Swift (disagreement with company)

Well right now, i am running the 910. I dont like the idea of running the rockies, CA or NY/new england states in the snow. I said i wanted to get a handle on doing things on my own. I think i am getting a good idea so far....trip planning, etc. But when i spoke with my DM about getting off the 910, he suggested i wait till after christmas. dont really know what good that would do. This morning i had a PP that was going from somewhere in TN to Maine. it was like a 1400 mile load. before i could accept it, the PP was removed. Things that i have little to no experience dealing with, such as driving in snow....make me a little nervous. Now granted, i've ran in a little bit of snow last week coming down thru MD and VA, but it is nothing like an all out storm thats been going on for a day or two and where there is 10in of snow on the ground. Think if i force myself into driving in snow, i will soon realize, that as long as i go slow, and pay attention, i shouldnt get into any trouble, unless i hit some black ice. =)

i am doing my best to not pester my weekend DM, since i am sure they really cant do much anyways. i can tuff it out, but seeing how christmas is coming, i sure hope they can get me routed back toward home....something i was promiced before i even hit the road.

 

When Swift gets a load, they will put the Pplan on all drivers they have in the area, and it goes to the first responder. It pays to be quick.

Snow is scary at first. I trained in the spring so I was comfortable in the big truck before starting winter driving. You'll actually get better traction in a big truck with a solid load than in a four wheeler. It's just harder to stop. You're going to have to drive in snow sooner or later. It's part of the job.

The holidays slow things down because a lot of manufacterers go on shut down for a week or two. And with retail down, too, just makes things slower.

Getting home is difficult, too. I've been trying to get to my dentist since Thanksgiving, cause I have a failed root canal that got infected and needs pulled. I had an appt on the 10th, but they didn't get me there in time, so I rescheduled for the 16th. I've got my fingers crossed!!!

 

Defintely slow down when it is snowy. Also remember that if you don't feel safe continuing, find a safe place to park and do so. Do not use your jakes either. There are actually a couple of winter driving tips threads on here that you may want to do a search on and read them. There is a lot of excellent advise in them.

If your DM starts getting an attitude, communicate over the qualcomm and emphasize the words safe and safety! Your safety and the safety of others is more important than any load.

 

Hey Behind the wheel. Get the he!! away from Swift while the gettin is good. I dont know about local jobs, they are sometimes hard to come by. But on the other hand there are lots of over the road outfits that are head and shoulders above good old Swift. I came out of retirement about three years ago and signed on with Swift. I couldnt believe the BS that went on there. It lasted four months and I was gone gone gone. I later signed on with Roehl,and believe me there was a difference. I am not suggesting you go to Roehl,you will have to decide where to go.My suggestion,go to a local truckstop and talk to drivers from different companies,and get their opinions. Course a lot will depend on how much experience you have too.

 

That is just the problem, i've only have a month experience solo. 2.5 if you count my 6 weeks on the road training. And not to mention i am still on the hook for my half of the schooling i took in August.

It feels like the whole company is a training company. They get studnet drivers, student DMs, student FMs...lol. I cannot tell you how jerked around i felt with my DM i got when i was at orientation.

But i guess me being ignorant about how a load is created, how it gets dispatched and how a PP shows up on my Q-comm and untill i accept it. If someone can please explain the 'behind the scenes' process for me, i would appreciate it. One poster earlier said that a planner puts a PP on all drivers in the area, and the first one to respond to it, gets it. I had the understanding that one driver got a PP....and he had to accept or decline it.

 

well i am going to try something new for the next week, and see if things dont end up different in 7 days. the only time i am going to use that QualComm, is to enter my arrivial, loaded, MT calls, etc. i'm not going to pick it up and start asking annoying questions about when i'm going to get a load. I'm just going to shut up. if i start seeing close to 2000 miles next week, i will understand the lesson they were trying to teach me. if i am still sitting with 200 miles for the week, i will know that freight is juts slow and/or i am not on my DMs short list of 'go to drivers'.

 

I use my jakes, but put them on low.

 

Go somewhere else. Swift is the devil.

 

As a note about DM telling you that freight is slow. Yes, freight is on the scarce side. Try to get to know some planners. They are the ones getting you loads, not your DM. I know a few drivers that has been on a few planners good side, they get 2200+ miles constantly. i hope this helps.