Swift transition is making me crazy

I too am a company driver.

A home time request is a valid reason to turn down a load.

 

I turn down loads when they don't comply with my home time request. I am a company driver. I also make sure to give at least 9 days notice on home time, although I don't think anyone ever actually looks for it or pays any attention until I decline a load.

 

It varies as to which planners you are around.
I've had months in a row when each home time request is not even a little problem. Every load is made to get me there on time without even reminding them.
The opposite as well, when it seems I have to fight for every mile closer to home.

 

You can turn it down if it messes up with home time that has been approved .
I put in for this weekend coming up and ill be dam if I ain't going home . Lol
I am actually in my state a week early witch kinda scares me a bit . Hahaha.
heading to Allentown , guess I better route myself to a terminal to watch these darn videos , before I hear #### about it.
hell I may even go home for the night cause I live close


Oh is anyone else getting fuel routing that makes no sense at all ?
like this trip , they wanted me to go across us30 through 2 states . Lol. Thats about 2 days worth of little towns and tons of traffic. Oh well took the Ohio pike instead.

 

They will often route you around and past toll roads, even though it messes up your time and fuel consumption.
I usually call my DM to get a better route approved.
Going out of route too often can get you in trouble. But if you explain it to your DM, you will probably get official permission to take the better route.
And it's just a 5 minute phone call, after all.
Better yet, send a Mac 0 (freeform message) with the route you want to take and the reasons (less time, better fuel usage, etc.). The reply will be on the QC, and a QC message is binding.
I've done it many times (sometimes just to get to a smoke shop that has my pipe tobacco (I don't mention that part)), and it is usually approved.


Home time requests need to be submitted at least 10 days in advance.
Telling them 'get me home right now' probably won't cut it.

TagerineGT, how do you know this early that you won't get there? It's nearly a week away.

 

With my current company, the fuel solutions can be "odd" at times. They tend to have us put in a small amount just to get to the next fuel solution (add 20 gallons at certain fuel stop then fill at certain fuel stop.) This can burn a lot of time. They also tend to select the most hectic fuel stops (TA in Jessup, MD just to name one).

 

Just one more point of confusion...home time. Can't seem to get a definitive answer as to timeline to request it. Central was easy. 9 days out, no problems. Now I've heard it's 7 days, 9 days, 10 days, 12 days. My DM says 2 wks. HR said, "I don't know." Does anybody really know?

 

Do you still do reefer for Central? When Swift bought them all of Central's policies changed?

 

Yes and Yes.

 

On the videos that have everyone's panties in a bunch ... they are part of Swift's safety compliance program. Everyone has to do them. And you don't have to go to a terminal if you have a PC ... you can log in into the driver site online and do them.