What's the best way to quit a company?

Get your next job lined up and ready to go first. Understand this, as soon as you give them notice, you go to the bottom of the list for good freight. I usually give a couple days notice, say on a Tuesday or Wednesday, then quit on Friday, and start orientation with the new job on Monday or Tuesday. One thing to remember, never quit under a dispatch. Deliver first, or drop the load if applicable, then head to the yard. Turn the truck in serviceable and ready for use. Your manager won't even miss you unless you became best of friends off duty......really, you're just a number in the human recycle pool. Good you have a caring heart, but misplaced in trucking and usually gets walked on. Onward, and hopefully upward.

 

drive the truck off the road into a random ditch, take a crap on the drivers seat....

kidding, like others said best to get as close to home as you can, I have heard stories where people put a notice in on the opposite side of the country and then the company sent them to the closest terminal and the drivers had to get their own way home. I think sometimes it depends on the company and your relationship with the dm, I think they fear if you put a notice in then your not going to remain responsible for their $150k truck and the loads your hauling.

 

You need to get routed to your home terminal. So do not give notice until you are headed in for time off. Once you arrive, clean out the truck and wash it if there is a bay there. The photograph it from every angle. Document any and all damage to the vehicle. Then calmly walk into the office and present your trip tickets and all company issued property, like credit cards. This is where you have to make a choice. You can offer to give them two weeks notice. They won't except it as most workers seem to get hurt after they give notice. Or you can, as I like to do, ask for a raise, you won't get it so you have to resign, sorry. Thank them and head out the door.

 

I drive for swift, went in with an open mind, but can see why people have issues with them, no contact, I'll just have to pay off my school tuition but that won't be a problem

 

I work for swift as well, I have heard the stories go both ways but always protect yourself by all means!
Sorry to hear it hasnt worked out for you, just make sure your going to a better company, every company has their pros and cons.

I have not heard any stories of swift putting bad things on your record for quitting though, just keep all your ducts in order, clean truck, turn stuff in etc.

 

I was not at swift but I found a new job and paid the tuition off and made 10k more than had I stayed and gotten the same amount of miles as I was at the old company.

 

I'd say give a 2 weeks notice like you would with any other job. yea you may get poor loads for 2 weeks, but you never want to burn the bridge. What if your friends business goes belly up. maybe he cant get you the miles, has trucks that break down etc. You always want to leave on good terms. I left tmc 6 months ago and now im back with them since the grass isnt always greener. That being said, junky company or not, treat them right.

Like other said, never abandon your truck. They will put that on your pip or mvr or whatever and you wont ever get another trucking job. make sure you get it back tot he terminal. A decent company will give you a bus ticket home and let you stop home first to get most of your stuff out of your truck.

 

You are not the first person to quit Swift and you won't be the last. The fact that you are trying to do the correct thing speaks highly of you. Treat them as you would want them to treat you. I read that somewhere.

Give them the two weeks after you have cleaned out the truck. They will not take it but you can part as friends. They need your truck. There are students just waiting for you to turn it in.

 

Thats right...at least give them the option of keeping you 2 weeks, if they choose to route u in asap, its up to them. But you gave them the option and didnt screw them.

 

yeah I said to my wife if I ever decide to give a notice then I will get my truck mostly cleaned out where im down to living out of 2 duffel bags and then give it, I work pretty local these days, was on a dedicated for the past 2 months and about to move to a different dedicated based 50 miles from my house so it wouldnt be too hard in my case to lose the truck if I gave notice. I was in the same boat as you and other swifties but things turned around and I make very good money now and being treated well so I decided to stay.

Good luck with you and your friend and hopefully all works out for you in the end.