Swift drivers, sound off

Whenever I've had to do repairs on the trailers, I send a message to my DM and get a PO number. That's what will get you actually paid. That reference number is only saying OnRoad knows about it and is willing to pay for it. This is what I did for that mud flap I replaced a couple of months ago.

 

Thanks. Will need to send my DM msg Monday. Hope that she does not say that it was too long ago.

 

I always found that by not calling just showing up and asking would often work better...I also kept a list of FCFS customers and my own set of phone numbers to customers that offered their # to me "for the next time"!

Jerry better circle the wagons in Lancaster...maybe the local natives (get the pun Injun?)...are planning a take over!

that was Deb's favorite group too! Not just because of what they do but how well they used to do it!

 

Lancaster has 7 jobs available in the shop at the moment.

 

Speaking of shops, last coming-off hometime load leaving Lathrop, picked up a T-called trailer from a driver whose mother was very ill. Anyway, pretripped it and found a big lag screw in one of the tires. This load needed to go to Los Angeles. So I went to the Lathrop shop and told them about the screw and needing a tire. Mind you the stay open til midnight. But the guy says he has no tire guys at the moment, keep checking in every hour til midnight. I was like, 'I can't do that, I have to get some sleep'.

So you know what, I ended up taking the trailer the way it was, it had traveled who knows how far like that already. Did live unload in LA, got another load out going east and pulled into Phoenix during the day and they changed the tire right in the quick lane no questions asked.

By the way, this is the second time I've encountered a trailer tire with a big lag screw through the edge treads and sidewall. I believe it is some jackhole former Swiftie going around setting these screws in front of the trailer tires so unsuspecting Swifties (or whoever the victim will be) will just drive right over it and puncture their tire.

Speaking of putting your truck in the shop for a headlight and windshield wipers, yes try to do that stuff yourself. Some of this stuff you can just write the trip number, tractor number, trailer number and your driver code on the receipt and scan in with your trip and will be reimbursed, haven't done the PO route yet. Also do not know how to load the comdata cab card with money using that macro-- is that another way to get money to buy things for the truck?

As a new lease operator I am responsible for paying for all the fixes to the truck now. Had a headlight go out so bought a new one in Love's for $16.90 with tax. Installed, sent in receipt, (because first 30 days Swift pays all repairs) did not get reimbursed and was actually charged again $16.90 out of my maintenance account, now riddle me that!

 

My first semi driving job I got paid by the load. When I worked on the truck I got paid hourly. Oil changes, washing, breaking down flats, changing tires, adjusting brakes etc. I do the wipers on my truck etc.

How if the Hell is it that we are expected to work on these things for free?


Lincoln freed the slaves!

As far as pissing off the mechanics? Be professional, rant like an idiot and you can get canned. The shop super can't fire you. He can talk to somone who can.

 

agreed, agreed and agreed.

 

Sorry to change the subject guys. I agree, the shops absolutely suck servicewise. I've been stuck for 5 days myself and still didn't get fixed. Heck, Columbus even created their own work. Put the truck in the shop when I went home, when I came back it wouldn't start. Took them 3 days to get it BACK into the shop to find out what they screwed up, although they wouldn't admit to screwing something up. Their excuse for why it wouldn't start was something broke. Actually what happened was they moved a lever searching for a fuel supply problem to the bunk heater and it switched the fuel tank crossover...or something like that. It drained all the fuel from the driver tank to the passenger tank so the driver tank was empty and couldn't deliver fuel to the engine.

Anyway, I saw this and just had to respond:

That bold statement right there is the key to it all...INDUSTRY STANDARD. Industry standard implies that all the companies within the industry use that method, whether it be right or wrong. You stated that 95% of companies use Household Movers Guide to pay miles. That means that 5% of companies actually care about their drivers and are willing to NOT STEAL from them. That's essentially what the "industry standard" is doing. Would you be willing to work for 40 hours a week but only get paid for 30 hours? That is essentially what the "industry" expects from its drivers. Yes, we accepted those conditions when we accepted the job, but when 95% of the industry uses this "standard", there isn't much in the way of options.

Any decent business, company, or manager should know that the secret to attracting and retaining quality employees is not to follow industry standards, but RISE ABOVE THEM! 95% of the industry pays HHM, offers the same benefits, has the same slow trucks, the same crappy shop service and all treat their drivers like so much doggy doo. To be completely honest, the only thing that keeps me at Swift right now is knowing the grass isn't greener on the other side of that fence.

If you wanna retain drivers, start with paying them for all the miles they drive, offer some decent benefits, bonuses for safety and performance (even a small bonus would be nice), bump the trucks up to 65 mph, improve shop service (see previous posts above for more on that), and install APU's on the trucks. We always get messages about idling the trucks to be comfortable out here, yet if we idle to be comfortable, then we get the riot act. Yes, I understand it would be expensive to outfit all the trucks with APU's, but the units would actually start to save the company money over fuel and maintenance costs. BTW, how much are these new little Qualcoms costing and how much do they expect to save using them?

I got a message a couple days ago that there is a new survey on the kiosks. I have to wonder if they are actually going to let the drivers be honest in their answers, or is it going to be the same joke as the last survey.

 

Oldie, That is true at every company, but it doesn't seem to percolate very deeply into the organization.

 

I have an idea that might be Poland Spring Water in Maine???