How's it like running 70mph?

I am not very experienced, only been driving a little over a year.. so take what I say with a grain of salt.. but I don't hear much better coming from drivers of other companies around here. I am going to get my HAZMAT back sometime this week, so hopefully that will help out on my job hunt. Been looking, just no luck really so far. Had a few offers, but nothing that I couldn't live with out. Figure I can be picky, since I already have a job, and the longer I am at that job, the more oppurtunitys arise because of experience.

 

I'm tellin' ya man, HazMat is where it's at. I know a lot of people will roll their eyes at me. I know a lot of people will blow me off. However, I don't know a whole lot of people who net over a grand each week, are usually home every night (with an occasional exception), off weekends and holidays, and rarely work more than 12 hours in a day. I love it. My family loves it. My bill collectors love it. lol

 

I have never seen the right side of a Swift truck.

 

That is about EXACTLY what I am looking for.. I put in enough hours as a Union Iron Worker.. no more weekends for this guy, and no more 12+ hour days(If I can help it). I guess I just have to be patient, and keep on plugging away.

I am just trying to figure it out as I go. You know, in the Iron Workers, you showed you were worth a crap by constantly being buttholes and elbows, knee deep in your work. Hard to figure out how to show that in this industry. I never turn down loads, and do everything they ask of me, but continue to get screwed by my Dispatcher, get treated like crap, and get crap loads.

I don't know if it's because I work for a smaller outfit, that is run by 3 brothers, and I don't know or blow anybody?

 

Just be patient. It took me several years to land this spot. Always keep your ear to the ground. Network and make friends. A fellow driver and friend is who informed me of this spot being open, and he's the one who gave me the good word to get me in the door. If you don't screw it up, and you keep a clean record, don't jump jobs constantly, and be on time every time, then good things will happen. I get tired of listening to so many sour drivers who have nothing good to say. Most of the time, your situation is a result of your own actions. Don't let a few bad apples drive you crazy and demoralize you.

Also, don't let abject fear of CSA run you off, either. I do NOT care what ANY member of this forum says. If you stay on your stuff and do what you're supposed to do, you'll be just fine. Anything that an officer does to you that is wrong can be overturned in the datacue or however it's spelled. Knock on wood, but to date, I have never failed a level 1 inspection. I have never been put out of service. In fact, I have absolutely no negative reports against my CSA score. It's not luck. It's not me being super special. It's simply me doing what the hell I'm supposed to do each and every day. I hear a lot of people talk about being the 'cream of the crop'. To me, what determines the cream of the crop are those who do what they're SUPPOSED to do each and every day. Don't take shortcuts. Everything else will fall into place exactly where it should.

 

I have. When I'm smart enough to gear down for a long downgrade and a Swift driver is dumb enough to just haul ### down the same grade while smokin them brakes!!

 

I hear that man. I don't do nothing but what I am supposed to.. and trying very hard to keep a clean record, but with hauling scrap, it is a hard thing to do.. been doing it so far though, so I am sure I can keep it going.

 

sadly I did today, but I had a good excuse, my air-ride valve failed and dumped my air limiting me to 45 mph for the last 50 miles into Denver. Actually got passed by two SWIFTS and a Werner. I really did cry in shame.

 

Ouch. Really does make you feel like crap when you get passed by those companies.

 

I have too for some reason a swifty driver jumped over in the left lane when I was getting up speed to pull a heavy load uphill, passed on the right to keep running into the idiot.