little advice

do yourself and your family a favor. Stick it out at least a year. Once you get that under your belt. you will have a greater chance of getting a in town job. with you being young. you will be asmaze on how many jobs will open up with just one year. The big thing is. How is job market is in your home town. Here where I live. There a lot of openings. A lot of otr jobs with little as 3 months of driving and there a few in town openings, But with a year in otr. That will help you.

 

I hate to take issue with you on this but I was in the El paso terminal when they had a meeting with the drivers(really the whole terminal staff) and The terminal manager said that Fleet average(swift as a whole) was 1738 miles a week,and El Paso was 1600 (something) this was a couple weeks ago. Which surprised me that it was so low,but when I was a co.driver I seemed to have to fight and scrap for 2200-2400 a week.With the Self dispatch system tho(mac 30) I can do much a much tighter 2800-3200 week when there is plenty of freight. Just my observation.

 

And because of that, you're not considered any less of a person if you bail out. If it's not for you, it's not for you. No big deal. Can't fault anyone for trying to have a better family life.

 

Ok, your average miles per week is 2495. At 25cpm (starting, I believe) that's $623.80 gross. Subtract 25% for taxes leaves $467.85. Still not a whole lot and I think your rate is higher than 25cpm by now. But more than $352/week. Are you taking an advance every week? That's only a little more than the difference between what your check is and what it should be. I have forgotten what the raise scale is.

Regarding your original question. Ask Walstib about Skype. It is easier now than ever before to remain "part of the family" while you are away. Some guys have a webcam mounted on their dash so their families can see where they are and what they're doing. Lots of phone calls...any kind of communication helps.

Homesickness is a normal part of this job. Especially for those just starting out. 13 months and you will owe Swift nothing...if you went through their school. If you didn't, you owe them nothing now and you can seek employment with whomever you wish.

 

Good luck with it. I mean that.