Talking to drivers

That's just the way some guys are.
Also if I'm parked and in the truck, and some random person comes up to me 9/10 times, I ignore them.

 

Offer money! Just kidding. I will talk to just about anyone who doesn't look like they want to hustle me. That being said now that my mentor and I are teaming we don't stop for too long anywhere. Our average stop is something like this:

Get fuel

Fast walk to the showers

Fast walk back to the truck

Hammer down

Off duty driver makes sandwiches for both of us

We're parked and in the truck maybe 5 minutes. Not much time to talk to anyone.

 

Don't take it personally.
They're tired, haven't been home for weeks, not making what they thought they would be, been lied to at least twice, been lost, been broke down, can never find parking at night.....and so the last thing they want to talk about is "How do you like working for Swift?". If they had something positive to say, they'd say it. You don't ask a soldier how he likes boot camp three weeks in either. Most Swift drivers are less than a year in and still trying to adjust to OTR - - they had no idea it would be this hard of a job, thought it was just driving a big rig around the country - - but now they're commited for a year. They'd really prefer to not talk about it....especially to a stranger. You could be anyone, that might report them back to management.

 

swift and england are the highest smacked down companies.

but i'm not very friendly either. only time people come to me at the truckstop is when they want to sell something. never do they just stop to talk. unless it's the trucker next door. then i'm friendly. but for people to just pop up from nowhere.

 

I apologize for the way that Swift drivers seemed. Good points in this thread, just where is it that your trying to start a conversation with one of them? Yes me too, if someone comes up to my truck, I am naturally on my guard that they want money or will try and con me.

Well in my experience, lets say you have 2 guys sitting in two trucks with the same co., you go up to the one and talk, he's friendly, happy, optimistic, etc. Then try talking to the other, and all he wants to do is btch and complain, and has nothing good to say about anything.

Every one has good and bad days, weeks, months, attitudes, things go well, things aren't and are a hassle.

Its true, a lot of drivers are on the go, and don't have alot of time to be chatty or just hang around and talk.

But I'll give you credit for being on the right track. Keep talking to drivers and ask questions about how they feel about the co. they are with, the miles they run, the places they go and don't go, pay, etc.

If I may speak up for one great thing about Swift is. They can and do run a solo driver to almost every state, all 48. They are really big out West here. Many co.s only run their drivers East of the Mississippi river. Sure some or most will say, "we run all 48" and yeah, if your a team or a trainer/trainee, but most solo drivers never go west with certain companies.

So try and consider that, if it seems like it might matter to you.

Just some thoughts, good luck to you on whatever choices you make.

don b

 

Time heals all wounds, as they say.

My neighbor had a messed up mvr, eventually came a job, but still, waiting out the time for an mvr to clean it self up can be hard.

Be patient, keep your faith and spirits up, and I am sure it will all work out well for you.

May God Bless you.

 

There are drivers who like to talk sitting around inside most truck stops just looking at everyone, approach them. Now if you stumble upon me, I would most likely ignore you too cause I just hate small talk already.