Life in Swift Flatbed division!

Thank you for your positive response, it's so refreshing to see someone talking good about another person or company.

 

Lmao

 

Happy Hour is over.

No more refreshments.

 

Lol

 

Ive been in swifts flatbed division for about 5-6 months now. I had been in the refrigerated division about a year and half before that.

The good things. I am part of the Phoenix fleet, so i cant speak too how it is in Laredo, Greer, or Gary fleets. The management in my fleet is alot different from how it works in the dry or refrigerated divisions. My DM identifys me by name, not truck#. I have the personal cell of my fleet manager and DM. As well as the direct line to my planner. Yes I have one primary planner. Our 2 customer service reps can get us loads themselves as well if the planner is busy. As well as the planners and CSRs from the other flatbed fleets. If you have a dry van, you could call dry planners etc over the weekend, but I always recommend calling flatbed guys first if its an option, because they know better places to send you to get back to flatbed freight. Normally my DM is good about handling all that anyway. there have been only a few times that I needed to start calling folks. My particular DM drove for swift 10 years as a flat bedder, some of the others have experience, dont know about the rest. But for the most part the management in phoenix is in the tolerable too decent category.

The annoying things. Unlike the other divisions, we do not have 24/7 support, they are pretty much business hours during the weekdays. The division trys to plan on you resetting or keep moving on a load over the weekend. Since there are very few loads and no actual load planners that work on the weekend, for the most part. Dont, worry there are more annoying things, but my brain is not yet awake enough (im home so, im still recovering from a hangover.)


If you want to try to avoid getting a crash radar or lane control, request a manual. Both of mine have had 9speeds without all the safety crap, other than the camera. There is obviously alot of storage on the truck, but if you have everything they want you to have, they will be stuffed full.


More to follow, if you have any specific questions, you know where to find me.

 

If you aren't already, join the Swift Flatbed group on Facebook and there's a lot more support as a new driver and especially with securement.

Are you going out with a trainer or just switching to flatbed? Did you just start with swift or you've driven before?

My first piece of advice is one that I got from @Lepton1 which is make the planners your best friend. Stick to their ### like glue and constantly you will be moving. Spam Macro 30 for loads and always set a good PTA and ETA so they will be able to stack loads on you. Don't be scared to haul vans or reefers either, because they are what will keep you moving in between flatbed loads.

I would probably also try to get on one of the dedicated accounts if possible, as they tend to keep you moving more consistently.

I actually like Swift a lot, save for some glaring shortcomings and I'm making a lot of money. You definitely won't change Swift's reputation, but you can turn people from pure Swift haters to "well not ALL Swifties are ####ty drivers" and something is better than nothing.

Don't hit anything and don't lose your load. This ain't dry van. Don't make us look bad

 

better then the flat top sleeper i rode in for 6 years with a partner hahaha