Good Night From II

It will help but don't expect miracles. If you spend a lot of time in areas where they book a lot of loads (SoCal, southeast, midwest) you'll do well. They have several areas where they almost NEVER have any loads or the loads pay so little that you won't touch them.
DO NOT be afraid to negotiate with your broker (you'll be assigned one). Since I told my guy (at Command) that I was done hauling his heavy loads for the "Swift rate" we've done well together.

 

Here at my first stop in Houston. Will get a 10 here. Got a pplan, pu at Busch and drop at the yard in El Paso. Did not come from DM but the system generated this one. Some real nice rain squalls and so tired after 5 days of these winds coming out of the west and north west. Stopped to take on fuel at the Valero in Baytown and wa getting my coffee and a loaf of bread and the owner said no charge. Asked about the bread, said have a nice day. I purchased enough fuel. What a way to end my day.

 

Dallas area, TX.

I dropped my load this morning, sans mt, then headed to the terminal for one.
I was put on the list, and after an hour I went back in to check.
It was THEN that I was told I needed an intermodal trailer and just go out and check the yard for one.
None, of course, so after going to the window yet again I was sent a solution.

That was for a live load that t-called at the Alliance BNSF rail yard, and a whopping 74 loaded miles.

So, I'm BT again and I'll have to go to the terminal in the morning for an mt for my next load.
(Bobtail's not so bad when I need to park at this Pilot for the night...)
2 stops for pickup, then on to Topeka, KS for a Wednesday delivery.

I'm glad to be getting out of Texas.

 

Here at MOM brands in KC, MO. Dispatch said pickup the preload by 1515, trailer isn't loaded and there are 2 waiting in front of me two hours later. It's going to be a long trip to Weslaco.

 

Steve's got ya covered ... keep in mind the rate you negotiate has to cover your mt mile as well. It's an all in flat rate. What you negotiate is what you will get, no FSC, no mt miles ... so you need to keep that in mind when you ask for a rate ... and don't be afraid to say no. If it doesn't meet your needs, be willing to say, thanks, I'll call back later to see if there is anything better.

 

And use your broker as your primary go-to for what areas have freight and which are black holes . They have access to the Swift green red bubble map . Also , keep in mind you can change brokers easier than you can fire your DM .

 

Here in Sequin, TX at the fairly new Loves. Been sitting here and can not believe all of the trucks that I have seen some in by way of the exit. Guess that they can not see the sign that says enter here. What a day. First stop 3 hours to unload so this made me almost 2 hours late to my final. Then when get there 2 trucks ahead of me. When they finished them the crew went home so no one to unload me. Waited from 0430 to 1030 until got backed in. Sams Club. Cha Ching. Detention pay, and they did sign the detention sheet, P&G Load. Then almost 2 hours to get checked in and get back out of Busch. All of 4 hours driving time today and pulled in here with 1 left on my 14. Could not even get to San Antonio. Then lets get the winds again. Now 6 days of these winds and a whopping 6.7mpg. The worst that I have gotten in this truck.

 

MOMs be running behind? I went into at 16:30 to pickup a preloaded at 15:00 in Northfield, they had me get underneath a trailer still getting loaded. Never had that happen in years at MOMs.

 

Just letting you guys know, I read all your replies and took heed. Will take some getting used to, as I already had a planner get irrate when he found out I was actually committed to a load and wasn't jerking him around. Under my first brokered run, though it will load in the morning and deliver around Gary IN.

Very sad day for me in the world of Swift. I was woke up to a call from my DM, as he wanted to inform me that he was quitting in 10 days. Been working with him over three years, and now he'll be leaving. He also had good news about a job he already is hired onto, starting right after his tenure at Swift is over. He wanted real career advancement and wasn't getting there with the company. He is the kind of guy that actively watches his fleet, and often resolves issues before I could even dial his number. How many people keep a DM from hire to retire!

Had a really good week, and I was taking a 34 to destress from the two very close calls I had and just general a"*rods altogether. Suppose that one day off was good enough. I did everything very well last week with almost 2,300 miles...putting $110 in maintenance, clear the bills, and netted $900 before taxes. That's all I want to see regularly, perhaps a few hundred more miles but I'm not pushy. I'm not trying to afford an extravagant life anyway.

 

900 before taxes isn't really a net. More, semi-net.
As a company driver I grossed 981 for ~2500 miles.
I'm wondering how leasing is really that much better, especially for all the extra time and effort.