Swift Hometime

What you are talking about is not slip seating. Slip seating is where 2 or more drivers rotate the driving of the truck while the other(s) are at home. What you described is basic solo operation, one day off for every 6 worked. Depending upon the terminal you are out of you might have to give up the truck after 2, 3, or 4 days.

 

Sure, it's their right. And it's my right to go find employment elsewhere as a result. And it's my right to tell prospective drivers about this, so they can make an informed decision.

The question really is do they want to retain drivers, or do they want to drive them away?

Swift is a fine company for a lot of folks, but it no longer suited me. I like to stay out two months and then take a week off, and I don't want to wait around for a week or two additional each time because they have more drivers than they have trucks.

 

It's not that hard to get home, main thing is to remind your dm or planner. If they send loads going far in opposite direction just decline because of home. Sometimes I have figured out who the planner is, called and get a load almost directly home. Manteno, il planner is real big on calling me if I don't respond fast, Chicago area. That home call macro alone won't always get you home in time, you got to remind them.

 

Yeah the Manteno planner will call me too if I take too long to reply on a Costco load. I like those loads so I try and take them. My hometime with Swift has ranged from right on time to a day early or late or even a week early (I agreed to this because I had a class to take and was easier this way). I'm guessing it just depends on how freight is near you. I usually take 3-4 days off and have never had to turn my truck in. I was talking to a driver out of Phoenix the other day and he said at that terminal anything more than 24 hours off you loose your truck. I understand if you are taking a week off but 24 hours is just silly.