SWIFT (The New JerryCo)

Yes.... like I was saying in another thread.... I interviewed a swift driver today who had been driving otr for two years with them. He went thru their school. He didnt really have a bad thing to say about them other then the low pay (he was getting .33 after almost 2 years). Told me he averages 3500 to 4000 a week. I said...oh really? They can keep you with that many miles?? He told me sure. If you want to run they will run you. The dispatchers figure it out soon enough.

 

Companies have enacted no-idling policies because they want to alter the mindset and behavior of the stubborn, cantankerous truck driver. Co-driving is the way of the near future, like it or not. Some guys won't like it today if forced to drive team, and will quit if teaming becomes mandatory. However, when they get hungry enough, they'll gladly come back and double up in a cab. Such is the predictibility of those who have no choices in life. This is why choices are snatched from most people, surprise, surprise.

Most guys will say "I'll never team. I'll quit before I team." Yeah, yeah. We're gonna soon see who really walks the walk here, gentlemen, especially if Hillary wins next year (which I predict she will). You remember these good ol' days of solo driving when you're running team in a few years, those of you who believe solo OTR is gonna last forever. The dinosaurs probably thought their lifestyles would last forever, too. I predict most of you won't plan your futures properly and will be stuck driving teams, although you claim today you never will. Let's see what you're saying in about three years.

The figurehead who lives in the White House has said the US will cut its gasoline use by 20 million gallons by something like 2012 (?). This means diesel, too, you stubborn, cantakerous, truck drivers, you. You WILL team, so get ready for a buddy or get out (and stay the hell out). Getting out may be the best for most who are stubborn (like me), as trains are the long-term future of freight yankin'. But I know most of you won't lay your plans now, so you're only talking a talk. Very few will walk the walk and actually get out (and STAY out) when mandatory teaming arrives. Sure, some of you'll quit when it hits, but you'll soon come crawlin' back.

 

Curious: Jerry who? Send it via message cause last names are against the rules! I wonder if he was my ex boss that's all! He was a great guy and did good business (at least did?)

 

Yeah, yeah, yeah... Just because you quit trucking because you couldn't hack it, doesn't mean everyone else is going to quit or take it in the shorts.

I'd be willing to team for trainer pay--maybe. If my ol' lady decides to get her CDL--probably. Anyone trying to force me into teaming "like it or not," will soon be wearing their sphincter for a turtleneck and be out one driver. There is some stuff I will not eat. And I don't 'crawl' for anyone(well, there have been a few leather-clad Goddesses in my past, but this is a family forum... ). If it comes to that, there's local, LTL, and all kinds of ways to make money with a CDL without having to put up with that kind of garbage.

I remember someone saying the same thing years ago, about how when W got elected we'd be running in permanent forced teams for 10 cents a mile. Ain't happened yet, ain't gonna.

 

Huh guess you have never worked in a corrections environment.. Because if you had you would know that its more tiring working there then it is out here. I used to work in the State Corrections in a Medium unit(that means I didn't have good boys... They were murderers, rapists, People convicted of violent crimes...) And I can tell you first hand that just 8 hours felt like I was worked an eternatiy.. I mean the whole time you are there you are one shank away of being put away.. and whats the worse that will happen to the inmate.. He will but put in cuffs sent to seg and have a hearing... meanwhile you are out recovering... remember you can only use the amount of force that is reasonable and necessary to stop a situation, so if you get punched and the inmate lays down... you can't do anything but cuff him or its excessive force.. and don' tthink they don't to that. They try to con you all day long so you have to stay on your toes there... Put it this way... I was by myself with 134 inmates for 8 hours... Ohh and they are all like problem children.... Always trying to break rules and not get caught...

 

Talk about a hellacious job. I can imagine those working inside big houses do have it bad. Sounds a lot worse than a trucking job for sure.

If I were a guard. I'd try to be the inmates' 'buddy' just to play games with them. If they gave me bad treatment, they'd (fingers crossed) feel guilty about doing that to a 'friend' and may start flying right. How else would one survive in a pen full of animals?

But then again, could these folks even feel guilt? Maybe my strategy wouldn't work that well.

 

I quit because I chose not to hack it, not because I couldn't. I hacked it for three years, but decided I liked doing other jobs more. Jobs that paid somewhat better than the minimum wage equivalent an average OTR job pays.

If certain changes were made, if truck drivers actually could stand together enough to make those changes, I'd come back to trucking and drive, drive, drive. I'd just not do it with a co-driver. If I had to co-drive, I'd not come back. I'd learn to drive a train.

 

Then Get The Hell Away From That Bunch.

 

I love running Wal Mart dedicated. I know exactly how much money I am going to be getting on my check after every day. I get one short and one long haul a day and I'm not going to complain about 3/4 4 figure weeks and still being home every night.

 

Not saying that working for corrections could be tough.. I can image the things you have to put up with. But, the report was generally speaking. Our job is mind tiring.. having to constantly be on your alert all the time, changing times of driving from one day to the next, pulling into a truck stop late at night and backing into a spot while your body is wanting to shut down. tough it tough.... each one has its own ups and downs. They need to rething this whole highway idea again. Start dedicated lanes for trucks only. Start forcing the Police to crack down on the 4-wheelers who have death wishes that jump in front of you doing 65 then slow down to 40 just to get that off ramp. Look how much stuff the accident on I5 in CA will stir up... one truck bumped another and 15 trucks later a major tunnel may be out of service for awhile... Life is hard out here.. but we need to get along and start training the newer generation in how the rules of the road go. I am an older generation, and have learned a few things being around.. being nice will get you much futher..