My Time With Swift

Bikerdave, to answer your question...well, actually there really is no way to answer your question. There is no way to lock down a definative average. For example, last week I didn't have a load under 600 miles. This week, I havent had one over 500, but I've still managed to pull out about 2600 miles. Some weeks are good, some weeks not so good. All you can do is take every load they offer you, whether you like it or not, unless you have a legitimate reason for refusing such as HOS or hometime request.

Razormax, I wish you the best of luck. As I have said before, and others have said as well, its all about attitude. Trust me, there WILL be problems. This company isn't perfect, the same as all the others out there. It's how you handle the problems that will determine your success here, or anywhere else for that matter. And it doesn't matter if you stay with trucking or look into something else. That advice is universal. And free for a limited time.

For example, this week I got to spend some time at the Swift drop yard in Martinsburg, WV getting a B-service done on the truck. While I was there I got to talk with a couple other drivers. One driver in particular had been driving for 26 years (for other companies) with over one million accident free miles...that is until he came to Swift. Like Swift is the one who caused him to have these problems. In one instance, his load delivered down a narrow alley and he had to manuever into a very tight dock. He was being very cautious, getting out and looking frequently, but still managed to knock loose a couple boards on a small decorative fence in front of him. No real damage was done, the mainenance guy had nailed the boards back on in just a few minutes and said it happens all the time. But his problems were compounded by the fact that the customer requested him to unload the truck and move the load over to another building and he refused, which is his right. His load info did clearly say "No Driver Unload". But by arguing with the customer over it, the customer called Swift and claimed the driver knocked down their fence. Now he has a preventable on his record.

A bunch of drivers where there complaining about this or that. After really listening to their stories, you could tell there was some that was a legitimate complaint, but some were just crying because they got caught, or did something they shouldn't have and hurt their record. Live with it. There are always consequences to your actions.

I met up with a Swift driver at a shipper earlier this week. I could tell as I was docking for a live load beside his truck that he was finished, so I asked him how long it took for him to get loaded and he replied that it wasn't very long at all. I also found out he was going to the same customer as me and had an appointment one hour before mine. I could also tell he was new as I helped him with some directions to get to where we were going, then he left as I got loaded.

My load was about 38,000 lbs and I wanted to scale it to make sure my axle weights were good, but the closest scale was a public scale just up the road and they only took cash and I didn't have that much. I ran into the same driver there and he had the same problem, no cash, and he was still lost as far as the route directions. I guess the problem was there was a lot of backroad US and state hiways on this trip and not so much interstates and I don't think he was comfortable with that. Since I already had a good idea of my trip plan and where I was going, he asked if he could follow me. I didn't have a problem with that so I said sure. It was actually kind of nice having someone to #### chat with on the way there. Turned out I was right, he has only been solo since May, but he is doing ok. Poor guy, we got within 2 miles of the customer and his truck died. Apparently, he had been smelling coolant for a while, then his low coolant light came on and he didn't say anything. After letting it sit for a little bit, he did manage to get it to the customer and get unloaded, then he sent a message to on-road to get fixed. A heater hose had sprung a leak. We parted ways then as our next loads went in different directions. When I got to Columbus this evening to T-call my load, he was here T-calling his load. Small world.

The point there is that I think that we, as drivers, need to stick together and help each other out when ever we can. Whether it be letting someone follow you to a shipper/customer or something as simple as helping a driver move their tandems. We are in this together. It's not a competition. You never know when it might be you who needs the help. Offer some help. Especially if it is a fellow Swift driver. That's not just another truck driver, that's a brother/sister.

 

Hey Hampy, glad you found the thread helpful. I've tried to be fully truthful in the posts and tell both the good and the ugly. They both come hand in hand together. I wish you luck as you get started.

I know West Milton, we go there every 4th of July for their festival.

 

I missed it this year. One of the drawbacks to being a truck driver, I was out on the road. Did get to see some assorted fireworks, but I missed all the fun.

If you have any questions or concerns, feel freel to ask anything. I'll try to answer the best I can, whenever I get online, which is about once or twice a week.

 

Biker dave, a screwdriver wouldn't have have helped the driver with the leak. He blew a pinhole in the hose about 3-4 inches from the end, and there wasn't enough hose to cut it short either. IF he had said something about smelling coolant earlier, we could have pulled over. Then IF we had had some duct tape, maybe we could have done a temporary repair to get him where we were going. IF is a really big word. He didn't say anything and we didn't have any duct tape, but we still mananged to make it to the customer. It just took him a little longer, which was good because it actually gave me time to scope it out and find out where they were at. Turned out they are tucked back a little bit off the road and not clearly marked. After he got unloaded, breakdown came and got him fixed up and we went our separate ways with new loads. And, yes, he did have a Rand McNally atlas and was using it, but he still seemed lost.

The other driver was a company driver in a Volvo. Part of his problem was the narrow alley he had to go down which does not have enough room for a full size truck like ours. A daycab would have been a much better choice, but you gotta do what you gotta do. He just compounded his problem with his attitude. The receivers told him that they get big road trucks in there all the time. What they didn't tell him (but the maintenance guy did) is that they always have a problem knocking boards off the fence or some other trouble. But when he refused to unload the truck as they requested, they reported that he knocked down their fence, thus putting a preventable on his record.

