Swift - Starting the New Year training with Swift 1/7/13 - A long read...

Discussion in 'Swift' started by DocWatson, Jan 3, 2013.

  1. fr8monkey

    fr8monkey Road Train Member

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    Sep 16, 2009
    Right behind you
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    Doc,hey seriously....trucking is a learning experience,and I learn best from experiences...especially painful ones like what u went thru,lol....my first year I almost quit or got fired several but swift stuck with me...spanked me hard at times and I would sometimes take months to see how I was wrong or could have done things a different way.....I got so frustrated and cried even a few times just over stuff like what you are describing.....and I never ever quit.....but I sure did learn from it and it made me better.....as it will make you better.....lots of humbling trials and experiences in trucking....hang in there doc....and also now u know why trucking companies pay a lot more for experienced hands too.....rookies cost time and money...and usually hurt themselves the most....maybe it's part of why the industry has the turnover it does...no real handholding here buddy,hehe.....have a good day....
     
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  3. inkeper

    inkeper Road Train Member

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    I was going to pass you my kleenex, but I used them all up...*sniff sniff*:tearyeyed:
     
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  4. fr8monkey

    fr8monkey Road Train Member

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    Right behind you
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    lol,maybe next time.bwahaa...sniff sniff :biggrin_25523:
     
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  5. DocWatson

    DocWatson Road Train Member

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    Jersey shore
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    It's definitely a learning process. I feel like I am learning but a lot of these lessons are hard earned.

    I feel like I've been more frustrated than normal this past month. I think I need some "out west" time. It's been at least a couple of months since I've been out there. At least it feels like it.

    This secret squirrel stuff is still going on and I still don't know exactly what is going on. Most likely, like we all agreed, it is a drug test but the fact of not knowing and it dragging out is stressing me a little still. Just want to get whatever it is over with. I don't like secrets.

    I'm at the Columbus terminal. Finally got some miles yesterday. It was nearly 600 from the Memphis terminal up here to Columbus. I dropped the load last night and had about 40 minutes to spare to get to the local Walmart and shut down. Prior to yesterday's decent miles I went back and figured out my last 7 days miles. It was barely over 1700. Pisses me off.

    I break my time out on the road in blocks anchored by my home times. This last time out, a little over a month so far, has been one of the toughest so far since I've started. It included one week of sitting in Ocala, FL at the terminal waiting on my clutch. Swift will not pay me for it despite me chasing HR about it. It included another day plus about a week later in Richmond at that terminal waiting for a B service. It included this last headache of a load that took 27 hours to get it scaled and on the road. Haven't gotten paid for that yet either.

    I understand that things go wrong all the time but I need to be getting paid for these things. I'm not except for the one day of breakdown with the B Service. I don't work for free. And I have been. This past time out OTR had really worn me out and left a really sour taste in my mouth - particularly this Ocala, FL situation. Gonna have time off again for my little bro's wedding in a little under 2 weeks.
     
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  6. knuckledragger

    knuckledragger Medium Load Member

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    Jun 7, 2014
    Everett, WA
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    Hey Doc, if you head out West and make it to the Everett, WA area, let me know. I'd like to buy a you a cup of coffee if the timing is right. I'd like to discuss some trucking/business ideas with you.
     
    Last edited: Jul 21, 2014
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  7. DocWatson

    DocWatson Road Train Member

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    Absolutely. Sounds great. There's a great pizza place up there in downtown Everett, I can't remember the name of it. Its worth a visit. I'll let you know next time I'm up there.
     
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  8. Kymi

    Kymi Light Load Member

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    May 14, 2014
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    I'm sorry I missed, missed, and kept missing you at the Memphis terminal. I went up to way too many tattoo-sleeved and sleeved-sleeved (it was a bit chilly, some guys had jackets on) asking if they were the "Doctor".

    I did my test-out-upgrade-thingiemabobs on Monday; I passed. They didn't have a truck in Memphis though, so I was trained up to Kankakee, IL, and cabbed over to Manteno. They actually have 11 trucks sitting there available atm. They stuck me in a black 2012 Freightliner Cascadia. I inspected and pre-tripped it as extensively as I knew how. The shop was pretty nice and quickly fixed the minor issues that I found with it.

    Originally, since I had been up since 7am today, my DL was going to have me wait till tomorrow to start on my loads. But since I wasn't all that tired and in need of a trailer, I got a move on it today. Manteno gave me a "trailer solution" (I thought it was a dispatch) to a K-mart DC 4miles away. I promptly went out of route by about 10 miles getting there because the truck route was closed due to construction. I ended up following the I57 N route signs and then coming back south on it. K-mart ended up not having any empties either. But I spoke to the yard dogs, and they said they might have one available in 30-45min. My mentor would've gotten on the phone about finding another mt someplace else right away, but I decided to give it a bit since I was nervous as all hell still from going out of route. 10min later, a yard dog had positioned directly behind me an mt swift trailer. All I had to do was back straight under it.

    Now I'm at a Pilot off I57 that I had to go out of route 5miles to get to... my mentor assures me it's when people are going 60 mile out of routes consistently is when they'll sit you down for a talk. The pilot was already mostly full at 7pm, but I still managed to get in a spot that was mostly just a straight line back. I'm rather proud at that actually. 3-4 trucks were trying to wiggle themselves into spots that were kind of blocked by the cat scales. I went around them and went for the easy back.

    Also, I apologize, I'm not trying to jack this thread. I just don't see much of a point in making a new one that's just me. I don't think I'll be any good at keeping it up. Meanwhile, I desire and want your input! Today is more of just a first day, wow.
     
    Last edited: Jul 22, 2014
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  9. Rattlebunny

    Rattlebunny Medium Load Member

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    Oct 20, 2009
    Elkton, VA
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    Well, I'm finally taking the plunge. I'm set up for training at the Richmond academy this Monday.
     
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  10. Kymi

    Kymi Light Load Member

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    May 14, 2014
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    Good luck!
     
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  11. MsJamie

    MsJamie Road Train Member

    Good luck at Richmond! That's a top notch crew. Let me know if they're still using the Candlewood for student housing...
     
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