Well, I've been lurking on the site for a while, so most of my questions have been answered. I'm heading to Lancaster for orientation, on Tuesday, May 17th. Picked Swift, because I haven't been behind the wheel of a big truck since 2005, (driving class B since then, and quite a few fire engines) and that big truck was an old FLD120 was painted camo with a 4 speed Allison tranny (mountain passes were not fun). I honestly figure I am going to fail the road test. I drove a buddy's 18 wheeler for a couple days, to see where I stand. Turning and driving came natural. Backing was ok.....had to pull up a few times. Upshifting was good, downshifting was fairly terrible when double clutching (apparently my brain hates using the clutch for other than starting and stopping, and yells at my brain). Hoping I don't have to go back to school.....unemployment dried up and I got a family and toddler that loves to eat ALOT. Any advice for success besides half of the standard posts of "swift sucks, go somewhere else? Thanks! I'll post my experiences with orientation, mentor period, and onward as I go.
I will be in Lancaster on the 17th also. I aslo have been reading any/all to get info on how it really is, But the way I figure it If I want to get back into trucking then this is what I have to do. If not swift then 1 of the other starter companies.
Swift Sux, go somewhere else..... Ok got the the smartalec response out of the way. If you've driven before, you know the standard things to look out for like keep the money maker in good repair. There is a fair chance that you'll have to work with a mentor due to the 6 years absence. Not sure what advice your looking for. Have a specific portion in mind or just some general tips?
Not so much as specific advice, but just some good general advice. There's some common sense stuff I may have forgot by now, I figure the more good advice I could get from drivers, the better chances of success I would have paying my bills. I never stop trying to learn. One question, do Swift trucks primarily have a Eaton 10 or Eaton Super 10? I've only driven the Super 10 (I don't count that 4 speed automatic), is there any real difference between the two, besides the obvious button shift/range shift? Yep, I do like to ask obvious questions sometimes, but my stance is gain as much knowledge as possible, I can't afford to fail this time.
Eaton 9, 10 and 13's (on the heavies). Mostly 9's as others have stated. My favorite is the 13. The 9 is a standard 1,2,3,4 - up range, repeat pattern. Hope that helps a bit. As general advice: I think adding a laptop with Daily Drivers Log and your favorite mapping software (Street & Trips with Truck Stop plus for me) is a good planning tool. It really help me plan my runs and also acts as an entertainment system during downtimes. If you have an aircard, you can use Google Earth to get a preview of pickup/delivery areas to plan your approach to the dock. And you're right sir, we are always learning.
I didn't like my mentor period but I had to do what I had to do. Best advise to make money at swift is always TRY to deliver first thing in the morning on Mondays and Fridays. To ensure you get another load asap. Those are the busiest shipping days. Nobody wants to sit the weekend. Don't log 30 minutes for your pretrip like they tell you. Log the minimum 15. Log off duty for your quick piss don't just flag it. That should give you an extra 4 hours a week to drive. Don't dilly dally after you get your load assignment. GO GO GO when you get it. Always push to get there and then relax once your there. Try to always get there the night before so you can stay off duty until your loaded or unloaded. Log the minimum. My own rule is. No matter what I go straight to the shipper or consignee. No matter what. ie I don't stay at the truck stop down the road until my appt. I stay there. SO I don't burn the 14 hour rule. Also you have a good chance to be load/unloaded early.
Hi, okay i did as flatbed did too or said , i just went till i got there, and this what i hated , i get there the night before, had plenty time too get there unload like 12 miles away, i had fresh hours in the am , all set was good ta go,i thought, bam the quil com goes off about ten pm, t-call my load, have too go pickup this new load asp or right now drop this trl i have now and swicth with this other driver down the road like 67 miles away thats broke down , so i tool down there swicth, and got his load info, dang hes was in big do do anyway and now become my problem , for its has too be in houston by 7 am , he didnt bother too too tell the dispacth he was broke down and that was several hours ago according too when i read all his notes on the load so someboby screwed up up, so i hot shot from okie city , ok and i missed it by 2 hours the apt and sit for three days too unloaded, so there went my miles, went from 2900 down too less 900 miles in a week thanks too the driver and if scales were opean woulda been the end of it , after i got back too the yard i threw my keys at dispacth and said you boys screwed up big time losing a good driver with yer horse pucky and walked out, yes they tryed stopped me but i wouldnt have nuthen ta do with em anymore
Man you guys must have some time on your hands. I never have the time to plan anything let alone look at Google earth to take a look at shipper. So therefore I never plan I just push the pedal and hope I get to where I am going. And 99.999 % of the time I get there fine. Already this week and it's only Friday I have 1734 miles been running hard for the past few days.
