Swift

Blazing fast? Really!

 

Hey everybody, I have been solo for just over three weeks, on my first shot of hometime, supposed to go back tomorrow, if I get a preplan that I can make, (I live 2 hours from the terminal and my dm told me to stay home and wait to see if I get a preplan on my phone, if I can make it do it) anyway...

I don't know how long this career move is gonna last, but my problems don't have anything to do with swift. It just half kills me to be away from my kids, but you gotta do what ya gotta do, and I need the money. So far I can't complain about how they've treated me, my dm is really on the ball and any time I have a problem she is on it fast. My main complaint is the whole idle time crap, most of the time its no big deal, what pisses me off is when they send me a load that picks in the middle of the night, how the hell am I supposed to get any sleep in the day, when its 90 or 100 degrees, without idleing the truck? I've suffered this a couple times, then I learned just to set my pta for the next morning and get some sleep. Makes for extra downtime, but what else am I supposed to do. A couple other drivers tell me to just idle the truck, but I don't really dare, I mean, I'm a new driver and they really don't need much of an excuse to kick me to the curb, and being discharged that soon into the game another company wont touch me.

Anyway I kinda got the rambleing thing going on here so I'm gonna get goin. Take care all and drive safe!!!!

 

Is it realistic to expect to be able to get on a schedule that allows you to be home every weekend?

 

Did you fall and hit your head? Dedicated groups are the only ones that can expect an actual schedule. Where is Lakeside? North, South, or Central? Depending on where you are, maybe there are some dedicated fleets..and what terminal you from?

Just reread your post...you aren't a driver yet, wannabe right?

 

I am not a driver. I am in east county San Diego. I am considering becoming a driver. I manage a warehouse here and see a lot of Swift trucks in docks of the warehouse across from mine.

 

Well how do I start...after schooling you go with a Mentor (trainer) for 6 weeks, most of the time it is OTR, some Mentors are dedicated...but living that far south I can't think of any dedicated fleets with Swift..closest terminal will be Fontana (Mira Loma) so you see you are a good distance from the "zone".

Besides, if you are managing the warehouse you have to be making more than a newbie driver (Swift starts at 25 cents per mile..not much when you get right down to it)

 

Wow, Didn't realize the cents per mile for a newbie was so low!!! I do make more than that. Swift offers some good company benefits that my company does not, but at 25 C.P.M. I would not be able to afford them anyway. Thanks for the info!!!

 

swift starts out at .33 a mile and very good benefits all terms have some dedicated drivers (i run sears and get home every weekend if i want too)

 

Aren't there a lot of sand truck companys out in Lakeside. They have good schedules and you will always get home. I think there is some companys in Ramona as well.

Good Luck