swift pta question

You can do a reset if you want. However, it seems from your post that if you are getting 8 hours back at midnight a reset isn't needed. I've run 6-7 weeks at a time without a reset. Usually the planners and DM's are very aware of how many hours you have available to run, what you have on your 70, and what you are getting back day by day, and will plan you according to your ability to make the deliveries.

There's been times I've been down to 15 minutes left on my 70, yet I have 7-10 hours "coming back" at midnight, so it's all good.

The best strategy is to run about 8-10 hours per day, which will mean you will never run out of your 70, and can run continuously. If you have a few days in there that have very few hours, like 1-3 hours, then sometimes you will find that you are getting smaller runs because you don't have enough hours to take long loads.

My recommendation is to follow your DM's advise in this case. However, it might be good if you can provide a better example of your available hours by posting your complete 8 day summary of hours. Then we can better help advise you.

 

^^ Following up... I overheard a conversation at the Laredo terminal. A flatbed driver was saying he only had "a couple hours left on his 70" and would take a reset. If you are hauling long hauls only, then taking a reset is a good idea. With Swift they have the option of keeping you busy every day by giving you long or short hauls to maximize use of your available hours. I was a bit amazed the flatbed driver was insisting on taking a 34 without any consideration of what hours he had coming back, but then if he's running a lot of long hauls then that may explain it.

 

Have to do what dm says....they are your boss you can do 500 miles with the 8 hours you pick up.

 

Sorry to burst your bubble man. Ive been there. Ask them to find a load that will help you reset, or ask them if they have one that picks up at night so u can sleep all day.

 

First, you have to learn the Plus-1 system. And there are several threads in the Swift forum that discuss it.

Second, you have to manage your own time. You can't let them do it for you.

And I don't know of any Swift truck that you can't cancel the anti-idle. I've been in Volvo's, ProStar's and Cascadia's, and they all have a way to disable it.
The owners manual is a good start... or just ask in the Swift forum.

It's not so much 'putting up with the crap', it is learning how to deal with it - and how to get around it.

You get a pplan that clearly has not enough time built in to cover everything - your drive time and breaks, construction zones, time to shower or do laundry or shop for supplies - or whatever.
That is what Mac9 is for.
You tell them when you can pick up and deliver - on your own terms.
If your times are within the customers needs it will be resent to you with your times. If not, the load will be taken off you.
Another will come shortly.

And yes, sometimes they expect you to be ready at midnight to pick up a load because your hours just came in.
Sometimes you can do it with enough sleep. sometimes not.
Again, that is what Mac9 is good for. Simply put in the times that you CAN do it SAFELY! (by YOUR terms - not theirs), and let the chips fall.

Take matters into your own hands by learning the system, and using it to your own best advantage.

 

^^^ ... amen.

To which I would add that many times instead of Mac-9 with alternative ETA's I simply call my DM and ask what the "real" window of pick up and delivery are. Many time the load offers are given with the +1 system in mind, when the customer has a much more lenient deadline. If the window of delivery is confirmed by my DM as being very broad I simply accept the load offer "as is" and go with it. If I can make the delivery per the original load offer then fine, if I will be later than that original time but within the stated window then I Mac-22 and all is good.

I've rarely felt under a lot of stress regarding appointment times. It seems that the planners have a good handle on hours that can be run IMHO.

Yes, there's times when I've had a steady schedule waking up at about 5:00 each morning, but then the next load comes in with a 23:00 pick up time and suddenly I'm running the night owl shift (like tonight). That's all part of the job, just get your sleep when you can...

... and I usually take a good nap in the middle of my 14 shift by adding to the 30 minute break. That 30 minute break can extend to 1.5 to 2 hours if I feel the need to sleep (and often it's really nice to get that nap in a warm truck parked in the sun during the day at a rest area with nobody idling next to me).

 

I take my reset when I want..I send in a mac 0 telling them when ill be back on...I dont ask. Its there truck but my hours..never had a problem

Why risk getting in a traffic jam and running out of hours and gettn banged by the dot?