Central Triage ...

Denver also has them.

 

Woo Hoo! Did a Mac 5 & 6 then Mac 1 & 2 & 16.. Then another 5 & 6 then 1 & 2 & 16... All without having to call a DM to straighten it out for me!! I just might be getting the hang of some things

 

Be sure your load locks are in good shape. Had a couple in the last few months that I gleaned from live unloads that must have been put in the trailer for "show", the ratchet locks were broken off (likely from someone unfamiliar with how to use them getting frustrated and hammering on them or something like that).

 

Wait. What's a load lock? Is that those metal things that sit on the back of my truck covered in dust? Interesting....

 

I only carry 3 load locks. Got a broom in the 4th slot, fits perfectly in there

 

I kept my broom in that 4th slot for a while, but after getting it covered in salt and road grime I've taken to stowing it in the truck.

I know there's been training meetings between Central dispatchers and Swift dispatchers, presumably to bring the Central folks up to speed on the Swift software and methods. Sounds like it's been a bit of a rough stretch so far, to say the least. Hopefully it will improve by the time freight starts picking up.

 

Im in one of our terminals on a daily basis. So ive seen first hand how much training the dispatchers are going thru. But me, I have had ZERO training/information told to me by my dispatcher (who is not in the terminal I go in daily). I have learned everything and been informed on info by the dispatchers at the terminal I go to, and by the folks at Swift in Phoenix. Them guys/gals are awesome. Never longer than a 5 minute wait to get a phone call answered. Always have the answers. and can fix my L call (when the previous driver doesnt drop the trailer correctly) in a matter of seconds. Big thanks to them on making it easier for me.

So far, I actually dont mind the new system. It runs a lot smoother, Im not waiting on my DM to do his end of the work, like in the old system.
The down part is, that everything is so dependant on accurate macros. That when a Driver does his L Call at a shipper, and drops his trailer, and doesnt do it right. It screws up my L Call when I go to hook to that trailer.

The other part that gets on my nerves is when a receiver is a drop, and the qualcomm has it set to a Live load. Then you cant do your E call on your own because it wont let you drop your trailer, you have to get ahold of dispatch and have them do it on their side.

Also, if there is no MT at your drop, and you have to bobtail out, and do your e call without your trailer, it wont dispatch you. Which is no big deal. The downfall is that, say you find an MT. Instead of there being a macro to hook to an MT, like we had in our old system, you have to call dispatch and have them attach it to you, then dispatch it. Would be much easier if they made a macro that you could say, hey, found an MT, attach and dispatch.

So yeah, thats my opinion of things so far. Other than the minor pay roll issues I had, it really hasnt been that bad after we got past the bumps. But you have to give it time to work its self out.

 

FWIW, the washer fluid that Swift provides freezes @ 23 degrees, DAMHIK!

 

I found that one out the hard way.. it was a washer field slushy