Swift - Starting the New Year training with Swift 1/7/13 - A long read...

That is a shame.

I was told recently by another Swift driver at a terminal that Swift has some kind of clause written into their contract whereby Swift trucks are allowed to park at any Wal-Mart in return for Wal-mart getting a reduced rate. I don't believe it for a second. Funny how much misinformation is out there.

 

So another wasted day.

My mileage this week sucks. I did a round trip loop back here to the Pilot in Hagerstown, Maryland.

Got a pretrip this morning picking up in Maryland and T-calling down at the Richmond terminal. It was sent to me followed up by a phone call from a planner out of a nearby terminal. I have hometime scheduled for Richmond, VA tomorrow. I actually got excited that I would be going down there. For a minute I was excited until those plans were put on hold.

I requested an emergency fuel route since I was between 1/4 and 1/8 tank and didn't think i would make it down to Richmond on that. I was sent to the mini Swift terminal in W. Virginia to fill up. Then I was supposed to swing back into Maryland to pick up the preloaded trailer at a Costco DC.

I drove the 30 miles or so to the W. VA terminal and filled up. I was getting more excited and spoke to both of my parents about seeing them possibly later today. I've been taking my past few hometimes out in Williamsburg since my dad just had his hip replaced and my mom had been in and out of the hospital fighting cancer. She was going to be discharged from the hospital later today.

I drove from fueling to the pickup location and was told by the gate guard that there was no paperwork for the trailer I was to pick up. Oddly enough, he kept muttering the big F while looking for my paperwork. Now I got a foul mouth but I know when to exercise it and when not to. Just odd that he was exercising the hell out of his in front of me.

I asked to check the lot for the loaded trailer to see if I could locate it. He gave me the ok and about 15 minutes later I located it backed up against a dock, doors still wide open, red dock light flashing and the trailer lock in place. Didn't look good. I called the number for the shipper on my paperwork and immediately I could barely hear what the guy was saying. I told him about the trailer I was looking to pick up and asked if it was going to be ready soon. I was told to hold on and I couldn't make out the rest of what he was saying due to the fact that he was using the speakerphone and was a distance away from it obviously....

I asked again...
"What?"

He replied something even more garbled then the last thing he said. I asked him again....
"I'm sorry, what? I can't hear you..."

He completely blew up, screaming something at the top of his lungs. I could make out the F bomb but that was it. He then hung up.

Okay, so I'm done here. I called the driver manager that was in and told him the load was not ready. I needed another load. He told me to wait around and stand by until something came up. I gave it about 30 minutes before I sent a message that I'm going back to the Pilot before there was no longer any parking. Never got a response.

I made my way out here. Still nothing on the Qualcomm. I sent in my macro message letting them know that I was available...
Nothing.
I sent in a "freeform" message that I had hometime scheduled for tomorrow and that I needed to ensure I was removed off the previous load, as previously requested, and given a new load...
Nothing.

Good thing I didn't wait around at the Costco. At least here I got wifi and access to a microwave. I did try to call my terminal and waited on hold for 12 minutes without speaking to anyone. Then someone picked up and hung the phone right up again. I didn't even get a word in.


I'm was recently threatened that I would be written up if I didn't get my idle time down. As much as I want to do my part in keeping fuel costs down and helping out Big Papa Swift I have become a little bitter due to some pay issues. I'm starting to distinguish between those issues I care about and those I don't.

I'm still fighting to get paid for layover pay from when I was in training. Back in February and early March. It's still a battle every week. More phone calls. More repeating the dates to different people and sometimes the same people. More fighting over a $55 taxi receipt when Swift required me (back in training!) to take a cab to the bus depot. Being told when I sat for 4 days (96 hours!) at the Gary terminal that we were on a 34 hour reset and therefore I wouldn't be getting paid. Funny because neither one of us, me or my mentor, required a 34 hour reset at the time and, unless my math is bad, those days equaled 2.5 resets back to back. But whatever...it's only my money right?

Now I'm out another $175, at least temporarily, due to a Comdata check issue at a receiver last week. Receiver told me the lumper fee would be $175. I went inside to confirm, again, that that was the amount. I sent the info in to corporate via the correct macro, called Comdata and got the check approved, filled out the check and then as soon as I'm done the receiver calls me in my truck while I'm still waiting to get unloaded and tells me that the fee is only going to be $50. Yay Swift. Boo me. Now the $175 will be taken out of my paycheck until I can get to a terminal, submit the voided check, have payroll approve it, give me authorization to write myself another Comdata check, find a branch of my bank and submit the check into my personal checking account. What a freakin headache over the receivers error. Unreal. Glad I actually paid to take that load. At least temporarily.


Again, this is my first trucking experience so I have nothing to compare it to. I try to keep the big boy pants on and just realize that there will always be headaches. Not sure though how much is attributable to working for a mega carrier that is slowly seeming like they just dont give a #### about me. I was forewarned. Understood. I just want to drive, get paid for it and do what I love. Is that so much to ask?

