Who's The Worst Of Them ALL to work for?

This site comes in waves, you love it, then you get bored with it, then you get drawn back in. Welcome to the fun! Once everything is done, please do let me know all the details. You have piqued my curiousity. We probably know each other, or have seen each other. Either way, I look forward to hearing from you.

Wes

Just a misunderstanding. Lets not escalate this. Remember some complaints are valid, some are obviously not valid. Some need feedback from all sides to see if they are valid, or if there was a misunderstanding.

Wes

 

Keep things from getting personal here gang!

 

I commend you on wanting to take part in your son's life. My husband was absent for most of our son's life, due to his being a truck driver, sometimes you make some sacrifices to take care of your family. But the time that hubby is home is more precious because we don't get to see him everyday.

We all have our life experiences to share and some are more passionate about sharing that than others. If a person gets burned really bad by a company, you have to understand that that person has the right to feel that way, just like you have the right to feel your way. We just react differently. God bless you for having an active part in your son's life. This country would be a different place if more men did what you're doing.

 

Good for you PawPaw!! I did the same thing 14 years ago. I drove 20 yrs for a local lumber company thet went under so I went otr with 2 teenagers at home. I was missing out on so much so I quit got a job as a custodian and was much happier....Now that the kids are grown and the wife left it's me and my dog back on the road

 

I have been asking my wife (TW), why you could be so passionate about your position with Swift. On top of that hatred now you belittle PAWPAW for being a bus driver. Have you ever tried driving a school bus, or even a city bus? Probably not!!
I did the school bus thing decades ago when I was in college. A great job for a student with the schedule of work as it is for a school district. But the down side is the responsibilites you have on your shoulders, the safety of the kids, the stupidity of the traffic around you, now the potential of law suits. Just like being a teacher you as the operator of the bus have no authority or ability to discipline a problem child on the bus, no matter what havoc he/she is creating. Try dealing with 30-50 middle school children, and the younger high schoolers are maybe worse. These kids today know you can't scold, berate, or even discipline in any way, until the school authorities are present to take the case so to speak. Just like a truck driver, you are always wrong in your decision on handling the problem.
As for your constantly making Swift the bad guy and wrong in everything they do, you can't have had much experience with the company. I am assuming from reading your posts. My feeling is that you were with them just long enough (if at all) to get the minimum experience needed to move on. Maybe you had a very poor DM, (often the real problem), maybe you are the type who must have it your way or no way. I and my wife have one real issue with Swift, and we are dealing with it the correct way. All in all, I was maybe very lucky in mostly having good DM's that kept me going.
Whether I was operating solo, or Mentoring, my miles were always top. My students learned more than the basics, averaged 30+ backs each week, did their own logging, trip planning, and had (almost) full control of the truck during the final two weeks. The student from day 1 was the only person using the Quallcom.
My graduated students were ready to go to work when they were given the keys to their truck. All of my graduated students received from me a new Atlas, log binder, truck stop directory, and a check list for the everyday issues we all experince. And finally my phone number, yes they still call me if they have questions even though they are driving for another company.
You know something, looking back on my years with Swift, I am still very proud for what I accomplished working for Swift. And the pride still reminds me of some good I did for a company, the different individuals I was associated with, and every student that I had some contact with. One of my former students still calls me Commander, his nickname he gave me the first time he set foot on my truck.
He gave me the moniker because I was strict, fair, and taught above what he needed to just get by. He is still with Swift and happy doing well on a dedicated fleet.
My suggestion to you, try finding the good in where you are, what you are doing, and those you encounter, maybe the good will come back to you tenfold.

 

. Everybody is wrong except you because you have "years" of experience, and you talk about me having a problem. For somebody that claims to have management experience, you sure arent acting like it--but I guess managing kids down at Burger King or managing Taco Bell gives you the experience that you need to tell us all how we are wrong. If you have noticed or paid any attention to any of this thread or any of the others concerning Swift, you would have noticed that I am not the only one saying these things about your beleoved ex-employer. You do understand that you are in the "bad trucking company" area of this forum. If you want to constantly praise them, then go to the good section--you do know that there is one. If you truly have "years of research" like you say you do then you will kow that everything that I have said is 100% true and above board--just because you dont think it is doesnt make it that way.

I would also commend you for wanting to be home with your children. I have always been home as much as possible since I stasrted driving. I am now home everyday. But even when I was over the road, I was home approx 2-3 days a week every single week and sometimes more and I still made good money. It is all in who you go to work for--I never go to work for anyone who cant get me home.PERIOD. Becuase it is really not that these companies cant get you home, it is just that they think that they dont have to. Thus another reason that Swift is a place that I would not recommend to any driver who has obligations and interests outside of driving.

