Swift-forced dispatch for company drivers?

I have to agree with Other here. When I was on the road, if I realized I need to learn something I found someone to teach me or figured it out. And snapping at folks offering help is pretty foolish.

 

Hey AJS

It must be tough to know everything.

I have been on my own for about six months now and still have alot to learn. Listen to the drivers that have alot of time behind the wheel. Drivers like otherhalf have a lot of knowledge and are willing to share it with us new guys. Listen to them instead of getting defensive.

Ask questionas, pay attention to what the answer is and learn. It will make the job much easier.

 

Otherhalfftw has it.

I had a mentor who was not one of the "I train so I can have a second log book" types. He taught me as much as he could. One of the first things he asked was if I had been taught how to chain up. Which I had been. They did a chaining class at the Swift Academy in Lewiston, ID. On top of that, the instructor I had there took me and the other student in his truck up to Winchester, ID where it had snowed. He intentionally got us stuck in a parking lot at the gas station there- So we would have to chain the truck to get out.

With that information, my mentor said "Ok, well lets go over it again". At the Troutdale, OR terminal (where I'm based out of) they have a "Chain Training Station" where you can practice. It's just a set of tires with some chains. My mentor had me show him that I did, indeed know what I was doing and not just trying to pull wool over his eyes. When I solo'd out in Denver, he went out with me when I got my Tractor assigned. He said "Lets take a look at your chains to make sure they are good to go- even if they are go to the parts room and get another set of singles...."

I'm also not afraid of driving in bad weather. Not going to cause un necessary drama with my DM because I don't want to go where there might be some snow or ice. Hell, I got stuck in a storm in Utah when my truck broke down a couple weeks back. Spent 8 hours waiting to get pulled out of that mess. Stopped to chain up and my truck wouldn't start when I got back in (auto-shut off happened) .ECU went belly up, and I don't drive that truck anymore.

I consider myself fortunate that I got a good Mentor/Trainer. Had I NOT been given a decent one the first time I would have pulled myself off of his truck and asked for another. Training is not always about the instructor alone. There is work required by the student. The "But my trainer didn't teach me!" doesn't fly, especially if YOU did not do your part and ask questions and make him do is job. It was in your best interest.

Any time I thought of something I figured I should know, that my Mentor had not already brought up- I asked questions without hesitation. If he didn't have the answer, I would seek out someone who did.

 

I think what these guys are trying to do is help you out ajs1975. My trainer never went north of Sacremento but that never stopped him from showing me how to chain...it took all but 10 minutes..if that. I actually chained for the 1st time by myself in Oregon on the side of the road...piece of cake. Many drivers out there are really picky about where they drive and with that type of attitude, won't last long in this profession at all. Just relax and suck up all the advise you can get from these guys..Be safe out there.

 

I agree that a driver should not be forced to drive the company's truck to haul loads to places the driver does not want to go and where the driver might maybe be forced to do his job ie. putting chains on the tires, cleaning the windshield, fueling, checking the oil, pretrips etc.

It's almost like if you have 70 hours available the DM's actually want the driver to pull trailers all over these United States.
Where's their consideration??? I think a more fair solution would be for the driver to sit at home and have the company deposit checks directly into the driver's bank account every week.

Working for a living sucks!

 

I hope I am reading this in it's entire sarcastic light...if so...good post...if not ....welcome to Oz!

 

Ummmm we already have a deal like that... Welfare