The start of my first year with Swift.

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Sheriff1/6, Jan 1, 2013.

  1. Long Haul 79

    Long Haul 79 Light Load Member

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    Just make sure what ever GPS you get has lifetime free map updates or your bargin GPS gonna get expensive with updating.
     
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  3. ShamrockSalono

    ShamrockSalono Light Load Member

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    Jan 13, 2013
    North Carolina
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    Doc, I am also trying to quit the smoking habit. And just like you, I think it is going to be extra tough while out on the road. I'm sure a certain amount of frustration will be encountered everyday in this industry, as we hear about it all too often here. This is going to make a bad habit that much harder to break, lol. Good luck.
     
  4. DocWatson

    DocWatson Road Train Member

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    It is tough. I quit for a while before attending training and 7 days in I ended up thinking so much about smoking it was distracting me from the actual training. Where I trained apparently everyone smoked including the trainers and at some point I decided it was too much. I caved and began smoking again. If my mentor smokes then I'm going to wait to go solo and quit again so I can deal with my demons alone. No need to put a mentor through the hell of me quitting.
     
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  5. Sheriff1/6

    Sheriff1/6 Medium Load Member

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    Oct 16, 2012
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    GOOD NEWS!!!!

    I made my delivery on time...HINT. READ AND UNDERSTAND THE DISPATCH..Both myself and my DL were under the impression that I couldn't deliver early. I was sitting near the entrance and decided to read the dispatch one more time. What we both thought was an appointment time was actually the end of the delivery window....HAH. I made it.

    I hooked on to an empty trailer and I still didn't have marker lights. I checked the fuses and they looked good. I finally called on road and they sent me to the Lathrop terminal. I'm glad they did. It was a tight trip getting here and I almost pulled over. I had done a split sleeper to deliver my load on time and I was running out of drive time. I pushed as hard as a Swift truck can and my time ran out as I pulled in the gate. WHEW. I was able to get a hot shower, my drive tire fixed and the electrical problem fixed. There is lots of parking. This is by far the best terminal I've been to. It's quiet here, cool, clean, and easy to get to. New folks....remember this.
     
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  6. kerosene jockey

    kerosene jockey Light Load Member

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    Jan 31, 2013
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    Having a bad day are we ?
     
  7. Nordic Light

    Nordic Light Bobtail Member

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    Oct 2, 2012
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    I can say for a fact that the one Great thing my mentor trainer taught me was to:
    1) Protect my hours on the QC and always leave yourself time, just in case I hit a "TIME BIND".
    2) Protect my CSA score by paying attention.
    3) Fix the small things yourself if possible, torn mudflaps, bulbs out etc.
    4) Take good notes about loads, Carry a black dry erase marker, write inportant notes on windshield for quick ref
    5) If I am tired, stop and rest.
    6) Dont argue with the DM, be cool and calm.
    7) Murphys Law. Duality is everywhere. Good and Bad go together.
    8). If things are going bad for me, TTSP (This Too Shall Pass)
    9) Remember O.D.A.A.T (One Day At A Time)
    10) There IS ALWAYS some one out there who has it worse than I do. and yes, someone who has it better than I have it.

    Hope that helps. Happy Trucking to all!
     
    Last edited: Feb 7, 2013
  8. Sheriff1/6

    Sheriff1/6 Medium Load Member

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    It's been a few days...or it seems so.

    So, since my last post I sat at the Lathrop, CA terminal. I was two hours shy of completing a 34hr reset when I as asked to go get a load from a driver who was too tired to deliver. I said I would and off I went. I met him at a TA about 50 miles from the terminal and he looked beat. He said he'd never picked up and delivered on the same day. He ate a big dinner and was just to tired to go on. The bad news is that by the time I was asked to go and get the load...it was already late.

    I hooked on and took off. I got the routing....I am so glad I did this at night. I had to drive through Oakland and the traffic was bad even at 2100hrs. I don't know how anyone makes a delivery there in the day time. I made the delivery and everyone was happy. They deadheaded me back to Lathrop and I got back around midnight. The night dispatcher told me that they would have a load for me in the morning. He said that they didn't have a local fleet there and anytime someone helps them out, they are the first ones to get a load. Sure enough, at 6am I got a load to Salt Lake.

    As I was sitting in my truck looking at the weather I heard a knock on my window. I think it was the tire repair supervisor. He was walking around checking tire pressure and said I had two flat tires and two low ones. I was pretty impressed. He told me where to park and he replaced the two tires and aired up the rest in about 30 minutes. One thing new folks should know. According to Swift, if your tire is below 88lbs of pressure, it's considered flat and you need to get it fixed. No one had told me that before.

    Now the bad news. Last week I only had about 1200 miles. With the load I have now, it delivers on Tuesday, I'll only have about 1000 miles this week. That isn't enough to pay for insurance and the loan payment. I'm hoping things get better soon.
     
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  9. Florida Playboy

    Florida Playboy Road Train Member

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    How many miles did he have to run from pick up to delivery?

    You didn't check your tire pressure at least on your tractor? Trailer I can understand as you always pull different ones and don't have time to check pressure on every new trailer you pick up. Word of advice check your tractor tire pressure at least once a week. With a gauge of course not just thumping them. 110 PSI is what I keep it at. BTW Swift is right below 88 and you can destroy a tire within several hours if you're running hard.
     
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  10. Sheriff1/6

    Sheriff1/6 Medium Load Member

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    Oct 16, 2012
    Boise, ID
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    I guess I didn't explain it right. All of the tires were on the trailer. I do have a gauge and I do check my tractor tires. I have an air hose and I put air in them as needed.
     
  11. secorp

    secorp Medium Load Member

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    Jan 16, 2013
    Lakeland Florida
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    YEE HAW site is back up!
     
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