Yeah that is understandable. A lot of times, its just the planners are busy, and that load that is sitting there gets overlooked when they look for a load to get you home. Hattiesburg is too far to just deadhead you home
There is no "game being played". I know you have it in your mind that it is "driver against company", but you are wrong. Believe it or not, its true. The miles we bill the customer are the same miles you get paid. We get those miles from the Household Movers Guide, the same place 95% of trucking companies get miles. And guess what? You can beat those miles. I know you just said "yeah right". Well, buy a map. I used to do it. If you cannot plan a trip, then you are just a steering wheel holder, not a driver. Like I said, the route you get from Swift is computer generated and personally, I think its a crap route and would not follow it. I mean, seriously... You are going from Memphis to Chicago. If your route tells you to go through Indy to fuel, are you seriously going to do that? What about St Louis? No... well, you might. I wouldnt. Your beef is invalid. You saw the paid miles when you accepted the trip. Instead of "following the route", which I have stated multiple times is crap, you should have planned the trip to get as close to those miles as possible. This is an industry standard, not something exclusive to Swift. You will believe what you want to believe, I know. I have given you the facts. So, you can go with them, or you can continue to believe what you have decided in your mind.
That must have been something manually put in when the preplan was sent to you, because the computer will not allow a tcall that you are picking up to have a pickup time before the load is picked up... wait.. does that make sense? I think I just confused myself...
Ok, I just finished a huge email to my boss for my contribution to driver retention. I took what I learned here, added my input and possible solutions, and sent it on. I am not promising that there will be huge changes, or that you will see them anytime soon. What I can promise you is that I have been your voice, your complaints have been heard and are being taken seriously. If I did not believe that, or believe in this company, or believe in you as our drivers, I would not have even bothered. So y'all be safe out there. While I may be surly and mean sometimes, I am looking out for you. I want you to understand how things work on the inside, and I want to know when you have questions or complaints. Conspiracy theories will be met with the same absurdity. Have a good night.
I thought Swift (and other companies) frown big time on drivers going out of the route sent by company?
Perhaps in the near future they can change to a different mileage guide. I believe that Household Movers is rather obsolete............
Yep, it definitely happens. I got to sit for awhile burning up my 14 in our lovely Avenel terminal not too long ago. I think that's the only time that's happened to me in my short time as a Swiftie, so if it only happens on a rare occasion....I can deal with it.
Therein lies the problem. Seems that every "player" in Swift operations is stretched to the limit.....and then some. Swift is saving money by understaffing but, in the end, it will come back to bite them squarely on the butt through continued mediocre service, poor morale, employee absenteeism, etc., etc., etc. Get it in your head Swift. It's all about people...people confident that their employer gives a crap about them. Maybe Swift does give a crap but they have a really goofy way of showing it. Perhaps a QC message delineating all the things Swift is doing to enhance employee relations and driver retention would be helpful.
And that's what I don't understand. And I guess we never will since I have no idea who the planner was. In all honesty, it was probably just a brain fart on the part of the computer jockey. Yeah, not common, and more of a nuisance than a real problem. Just seems like it would be an easy one to fix. P.S. you are using sarcasm calling Avenel "lovely", right?
No reason to get personal there big fella. I have 2 maps, plus pick up one at every state I visit at the welcome centers. So message my DM and tell her, "these miles are wrong! We need to fix that!" Or refuse it? As far as out of route miles the number $.50 a mile sticks in my head. I have been looking at the driver manual and can't find it. I did see $1 a mile for unauthorized dead head. I'll keep looking. Why would a DM pester a driver about out of route if there is no rule?
