Some ??'s for the L/P drivers

Discussion in 'Swift' started by blsqueak, Jan 18, 2011.

  1. DickJones

    DickJones Road Train Member

    1,287
    592
    Aug 16, 2010
    0
    i'd just keep it to myself. least for a month. dont want to give your DM any idea that all the work they're doing to keep you on their board will just go to waste if you choose to become a L/O and you go find a L/O DM.

    I've got the same DM as i've had since i started in latter 2008. We seem to 'click'....which is what is important. If you find you and your DM seem to get along, let them know that in 2 mo. or so, you might lease a truck thru swift, but want to keep on their board.

    dont forget, regardless if you're a company driver or a L/O....your DM works for YOU. If they arent doing what they need to do to keep you rollin', its time to ask about getting a new DM. Then when they ask "why", you can tell them that you need to keep rollin'.
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. blsqueak

    blsqueak Road Train Member

    3,988
    3,284
    Dec 27, 2009
    buckeye lake, oh
    0
    Thanks Dick, but as far as the other question, is it hard to switch over to the L/P, like jumping through a bunch of hopes, need this approval, need this, etc, etc

    As far as the DM, after a few years out here, I can usually tell at the first meeting if going to click or not, just by the way they act, their attitude and whether or not they actually listen to what you say.

    I remember back inthe 90's, after orientation, went to meet my new DM, and she hands me this piece of paper. The first sentence was, "I am your immediate supervisor. You will not call me on the phone. You will QC me".

    Needless to say, did not last long with her, like about 10 minutes.

    Another thing that I look for, if they are young, like in their early 20's, so then, how long have you been doing this, and if the answer is, I just finished training, or been here about 3 months, well, I think that you get my point. They are new and I am new, and for me, it has never worked out because I feel that they are still learning, and they are learning on me, and have found that since they are still new, they really do not want to rock the boat as far as fighting for loads and miles. At least this has been my experience in the past.
     
    Tapeworm and scottied67 Thank this.
  4. DickJones

    DickJones Road Train Member

    1,287
    592
    Aug 16, 2010
    0
    its not hard to jump into L/O. yeah, you've gotta make a few phone calls, etc., and time it just right. If you run into a truck you like, ask about it right away. You might get to 'hold it' if you think you're going to start leasing in a few weeks. but they wont 'hold' a truck for you if you dont qualify. so get your miles in, show them you can run....what is it....9k/mo to qualify for the lease? which is not quite 2300 a week?

    once you get everything squared away as far as qualifications goes....its just up to what you want to lease. I prefer to see the truck i want to lease first. i dont want to say "oh i wanna lease a T2000 that is yellow" and then they "find" one for ya. Kinda like going into a car dealership, saying you're looking for a car, and the sales person asking "well how much you want to spend?".

    when you start thinking about leasing, and you know you qualify, get to as many terminals as you can. PHX is the best one to go to, cause most of the trucks available are down there. They have a BUNCH of international Pornstars....but i dont like those or the T2s.....cause EVERYBODY has one or the other. you dont see many T660s or W9s.
     
  5. blsqueak

    blsqueak Road Train Member

    3,988
    3,284
    Dec 27, 2009
    buckeye lake, oh
    0

    Thanks, now just need to wait for approval. Almost sounds like a Catch 22, tell the new DM my plans so that he can run me so that I qualify, let him/her know that if everything goes well want to stay on their board and then in a few weeks start to make phone calls. Sounds to me like it would also be the DM that would know who I will need to talk to. If they do not know my plans, then they could run me slow, so never have the miles to qualify. Then just need to get to the terminals so that I can look.
     
  6. scottied67

    scottied67 Road Train Member

    10,818
    12,622
    Mar 14, 2010
    california norte
    0
    There's a pretty black t660 in Lathrop up for lease
     
  7. blsqueak

    blsqueak Road Train Member

    3,988
    3,284
    Dec 27, 2009
    buckeye lake, oh
    0
    I have been thinking about the T660. I was looking at the online brochure for the Prostar the other night, and if they are set up like the International prochure shows, they are sweet inside. My one thing, when the wife gets here, I have to make sure that I will have the room inside. She has never in her life been in a truck, never mind ride in one. My ideal, Volvo 780, that still has a warranty. Doubt that I will find one of them anywhere around, especially one not beat up. I think that the only 780;s are old company trucks that went lease.

    Oh, SNI found out that I am looking, and now they are talking to me again. Wanting to fix the problems. :biggrin_25512:
     
  8. chalupa

    chalupa Road Train Member

    3,757
    1,643
    Jul 22, 2010
    Houston,Texas
    0
    I'm sorry...what did she say ? Your charged for miles run over "X" ? What?

    And what did he say? If it costs .70 to run and they pay you. 90? .70 to run?

    WHAT !?
     
  9. Injun

    Injun Road Train Member

    8,501
    9,491
    May 15, 2010
    West o' the Big Crick
    0
    It's a lease, no different than leasing a 4-wheeler. You run over a specific number of miles and you get "charged" for them. It's not coming from Swift or IEL. It comes from International.

    Most solo Swift drivers, I hate to say it, don't see 11K miles per month.
     
  10. chalupa

    chalupa Road Train Member

    3,757
    1,643
    Jul 22, 2010
    Houston,Texas
    0
    Gotcha...didn't understand....tks....I pulled a file where we rented Ryder power in the late 90's .... It was $2000 / mo plus .10 all miles / all inclusive except fuel. Fuel was discounted at Ryder facilities. Carrier considered that a deal at the time.
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2011
  11. Injun

    Injun Road Train Member

    8,501
    9,491
    May 15, 2010
    West o' the Big Crick
    0
    Regarding what "he" said. 70cpm to run and only 90 cpm revenue? Nah.

    "He" isn't including fuel surcharge or stating actual loaded linehaul rate of 92cpm. Since I average less than 5% deadhead, I will use 5% as a nice, round number for deadhead. That means for a 3,000-mile week, 150 of it will be deadhead, paying 81cpm and no FSC. My deadhead will pay $121.50. That leaves 2,850 miles loaded at a linehaul rate of 92 cpm...$2,622. Add the 34cpm FSC for those 2,850 miles: $969 for a grand total of $3,712.50.

    Subtract for 500 gallons of fuel (3K miles/6mpg) at a price of $3.35: $1675, then (my) fixed payments of roughly $675: net $1,362.50. Then, subtract the 10cpm I set aside in a separate account ($300) and that leaves $1,062.50. I know it's not the highest pay out there, so no need to point that out. But, for most "new" people it seems like a halfway fair deal.
     
    blsqueak, chalupa and scottied67 Thank this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.