Swift Refrigerated, a new journey

Discussion in 'Swift' started by GladhandSW, Apr 29, 2019.

  1. GladhandSW

    GladhandSW Light Load Member

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    Been working for Swift for 3 years. Started OTR dry van with Albuquerque. Enjoyed it for the most part but thought I was ready for something new and went to Walmart dedicated. Did that for a while then went back OTR again, my brother passed away, so I had to fly from Oregon back home. Went back dedicated and now have come full circle to trying OTR refrigerated.

    Big reason for the change was the lack of being able to see the people I want to see and being able to drive more than deliver. From the sounds of it, I'll be out of the Rochelle, IL terminal. Decided to do this thread being there isn't much on swift refrigerated besides dedicated on here. So I will provide all that I can and give examples of the loads I am given, etc. Be safe everyone!
     
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  3. 3523

    3523 Light Load Member

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    I don’t know if you’ll be spending any time at the Rochelle terminal but I do and it’s one of my favorites now. It used to be central refrigerated so it has a much different look than the other terminals and the best showers I’ve seen at Swift. They’re also building a new Loves right next door. FYI I usually don’t run refrigerated but pass thru all the time on my GLR routes.
     
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  4. GladhandSW

    GladhandSW Light Load Member

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    Hopefully I won't be sitting at terminals haha. Hoping that reefer will be a good fit for me OTR.
     
  5. Speed_Drums

    Speed_Drums Road Train Member

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    What you're gonna do? OTR, dedicated, regional, etc?
    What does Swift usually haul in those reefers? Meat, poultry, produce, ice cream, frozen foods, etc?
    Since you're gonna drag a reefer what do they pay for detention? How many hours sitting before kicking in detention pay?
     
  6. GladhandSW

    GladhandSW Light Load Member

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    Going to do OTR. As far as I know they do haul a good amount of meat, not sure about the rest. Not sure about detention either. Was paid detention in the past for dry van, but wasnt even sure how it worked then.

    To be honest I kind of wanted to leave Swift to try OTR somewhere else, but with the preventables that I have I can't go anywhere else till December. So thought I would give refrigerated OTR a shot.
     
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  7. Speed_Drums

    Speed_Drums Road Train Member

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    Good luck on your endeavours. Keep us posted on your progress.
     
    Last edited: Apr 29, 2019
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  8. GladhandSW

    GladhandSW Light Load Member

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    Will do waiting to be switched over from the Walmart fleet to refrigerated. Hopefully I'll be picking up a truck at the Albuquerque terminal.
     
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  9. fairshake

    fairshake Road Train Member

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    Doing refrigerated will have you spending more time delivering. Then there is the constant trailer washouts, did it for 8 years with meat to the east coast.
     
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  10. GladhandSW

    GladhandSW Light Load Member

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    True, but I don't think Ill be hitting up to 6+ stops a day like I was with Walmart. Most days wasnt a lot, but I did have my share of a lot of stops. Im prepared for the #### wait times, as long as the miles make up for it. Want to see what it is like just to get a different type of experience. If it proves to not be good, Ill just go back to dry van. The fact that they have less planners doing reefer means I should be able to build a better relationship with them. Stuck with Swift till December and really want to make OTR work.
     
  11. fairshake

    fairshake Road Train Member

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    The thing with refrigerated is you often live load/unload more, more grocery warehouses which take more time usually and have the worst attitudes of all places to visit imo. Getting checks for lumpers way more often, waiting on shippers more to finish creating food products. Wait wait wait, it’s the ultimate sit and wait experience and why people just like to dry van. Learn to park more politely when driving a refer, park next to other refers if you can, I had a refer turned off by a flat bedder loaded with Ben and Jerry’s ice cream once because at -20 the refer is loudest. More big city and food market deliveries, some shady places if you ask me,

    It does have its good sides though, you can pickup way more freight so you will stay busy better. Once you are loaded you will have better and longer trips usually, if not then the time to wait ratio really needs to be looked at. You’ll get use to loud noises if that’s a benefit cause you’ll be sleeping right next to a motor all the time. I couldn’t come up with anymore benefits right now to give it a true fairshake.

    I hauled meat for another company mainly then reloaded other stuff to go back west for another round. I literally would see the cows coming in mooing and they might be my next load of boxed beef going to hunts point,ny. So my experience with refer is not with Swift and it’s been lots of years.
     
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