Good night from...

Thankfully he didn't have any violations. He was looking forward to staying on the west coast for a minute, but his DM got mad and screamed at him (Your job is to DRIVE, DRIVER!!) for calling the customer to find out if they had scales on site or if he needed to plan driving 40 miles out of the way to get to the nearest ones, so now they're sending him back to Decatur, Alabama with a load. He thinks it's a punishment, but I'm not so upset about it...LOL. Maybe he'll get some hometime out of it.

 

If his DM actually "screamed" at him or raised his voice at all he needs to schedule a meeting with his DM and Fleet Manager to have that behavior cease immediately. It sounds like he needs a different DM anyway. By the way, a load from WA to AL is certainly not punishment; that's some great miles!

Frank

 

She screams at him a lot. I think he reminds her of one of her ex-husbands. He was supposed to be getting a different DM a few months ago, but they decided to try and work it out. It's not working. As soon as his year is up, he'll be moving on from Swift so he's not going to rock the boat any more than necessary, and he doesn't mind the paycheck that will come with this load either.

P.S. Was it really wrong for him to call the customer to see if they had scales there? :smt017

 

On the west coast, looking at the pacific, walking the beach of Lincoln City, OR... Unreal! Got to live unload a mile or two down the road in the morning.

 

Same place I was last night, just under a different loaded trailer. This one goes up to Vancouver BC area then the next load I pick up in BC and take it to Las Vegas NV.

Wilma you asked about violations before-- I have gotten 3 of those in the last year at scales. What happens is they write you up a Driver Report thing, and it has to be signed by the driver and a company representative and returned either by mail or fax to the address on the report within 15 days. Failure to do so can cost the driver up to $2500 bucks and the carrier up to $10,000 bucks.

The first two I took to the nearest terminal and had someone sign off on it and faxed it myself. Tried that at Sumner and they said that was not the procedure at all. They take the report and sign/fax them. Not sure if I trust that lol.

As far as calling customers, Swift would not include the customers' phone numbers on the qualcomm messages if they really didn't want the drivers calling them. Calling the customer is being proactive, the driver can get good directions and details to make his trip better and more productive. Finding out whether they have scales is important because it can foul up your week when you have to go 40 miles to the scale and 40 miles back when over weight.

 

Wilma,
What Scottie said. Tell Fred he is not rocking any boats and to get a new DM. He has followed the procedure as he should and nothing has changed. Swift does take the DM's misbehavior seriously as it is considered workplace harrassment. It is not allowed in big corporations. He may get a gem like the one I had when I soloed and not want to leave in a year!
Frank

 

If it happens again you might try to get a copy for your records, then fax it again yourself just to be sure.

I'm in Atlanta, GA at the wonderful Pilot.
Got here at 0530 and snagged the single bobtail space left. Didn't pick up an mt at my drop because I knew where I would be heading.
Turns out my load had been rescheduled to deliver tomorrow. Either Swift didn't get notified of the change or they sent me on without caring, because it was rescheduled 2 hours before I got the pplan.

 

Phx terminal. Parked the truck here, heading to wally world to restock the beast
go catch a movie.. 3 days off... /let's out big sighhhh relax mode here I come

 

You might want to spend a little money and head for the Quality Inn on Dysart Road. Then you can really relax. The hotel even gives a nice discount for Swift Drivers. Pool, jacuzzi, exercise room and lots to eat within walking distance, including Wal Mart

 

Sitting in Kent, WA... Does anyone know why it has been taking so long between loads up here in The PNW? I never sat so much, even back in Jan, Feb during the slower time of the year.