Saying "adios!" (to your driver manager/leader)...advice needed

Yes, I've met with my DM a few times. Every time I do a home time in Sumner I meet up with her and go over what I have finished on my to do list.

As a matter of fact I met with her and my terminal mgr last Wednesday over owed layover pay from back when I was in training. It was a pleasant meeting all around. Then I met with her about getting my WA CDL certified. I have everything done....training, certifications, etc...that needs to be done and she said I was one of the few under her that was at 100%.

However I didn't discuss the lack of mileage with her yet. I should.

 

True. I'm going to take another home time out there in a few weeks and have another face to face with her. Non confrontational as always but I'm going to try and read whether my concerns matter or not to her.

I'm trying to avoid throwing her under the bus without talking to her. I guess my tentative plan is to meet with her again ad then give it a couple of weeks to see if there is change. If no change then I'm going to switch DMs to this guy I think seems cool. Lastly I will probably switch to the Richmond terminal down the road.

I'm staying here mostly to learn the ropes, pay off my cdl school loan and get some job consistency. After I put about 12-18 months in here I'm going to go with a different company unless I'm completely happy here.

I have a ton to learn with not only the system but this job as a whole. I was thinking of changing terminals.

I'm curious if it really matters at all what terminal you are based out of (other than a heavy haul or other specifically geared terminal) since it seems that depending on where you are located in the country the local planners plan those loads. I really like the Columbus terminal but most of my family is close to the Richmond terminal. I just don't want to be pigeon holed into one part of the country. I like bouncing all over the place although I'm not crazy about the northeast.

Good idea, another meeting may help. Whenever I do meet with my DM or I'm in the terminal I throw on the Swift polo and try to be the good company guy. I try to keep an appearance of professionalism.

However there have been times when I'm out on the road and my loads suck (like sitting for days on a 200 mile load) or I have been severely late for my home time or just a general feeling of disregard for my concerns (like the 6 month back and forth over this layover pay) when I have gotten cranky and standoffish. I guess Im trying to figure out when to just take it and when to draw the line. Its difficult being new in this job trying to figure that aspect out.

It could be but in the past they have moved me to where there was more freight or kept me somewhere (usually in the NE) where there is more freight.

I have turned down loads before and, judging by some of the nasty messages i be received from planners, I rubbed them the wrong way. That's why I'm curious if I'm on some list of difficult drivers from those loads I have turned down in the past. Usually the only time I have turned down loads I'd of they are going in the opposite direction of my home time when it is coming up or if I have a repair and it is taking me away in the other direction. I have turned down loads because they were short mileage but that was very rare. I've turned down loads when I can't do it within the time frame or if I don't have the hours but I send a Mac 9 with the hours that i can deliver. I'm still learning if I should just take everything, if its doable within my hours or still be selective here and there.

True. I will find out soon enough. For now I want to keep my record clean and be on time so I can carry that over somewhere else if and when needed.

I would but then I won't ever get back east to see my family. Also I know the heavy haul folks are home more often and since I don't have a home to return to I would be spending too much on hotels when I'm off.

The heavy haul is ideal tho for those that want to be home more often. It just doesn't fit my needs or lifestyle unfortunately.