Looking to change terminals. Any input from some of the other L/O's here would be appreciated. I am looking to get out of a POD, actually have just 1 DM. One that does not mind answering questions on the phone, not send msgs every day, use QC only for all questions, and actually will tell the truth and watch what is going on with my truck. These POD's really bite. thanks
I've herd Injin say that most Lewiston drivers seems to be happy and like theor DMs, as much as you can like a DM. I'm Company thou... So maybe only take my word with a grain of salt.
My understanding has been if you are a lease driver and pulling vans, Lathrop is the place to be. Not the most personable, but she'll get you miles and answer questions. I am also getting to the end of my rope with the pod. I am so sick and tired of instead of one person dropping the ball, now I have 4 of them doing it with what appears to be no accountability. I have better luck getting answers out of the ***WEEKEND*** crew lately. Argh.
I know the feeling. It was the day crew on Friday that dropped the ball on me big time. Luckily if I have to call in on the weekend, the one DM that was on the POD is now on graveyard Thurs - Sun, and she was one of the best. Cared about the drivers. Now just hope that Scottie pipes in. He is out of Lathrop.
Come on Mystic, what is another driver there going to mean. I will let you have all of the freight going East and NE. Just leave me down South and the SW, and I will be a happy camper.
Lathrop is an oasis in the Swift desert of terminals. All the other terminals I've been to, you have to be buzzed in to get to the operations center, whereas in Lathrop, the driver can walk right in the front door, very inviting atmosphere. The owner operator recruiter there fills in with DM type duties once in a while as well I think. I've called in before and had her pick up, lol, she is not afraid to drop the F bomb and is very competent and aggressive advocate for her drivers. I imagine most DM's want to take a break from drivers during their breaks, nope, this woman will go out to the smoking area and be surrounded by drivers, swapping stories with the best. My DM is 110% into her job, she has notes/solutions for every scenario. She appears to really care for her drivers and the constant phones ringing with problems on the other end doesn't phase her. She seems to relish that. She is very honest, won't lie to a driver to get them to take the load just before her 2 days off leaving the driver stranded for days on a short load- example, I called in about a tcall solution for a load with too much time, she told me to accept it first then they'd work on the tcall. Reading between the lines, I know there's little chance of a tcall by her words. A lot of DM's would just say 'sure, take it and tcall it enroute' then play all innocent when it wasn't approved later. Just step in there to scan your trips next time, hang out and listen to these guys working with the driver's over the phone, you get a sense they really take that best in class stuff seriously. I would suggest introducing yourself to Mary the fleet manager and expressing an interest in transferring to the terminal there.
