The start of my first year with Swift.

It's been another wonderful night. I really don't like driving at night. I'm going to put in for a solar powered truck. I know they are out there because all the truck stops are full by dark.

So I got a load to Redlands, CA. I had plenty of notice however, they pushed me very tight on the time. I told my DL that the time allotted didn't give me enough time to fuel, bathroom, or eat. That's when he told me there was a huge window. Now why would they do that? Why not preplan the load with 12 hours to make the trip instead of 9.75. There would have been another 12 hours even with the adjustment. Anyway...I think it's to push drivers into driving more. Seems like it could end up being a safety issue at some point.

Ok, I went to pick up the load. As I was backing in my empty my alarm went off that the trailer was disconnected. I figured it was just a false alarm...NOT. The electrical line had gotten down under the catwalk and was cut in two. Of course I didn't have another one. HINT HINT. Lucky for me there was another Swift driver there. I asked him and he did have one he gave me. Thank goodness for nice folks. I got things put back together and went to the scale. I was over on my steer axle. I'm always over on my steer axle. This time I decided I was going to slide the 5th wheel back one notch. That didn't happen. Crud build up and too much weight on it. Off I go, I wasn't down the road more than an hour when the gps told me one thing but the road did another. Needless to say I missed my turn. It only threw me off my a few minutes. Did I say how much I don't like driving at night? I got back on the road headed out.

As luck would have it, as I was getting close to my final, I was looking for my exit. Low and behold it's blocked off. I didn't panic, I figured I could take the next one and get turned around and I did.

So now I'm done and I go to the Fontana terminal. Not expecting a preplan so fast I left my phone in the truck, wrong!! They sent me one...and then took it away because I was too slow.

There are some lessons here new folks...are you paying attention. Things not to do.

 

You have to sign up to get your preplans via text. It's just some very basic info about the load. It doesn't tell you mileage or weight. I've found the surest way to respond is via the Qualcomm. I've called in and asked them to accept the load for me and then later I get a msg. to accept it.

Good Luck Doc.

 

Change of topic.

America lost a Hero today. Please take some time out of your day to reflect upon the sacrifices of those who've given so much to protect this great country. Chris Kyle is among them. Rest in Peace Brother.