My biggest problem with Swift is that they are a driver-mill--just like the majority of the biggies. You know that JB Hunt even did away with their training schools and program years ago because of this problem. So you let them use the qualcomm--big deal--I never did understand why that keyboard is such a big deal. The company that I did my training with, didnt even have them. And even when I went to a comapny that did have them, I rarely used that for anything except putting load info in. I rarely called my dispatchers at any of the companies I have worked for, because unlike some people, I get it. That qualcomm has a thing about becoming a real distraction. I remember working for JB Hunt and that thing going off so much, that I hung it outside the passenger window and rolled the window up!

And my other big problem is that their drivers have a tendency to be know-it-alls(as evidenced on this board) with limited experience and limited exposure to anything much less trucking. They beleive their recruiters and dispatchers over there(who are obviously kept in the dark)and fail to see the big picture about the industry.

BTW, I dont hate PAwPAw, I dont even know him. I just dont like the fact that he has maybe 1 year experience(I see he changed it to 2) and he is over here telling me and others how it is, and he really doesnt know how it is and doesnt care to understand how it is, but yet he couldnt make it at the very company that he constantly defends.

 

Why keep beating a dead horse, Tim?

I suggest ignoring PawPaw and paying attention to the excellent conversations betwixt VickW and OtherHalfTW.
THAT's what real communication is all about.

We may, or may not, totally agree with what either of them have to tell us, but at least they're presenting themselves in a more civil and factual manner. I find that to be refreshingly educational. Each states their beliefs based on first-hand knowledge and/or personal experience, and back their claims with same, rather than second-hand, regurgitated information.

Notice also, the absence of personal attacks. Instead, we're treated to a mature discussion and conversation. THAT'S how to communicate!
And I'd like to take this opportunity to thank BOTH of them for contributing to a learning experience.
Thank you, sirs!
Job WELL done.
And MUCH appreciated.
Please, carry on.
Y'all have my attention.

 

You hit the nail on the head, otherhalf. Having driven both school bus and OTR, I would say that OTR is much easier. The worse thing about school bus (which I am no longer doing--back to belly dumps for now) are the parents. I had a parent call one time and actually wanted me watching the kids al the time to make sure that no one was touching her daughter. I told her it was impossible, primarily from a safety standpoint, to watch the children 100% of the time since that could land us in a ditch.

I enjoyed my time with Swift. Again, I had a good DM. And, as I stated before, I did not leave Swift because I "couldn't make it there" as timtruck alleges. In fact Swift has invited me to return to them. I left on good terms; was willing to give a full two week notice but my DM said to just make one more run to California and be back by my original rdo (remaining days out) date that he had me down for. What you are facing with the loss of what you put into the truck with them is exactly why I will not lease a truck from the company I drive for when I return to the road. I would rather be able to leave and take my equity wth me. I hope you can get things worked out and be able to move on.

 

OK, good response timtruck, what I was getting at was the fact that when you are given tools to use by a company,it is best to learn how to use them to your advantage rather than bucking the system because it is new. I am now working for a smaller company, yes they know me by name not a number or code, however, they use the phone dispatch system.
This system works behind the driver, not attempting to stay one step or so ahead of the driver. With the phone in system (like this) the dispatcher/planner must wait to get your phone call that you are empty, then check on your available hours (if the driver is honest anyway) to set him up for his/her next load. Most of he time so far, I get empty then have to take another ten hour break to be legal driving my freight. This is important to me as I run the I-5 and you should know the headaches out here on I-5, best to be legal.
With the Qualcomm and other similar systems, the company is one or more steps ahead of their trucks. Planners in the delivering area can look to see what trucks are due in and knowing the customer can better estimate the time to unload, then pre-plan the truck so the driver can get headed to the freight and plan ahead for breaks and fuel stops.
To me the computer system keeps the driver and planner working together. I will admit the system doesn't always work perfectly, but to me it is better than the phone and wait (don't forget the hold time with the dispatcher and the leave a message syndrome).
As to your recruiter and dispatcher statement, we all know that recruiter is a longer word for LIAR, just like the military, promise you what you want to hear and then off to basic training and bend over yadda yadda yadda. The dispatcher can be your freind or your enemy, you set the stage on your performance and personality at your very first meeting. Now the dispatcher or driver manager will be better suited if they had some driving experience, problem here is that (as you should know) the driver going into the office takes a mighty pay cut so a driver doesn't last long in the office. Of course there are great DM's probably because they prefer the office environment or they had family issues that took them off the road.
But to everyone reading this, remember you make your job no matter what it is, driving, dispatching, terminal managing as good or as bad as you want it.
Did I put you all to sleep? These icon things are cool
See you all tomorrow, good night dear (not you timtruck)

 

Goodnight hon':smt008