L/O Changing Terminals, hard/easy

Discussion in 'Swift' started by blsqueak, Jun 16, 2011.

  1. blsqueak

    blsqueak Road Train Member

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    buckeye lake, oh
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    I think that this has been addressed before, but can not find it. Wondering what is the procedure for changing terminals. Can it be done. I have been watching where other l/o run, and what looks like good miles, and the majority seem to be out of the Western Terminals. Seems like Columbus has me in a comfort zone, nothing really west of Denver, and they seem to like to keep in the mtns. Just wondering, is a change is in order? Also seem to like to always run alot East. Running the mtns and hills constantly is killing me. So far now, I have been in the mnts and hills for 5 str8 weeks.

    Also like to hear from anyone that has changed terminals, and did it get better or stay the same.

    Thanks for the help.
     
    scottied67 Thanks this.
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  3. bluebonn

    bluebonn Road Train Member

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    I was wondering the same thing as well. Really would like to switch terminals. What works for me is if I get tired of running in an area I always message my DM and ask her if she can get me out west if I have been running the east way too long. Nine out of 10 times I go west after asking.

    Mac 30 works good sometimes to get you out of the same area.
     
    scottied67 Thanks this.
  4. Business Reply

    Business Reply Light Load Member

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    Jul 31, 2010
    High Desert CA
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    I'm out of Fontana and if I get a load east they keep me there till my hometime. This last 4 week run I have been doing the So Cal to Reno to Nor Cal triangle. Going to Denver eight now then turn and burn for home. My old mentor is an owner op out of Fontana and he gets stuck east as well. Or loads to and from Nor Cal going over Donner every week.

    Dunno about switching terminals.
     
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  5. hunnerbunner

    hunnerbunner Light Load Member

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    san diego, ca
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    i just talked to the pod about that tuesday. they said to call the fleet manager in whatever terminal you want to move to and if they are taking drivers the fleet manager will tell your dm and the switch is made. supposed to be that simple. the down side of course is getting hold of the fleet manager. fontana never answers his phone nor does he return my messages.
     
  6. scottied67

    scottied67 Road Train Member

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    california norte
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    My mentor had been a company driver for 5 years out of Lathrop before he leased a truck, then he switched to Sparks for some reason. He still picks up students out of Lathrop though. About 7 months after I got off his truck as a new driver, he invited me to run teams with him and I was switched from Lathrop to Sparks as well. He being upset, frustrated and PO'd about the delay in setting us up on the 757 fleet was talking about then switching to Fontana as he was thinking of relocating to the Bakersfield area. Of course his anxiety had him thinking of switching to Phoenix as well due to talking with another L/O who is highly productive out of there and wanting to join that driver's DM's board.

    I believe it is probably a pretty easy task to switch, just a few phone calls. I'm still a new driver and don't really know what I don't know yet. I just tell my DM get me 2500 miles a week and things will be cool. Typically coming off hometime out west, I get a load going to Lost Angeles then from there going points east along 10 or 40 or north 15 but almost always seem to get gravitated to the eastern states, PA to GA. When I get bored with that I put in for hometime which is nice for miles coming back.
     
  7. AZS

    AZS Honk if anything falls off

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    This is something that was not ever explained, so (theoretically) you need to be out for the minimum two weeks and then can you put in a hometime request for say, the next day? I always set it the day I left (usually 3-4 weeks later) after coming off hometime and figured that's how it had to be done but no one ever explained it.
     
  8. fr8monkey

    fr8monkey Road Train Member

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    Sep 16, 2009
    Right behind you
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    The way you are doing it is fine,they say that they really like to have a 2 week leadtime to know your hometime,i usually stay out 6-8 weeks start getting tired then put it in 2-3 weeks ahead of time.Take 2 weeks off then go at it again,lather,rinse,repeat.haha:biggrin_2559:
     
    AZS Thanks this.
  9. AZS

    AZS Honk if anything falls off

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    I was just thinking about not having to decide when I want to go home and maybe after a few weeks out you then could just decide to start heading back home. Figures they would want to know way ahead of time though.
     
  10. 1nonly

    1nonly tease-y-ness

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    The burning sands of the SW
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    Any date you enter in the Macro 8 is supposed to be at least 14 days ahead of the current date. You can set it as soon as you come off HT.

    As for switching terminals, I once heard a rumor that they wouldn't let you switch to a terminal unless you moved. But that's just a rumor, no idea if there's any truth to it or not.
     
  11. AZS

    AZS Honk if anything falls off

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    OK so that's just the way it works then I guess. Alas. Didn't really make sense to do it my way but that would be cool if it did!
     
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