Swift home time question

Yes, the 'no make money if truck not running' bit is lame.

Our home times are considered in the overall expense of the truck, from day one.
6 days out, 1 day home is the rule.
So Swift expects the truck to be making money 6 days out of every week.

I've never been hassled about how long I take, but I know a lot of drivers are.
If there were ever a concerted effort on those drivers' part to change those working conditions by demanding home times sooner, I would throw in my support by doing the same thing.
I think a lot of us would, as well.

 

I dont get hassled either but some seem to miss the point I am trying to make .

If it sits for two days at a truck stop . IT IS STILL SITTING and no one askes for it to be turned in at that point .

Yes , the convenience factor is theirs and in their favor at all times , and if my load is a "drop" and I drop it two days early . Well then where is the problem in that ? If they have some people not show up and it does happen , they can unload my trailer early that way its out of the way and they are still being productive.

Me ... I am not a fan of taking a reset on the road . Why ? What the hell do I want to sit around for I am not on vacation.

I guess I may have a different outlook on things .

 

I agree. 4 out of the 5 weeks I stay out I run on recaps..and I run 7 days a week. My choice since I'm out here to make as much as possible each week. Way back when I would do a reset on the road and go nuts sitting around. Even worse now that the reset rules have changed.

Everyone has their own way of running and I certainly don't have any negativity for those that wish to take a reset. It's their choice of course. I just prefer to keep moving..makes the weeks go by quicker if I stay busy.

 

I agree. There are some drivers that prefer to do a reset. I am not one of them. I am away from my family for one reason and on reason only- to make money. So I will make as much as I can while I'm out. I can sit around doing nothing and not making money at my house. I'm not going to do that out on the road.

 

I think any hassles drivers have with taking more than 4 days home time might boil down to which terminal they are based in or their DM. So far the most I've taken is 3+ days. I haven't tested the concept of a more extended home time.

Some customers may be particular about when they receive a load. Once they sign for it it is listed as part of their inventory. It may boil down to cash flow management or inventory reduction management.

 

On the profitability note: I can make a profit (albeit small) after running 1 1/2 days. At that point all static costs are paid( lease payment insurance etc. ) and for the rest of the week it is all profit (minus operating costs) from then on out. And I get a much smaller slice of the pie than swift so they can afford to have a truck sit for 5 days easy.

 

and if you still haul reefers(tangerine) most reefer dc's have limited space and sometimes have to wait for inventory to go out before they take any in.

 

Not with farmland . If it goes to them or to americold for their orders they want it there basically now .
I have already seen bills where delivery date says a certain date but my system shows the day after .

In some cases yea I guess you have a point , but all I haul for is the same company ..

 

Yea , unfortunately thats what I still haul.

If those places dont have space , they should wait to order. Lol
that would make to much sense tho.

This reefer stuff is all rush to get it picked up but snails pace to get there and unload . I just dont like it anymore.

 

i take 4 days off. but i'm out 1.5 to 2 months at a time. take more than 4, i have to turn truck in. had this prostar with only thousand miles on it nd no other drivers. last 4 days off was 4th of july weekend. try and take 34 reset at my home terminal to get mail and visit freinds/family for a day. but i do resets out om the road too. i run as much hours i have available as i can. i.probably do more resets than most, but thats me.