Swift drivers, sound off

Was running alot for a couple of weeks... Did not have time to post!

 

1. New qualqomms. They are supposedly easier to use and have a truck gps. I have to use a regular garmin because I can't afford a real gps.

2. Better pay. When every company or close to it pays better than you do and you're one of the largest carriers, something is wrong. Running my 70 down in a week because I'm working that much shouldn't result in less money than I made as a trainee. Ever.

3. A respect policy. A driver shouldn't have to fear picking up the qualqomm. I have been berated like a child by dm's and planners both, even when I was following previous directions. This isn't the military yet it stinks worse sometimes.

4. Mandatory trailer inspections. It's obvious it's not being done. Add a line to any macros dealing with trailer drops and pickups. Have it rate the maintanence of the trailer. If poor have driver send a trailer macro explaining.

5. Have a clear company policy and guidebook that covers everything. At orientation we are given a number of papers and a small binder with company policy. There is no current reference for a driver on current company policy in writing.

6. Stop the threats. Threats of "it's going to be worse if you go to a different company!", "you'll lose the truck if you don't leave today!", or any number of other manipulations by the office staff should be considered a hostile work enviroment.

7. Idle. Berating a driver for idling with no option (apu or gen or even idle aire reimbursement) otherwise during the spring/summer is ludicrious. Not offering any incentives and stating that all bonus' are cut off isn't effective policy.

8. Fuel. Fuel routes need to be optimized. When a driver has to constantly request emergency fuel to limp along to another fuel stop something is wrong. The pilot at South Bend never works, it needs to be taken off all fuel routes.

9. Showers and lounges. The only ones worth mentioning are Lathrop and Phoenix. Even so every Swift shower is disgusting, a health inspection would fail every time. Not having internet at terminals in ridiculous and hard on drivers who rely on it to communicate with family members. Having window staff that is unwilling to work with you should be grounds for finding a different company.

10. Customer follow up needs serious work. I've had appt times that were never set with consignees, at least 5 cancelled loads, and incorrect directions.

11. Actual directions that lead to my destination. Just getting the town right shouldn't be a big deal and yet it is. Sending me a message later with the town name or putting the town if using a gps in the comments is wrong. It should be on the preplan, the dispatch, the fuel route and any directions and it should all match.

12. The driver should not be solely responsible for or treated as if the bottom line rests on their shoulders. Whether the company is making a profit or not should not be a major concern for a driver. Drivers can easily point the finger right back at any number of excuses. As long as a driver is doing their job properly they should not get constant qq reminders that other Swift employees are not.

14. As said before, we need a do not disturb macro. It would saving planning time and the company money.

15. Planners need to be more attentive. Being given loads or even dispatched on a load when a driver doesn't have hours avail is wrong. Macro 10 and 6 update you with our hours, the system should tell you how available we are. Planning has to take some responsibility for planning us on loads we cannot make.

16. Home time requests should be honored, not disreguarded as a implying of time needed off. There is no excuse for not getting a driver home on time with names such as Walmart, Home Depot, Kimberly Clark, and Staples. Preaching about our Most Important Stop and then saying it's not that important is hypocritical.



I think that is enough reasons for me to quit as soon as I get home. I have put in 7 months of good work, running 747, hazmat, reefer, hot and high value loads for over 78,000 miles and over 80 dispatches. Swift has proven again and again to not only be bad company to work for, but near abusive at times to it's drivers.

 

Wow,bigshrek you really put some effort into your response and I for one am glad to see an insider(in office person) like yourself,make the effort to reach out as you have,would really like to see more office personnel post there perspective,of course in a polite,respectful,but honest no bs way that you have done.It's informative and i understand more about why some of the things are at swift the WAY they are.Honestly I was kind of writing the complainant off as just another,whiney,inexperienced,unhappy,swift basher,but I think i will have to draw another conclusion,after some reflection on what he said.

 

Shrek, do not know if this has been addressed from a L/O side of things, and I know that there is something in the works regarding some of this, and that is,

1. Why not some portion of Fuel Surcharge for MT miles? If asked to run mt over lets say a certain percentage of the load, kick in some money. Makes the pill a little easier to swallow, example, one of my last loads, pls help us out, dh 70 to pu going 210. Then dh another 73 to pu one going 181, for a T-call. On top of that, trlr was refused so ended up dh another 181 miles to pu ldd trlr. Yes, on the back, it was good, but it chewed up a whole day, so instead of del Monday morning, now it is Monday afternoon.

Also short haul pay would be a nice incentive. I have read that there is talk about it.

What about now and then PHX has a meeting with L/O, let them talk and hear what they have to say. From what Jerry has said, he would like to see Swift 50% O/O. If they listen to us and take care of us, we can be better recruitter out here.

Thanks

 

Just a small thought I had the other day, swift should offer company vehicles/cheap rental cars at larger terminals so company drivers can get personal shopping done without wasting hours. Would require oversight though so I'm not sure they would go for it. It just sucks walking 2 miles to a Walmart when on a 34 and can't hitch a ride with someone else headed that way.

 

Beg the powers-that-be to deprogram that infernal auto-PTA setter in the computer that keeps bumping my avalability out.

 

yes! Thank you!