Getting ready for 6 weeks of training then solo with swift.

Hint:

Learn how Plus-1 works, so you can work it to your best advantage.

If you don't it will set you up for service failures - on purpose.

 

Isn't that when you bring someone with you to an event?

Mikeeee

 

I don't know why I hear new guys saying this all the time. From day one when I got my cdl I have run local for a few different companies. Never OTR, never will. The jobs are out there you just have to find them. Don't just settle for shooting applications out to all the bottom feeders from your computer. Put some shoe leather on the pavement and get in faces. UGGGGHHHHH!!!! I can't stand when I hear "you have to put in a year before you'll get a good hometime job"...................BS BS BS BS. You just can't go to a bottom feeder company like Swift, Werner, JB Hunt, etc and expect great hometime. You get what you put into it when it comes to finding a good job.

 

The Plus-1 system is in place to get you 1 more load each week by maximizing your hours.

What it really does is give you less time for each load, and keep your stress level to an all time high.

If the customer gives a time window, Plus-1 will only show you the early times - figuring that you will want to get there at the earliest possible moment.

You will be sent loads at the very last minute - so that you only have minutes to research and plan your trip, do your pre-trip and hit the road in order to make an on-time pick up.
Many times, not even that. You will be late even if you leave at the exact moment you get the pre-plan.

It will figure you can drive 60 mph on all roads - traffic lights and speed zones notwithstanding.
It will also calculate on the 'loaded miles', which are usually short by AT LEAST 10%.

It will not allow time for more than a precise 10 hour sleep break, or enough time for scaling or fueling or slow-downs due to construction or eating or pissing or showering or doing laundry or... anything else.
And that includes any sort of pre-trip.

 

dgman, its part of the brainwashing that mega-carriers feed their sheep. Students who call a recruiter hear "you'll be out at least 8 weeks at a time with EVERY carrier, but with us its only 4 weeks"...
Dont blame the sheeple, most of them are desperate, broke, and willing to do anything to feed their families. I hope more newbs start reading blogs.
The pool of people who are willing to live in a truck is actually getting deeper, the economy of the last 5 years has forced plenty of construction workers, real estate agents, city workers, and school teachers to resort to unnecessary measures. As most of us old guys have learned, living over the road isnt what it used to be, and local jobs (most pay more than OTR) are a much better way to go.

 

Guntoter, you are exactly right. The mega carriers paint the rosiest of pictures for newbs and alot of them fall for it, unfortunately. My dad retired from OTR after 30 years and definitely agrees with you that it's not nearly the same today as it used to be.

I think the new cdl holders just need to put more effort into finding themselves a job and not rely on these "constantly hiring" bottom feeder companies that pay little or nothing and have ridiculous turnover rates.

 

Amazon, it's where i got all my stuff for cheap