Input from swift L/O

Nope, wasn't me.

Due to my short temper and an incompentent Phoenix planner I'm still at home. Nearly cleaned out my truck and gave the keys back to IEL. Decided to take a couple cooling off days and rethink my options.

 

steve, couldn't our dm get you something. I know that command us not that great in that area

 

The insurance that is offered to L/O's is not insurance. It is a plan that has worked out reduced rates with the people in their network. I have been looking at insurances the past few months and this is one thing I have learned to watch out for.

 

I only used landstar as an example of a carrier who will let you use an older truck (and in turn, be more successful). I don't think there is anything wrong with leasing TO swift, I asked about brining on a 2002 peterbilt, was told no, then later told yes but only until 2015 (ok?).

 

I had a load and the planners waiting until I was guaranteed to be late BEFORE they started anything with regards to a trailer solution. Then because I was pissed I flat refused to go 10 miles out of my way to get an MT when there were plenty of MTs in the Phoenix yard.

So I elected to blow my PTA out til Sunday morning and take a "mental health break". Haven't used that term since I was a controller.

 

But why would they set someone up for failure?

I've heard this implied before but never understood why.

Because I was company I couldn't refuse load.

I accepted the load and let them deal with cleaning up the mess.

 

That's a big part of the reason I do not drive a company truck for Swift, CONTROL. If I was a company driver I would have been stuck dealing with the incompotent planners, late for my pickup, and would have had to deal with how it affected the rest of the trip. I have certain rules I run my truck by and unless it greatly benefits me I do not deviate from said rules.

 

I don't think Swift the DM's or the Planners set anyone up to fail. I don't think they think things through completely to the end for each individual driver whether a company guy or a L/O. I

Think it's the morning and they have to find trailer solutions and pop out numbers to drivers and don't think who needs a trailer solution first. Is it a random board with whoever asked for a solution first up top? It should be a board that fluctuates so that drivers with loads that need to be picked up soonest get trailer solutions first. I think they see a problem "handle" it and don't realize because they don't see or even care to look at how it will impact a driver hours down the road.

One of their solutions to the MT trailer was to send a day cab to pick the load up and bring it to the yard? why couldn't Steve just dead head and get it himself? This is where the keyboard pounding Monkeys get the reputation for being bad and not understanding the needs of drivers. If they are going to make him drive for an MT why not pay him for it? Multiple simple fixes to the problem could have been found but Swift or the Monkeys couldn't figure it out...

This isn't the only way they plan and drivers fail whether company or not. Loads that deliver 24 drive hours away due in 8 hours, sending pre plans that needed to be picked up 5 hours ago. I even heard of stories of sending out Mac30's for 5 hours to get a load that needed to be picked up 2 hours prior, Why couldn't they have offered the load the first time a Mac 30 was sent?

That said Broc, as a L/O Steve said f them and he did, and came home.... Didn't have to unpack his truck and wait to get a new truck of questionable background. He can take as much or as little time off as he wants. I want him to stay off longer and go to Disneyland He can go where he wants. This winter he stayed warm on the west coast. I think the money is good to since he is making more of it solo leasing and taking a ton of time off to be with his family, then as a company driver. It isn't numbers but at 6 months post school he jumped on a lease, on a truck that was ordered with extras for another leasee who put on 1750 miles on it, so "used" but so darn close to brand new it still smelled good. It takes extra mental work but 22 months later he is and has been successful.