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Swifts new Idle policy

Discussion in 'Report A BAD Trucking Company Here' started by IH Scout, May 16, 2009.

Page 1 of 31
  1. May 16, 2009 #1
    IH Scout

    IH Scout Light Load Member

    81
    13
    Dec 30, 2007
    Greer SC
    0
    Apparently they have instituted a new policy, I really wasnt able to get a straight answer from the fleet manager, thats the driver managers boss. Originally they wanted the idle percentage below 40 %, then it moved to 35,..now its at 20. I had a 788 mile trip with 9.75 hrs of idle in order to sleep and they told me I was over by 26%. I had a 46% idle rate on that trip from Houston to Atlanta.

    I went to the website to look at the idle policy and that feature has been locked. Rumors I have been hearing is they are going to put any driver who violates the 20% rule back into Temp A Start trucks, I will leave if they do that. I usually dont bash the hand that feeds me but if taking my 10 hr rest period on a 788 mile run is a violation, they suck.

    At 20 percent a 1200 mile run should only result in a driver being able to either sleep twice for about 4.25 hrs or once for 8.5 hrs,..I guess its up to the driver on that.

    When they first started getting anal about idle time, they stated 10 hrs a day, but its not their policy to allow that even, if your trip departs ona Friday afternoon for example, and delivers on Monday AM, but is only say 1200 miles, if you take 3 10 hr breaks over the weekend to keep your body clock right, you will be over the limit because they will tell you you took 1 too many breaks.

    I will probably end up leaving over this, I hate to, good equipment and I get good miles and home time,but I was told I needed to learn to sleep in the truck without the A/C and if I couldnt do that, look into Idleaire,..I refuse to do either of those things.

    Thoughts???
     
    IH Scout, May 16, 2009
    IH Scout, May 16, 2009
    #1
    kickin chicken Thanks this.
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  3. May 16, 2009 #2
    tucker

    tucker Road Train Member

    12,647
    40,423
    Jun 13, 2008
    IN
    0
    what's a "Temp A Start trucks" ?
    I have opti-idle in this truck.(Crete) With the nice, thick mattres I can't tell when the truck starts or stops.
     
    tucker, May 16, 2009
    tucker, May 16, 2009
    #2
  4. May 16, 2009 #3
    lilillill

    lilillill Sarcasm... it's not just for breakfast

    5,642
    13,471
    Nov 7, 2007
    Possum Booger, Alabama
    0
    Have they shut the A/C off in the corporate offices? No?

    Tell 'em to stick the truck in their donkey.
     
    lilillill, May 16, 2009
    lilillill, May 16, 2009
    #3
  5. May 17, 2009 #4
    skibum_63

    skibum_63 Road Train Member

    2,176
    918
    Oct 12, 2007
    somewhere, USA
    0
    So why hasn't wonderfull Swift, added apu's on thier trucks?:smt102 :smt115 It's not like they can't afford them. Buy in bulk, and get a cheaper priece.

    Your right, i'm sure they haven't turned off the ac in the office.
    Oh we can't do that, heat kills computers.
    But you the driver, can open your windows.
     
    skibum_63, May 17, 2009
    skibum_63, May 17, 2009
    #4
  7. May 17, 2009 #5
    Peanut Butter

    Peanut Butter Road Train Member

    1,343
    419
    Nov 24, 2007
    PO Dunk Idaho
    0
    I had a truck with temp a start, if you set your thermostat in the bunk at 72 degrees, and have the temp a start set the truck starts when the temp falls 3 degrees below 72, then shuts off at 2 degrees above 72. for one month my idle time was 14 % and i was in some cold temps, never got to cold or to hot with it, and if you shut your truck off when you dont need it to idle that helps,, i even had the temp a start set at docks while loading and unloading, i dont know what kind of system you have now but the tempa start worked good for me.
     
    Peanut Butter, May 17, 2009
    Peanut Butter, May 17, 2009
    #5
  8. May 17, 2009 #6
    otherhalftw

    otherhalftw R.I.P.

    13,081
    45,332
    Nov 18, 2008
    CA...gold discovery foothills
    0
    Don't kid yourself, Jerry has tried filing Chapter 11 on his hockey team, Jerry and Swift are in some real financial trouble...just got stuck with 250 nice brand new day cabs for a contract that he didn't get (LA Harbor), now these trucks are neatly parked in the Mira Loma terminal against the fence...but they are still brand new...just unused.
     
    otherhalftw, May 17, 2009
    otherhalftw, May 17, 2009
    #6
  9. May 17, 2009 #7
    Peanut Butter

    Peanut Butter Road Train Member

    1,343
    419
    Nov 24, 2007
    PO Dunk Idaho
    0
    Yea on top of the lawsuits his own kids have against him for 110 million, then his brother is in on that with the kids as well,, look out Jerry and Swift,
     
    Peanut Butter, May 17, 2009
    Peanut Butter, May 17, 2009
    #7
  10. May 17, 2009 #8
    otherhalftw

    otherhalftw R.I.P.

    13,081
    45,332
    Nov 18, 2008
    CA...gold discovery foothills
    0
    Thought the family thing was over...is this a new one or still going on the old one?
     
    otherhalftw, May 17, 2009
    otherhalftw, May 17, 2009
    #8
  11. May 17, 2009 #9
    kickin chicken

    kickin chicken Road Train Member

    3,240
    3,284
    Jan 4, 2009
    SC
    0
    I'm sorry your faced with this problem. I too had to resign, from Carolina Cargo Inc., because of idiling charges and out of route miles...

    I took my dog to PetSmart the other day. It was a 80 deg day, one of the workers came up to me demanding I could not leave my dog in the car, with the windows down. "It was against the law"

    I was picking up my other dog from grooming.

    This employee stood on his head that he would call the police if I left the dog, for any amt of time. I had to take Molly in w/ me.
    I was not going to be but a few mins.

    Temperatures can reach outrageous highs inside vehicles, we all know this.

    For a company to subject a driver to the elements and charge them for maintaining their basic needs is inhumane.
     
    kickin chicken, May 17, 2009
    kickin chicken, May 17, 2009
    #9
  12. May 17, 2009 #10
    Sad_Panda

    Sad_Panda Road Train Member

    1,056
    312
    Dec 2, 2006
    0
    couple gallons of red paint and they'll be knights

    :yes2557:
     
    Sad_Panda, May 17, 2009
    Sad_Panda, May 17, 2009
    #10
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