My Swift Adventure

Discussion in 'Swift' started by Fewe, Sep 13, 2010.

  1. Time

    Time Light Load Member

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    Jan 17, 2011
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    This is a great thread! I laughed my ascoff at the change in your tenor after your first visit to Phoenix. Classic! What's truly amazing is that this crap goes on and on and on and you'd think the inside people would get sick of it but they don't, apparently.

    I'm going to offer up a little advice but you'll need to keep in mind that I'm single, tend to be a little loose with my money and have no need to be home at any specific time.

    As someone mentioned earlier, layovers are inevitable but you can learn to make them more tolerable.

    Avoid terminals like the plague! I don't know what it is but terminals cause layovers. If that was me in your recent Denver adventure, I would have stayed under the load, dropped it at the terminal and bobtailed to a convenient hotel for a night or two then make the scheduled delivery. You'd have the same net result, a lot less aggravation, a little R&R and, yes, a little less money.

    There is one way you can guarantee you won't be laid over: If you're t-calling (per the original plan) at a terminal, make a hotel reservation on the assumption you will be laid over. Plan on heading to the hotel around 1430, or so, and you can expect a preplan at 2015 that picks up around 0100, making it impossible to decline, impossible to get any sleep and impossible to cancel the reservation or get your money back. Just remember, if you don't make the hotel reservation you will not get a preplan! Run the plan and get the heck out of Denver (or Phoenix, Lancaster, Laredo, Columbus and Duluth).

    How did you wind up with OS+D? As far as Swift is concerned, I've never had any. In the future, just put down that it was leaky or smelly, etc. If it's electronics, say it was emitting death rays. This might not work if we're talking pallet loads.

    You are smack in the middle of something many thousands of drivers have gone through before you (my driver code begins with 11). You can try to adapt and there's still no guarantee that you'll like it any better. Or maybe you will. Getting the royal rootering is much more pleasant in nice weather. Winter makes everything suck more. Hang in there, do the best you can and figure out what's best for you and yours.
     
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  3. Fewe

    Fewe Light Load Member

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    Aug 20, 2010
    Arlington, TN
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    From what I just read on another thread, you are getting extra compensation that money just can't compete with... something about not wanting to idle and sharing body heat... I believe the word "snuggling" was used. Really glad to see that you and your Mentor are getting along so well, I can't imagine why you would want to upgrade... sounds like you have got it made!!!!

    But seriously, after the 4th week your pay goes up... just in time to upgrade to your own truck.
     
  4. AZS

    AZS Honk if anything falls off

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    Ahaha! Good point! Yeah funny how when you're almost done the pay goes up. Almost like they planned it that way..
     
  5. Fewe

    Fewe Light Load Member

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    Aug 20, 2010
    Arlington, TN
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    1/17/11

    Chillin' at the T/A in Wytheville, VA for the day. Was hoping to deliver my load today but the receiver is closed for MLK Jr. Day so I will start my day at 01:30 tomorrow. After delivering I am deadheading back to Columbus, OH for a relocation move. Things have been going much smoother since my "talk" with "the powers that be". May be related may not, I'll just enjoy it while it lasts. Finally got to pull a 2011 skirted trailer which was really cool. Didn't get to keep it very long but it was fun while it lasted, and I got the pleasure of sweeping it out as well.

    Not much else going on, just turnin' and burnin' and rollin' my 70. Hopefully my local run in Columbus will turn into another good string of runs... as opposed to a bad string of "The Runs".
     
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  6. Fewe

    Fewe Light Load Member

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    Hmmm... makes ya wonder!!!
     
  7. AZS

    AZS Honk if anything falls off

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    You still out there??
     
  8. Fewe

    Fewe Light Load Member

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    Yep... still here.

    3/11

    Been busy and haven't found time to update lately. Been runnin' steady since my "talkin' too" with upper management. Had some fun in the "Blizzard of the Century" in Chicago and Wisconsin but The Pornstar pulled through like a champ. Got my new Qualcomm installed at the beginning of the week due to a rash of annoying tracking errors with the old one. Not quite sure about this new piece of loveliness... screen is too bright, directions don't match fuel route and the cord comes out of the dash so you can't read messages from the bunk. Also, it is cellular based without satellite backup, which I think is a bad idea. While using the navigation feature, if cell signal is lost, the nav screen freezes and stops tracking until after signal is regained. This is a strange phenomenon since the GPS is satellite based but the communication system is cell based.

    On a good note, my new XM Radio is at the house waiting for me and I should be making a stop over tomorrow to pick it up. Y'all keep the shiny side up and keep on truckin'!!!
     
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  9. Fewe

    Fewe Light Load Member

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    I don't mind at all... it is already chronicled in this thread, stemming from my Denver experience. 'twas me givin' them a "talkin' to".
     
  10. AZS

    AZS Honk if anything falls off

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    Probably the best thing I've ever spent money on. I don't and won't ever use it in my personal vehicle but for truckin it's nice.
     
  11. LadyTrucker99

    LadyTrucker99 Heavy Load Member

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    Lexington, NC
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    Another thing to add to my list of things i need to get--XM radio--those so nice :)
     
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