It could always be worse...it could always be worse....I'll keep telling myself that.

 

I've been told the same numerous times. You can shop but then you have to leave.

 

I finally got my hometime here in Virginia as of yesterday afternoon. I think I almost lost it yesterday morning...

Originally I had the load scheduled to pick up on Saturday (or was it Friday?). Load wasn't ready and then the screaming incident at the shipper. I went to the Pilot where I sat and sat.

No other loads to take so they messaged me asking me to take this same load on Monday. Fine. I moved over to the local Wal-Mart on Sunday so I could sit and rent Redbox movies all day. I did that, renting 4 new releases. On Monday I went to go pickup this load from a few days ago.

I found the trailer, hooked up to it, went to the mini Swift office onsite at this Costco D.C. and checked in. Got my paperwork and scaled the load on property. Thankfully they had scales on property because I found out it was too heavy on my drives. I tried everything to adjust the tandems all the way forward and it was still too heavy. My clock was ticking.

I spoke to those at the mini Swift terminal and they asked that instead of me t-calling it in Richmond, as was the original plan, to just bring it all the way down to Norfolk. Norfolk is only a couple of hours south of Richmond so I said ok. Now this trailer was overweight. They told me to drop it and come in and get the paperwork for another trailer. I did. They stated that this trailer would be delivered at the same time that night, 21:30, in lieu of the original overweight trailer. Fine. I got my paperwork, hooked up to the new trailer, scaled it right here and it was ok. Almost a little heavy on the drives again but it was fine. I was off driving south from Maryland to Norfolk but I had lost some time already.

I fought D.C. traffic and finally got to Norfolk at exactly 21:30. I banged on the door out back. It was a Costco store, not a D.C. The mystery voice inside told me that someone would be right out. I went back in my truck and sat for a few. A little Honda Accord with two individuals pulled up. The woman got out, asked me for my BOL number and then radioed to someone inside. "Sorry sir but this delivery is scheduled for tomorrow". I told her that this BOL was switched for the other trailer that was scheduled to be delivered that night. No luck. Sorry sir, tomorrow. I almost lost it but not on them. I called Phoenix as my terminal had gone home and lost it on this guy telling him that my hometime was the day before, my mom was pretty much sick as can be from cancer and I needed to be there. He was speechless. Wasn't his fault but I needed to vent. I told him I was going to try and run it to Richmond with 1:47 left on my driving clock to t-call the load. He gave a bashful "ok".

I kept looking at my clock and the distance I had to cover. There was no way I was going to make it to the Richmond terminal. I was 11 minutes shy cruising at 62 mph. ####!! The anger and anxiety inside gave me crazy thoughts of just running it anyway and getting a HOS violation. No, that would be stupid. #### it!!

I found a WAl-mart, called them up and confirmed overnight parking and went to this Walmart in Newport News, VA. I parked along the side of the Costco (or Sams Club) as instructed. I was pissed.

The next morning I was prepared to bring the load to Richmond but figured I would send messages and call asking what to do. I got messages back stating that I needed to deliver that load that night at 2130. No freakin way I told them. My mom is sick, I don't know how long she's got and I've been sitting on this 150 mile load for 4 or 5 days now. This is ridiculous and it is insulting that despite the fact that my mom is sick you want me to deliver this load for your convenience that night...wait another 15 hours and deliver it then. I spoke to 3 different people via Qualcomm and phone and no one seemed to know what to do. I told them I didn't even have the hours to do that since I had already started my 14 to do my pretrip earlier.

I went to Richmond, t-called the load and submitted the $175 voided check from the week earlier. I was pissed that day and couldn't get out of the truck quick enough.

As always, I still love driving. I love when I'm out on the road and doing what I was trained to do. I love the technical aspects of the job. I love the challenges of a new back and new docks to bump. It's awesome. It's just this BS that comes up that I can't stand sometimes.

Well, going to enjoy my time off for a few days. Get a new tattoo tomorrow. Do some things for the family and spend some time with my mom while I've got her with me still.

Be safe out there.........
I got a lukewarm "the planners said to t-call it in Richmond. Go home".

 

On a lighter note, Ive been looking at cars lately out here so I have a way to get to the family's house from the terminal. Been checking out some classics. Currently, on Craigslist.

I have been checking out a '66 Ford Falcon coupe. Good shape, solid, runs well and starts everytime. $3500. 77k original miles. Turn key. Slightly modified 302. 9" rear. No rust or body damage at all.

Also a '66 Mustang couple, same condition and runs well. Got the 289, 4 barrel. Needs carpet and headliner replaced. Looks sharp. New parts. Drive away also. $5000. Interior on both need some work but I don't care so much about that.

Anyone a car guy or gal that likes the classics.....what do you think?