The start of my first year with Swift.

I picked up the load in IA and the final is in Kent, WA. They wouldn't let me t call it in Spokane so I said I would take it to final. I'm sitting in Kent now but can't deliver until tomorrow at 8am. Already tried. They are supposed to get me a load through Boise tomorrow. I hope so.

 

So here I sit. I made the final leg of my journey this morning. It was up over Snoqualmie Pass. The pass was in pretty good shape. Long before I left I pulled up as much info as I could about the pass and road reports. I was worried for nothing.

I can't deliver until morning so I'm sitting in a parking lot waiting. It is really time for a good, home cooked meal and my own bed. I don't know how anyone stays out here for months on end. I hope to get home soon, take four days off and come back out. I think I'll be a bit more selective this next time. Of course I say that now.

 

Today is an early update with some good lessons learned.

I had a feeling about the load I had and the address I was being sent to. Three times I contacted my DM and asked them to confirm the delivery address as it was different then what was on the B/L. Well, the last response was yes, go to the dispatched address....the next msg sent direction, with a different address.

My load was to be delivered this morning at 8am. I headed out, followed the dispatch directions...the location did not exist. I called my DM and told to go to the location in the written directions...it did not exist. There were specific instructions in the dispatch to not contact the people I was delivering to. I finally called them. No one had the right address. They had no idea the load was coming and, I could have delivered it yesterday.

I notified my DM and Customer Service. When I arrived at the location it was a real pain to hit the dock. I was told they have trouble getting a 24' trailer in. After stopping some traffic, running over curbs, and about 30 minutes, I finally bumped the dock.

Now I'm sitting at the Sumner terminal waiting for a load home. At least that's where they said they would send me.

So, if you have a doubt about where you are supposed to deliver too, look it up on Google Earth, use the street view, and if you can't find it on there, make sure someone contacts the location to get the correct address.

That's it for now.

 

Are you talking about something in my last post or just ranting about Swift in general?

 

Update for the new folks.

When you get assigned you truck, make sure you have a safety vest, air hose, and parts box in the truck. If you don't, you will need to go to the kiosk and take the "Road Ready" course, and have someone print out your certificate. Take the certificate to Parts and they will issue those items to the truck. Yes, you will sign for them but, you won't be billed for them. The offer you a tool kit that you will have to pay for. I turned it down because I already had my own tools. The guy who issued the stuff said the tools weren't any good.

No one told me about this. I was actually told that I had to purchase the air hose and the vest by my mentor. Things change and perhaps he didn't get that memo.