This situation could have gone several different ways. The first, obviously is how it did go, and that hurt his record. He could have done as the customer requested and unload the truck himself, although the dispatch clearly said it was not a driver unload, but he would have stayed on good terms with the customer and the customer, knowing that the fence would be a problem, would not have reported him. Perhaps he could have called his DM to see if he could have a CSR speak with the customer, or maybe he could get some pay for unloading. Of course, that last part may be just a pipe dream. I haven't been in this situation myself so I don't know for sure if that would work, but I present it as an option for this situation. The driver could have also refused to take the truck down the alley in the first place, thus avoiding the situation altogether, but that would have resulted in a service failure. I think, in the long run though, I would rather have the service failure than a preventable accident on my record.

It has always been my intention with this thread to post the good with the bad. Although, for the most part, and as evidenced through most of my posts, my experience with Swift has been mostly good, I am in no way delusional that all is just rosey here at Swift. And this past week has been a perfect example. I have said in the past, there are good weeks and bad weeks. Well, people...this was a bad week. Don't get me wrong, on the whole, I'm still happy that I am here and I have no plans for leaving any time soon. I am just frustrated, upset, and so far beyond fed up I can't put it in words.

I have heard it said before that the secret to success out here is to have a good DM. I have to agree with that somewhat. My first DM, that I've had since I started, was just fantastic. As a former driver himself, he knows what it's like out here and was very helpful whenever I had a problem. He showed some concern for me when I got sick. Even now, whenever I go in the office, he always says hi and calls me by name. Unfortuantely (for me anyway) he got promoted to the safety department about 2 or 3 months ago and I got a new DM. I don't know what her problem is, but she doesn't seem to have the authority to do anything. She always has to ask if she can do something. It took her 5 hours one day to take me off a load that the shipper had cancelled. Anytime I tell her I'm empty and ready for a load, she tells me that she can't give me one, but she'll tell the planners. Then after I've been sitting for 2 hourss and I remind her I'm still waiting, she'll say she messaged the planners again. I've stood by their desks as they looked for loads to get me somewhere. I know they can put a load on us.

This week was a terrible week. My first load coming off hometime was 150 miles dispatched. That's loaded and empty miles. I only took that load thinking they would back it up with something decent. I get a 200 mile Sears load that meant I would have to sit for 18 hours to pick it up so I could make the delivery appointment. I just came off 2 1/2 days at home, I didn't need to sit another 18 hours. I took it at first, but then called my DM later about getting it taken off me, which she did do eventually. My next load wasn't too much better. Just over 300 miles and still alot of down time. They did offer me a great 700 mile load after that, but it actually picked up after my hours were up. I called to see if I could pick it up late, after my 10 hour break. I was told I could, but the concern then was that I might not make the delivery on time so iit was recommended that I decline it, so I did. I ended up arguing with my DM over the QualCom at 1630 on Wednesday over another short load with way too much time on it. It was like 350 miles and delivered almost a full day later. I would have ended up sitting a very long time. Then she told me it was t called. Since it was going to Ohio, I asked if it was t called in Columbus. No, t call it in Martinsburg, WV. My 350 mile load just dropped to 100. When I complained about that, she said to just take the #### load, it beats sitting. I told her all I've been doing lately is sitting and it's not because I'm turning down loads. I don't usually turn down loads unless I have a very good reason. Short miles is not a good reason. I don't always like it, but I will take the short runs. Usually though, I get a good run afterwards. Not this week. I finished out last week with just 1300 miles. I'm not a happy camper right now!

I've actually talked with others who have or have had the same DM and I'm not alone in my opinion of her. I talked with the Fleet Manager shortly after the change and asked for a new DM. This time I will be more insistant, respectfully of course. If I go in the office here, she doesn't even know who I am. I've just had enough. I can't take another week like this one. I do understand that with winter coming up, freight will probably slow down. but this is just ridiculous. I do goota count my blessing though. I heard one driver here at the terminal say he was offered a t called load to be delivered this weekend...with only 18 miles on it. Now that's just wrong.

Drive safe and stay warm!

 

I don't care if she is in training or not, she's not very good at her job. She has been my DM for about 3 months already and no telling how long she has done this before that, but you would think she would have a clue by now.

So monday after I delivered my load, I still hadn't received a preplan yet. I knew that wouldn't be good. Sure enough...after completing my empty call, I sent a message to her saying I was empty and ready for a new load. She replied with "I know, hang in there." An hour later, I was just about to send another message when I got a preplan. It was already late for pick up, which was 42 miles away, and delivered 214 miles away with one stop. First of all, I wasn't really happy about yet another 200 mile run, but no matter how I looked at this, that first stop was gonna be 2 hours before my 10 was up, so I had to decline it. Then I sent her a message asking what is the point of putting our drive hours available on the empty calls if the planners aren't going to read them. I never did get an answer to that, but I'll let you know when I figure it out.

I took this opportunity to call the fleet manager. I asked him again for a different DM and explained why. He said if I haven't heard back from him by wednesday, I should call him back. I will definately be doing that. He also put me on a sweet load with 853 total miles. That just saved my week.

I'm usually not one to complain alot. That's why I've put up with this for so long. But it comes a time when enough is enough, and I've had enough. All I wanna do is drive. For the last week or so I've done more sitting than driving. That's just not productive. She told me once that the planners don't want me to sit. Could have fooled me. When I have 6 hours left to drive in a day and I'm given a preplan with a pick up window that starts in 11 hours and ends in 14 hours and a 1st stop delivery 6 hrs later and 200 miles away, this all adds up to a lot of sitting.

I will keep you all posted on what happens next.