Updated swift review, rational point of view

I'm wondering what was in the comments section of the pplan that you didn't bother to read before you accepted the load.
Was there a special message from a planner that went along with it?

Never be too quick to accept a load. ALWAYS read everything, and actually plan the load before you take it.

In my years here I've learned to never run any kind of dedicated account.
I've been screwed over every time, in one way or another.
It's happened with both Target and Walmart.

And any load that says 'driver load/unload' gets turned down without question.
Swift will pay a lumper hundreds of dollars to unload, but a driver will only get something like 25 bucks for all that work.

 

It is what you make of it. Read everything and plan. Any problems with the truck or trailer go get it fixed. Keep constant communication with dm and stay one step ahead with another load waiting.

 

Don't go back to dollar tree no matter what they say. They can't keep drivers on that account for a reason. They build these places on a postage stamp and expect a 53' can get in like a smart car. Unless your in a dollar tree parking lot at 5 am or earlier,it's next to impossible to get in. Stick to your guns,get some degreaser and paper towels (lots) and some good old fashioned elbow grease. Clean that hot rod up and get back to otr ASAP. Put that dump ( dollar tree) in the rear view mirror and you'll be fine. Only thing you'll learn from that account,is how to stay perpetualy frustrated and how to think of ways to quit. You don't need it. Get some teeth and bite if need be.

 

When are people going to learn they don't have to put up with this kind of stuff from a company, there are so many other choices out there for a driver. I really don't understand why people put them self's thur this or tolerate for as long as they do.

Best wish's driver, I really do hope you get it figured out and worked out. Stay safe.

 

Cannonrush, this reads more like a review of you than a review of Swift . Your mentor certainly did a poor job of preparing you for solo driving and what follows is more a criticism of him than you .

First , your truck . Get it to a terminal shop and get the air leak fixed and everything else you're concerned with checked . Although its unlikely you would have gotten a new truck you should still expect a road worthy truck . You could have declined the truck due to the smell but you would have had to wait for another or be bused to another terminal for a better choice . When your DM gets back tell him the smell is making you sick and you might get loaded to a terminal with better choices .

As Moose said , you need to read all the dispatch notes in every preplan . You could have declined that load with "physically unable to unload trailer". In addition to trip planning the load you need to look at the satellite view of the pickup and delivery locations .

If you can't reach your DM speak with your fleet manager , especially if you're not getting answers from the other DMs . Tell the FM you refuse to run Dollar Tree dedicated . You will be put back in Fleet 05 which is 48 state OTR .

Finally , if something seems wrong it probably is . You were trained for OTR and have an understanding of how that's done . If you are being asked to do something outside your training you need to question it; don't just roll over and take it .

Hang in there . It does get better .
Frank

EDIT A DAY LATER
Meant to mention this first . Huge congratulations on getting through the first two and hardest steps of your training . Hang in there ; it will get better and much easier .

 

Heard nothing good about Swift get out and find a better company

 

Quitting is easy. Sticking it out is much harder. For many people nowadays it seems to be the first thing they do. If things don't go exactly they want, they just quit. What do you learn from that? How to give up when things don't go your way.

Sometimes, when all other avenues have been explored and your left with little else to go on,it may be your only option. That's why more than 50%,of all marriages fail after the first 2 years in this country.

You owe it to yourself to at least try. Step back, count to 10 or take a long walk and think things through before you throw in the towel. You'll have a different prospective when you clear your head.

That's my two cents for what it's worth. Best of luck. Merry Christmas.

 

Let me help you out with that .

Swift is a good company to get trained and learn the OTR trucking job and lifestyle . The pay is pretty good for rookie company drivers and raises come quickly . The equipment is decent for the most part and there is usually adequate freight . Swift is a good company to stay with for a year or so to get the experience needed for the supposedly better gigs . Its also a good company to stay with for years as I and several thousand others have done .

There you go . You have now heard something good about Swift . Feel free to go be an irrelevant troll on some other company's thread .

 

Just going to echo what A21CAV said.

If you haven't "heard nothing good about Swift", you haven't been listening in the right places.