What do you mean by "Dedicated run?" Is it like a permanent route? Does a driver has the option to take it or turn it down if it's being offered? Jae
Dedicated as his loads generally come from the same shipper, he then delivers to various stores or locations for that dedicated shipper. Sometimes there are backhauls to that shipper, or they run empty back to that shipper, or there is a miscellaneous load coming back to a different customer in the same area as the dedicated shipper. Swift has several dedicated accounts in many areas of the country, Sears, Costco, Kohls, Home Depot, Target and WalMart to name a few. Some of those drivers are in day cabs, others in condos (otr trucks). Then there are local drivers and shuttle drivers in daycabs. The shuttle guys normally drive the same route every day, meet another driver and come back to their home terminal. The locals do a lot of the deliveries within the terminals local area and also do a lot of the rail deliveries.
How was the training to get your CDL? We're the trainers good? Do you get one on one training? Can you tell me about how training part went with getting your CDL with swift. Swift sounds great so far.
well swift and roehl was my top two after i canned the idea of goin to cre, i talked to a thomas about 3 times yesturday and once before yesturday. im not banking on the dedicated run but he said he has two in my area one is a 611 dedicated run and the other is the great lakes dedicated run one pays more than the other. i dont care wat i do honestly im just ready to get my new career under way but im not for sure if i wanna do dry van and reefer or just flat bed. i heard that flat bed pay about a cent better than the other two so idk. if i do take the dedicated run if i can he said i could get any where from 1800 to 2600 miles a week at .34 cpm and if i wanted to be on the higher end of that, that i should get my hazmat, i was told to get my permit before comin which all id have to do is the comb test i was told since i already have a class b with air brakes. the reason i didnt go with roehl is because they wanted me to go a tech school or a college to get my cdl then go to training but i dont have that kind of money to do that so swift was a better choice for me
Sounds great. The Great Lakes is a "regional" run NOT a dedicated. Means that you will usually stay within a geographic region and not with a specific customer. That area is available if you live within the area. One thing you may want to know however.... I turned down the Great Lakes region and here's why. Regional and OTR drivers earn 1 day off for every 6 days out. Basically as an OTR driver I go home every other Friday and leave out on Sunday evenings or sometimes early Monday mornings. As a regional driver they would get me home every week but I would only be home long enough to do a 34 hour reset. My thought process was at least 10-15 of those hours would be sleeping and it didn't leave enough time to do what I wanted. Also GLR drivers will average about 1800-2600 miles per weeks as you have been told but as an OTR driver I am averaging 2500-3000 per week. Granted you have to start on the lower end of the pay chart but it seems to be worth it. I am not going to do the math here but realize that you get 4 pay raises in the first 12 months in OTR...none in GLR. Either way I am sure you will make the correct choice for you, I just wanted you to know one driver's perspective. Welcome to the family! Be smart and be safe. There is no load that is worth hurting yourself or someone else.
Training was adequate. I have spoken with many other drivers, some of which went to "outside" schools and it appears that they all are pretty much the same. They give you the instruction and practice necessary to pass your individual state CDL test. Nothing more...but they cannot teach you how to be a "truck driver" in such a short amount of time. Training at the school was in several different phases. Phase 1 - Classroom, everyone is one classroom. Phase 2 - Range training, practicing the maneuvers required for your state's CDL test. Many trucks on the range. Averaged out to about 4-6 students taking turns on different skills per truck. Phase 3 - Road training, 3 students and 1 instructor per truck.
Dedicated drivers cannot turn down any load for any reason other than it would cause an Hours of Service violation. All of your delivery and pick up times are based on the first stop of the run being on time.
well im excited and neverous at the same time, i was also told that if you want more home time all you would have to do is speak up and tell them wat you wanted for home time for either otr or any of the other runs. im not for sure wat im doin yet i kinda wanna do flat beds but im not sure. im not real sure about the electric logs or watever they are called. once you drive your time doesnt the truck shut down? and you say 3 students in one truck for 4 to 6 weeks? that seems like alittle much isnt it? not that i care i know how to drive a tandem that was a semi so i can handle anything from a 7 speed to a 13 speed so im not worried about that. do they make you double clutch the whole time?
Every company does 3 students per truck on the range. Only time Roehl doesn't do it is when the orientation slots are low. Double clutching I'm assuming Swift will. Roehl requires it. Of course when your solo they won't say anything. And flatbeds are awesome! Elogs aren't anything. They make life easier.. No paperwork involved just punch in your duty status and boom! About home time... That's tricky. Swift might probs is real good at giving you extra. Roehl.. We have home time fleets if you want to be home longer. Of course if your national and you want 4 days instead of 3 just ask. Don't make it a common occurrence at any company though. I see swift is starting to pick up flatbed freight. I see them more and more at the mills. Mostly steel though.. Some of y'all's trucks look awesome to. Dual stacks.. Can't go wrong there!
im considering on doin flats just cause itll get me out of the truck to stretch and do alittle activity but then i could also do dry van and get a dedicated run guess i got time to decide i believe ill be leaving home nov 11th to be in ten. on the 12th
