Quiting a mega carrier.

ted said bad things and still got the job.

 

Swift knew I was quitting when I slid open the dispatch window at the Lancaster terminal and gave the lady standing there my prepass and permit book. She’s like what’s this... my resignation effective immediately. She said good luck and I said thank you, good luck to yourself. And proceeded to #### off out the door. Handed out some business cards to the company I’d worked for already for 2 weeks before officially quitting Swift.

My last act at Swift was to send a free form message on the Qualcomm that I was quitting to pursue other opportunities to better provide for my family. And then I sent a directed message to the DM I had on the dedicated account I was on for a long time and said something like “I can’t take y’alls #### anymore. #### this, I quit!” And she replied “lol. Get out of here, we don’t need you anyway. Just kidding take me with you!”

My next job, I dropped my truck keys and my fuel card in an envelope with a note that said leaving to work for a company that actually gives a #### about their employees. Dropped it in a mailbox outside of the office while I was on my way to the airport. They had just fired a bunch of people including the only two worth a #### in the office. Like without notice, to cut costs in a time when every other company is hiring and giving out huge pay increases and bonuses. That was all the sign I needed that I needed to leave before they found a reason to fire me.

On my DAC I have two voluntary resignations from Swift that say eligible for rehire pending review.

Thankful for what opportunities they provided me, for sure. But they also showed me how I didn’t want to be treated by a Carrier in a lot of ways. Got some lifelong friends out of the deal and a new career that I love very much. All a guy can ask for out of the situation. Still friends with a couple of people from my second Carrier as well. Will be friends for life.

The Carrier I am with now only has one place to turn in a truck and it is very far from home. I plan to get my own authority in the future, so someday I will be quitting and at this company very few people quit. As such, when people quit they actually sit them down and find out where they went wrong. And they aren’t just going through the motions. Things change as a result. Pay increases. Equipment gets modified. Policies change. Hell, in lieu of major changes they often time make concessions to individuals who are having different issues. They do everything in their power to keep people once they are hired. It’s going to be an emotional day when I eventually leave. Definitely not dropping keys in a drop box and ####ing off down the road.

 

Tell them to take this job and shove it. I don't work here no more!

 

They'll probably DAC you for the 700 miles. Probably something like, "Driving out of route" or "not following company policy."

 

No.
Call the company you plan to work for and let them know what's going on. Tell the new company, you'll be there as soon as you get the truck turned in properly.

 

I'm an ex-Swiftie as you know. I have absolutely no regrets about the two years I did with them, other than not getting into the flatbed division. The last year I was a trainer ("Mentor" in their vernacular).

When it came time for me to move on I had a trainee get on the truck at about the same time I put in a "home time" request for OKC. I let the trainee know I was planning to quit Swift in OKC in a week. It would be enough time for him to get 50 hours behind the wheel and upgrade to be able to run team, but he would need to get out of the truck in OKC at the Swift terminal and get assigned another trainer.

When we arrived at the OKC terminal is when I notified my DM that I was quitting. Great DM (Ron out of Jurupa Valley). He tried to talk me out of it, but I was already set to start my new job the next day. Met with the driver development manager at the OKC terminal and made sure my trainee was squared away with a hotel and she got him lined up with a mentor for the next day.

CLEANED my truck really well and turned it into the shop. Had them sign off it was in good condition, but also alerted them to a couple minor issues. I left with a "rehire" tag on my file and have had a couple of calls from them in the last three years.

Giving two weeks notice is important IF you are difficult to replace. With a mega carrier they have hundreds of drivers entering orientation every week. You are readily replaceable, so quitting without notice is fine. Just make sure you do it in a responsible manner. Make sure THEIR equipment is returned where they need it and in a very clean condition.

One point about returning mega equipment, unless you want the next driver to read all your Quallcomm messages you should delete them. If the truck has some querks, it might be a good idea to leave a message for their benefit, or even put a written paper message in a drawer.