad as long as they can keep you moving. It seems like it's easy to get stuck in a rut with that company.

 

It pays to be safe and pay attention to the weather reports. Areas of CO and I believe I-80 in Wyoming have had 65 mile hr winds this past couple of weeks. Even with weight in the truck, this might not save you with just that right gust hitting. That Wyoming pileup was bad. I-40 going through and around Little Rock had a storm hit last spring that ended up with people stranded overnight. People who lived along the road helped bring some of the people and truckers food and fuel.

 

I work for CRST and they always sending drivers up there on 80,this morning they wanted me to go to oragon I told them kiss my ###...lol