Interesting change of events day !

Well just like in the trucking world everyday brings something new....

I was supposed to start the Swift Academy on 7/27 but recruiter dropped the ball on getting saftey signed off. So she put in for me to attend the academy starting Aug 10th. Guess what... I talked to the recruiter today and she has yet to get the status back from saftey so is pulling me from the Aug 10th class and I MIGHT get on the next one in two weeks...

Soooo since I was a little over this I replied to an ad on craigslist this morning (right after getting off the phone with Swift) for a local company looking for a driver. About twenty minutes after I sent the email stating that I have previous experience but was about 3 years ago and currently just have a permit I recieved an email from the local company to give them a call and discuss my situation. I called and spoke with the operations manager (I think is also owner) and was asked to come out to fill out an application. By the time I was done talking with him (about 20min) I was told he is willing to work with me to get my CDL back and that the way they work is most of the time home nightly but can be up to 2-3 DAYS out (not bad since was considering Swifts 2-4 Weeks out) and they pay 25% the drivers have been averageing around $3K/month

He is going to call me this afternoon after he gets ahold of his driver that is running a load to Seattle, WA in the morning to see what time he is going to be heading out of the yard so that I can go along. And then on Friday I am most likely going to go on a run with the operations manager....

Hows that for a change of events.. Swifty dropping the ball so decide to try somewhere else and pretty much land a local/regional gig...

Extra selling point to him... He tends to get new/used trucks as he needs them and is always needing truck lettering done.. I pointed out that I have a side business doing that and when an employer needs lettering I tend to do it at a little over cost. So instead of paying $250 to get a truck lettered he'll only have to pay like $50 !!!

Anyways thought I'd share the info !!!

 

Thanks Leannamarie !! I am hoping that it does as well... The funniest part was while I was at their yard today one of their drivers pulled in and on the side of the truck was a ghost of a big Swifty S where the original decal had been removed but not totally buffed out LOL !!! Nice part is the couple of trucks I saw there didn't look half bad. All of them where either Longnose Petes or Freights and I believe one was a KW .. ok so only 3 trucks where in the yard LOL !!

 

Yeah no kidding.... only out 2-3night and that isn't that often... Plus they pull reefer, van, step, Oversize.... just about anything !!! that is the type of stuff I am wanting to do instead of always same o' same o'

And best part New something one way or the other within 30 min... Swift is going on 5 weeks and still can't figure out what they are doing LOL (think it is mostly the recruiters fault though)

 

Well still not sure of the entire out come of this new adventure for me, but I did have a great time getting to go out with one of their drivers today and got ta drive a pretty nice Pete 15sp on the way back... I was amazed its been about 3 years since I have driven yet I still managed to grind/miss gears less than he did and he's been driving for 40 years.. but he's used to his 13 speed in his freightliner (former swift truck LOL) that he normally drives but was in the shop the last couple of days...

 

Got to drive an older retire swift 3+tag axle 13sp freightliner today pulling the 53' 4axle everything went good and even shifted ALOT smoother than in the Pete yesterday.... Went from Salem to Wilsonville to p/u a load and for never having backed a 53'er or a 4 axle... It only took me 2 pull ups and 1 to get set in the first place from where we were parked to get it stuck in the hole and bumped up to the dock !!!!!! The driver I was with was asking if I was just BS'n bout not havin driven a truck in over 3 years !! I did stall it when we were about home though I suffered from a brain fart at the top of the hill at the stop light and put it in the slot for 1st and then dropped it down to low range OOOOOPPPPSSSSSSIIIIII LOL !! Other than that all was good !!

Monday we are taking the load to Seatle, WA then picking up a load in Kent then heading to Twin Falls, ID dropping the load then getting a load in Eden,ID headed for Seattle.... At this point I am thinkin I am definatly working for this outfit now... as long as I pass the skills test to get my CDL when that point comes around LOL !!!